Hello Everyone,

The good news is that while we were in that state of ignorance, Christ still loved us & invited us to come under His guidance and protection. His path – His rules – His ways lead to true peace and freedom.

While we were bound up in our own life’s pursuits – unaware of our spiritual vulnerability – He provided a way to come under His protection…in order to experience true freedom!

Romans 5:8 provides so much encouragement and hope to those who are right now living a life unaware of their spiritual vulnerability.
⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The Bible tells us to put our trust in Jesus Christ when it comes to issues of the heart!
The Bible teaches that there is no other source of spiritual stability than in Christ.

In Philippians 4:6-7, I want to make two observations for you that will show how much we need to rely on Christ – His path, His rules, His way:

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Notice two things:
First Jesus Christ can protect your heart & mind!

The word “guard” means “to garrison” or “to place a fortified wall” around your heart & mind.

Christ is able to protect you from emotional things that if you were left on your own would tear you apart! Christ can offer you calm in the midst of a stormy world.
“Jesus Christ is the one who can protect your heart & mind.” But the second observation in this verse is:

You can’t!
I know this is a simple and obvious observation – but we need this principle to sink in! Notice verse 6 “…but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God”

IF YOU could have been able to handle it on your own, the Bible would have said “FIND THE POWER WITHIN YOURSELF to protect your heart & mind!”…but you can’t do it on your own!!! Notice the words “in everything!”

If you can begin to imagine a world without Christ…you are forced to imagine a world to where the “buck stops with you” when it comes to emotional, physical, and spiritual stability! No one to run to – no one to pray to – no one to consult that is wiser than you. “YOU” is all you got…and you know what, I don’t have that much confidence in me.

The thing that we must understand is that in a world without Jesus, there would be no boundaries. But that doesn’t relate to a world of freedom.

In fact, not being bound by God’s laws and His protection would only mean that we are still bound, but bound by something far more restrictive.

You see, a world without Christ…while it would be without boundaries, it would most definitely be without FREEDOM!

How do you keep God’s Boundaries from becoming Burdensome:

Trust that God cares about you and everything you are going through.
Trust that God has the power to take care of you.
Trust the boundaries that God has put in place for you.

Oh How HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil