Pastor Mike Impact Ministries

Saturday July 11 “Whatever things are pure."   Thisword speaks of that which is morally clean, undefiled, innocent, and holy. Itdescribes a life that has not been contaminated by the pollution of sin. Welive in a world that has almost lost the meaning of purity. Every day we aresurrounded by images, conversations, advertisements, movies, televisionprograms, websites, and social media that app...

"Whatever things are just..." Each of these qualities is anotherfilter through which every thought should pass before it is allowed to remainin our minds. First, we asked, "Is it true?" Then we asked, "Isit honorable?"   TodayPaul asks another important question: "Is it just?" The word justmeans righteous, upright, and in harmony with God's holy standard...

Theword honest in our King James Bible means much more than simply telling thetruth. It carries the idea of whatever is honorable, noble, dignified, worthyof respect, and deserving of reverence. It describes that which lifts our mindsupward instead of dragging them downward. Paul uses this same Greek word inspeaking about the qualifications of deacons in 1 Timothy 3:8, where they areto be "gr...

Yesterday we learned that if we are goingto enjoy the peace of God guarding our hearts, then we must also guard ourminds.   TodayPaul gives us the first test for every thought that enters our minds: "Whateverthings are true." Everything begins with truth. We live in a worldwhere truth is often questioned, ignored, or even rejected. We hear people say,"Well, that's your truth,&qu...

Thinkfor a moment about how many thoughts enter your mind every day. Researchersestimate that thousands of thoughts pass through our minds daily. Some arehelpful, many are harmless, but others can be destructive. Satan knows that ifhe can capture your mind, he can influence your emotions, your decisions, youractions, and eventually your character. That is why the battle for theChristian life is la...

Today we come to one of the most amazing promises in all ofScripture as we look at Philippians 4:7. After Paul tells us to pray abouteverything, he now tells us what God gives us in return. Verse 7 says: “Andthe peace of God , which passes all understanding, shall keep your heartsand minds through Christ Jesus.”   Noticethat Paul does not promise that every problem will immediately disappear. Inst...

Today we discover God's replacement for worry—whatwe are to do instead. Paul continues: "But in everything by prayer andsupplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God." Notice the contrast. Don't worry about anything. Instead, pray abouteverything .   Paulnow mentions four beautiful words that describe our conversation and communionwith God.  First is th...

Today, I first want to say, Happy Fourth of July! I pray thatas you celebrate our country's history—250 years of God's blessing upon thisnation—you will remember the tremendous price that has been paid by so manypeople to give us the freedoms and opportunities that we enjoy in this greatcountry. I have traveled to many countries all over the world, and I want totell you that, despite all t...

Welcometo Pastor's Chat. Today we come to Philippians 4:5. This verse followsnaturally after Paul's command to rejoice in the Lord always. A joyful heartshould be seen in the way we treat other people. Paul writes: "Let yourmoderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand." At firstglance, the word "moderation" might sound like it refers to simplyavoiding extremes....

Welcometo Pastor's Chat. Today we come to one of the best-known verses in the entirebook of Philippians. In many ways, this verse captures the heartbeat of thewhole letter. Paul writes: "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say,Rejoice." Think about who is writing these words. Paul is not sittingin a comfortable home enjoying the blessings of retirement. He is under housearrest in...

Welcometo Pastor's Chat. Yesterday we heard Paul's loving appeal: "Stand fastin the Lord." Today Paul shows us one of the greatest ways we standfirm as believers—by maintaining unity with one another. Listento his words in Philippians 4:2-3: "I beseech Euodias, and beseechSyntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. And I intreat thee also,true yokefellow, help those...

Today we come to the first verse of Philippians chapter 4. Itis much more than a transition verse. In many ways, it is the conclusion ofeverything Paul has been teaching throughout this wonderful letter. Listen towhat he writes:  "Therefore, mybrethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in theLord, my dearly beloved." The very first word is "Therefore.&qu...

