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NASB | Philippians 4:9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Philippians 4:9 The things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things [in daily life], and the God [who is the source] of peace and well-being will be with you. |
Subject: Do those things. |
Bible Note: Is that all there is? That is the question many believers find it in their hearts to ask, before they are saved, and some, before, and they go looking for the answers. Some find the Christian life, as they see it somewhere, boring and unsatisfying, and unattractive, and they seek excitement in emotionalism and activity outside the church they knew initially. We sense that God has an exciting and full life for each of his children, and we want it. Jesus came that we might have an abundant life (John 10) and we sense that it must include more than attending church, singing a little, praying a little, and listening to sermons. We want ecstatic experiences, intense feelings, and physical activity. We manufacture these things, or expose ourselves to other spirits, unwittingly perhaps, in order to experience them. It is nothing less than amazing, what some believers sometimes do in their churches. It seems unnecessary to compile a list here, and it is embarrassing as well, but it would include boasting, screaming, laughing, shaking, running, spinning, falling, and the like. These activities, and the emotions that go with them, seem to fill the gap, forestall the boredom, and may suggest that there is that much to the Christian life. It might do us well to wonder whether those things are not a substitute for the ones that God would have us do. What did Jesus do? What did the apostles do? What are the things that the Philippians had seen and learned and heard and were supposed to do? Like Timothy, they would have known activity in the gospel (Philippians 1:12), his “doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions“ (2 Timothy 3:10). They were to follow his example (Philippians 3:17) in doing those things and enduring those things. And they were told that the God of peace would be with them, to give them peace (as in Numbers 6:26). There would be joy too, it is mentioned so often in that letter. And yet, that peace was to come after doing (Philippians 4:9) and joy was there to be received and expressed in the midst of suffering (Philippians 1:29). Believers were to find satisfaction, and fulfillment and joy and peace in serving the Lord, as Paul and Jesus did (John 4:34; Philippians 1:20). And we all should follow then (1 Corinthians 11:1; Hebrews 12:2). And neither one of them was known to seek out materialism or emotionalism. We should be imitators of Christ, and we should find our satisfaction in that. |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Phil 4:9 | Author | ||
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donny | ||
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poodyglitz_98@yahoo.com | ||
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Aixen7z4 |