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"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"

May 30, 2014 by: Sam Storms | 2 Comments

Paul said in Philippians 4:12 that he had “learned” to be content in all circumstances. In v. 13 he “knows” and again “in any and every circumstance” he has “learned” the secret of how to thrive. So what specifically had he “learned” and what was his “secret”? The answer is in v. 13. It was through the intimacy of his relationship with Jesus, or more literally, “in union with the one who infuses me with strength.” Here again is the entire paragraph:

“I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:10-13).

When he says it is “through” Christ he doesn’t mean merely that Christ is the instrumental cause. Paul is referring to his life “in” Christ, his daily existence in loving and trusting intimacy with Jesus who enables him.

He has in mind the beauty and glory of Christ’s person, the wonder and love of his saving work on the cross, the power and sustaining energy of his resurrection life, the consistency and constancy of

The Secret of Spiritual Contentment

May 29, 2014 by: Sam Storms | 1 Comments

What could the Apostle Paul possibly mean when he says that he has “learned” to be “content” in whatever circumstance or situation he’s in? Continue reading . . .

What could the Apostle Paul possibly mean when he says that he has “learned” to be “content” in whatever circumstance or situation he’s in? Here is what he writes:

First, he said in v. 11 that he had “learned” to be content, and again in v. 12 “I have learned the secret.” The point is that contentment is not natural to human nature. This isn’t something we are born with. In fact, we are born discontented and dissatisfied. Contentment must be learned. And there is only one way this happens. The only way you can learn contentment is by finding Jesus Christ to be enough. You have to grow and deepen in your knowledge of him before you will experience any degree of independence from the stuff of this world. You learn contentment in the school of human experience, only as you face hard times and discover how in the midst of them Christ is sufficient for everything you need.

If you and I always lived without need, if everything was given to us in abundance, if we never felt stretched or challenged, Christ would have little opportunity to be glorified in our

Independence through Dependence (on Christ)

May 28, 2014 by: Sam Storms | 1 Comments

If asked to identify the most instructive passage in the NT on the subject of money and physical circumstances and their collective impact on my faith and confidence in Christ, I would be hard pressed to look beyond Philippians 4:10-13. Continue reading . . .

“I rejoiced in the Lord greatly” (v. 10a), says Paul, probably when Epaphroditus arrived from Philippi with the gift that they had sent to him. But the reason he gives for his joy is surprising: “that now at length you have revived your concern for me” (v. 10b).

Paul clearly did not intend for these words to be taken negatively or as a criticism of the Philippians, but he knew that there were some who would probably twist them in that way. So he explains both what he doesn’t mean and what he does.

The adverb translated “now at length” or “at last” in some versions implies that there was a considerable gap in time since they had last supported him financially. He doesn’t mean to say that he had been expecting something sooner and “it’s about time” you thought about me an

An Apostolic "Thank You" Note

May 27, 2014 by: Sam Storms | 0 Comments

In order to understand Paul’s point in Philippians 4:10-13 we need to understand the context in which this famous statement appears. Continue reading . . .

In order to understand Paul’s point in Philippians 4:10-13 we need to understand the context in which this famous statement appears. But let’s first look at the text again:

I love my sister. She’s the only sibling I have. She’s four years old than me and I’ve learned a lot from her over the years. She sends me text-message prayers every Sunday morning, telling me how she’s praying for me as I preach. But she’s got some odd ways about her. One of them is her obsession with Thank You notes. I can’t recall the last birthday or Christmas that Ann and I didn’t give her a fresh supply of Thank You notes. She loves new designs and different textures of paper. And every so often, usually at Christmas, I get a fresh supply from her as well. I think it’s her way of reminding me of the importance of writing them. That’s especially important in this age of doing everything through email or twitter or text. A handwritten Thank You note is a very powerful way of expressing your gratitude to someone.

What you and I are reading in Philippians 4:10-13 (and what will appear yet again in 4:14-20) is Paul’s handwritten “Thank You” note to the church

Self-Awareness and the Sufficiency of Christ

May 26, 2014 by: Sam Storms | 1 Comments

One of the most helpful things I’ve learned in my years as a pastor is the crucial role that self-awareness plays in our growth as Christians. Continue reading . . .

