Dear Church Family:

This coming Sunday we commence our look at the last three verses of the book of Romans, specifically Romans 16:25-27. Fittingly, the book of Romans ends with a doxology which, as we shall see, provides a total “encapsulation” of all the truths we have looked at in the book of Romans since our journey in this wonderful epistle of Paul began. There is much on my heart to share concerning this passage. Whether it will be our last or second-to-last time in Romans remains to be seen. We started our journey in Romans together on May 8, 2022 ... four years, two months, and ten days ago. I want to make sure that we finish our time in Romans, just like the way we desire to finish our time on earth, ... strong. Soli Deo Gloria! 

ENCOURAGEMENT

I was one of those individuals who was “born worrying”. As a child I remember sitting in my mother’s flower garden at our home in Indianapolis in tears because it was November and “the flowers were dying”. I was worrying because of what the world was going to be like in the future “without flowers”. Such are the worries of a child. Sincere, and yet sincerely misplaced, unaware and unknowledgeable of the bigger picture and of additional facts to put things in their proper perspective (i.e., God causes the flowers to bloom again in the spring). Because of my tendency to be what some would call a “worry wart” most of my life, Philippians 4 has always been a very important passage of Scripture and has always spoken specifically to my heart. I found Robert J. Morgan’s comments on Philippians 4:4 in chapter 60 of his book, One Hundred Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart, particularly encouraging. I hope it uplifts your souls, as well. Here is Morgan’s account.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Phil. 4:4)

According to reports, anxiety is epidemic in the United States; more Americans suffer from anxiety (in proportion to population) than any other country on earth. Anxiety affects 40 million Americans, and 3 of the top 10 drugs are for mental illness.

The Bible is a medicine chest of anti-depressant verses and tranquilizing passages. Scripture is full of therapeutic theology, and this paragraph in Philippians 4 is my favorite anti-anxiety passage in the Bible, worth memorizing every word. Philippians 4:4-9 is Paul’s personal 6-point strategy for mental peace.

The first step is in verse 4: Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!Perhaps you are thinking: You can’t just tell someone to be happy. You can’t just command joy. Why not? Why can’t we choose our own attitudes? When we make ourselves smile, the very act of smiling lifts our spirits and makes it easier for us to pull out of discouragement.

But notice this is a qualified statement. It tells us to rejoice in the Lord.

We may not be able to rejoice in our load, but we can rejoice in our Lord. We may find no joy in our situation, but we can rejoice in our Savior. To rejoice in the Lord means we rejoice in our unassailable, unchanging relationship with the Sovereign Lord and in His qualities, gifts, promises, and attributes.

Deuteronomy 26:11 says we should rejoice in all His gifts. We are to rejoice in His goodness in 2 Chronicles 6:41. Psalm 9:14 tells us to rejoice in His salvation. Psalm 31:7 says we should rejoice in His love. Psalm 89:16 says that we can rejoice in His name all day long. Psalm 119:14 tells us to rejoice in His statutes as in great riches. Psalm 119:162 tells us to rejoice in God’s promises. Isaiah 65:18 commands us to rejoice in what God has created. We are to rejoice in the bounty of God in Jeremiah 31:12, and Romans 5:2 tells us to rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

The first step to overcoming the stranglehold of worry is to determine to do as God says here: Rejoice in the Lord always.

The Bible doesn’t always give “6 easy steps”, but here in Philippians 4, we have a bullet-pointed list for experiencing inner peace.

  • Rejoice in the Lord (v.4).
  • Be gracious with others (v.5a).
  • Remind yourself of God’s nearness (v.5b).
  • Cast out worry (v.6a).
  • Pray with thanksgiving (v.6b).
  • Focus your mind on what is excellent and praiseworthy (vv.8-9). 

Two promises are connected with these principles: The peace of God will guard your heart and mind (v.7), and the God of peace will be with you (v.9).

“The joy Christ gives is for time and eternity, for soul and body, for adversity and prosperity.” –William A. Swets

Morgan’s account ends at this point. However, the command that the Lord gives to rejoice in Him always does not. As we now know, it is the “first step” in overcoming the plague of worry. Lord willing, over the next few weeks, we will unpack the 5 additional steps to killing the “beast of worry” in our hearts which Morgan shares in the subsequent chapters in his volume. Soli Deo Gloria!

Love,

John & Terri
Phil. 4:4