The Secure Mind Philippians 4   Welcometo Pastor's Chat. Today we begin our study of the fourth and final chapter ofPaul's wonderful letter to the Philippians. As we begin this last chapter, I'dlike to remind you of the great theme that has run throughout this book. Philippians is often called "The Epistle of Joy." In these four shortchapters, Paul mentions joy or rejoicing a...

"Forour conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, theLord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashionedlike unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able evento subdue all things unto himself." What a contrast to verse 19! TherePaul described those whose minds are fixed on earthly things. But in verse 20he says, &q...

Yesterday we learned from verse 17 that God has given usgodly examples to follow. Paul challenged us to imitate believers whose livesconsistently point us to Jesus Christ. But today, in verses 18 and 19, Paulgives the other side of that truth. He warns us that there are also people wemust not follow. Listen to what he writes: "For many walk, of whom Ihave told you often, and now tell you even...

Today we move on to the last section of Philippians chapter3. As we close this chapter, we want to focus specifically on verse 17, wherePaul writes: “Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who sowalk, as you have us for a pattern.” NowPaul says, "Brethren, be followers together of me." At first,this might sound surprising. It almost sounds like Paul is being proud. But we...

These two verses teachus an important truth about the Christian life. We are to keep growing, but weare also to keep walking. God wants us to continue maturing spiritually whilefaithfully living up to the truth He has already taught us.   Atfirst glance, Paul's words may seem a little surprising. In verse 12 he said hewas "not already perfect," yet here in verse 15 he speaks ofthose...

Ina world full of distractions, divided loyalties, and competing priorities, Paullived with a single focus. Thefirst thing that Paul mentions is, “forgetting those things which are behind”. This doesn't mean that Paul had a poor memory or that he was to forgeteverything that ever happened. In fact, he often spoke about his past. Heremembered his conversion on the Damascus Road. He remembered G...

Paul does not stop with holydissatisfaction. He moves immediately to holy determination . Listen tothe rest of verse 12: “But I press on, that I may lay hold of that for whichChrist Jesus has also laid hold of me”.   Inother words, Paul says, "I haven't arrived, but I am pursuing. Ihaven't reached the finish line, but I am still running." There is atremendous difference between b...

Todaywe begin a new section in Philippians chapter 3. In the previous verses, Paulhas been sharing the great passion of his heart when he said, "That I mayknow Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of Hissufferings." Now, as we come to Philippians 3:12, Paul begins to describehis pursuit of Christ. He writes: "Not as though I had alreadyattained, either were alrea...

Today we come to one of the most remarkable statements, andperhaps one of the most quoted, made by the Apostle Paul. In Philippians3:10-11, he writes: "That I may know Him and the power ofHis resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Hisdeath, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." Afterstudying verse 9, we learned about the great...

AfterPaul shares what he did in verse 8, he continues in verse 9: "And befound in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but thatwhich is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God byfaith." Oh, what a wonderful verse! Paul has just told us that knowingChrist is the greatest treasure in all the world. Now he explains one of thegreatest blessings th...

Today, I want us to focus on the next phrase: "for theexcellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord." This is thereason Paul gladly counted everything else as loss.   Nownotice carefully. Paul does not say, "for the excellence ofreligion." He does not say, "for the excellence of theology." Hedoes not say, "for the excellence of church membership." He s...

Today we continue in Philippians 3:8, where Paul expands uponthe remarkable statement he made in verse 7. There he said: "But whatthings were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ." Paullooked at all his religious achievements, his family heritage, his education,his zeal, and his reputation, and he moved them from the profit column to theloss column.   Nowhe takes this truth e...

Upto this point, Paul has been describing the things that once gave him greatconfidence before God. If anyone could have boasted in religiousaccomplishments, as we have seen over the last few days, it was Paul. He hadthe right family, the right education, the right religion, the right zeal, andthe right reputation. But then something happened. Paul met Jesus Christ, andeverything changed that day...