"Whatever"
Two of the most quoted scriptures among contemporary Christians are: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
[Philippians 4:13], and, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” [Philippians 4:
19] They are so often the scriptural promises that we use in the face of challenge and need, as declarations of our faith and trust
in God. All too often when the manifestation of those promises tarries, there is a tendency for some to get frustrated. Others
become somewhat annoyed when these promises seem to “fly in the face” of our circumstances. I have heard, on more than
one occasion, a “believer” respond sarcastically to, “you can do all things”. ., saying,
“w-h-a-t-e-v-e-r!” Although I believe that the response was not meant to be mean, it also was not a scriptural affirmation or a
positive, faith-filled confession.
We must remember that God is smarter than are we. He KNOWS what works. God has chosen the foolish things of the world to
put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty...
(1Corinthians1:27.) God opens His Word and gives revelation that will empower us, enabling us to “do all things through Christ
who strengthens [us]” as well as HAVE “God... supply [our] need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”, if we will just
lay hold of the power of “WHATEVER!”
The key to victory as professed in Philippians 4: 13 & 19 can be found by reading Philippians 4:8. The path to being strengthened
and supplied by God begins with “finally, whatever.” Please read this out loud slowly, and don’t skip over a single whatever.
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure,
whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate
on these things.” (Philippians 4:8) When God repeats a word in the Scriptures, He does so to emphasize the importance of the
statement. When the Holy Spirit inspired the writer to say “finally”, that implies this is the END of what you need to do in order to
place yourself in the position where God’s grace blesses and enriches. In this case, whatever must be very important to the
main theme, and desired result of this chapter in Philippians.
The use of whatever six times in this verse lets us know that this is not merely a recommendation. We are not to just
occasionally remember a “Hallmark® moment”. It is command that is all inclusive, regarding all the things that we think, all the
time. We understand that few people are totally perfect in applying this verse, but this is a goal in which we are being perfected to
achieve. God’s grace will help us to gain control over our (negative) thought life and turn the thoughts to those on which we
should meditate. The magnitude of God’s strength and supply in our lives is, in part, a response to the degree in which we are
disciplined to think on whatever …
There is also spiritual “glue” that gets us from the list of meditative thoughts to the strength and supply of God. As we continually
recall and focus on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy, we can be brought to a
place of contentment. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to
be abased, and I know how to abound. [Philippians 4:11-12]
Through this disciplined state of contentment we are conditioned not to react negatively to negative situations or be thrown off-
course by ever changing conditions. We become more rooted, grounded and unshakable in love through the Gospel [or good
news] (see: Ephesians 3:16-18). We allow ourselves to enter into a spiritual secret place where His strength and supply can be
found (see: Ps. 91, and Matthew 6:18). Once there, by applying this thought/meditation principle, we will not leave. We stay
connected and not only know how to make it through being abased, but we gain the wisdom to successfully abound....Whatever!
Love In Christ,
Gregory and Linda Emler
Two of the most quoted scriptures among contemporary Christians are: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
[Philippians 4:13], and, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” [Philippians 4:
19] They are so often the scriptural promises that we use in the face of challenge and need, as declarations of our faith and trust
in God. All too often when the manifestation of those promises tarries, there is a tendency for some to get frustrated. Others
become somewhat annoyed when these promises seem to “fly in the face” of our circumstances. I have heard, on more than
one occasion, a “believer” respond sarcastically to, “you can do all things”. ., saying,
“w-h-a-t-e-v-e-r!” Although I believe that the response was not meant to be mean, it also was not a scriptural affirmation or a
positive, faith-filled confession.
We must remember that God is smarter than are we. He KNOWS what works. God has chosen the foolish things of the world to
put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty...
(1Corinthians1:27.) God opens His Word and gives revelation that will empower us, enabling us to “do all things through Christ
who strengthens [us]” as well as HAVE “God... supply [our] need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”, if we will just
lay hold of the power of “WHATEVER!”
The key to victory as professed in Philippians 4: 13 & 19 can be found by reading Philippians 4:8. The path to being strengthened
and supplied by God begins with “finally, whatever.” Please read this out loud slowly, and don’t skip over a single whatever.
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure,
whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate
on these things.” (Philippians 4:8) When God repeats a word in the Scriptures, He does so to emphasize the importance of the
statement. When the Holy Spirit inspired the writer to say “finally”, that implies this is the END of what you need to do in order to
place yourself in the position where God’s grace blesses and enriches. In this case, whatever must be very important to the
main theme, and desired result of this chapter in Philippians.
The use of whatever six times in this verse lets us know that this is not merely a recommendation. We are not to just
occasionally remember a “Hallmark® moment”. It is command that is all inclusive, regarding all the things that we think, all the
time. We understand that few people are totally perfect in applying this verse, but this is a goal in which we are being perfected to
achieve. God’s grace will help us to gain control over our (negative) thought life and turn the thoughts to those on which we
should meditate. The magnitude of God’s strength and supply in our lives is, in part, a response to the degree in which we are
disciplined to think on whatever …
There is also spiritual “glue” that gets us from the list of meditative thoughts to the strength and supply of God. As we continually
recall and focus on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy, we can be brought to a
place of contentment. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to
be abased, and I know how to abound. [Philippians 4:11-12]
Through this disciplined state of contentment we are conditioned not to react negatively to negative situations or be thrown off-
course by ever changing conditions. We become more rooted, grounded and unshakable in love through the Gospel [or good
news] (see: Ephesians 3:16-18). We allow ourselves to enter into a spiritual secret place where His strength and supply can be
found (see: Ps. 91, and Matthew 6:18). Once there, by applying this thought/meditation principle, we will not leave. We stay
connected and not only know how to make it through being abased, but we gain the wisdom to successfully abound....Whatever!
Love In Christ,
Gregory and Linda Emler
