“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
(Philippians 4:13 KJV)
Today, we see many pulpits and TV evangelists using the phrase ‘IN JESUS NAME’ to invoke God to do something that they want. Praying to God in Jesus’ Name is one thing but trying to force God into your will is another! It is rampant false teaching in these End Time in which we live.
I am writing this article because of a recent comment by a fellow believer. He is a real born again and saved believer. A brother in Christ. I was showing that a believer is not to BIND a devil as if we can do that in our own power and that is the proper context of the Scripture in Matthew 18:18. His response is one I see often. It is a belief pushed onto the Christian community by these same TV evangelists and many pulpit teachers actually. I hope it helps you see the truth by context.
“Be careful 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.” (Philippians 4:6-7 KJV)
Just Some Logical Questions…
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- If you have an issue of disease you are facing. You pray to God. If you get healed.. AMEN! But what if you do not? Is it just lack of faith?
- A person living in a third world Country, literally starving. They pray to God. If they receive food in abundance, amen! But what if they do not? Is it just lack of faith?
Do you see an issue here? I DO.
Jesus prayed to the Father that the cup of the cross, if possible, would not have to happen.. but then adds.. THY WILL BE DONE. That does not sound like, no hardships for believers to have does it?
Again, Jesus in John 15 said this,
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” (John 15:18-20 KJV)
Does that sound like using ‘In Jesus Name’ will mean your troubles will just leave you? A resounding no is what we see Jesus stating right?
Continuing in Philippians 4 Paul writes,
“Not that I speak in respect OF WANT: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith TO BE CONTENT. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
(Philippians 4:11-13 KJV)
What is Paul saying here then by the very context of Philippians 4? That we can do anything at all through Christ because we believe it? Because we NAME IT and CLAIM IT using Jesus Name? NO. Do we know the mind and purpose of God for everything in our life? NO, other than what Christ told us.
I personally have medical issues and have prayed and continue praying for God to heal me. For some medical issues, I was healed. For others, they are still here affecting me negatively. Is it a lack of MY FAITH? No it is not. I trust God. If I did not, I would not have my website seekknockfind.org my facebook group.
I have to be content knowing that GOD HAS A PLAN FOR ALL THIS. This is what Apostle Paul learned and is teaching about. This is FAITH and TRUST in God. And having peace knowing that God will be using this bad circumstance in my life for a greater good.
CONTENTMENT IN LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES
Paul is writing about being CONTENT in the hardships we face in life and in the persecution believers receive. That no matter what comes our way, Jesus is within us. We are to TRUST that God knows what is happening to us when we have trying hard times in life and TRUST and know that God is NOT UNAWARE. Having this kind of look at our life’s troubles is what faith is all about and we can endure hardships in this life with this kind of faith.
We see how Paul has learned this. What he went through in persecutions was so many incredible hardships. Beaten. Spit on. Imprisoned. The list goes on and on. Paul was under house arrest for 2 years. Cold he get out of that, or did he even try to get out of that hardship, by invoking ‘In Jesus name’? Or did he TRUST that God was in it and it was for a purpose? The truth is that we may not even have these writings of Paul (2/3 of the New Testament) if God did not allow Paul to be placed under house arrest for 2 years. THAT IS WHY HE WROTE THE EPISTLE LETTERS!
GOD HAS A PLAN!
And what about when Paul and Silas were thrown into a harsh prison? What we do we see them doing? Fighting it? NO! They were singing praises to God in worship! And what happened? Earthquake from God, prison doors opened and the jailer and his whole family became saved. And if they were saved.. how many others were saved by that family telling others and they telling others etc etc etc .. See how their faith in the fact that God allowed the hardship circumstance in their life, saved countless people!
GOD HAS A PLAN! EVEN IN OUR HARDSHIPS.
This is what Apostle Paul is writing about in Philippians 4, even though many pulpits teach falsely about verse 13, using it and ignoring the context of the verses in the very same chapter.
Yes, pray to God in hardships. It is also okay to ask God to help remove it. But in faith, we trust in the power of HIS MIGHT (Ephesians 6:10). And we must be CONTENT in TRUST when God’s answer is, “wait”, “not now” or flat out “no”, because He has a greater purpose.
GOD HAS A PLAN FOR EACH OF US
This is the PEACE passing all understanding from verse 7 that Paul is writing about.
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7 KJV)