One of the most helpful things I’ve learned in my years as a pastor is the crucial role that self-awareness plays in our growth as Christians. By self-awareness I mean the capacity to be honest and sincere when it comes to both our strengths and weaknesses. To be “aware” of oneself in the way that I have in mind is to be conscious and forthright about our tendencies and inclinations. To be self-aware is to possess a keen sense of the way we impact other people. To be self-aware is to have a clear grasp on why we react the way we do when we encounter adversity or threatening circumstances. It is to be in touch with how we think and what we value and why we make the choices we do.

The opposite of self-awareness is self-denial. I’m sure you’ve run into a lot of people who live in self-denial: they refuse to face reality; they live in a fantasy world; they are extremely naïve and typically either grossly overestimate or underestimate their gifts and talents and what genuinely accounts for who they are and what they do.

Stay with me here. I’m not turning into your friendly Monday morning pop psychologist! I simply want you to examine your heart today regarding one issue. I want you to measure your self-awareness in one particularly important respect. Here it is:

Are you fully aware of or in touch with the extent to which your joy and happiness in life are tied to your physical and financial circumstances?

Or I could say it in a slightly different way with the same outcome:

Are you fully aware of or in touch with the extent to which your confidence in God’s goodness

No Perseverance, No Salvation

May 22, 2014 by: Sam Storms | 1 Comments

So what are we to make of Hebrews 3:5-6, which many believe calls into question the security of our salvation as the children of God? Continue reading . . .

So what are we to make of Hebrews 3:5-6, which many believe calls into question the security of our salvation as the children of God? Look at the text.

“Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.”

Merely saying or declaring that one is a Christian amounts to very little. In fact, it may be an act of self-delusion and self-deception. All through the NT we come across what can only be called “false faith”. False faith is a form of “belief” in Christ that never fully takes root in the heart. There may be an initial season of joy and excitement and Bible study and church attendance, but it is followed, at some point, by drifting away from the Lord and falling into unrepentant sin and idolatry.

Perseverance functions as evidence of an existing right relationship with God. Our author doesn’t say in v. 6 that a person will become a part of God’s people if they persevere. Neither does he say that a person will remain a part of God’s people if they persevere. Rather he says: this is how you can know if someone already is a part of God’s people – does he or she hold fast their confidence and their boasting in hope in Christ all the way to the end. In other words, he is less concerned with whether or not they profess to believe and more with whether or not they persevere to believe.

Some so stress God’s saving grace that they end up undermining personal responsibility and h

Does Cessationism Still Stand? A Response to Tom Pennington

May 20, 2014 by: Sam Storms | 3 Comments

[Last week (May 14, 2014), Andrew Wilson posted an article in which he responded to Tom Pennington’s response to him on the subject of spiritual gifts. I thought you might find it helpful. Andrew is an Elder at King’s Church in Eastbourne, U.K. and is pursuing a Ph.D. at King’s College, London.] Continue reading . . .

[Last week (May 14, 2014), Andrew Wilson posted an article in which he responded to Tom Pennington’s response to him on the subject of spiritual gifts. I thought you might find it helpful. Andrew is an Elder at King’s Church in Eastbourne, U.K. and is pursuing a Ph.D. at King’s College, London.]

Remember “Strange Fire”? Well, during the conference, I wrote an article responding to the case for cessationism presented by Tom Pennington, which you can read here (www.thinktheology.co.uk). Recently, Tom Pennington responded, with great kindness and care, on the Grace to You blog. His response was an excellent example of patient and faithful engagement, and I am grateful to him, and to the GTY ministry as a whole, for making it available. In response, and in the hope of further future dialogue, here’s a summary of the concessions I want to make (where he is right and I am wrong), some corrections (where I think he is wrong), some encouraging areas of convergence (where we agree), and then finally, the crux of the matter. Let’s hope it brings more light than heat.

