Power Verse #4:
Philippians 4:8
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Partner Song #4: |
I . P-4-8 Warm UP.
Welcome to station number 4!
When I open my Bible, I am looking to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus declared He is the WAY, TRUTH and LIFE, so I see the scripture also falls into that threefold representation of Christ. Phil 4:8 to me is about LIFE and more specifically, LIFE in CHRIST. And, even more specifically my THOUGHT LIFE IN CHRIST.
Take a look at the list of 8 items from this power verse and see how it compares to your thought traffic:
Whatsoever is:
1. true
2. honest
3. just
4. pure
5. lovely
6. of good report
7. any virtue (excellence)
8. any praise
...think on these things.
We will refer these thoughts P-4-8 Thoughts from here on out OK?
Please?
Pronounced "P-FOUR-EIGHT"
Thank You.
This is not an empty or robotic command to discipline our minds to "think positive" or even to ignore the realities around us. That would be dead works and render us ineffective.
On the contrary, "thinking on these things" is a result of allowing the renewing of the mind to take place by the Spirit of God. What is listed above - ALL OF the P-4-8 resources are already available and working in us through the indwelling presence of God. The proof text for that is in the verse above and below (see "Work In" section below). This is how grace works. It is a yielding to His strength and His power. We get to be the traffic cop; allowing from what resource our thought traffic will flow.
II . P-4-8 Work IN.
If you have been doing these exercises so far, you know by now that before the power of Gods' Holy Spirit can Work Out, there must be a Work IN. Have you ever tried to physically exercise without proper food intake? The result is little or no power!
Let's digest TRUTH and WAY verses that will help us experience what God wants in our P-4-8 THOUGHT LIFE in CHRIST.
We will start with the verses surrounding our P-4-8 power verse. Please carefully read:
Verse Before:
Phl 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing; but
in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be
made known unto God. And the peace of God, which
passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus.
Verse After:
Phl 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Notice the "bookends" that surround our desired thought life are the peace of God, and the God of peace. Along with this, God gives us a promise that this peace will be the resource of power for our hearts (emotions) and minds (thoughts). Do you believe this? If you believe this, please re-read the red verses above and change the 'you' and 'your' to 'me' and 'my'. Try that out a few times....
Beloved, you can be sure the resource from where our THOUGHT LIFE IN CHRIST flows is the peace of God given to us through Jesus Christ our LORD. He provides P-4-8 no matter what the situation may be.
Do you believe that Jesus is the Prince of Peace?
Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye
might have peace. In the world ye
shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the
world.
Do you believe Jesus is your Prince of Peace?
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
If you believe He is your peace, say it , DECLARE IT! SETTLE IT FOREVER. NO more wishy-washy faith! (With the heart one believes with the mouth confession is made)
Go ahead and put on the helmet of salvation! He will renew your mind!
Hey ! If you do not know what it means to be "saved" or "born from above" please click here
III . P-4-8 Work OUT.
Take another look at the P-4-8 master list now with the understanding that all of these items do not flow from the circumstances around you (how quiet it is or how clean it is or who is there or where you are)...but rather from a peace that cannot be explained from the God of Peace dwelling within.
Whatsoever is:
1. true
2. honest
3. just
4. pure
5. lovely
6. of good report
7. any virtue (excellence)
8. any praise
...think on these things.
All of these things come not from your own effort but from the God of peace working the peace of God in you....
Task #1 Worship: Going from God to "My God"...
The P-4-8 power verse and exercise was actually birthed from Genesis 28 where Jacob is reacting to the revelation and strength God imparted unto him. God's promise to be with him transformed Jacob's perspective from that of 'God of my fathers' to 'My God' (Gen 28:21). It was because of his encounter with God that we see his thoughts moving into a genesis of worship - pouring oil on the rock (Gen 28:18), vowing and dedicating his being and substance to God. The priority for all of us is to seek out the God of peace... is He your God? Is He really your God? It is from the peace of God that you will have a resource of an abundant THOUGHT LIFE IN CHRIST; ready to flow at your mere yielding. I was not too suprised to find out the book with the most "My God" expressions is, by far, Psalms; the book of songs, the book of worship. Take a look at these psalms and say "My God" with the confidence of a blood bought child of God and start experiencing P-4-8.
My God, I Trust your strength....
Psa 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress,
and my deliverer; my God,
my strength, in whom I will
trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation,
and my high tower.
Psa 94:22 But the LORD is my defence; and
my God is the rock of my
refuge.
My God, I Trust your power....
Psa 30:2 O LORD my God, I
cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.
Psa 104:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my
God, thou art very great;
thou art clothed with honour and
majesty.
My God....YOU are my God....
Psa 30:12 To the end that my glory may sing praise
to thee, and not be
silent. O LORD my God, I will give
thanks unto thee forever.
Psa 86:12 I will praise thee, O Lord my
God, with all my heart: and I will
glorify thy name for evermore.
Psa 71:22 I will also praise thee with the
psaltery, [even] thy truth, O my
God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of
Israel.
Psa 145:1 I will extol thee, my God, O king;
and I will bless thy name for
ever and ever.
Psa 146:2
While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto
my
God while
I have any being.
Listen to our partner song one more time - and let the words My Saviour, My God renew and refresh you even more!
Task #2 BAD COP - GOOD COP.
So, I hope through God's word you have gained wisdom in being a better traffic cop, properly directing the thought traffic of your mind; leading to an effective life in hearing God and following Him. The P-4-8 power verse is helping us know what thoughts are from the God of peace powered by His unexplainable peace. The P-4-8 thoughts are what the traffic cop (me and you) should allow to flow, and flow, and flow....
Take each of these "thought groups" and be still (quiet) before God and listen....
...whatsoever is True, Honest, and Just --- JESUS IS THE TRUTH
...whatsover is Pure and Lovely --- JESUS IS THE WAY
...whatsover is "of good report" or any "virtue" (or excellence), or any "praise" --JESUS IS THE LIFE
Task #3. Floating testimonies (thoughts).
Write down a sentence or two expressing something that is true, honest, pure, lovely, any praise of good report with respect to your new life in CHRIST, your P-4-8 thoughts. Send them to me by the web form below or by phone or letter or pigeon. I will gladly post your P-4-8 "thoughts" on the main web page with the other floating testimonies. The floating testimonies are the P-4-8 thoughts from various believers I have posted in conjunction with the Word of God on our main web page. For example, take a look at what is there now, as you refresh the web page, the testimonies or thoughts float from one person to the next as the Word of God stays fixed! How true to life! All of these thoughts are resourced in the peace of God imparted unto a revived humanity from generation to generation. You are welcome to add to the P-4-8 flow!
Dear Saint,
Thank you for doing work station #4. By His grace you have the right to go after God with all your heart , mind and strength. Keep it going. Work the word - work the word!
Love,
Paul.
PS, please remember:
Peace I leave with you, my
peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your
heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)
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