"A Text Out of Context Is a Pretext" (Baxter)

"All things I am strong for in the One Who strengthens me."  (Philippians 4:13, Greek Interlinear)

The Amplified Bible says, "I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]."  It is always important, yea, necessary and imperative that we interpret Scripture in context.  Ern Baxter once said, "A Scripture taken out of context becomes a pretext."  Truer words cannot be spoken.  And here, my friend, is and has been the foundation of heresy.  My Dad used to say that we "interpret the Bible with the Bible."  The Bible is a unit.  Too many references to Old and New Testament are attempts to separate them, to take them out of context with each and put forth personal-agenda pretexts.

The misunderstanding and use of our text, especially in the last several decades has come about by failing to read the context of Paul's assertion here.  Let me share it with you from the J. B. Philips paraphrase: "Nor do I mean that I have been in actual need, for I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances my be.  I know now how to live when things are difficult and I know how to live when things are prosperous.  In general and in particular I have learned the secret of facing either poverty or plenty.  I am ready for anything through the strength of the one who lives within me."  Notice, "the secret of facing either poverty or plenty," is being, "ready for anything," in the strength of Jesus Christ.  Self-sufficiency is life catastrophic failure.  Christ-sufficiency is life victory, life eternal.

The days ahead will be full of even more uncertainty nationally and internationally.  People who have lived all their lives in a prosperous society have relatively little grasp of what Paul states.  But the days are upon all of us, first, second, or third world, to be prepared in the "spirit" of Philippians 4.  Jesus is our Provision, not that check you may receive every two weeks, that return on your investment, your retirement plan, your successful business.  If you are living well, I pray you realize with all humility that your prosperity is Jesus Christ.  If you are living in financial difficulty, remember, "I am ready for anything through the strength of the One Who lives within me," and, "My God will supply all that you need from his glorious resources in Christ Jesus."

Father, in Jesus' Name, You are my Strength in, "all things."  Amen. 
 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"I Am Strong For All Things In the One Who Strengthens Me"

"I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)

The Greek Interlinear New Testament says, "I am strong for all things in the One Who strengthens me."  Quite a different emphasis than the "tradition" one. 

The "charismatic movement" spawned the idea, largely based on the King James rendering of our text, that you and I can do anything, which ran out of control to, "I can do everything."  The word, "anything," is not in the text, which should have given a caution to the ego driven interpretation.  I cannot, for instance, run 100 meters in under 6 seconds; only a cheetah can do that.  As ridiculous as that may sound, I make my point.  Regardless of what Marty told George, which humanist propagate all the time, "If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything," is not true.  Today I take more comfort in the truth that, "I am strong for all things," in Jesus Christ, than some ego trip's desire to do all things.  The idea that we can do anything we have faith for has led to much disillusionment in Christendom.  For far too many, the emphasis was/is on, "I can do all things," rather than exalting, "the One Who strengthens me"------ to do whatever He desires. 

During a daylight session last week in DC, I was looking up at the sky, beautiful cloud formations, a jet flying at a very high altitude, the sun.  I was overwhelmed by the greatness, vastness, limitlessness of the universe and the thought which must inevitably follow, "How Great Thou Art."  I repeat, it was an overwhelming "spiritual" moment.  I cannot "believe in" such a God in my mind; it is impossible, and so it is for you, my friend.  We are so small, our countries are so small, our planet is so small, our solar system is so small, our galaxy is so, well, I think you understand.  I agree with the song writer, "I scarce can take it in"; in reality, I cannot "take it in."  What I can do, however, is worship, "O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens!...When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him?"  But He is, "mindful of him," and you and me.  I do not attempt to believe in my mind; that is impossible.  What, or rather, Whom I believe is Jesus Christ, His Words.  And because I do, "I am strong for all things in the One Who strengthens me."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You so much for being in Jesus, "the One Who strengthens me."  Amen.
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* I took the photos and videos which I sent yesterday.  Some thought I was in them somewhere.

* Still openings for Men's mission to David's Tent, November 3.  Let me know if you will go.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"....With Ourselves Your Servants For Jesus Sake"

"And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.  In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.  For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake." (2 Cor. 4:3-5, ESV)

I am here at the Ronald Reagan Airport awaiting my flight back to Pittsburgh.  It has been a very full week of 12 hour days, much singing with the spirit and the understanding, all in the Holy Spirit (a little paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 14).  People from various countries signed the guest register, and many curious people just stopped by to see what was going on.  Today, a man who was smoking stopped by the tent.  He came in for a while, than went over to the guest register.  My curiosity got the best of me, so I went over to the guest register.  I saw that he wrote something in Polish.  I could read the, "God bless you," and he made a drawing of a heart. 

Our text really impacted me anew this morning.  So many people of all "types" stopped by, or walked by slowly over this past week.  As our text came to me, I prayed an "eye-opening" and heart opening prayer from the passage.  As our Lord Jesus Christ opened physical eyes, He can surely open spiritually blind eyes.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I continue to pray for Your Power to open blind eyes, to overthrow the power of, "the god of this world," and to unveil the Gospel of Jesus.  Amen.
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What President Obama and two of his predecessors, Presidents FDR and Truman, have in common:
www.jerusalemberlinwashington,blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2