Concessions

On two points, I misrepresented Tom Pennington, and I apologise unreservedly. The first is that he referred to miracles being done in the age of “Moses and Joshua”, and I missed the reference to Joshua, before making that omission a basis for part of my response. This was clumsy. The second is that I carelessly missed the distinction he makes, in talk

I am an Amillennialist "because of" Revelation 20

May 19, 2014 by: Sam Storms | 3 Comments

I often hear people say that they have embraced the Amillennial view of biblical eschatology “in spite of” what they read in Revelation 20. I want to go on record in saying that I have embraced Amillennialism precisely “because of” Revelation 20. Continue reading . . .

I often hear people say that they have embraced the Amillennial view of biblical eschatology “in spite of” what they read in Revelation 20. I want to go on record in saying that I have embraced Amillennialism precisely “because of” Revelation 20. I find the evidence from this passage to be altogether persuasive in telling me that the “millennial” reign of the saints is a reference to the experience of co-regency on the part of those believers who are now in the intermediate state with Christ. Thus, the millennium is a current phenomenon, in heaven, spanning the age between the two advents of Jesus Christ. Here are ten reasons why.

(1) Amillennialism is better suited to explain the restriction placed on Satan in Revelation 20:1-3. Contrary to the claims of premillennialism, Satan’s binding is not universal, as if during the span of the “1,000 years” he is prevented from doing everything. Rather, he is prevented from perpetuating the spiritual blindness of the nations and keeping them in gospel darkness. He is also prevented from provoking a premature global assault on the church which we know to be the battle of Armageddon.

(2) Amillennialism alone can account for why Satan must be bound in the first place. According to premillennialism, Satan is allegedly prevented from deceiving the very nations who at the close of Revelation 19 have already been defeated and destroyed at Christ’s return. In other words, it makes no sense to speak of protecting the nations from deception by Satan in 20

Think, Meditate, Ponder, . . . and Practice!

May 16, 2014 by: Sam Storms | 0 Comments

When I started this brief series of articles on Philippians 4:8-9 I pointed out that it is more than merely an exhortation to think or ponder or meditate. It is also a command regarding our practice as Christians. Continue reading . . .

When I started this brief series of articles on Philippians 4:8-9 I pointed out that it is more than merely an exhortation to think or ponder or meditate. It is also a command regarding our practice as Christians. Here is our text:

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Phil. 4:8-9).

Don’t miss the connection between v. 8 and v. 9. Paul now calls on the Philippians and all of us to consider to what extent these virtues are reflected in his life, in what they’ve seen and heard and observed in him and his teaching, and put all of that into practice.

I could easily spend all our time on what v. 9 tells us about the nature and importance and absolute necessity of discipleship. People who visit Bridgeway often wonder why we are so insistent about our community groups and our D-groups? It’s because of biblical statements like this. You need the input and example and influence of godly people. You need to be one who is an example and influence to others.

From whom are you learning? Who is mentoring you? Are you being discipled? Are you discipling others? Clearly, Paul believed passionately in the importance of godly, Christ-like role models who embody and live out the eight virtues he’s just enumerated in v. 8. Where are those people in you

The Key to Holy Living begins in the Mind

May 15, 2014 by: Sam Storms | 0 Comments

We’ve been looking closely at Philippians 4:8-9 and Paul’s counsel to us when it comes to what we embrace, believe, value, and practice. Let’s look again at the passage before I make several observations. Continue reading . . .

We’ve been looking closely at Philippians 4:8-9 and Paul’s counsel to us when it comes to what we embrace, believe, value, and practice. Let’s look again at the passage before I make several observations.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Phil. 4:8-9).

(1) By what process or by what standard do we come to attach value and worth to things or actions? In other words, how do we know if something is consistent with these 8 virtues? All too often our approach is totally pragmatic. We judge something’s value by its effectiveness. If it gets the job done, we immediately assume it’s good and right. If it produces numbers and money and fame, we judge it acceptable.

Or again, we evaluate things by how well or successfully they promote our personal goals or advance our cause or enhance our reputation or make us money or satisfy our sensual desires or elicit praise from others.

It seems Paul is telling us to pursue these things because of their intrinsic excellence, an excellence not derived from utility or personal benefit. We are to embrace things that embody and reflect these values because they are right. Period.

(2) The key to holy living begins in the mind. Think. Ponder. Meditate. Reckon. Reflect.

Let&rsq

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