Not That Fantastic Four!
Maybe when you hear “The Fantastic Four” you think of this.
Or maybe this…
I haven’t read the comic book or seen the movie . I actually have a very different fantastic four in mind. This week I was reading the Bible one morning and came across a promise and I thought to myself, “I say I believe this promise and in some sense I do but do I really believe it?” As I thought about this four pretty fantastic promises came to mind. As I thought about them I realized these are promises many Christians know well and claim to believe but I’m fairly confident that while we would not deny them we don’t rely on them either. So think about these four.
Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Yes, it’s not whatever we want but it is “all” our needs! That’s fantastic.
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
This is the one we all know. But do we know it? In the Bible you do not know a truth like this unless it affects you.
Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
I’ve talked to a number of people in mid-life recently who wonder if they are going to be able to finish well. They feel tired and as one friend says, “the shiny has come off of everything.” It seems like each stage in life brings new challenges but here’s the promises, I can face, get through, handle and do whatever God calls me to do in life from the vibrancy of youth to finishing well.
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Wherever I need wisdom I can ask God for it and he will give it. James goes on to say, but let him ask in faith, not doubting. In a sense that strengthens the promises. He is saying “Don’t doubt that God will give you wisdom when you ask for it!” Ask for and he will give it even if you’re a sinner because God gives generously to all without finding fault. That’s fantastic.
If you put all these together every verse or promises either uses the words all or every. If you think of the King James Version for Philippians 4:13 it says, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. God will meet all my needs, he will work all things together for good, I can do all things through Christ, and God gives wisdom to all who ask for it in faith. These four promises cover most if not all of life. I want them in my heart and on our lips. With each of these promises we’re left with the question Jesus asked of Martha, Do you believe this?
Larry is the senior pastor at 
I hope this pertains to the subject and I didn’t go off on a tangent.I’m not a writer or blogger!! :)
I really do believe these promises, but as life has gone on, I’m so much more skeptical and callused.
I was at Alpha the other night that Saul spoke on suffering. In his intro he spoke about the baby that we lost after Noah, named Jonas, who was born at 26 weeks. I think I was 22 at the time. Saul was absolutely a mess and mad at God but I reacted much different. I felt God’s peace in the midst of turmoil. I knew God was sovereign (this way was before I was reformed) and that his was still in control and had a plan (which of course I can see now.) When I think about how I endured, it was ONLY by God’s grace alone that I didn’t have a break down. We had no money to bury Jonas or cremate him so the hospital took his remains and discarded them.
Now I look at my life and don’t see the same trust as I had then, which is pretty sad. I’m bogged down by the cares of this world. I also know the solution is return to my first love.
I have to say this scripture to myself over and over again when I get in a funk
Ps 42:5
Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God
Kelli, thanks for you comment and honesty. That’s not a tangent at all. At times in my past I have gone through certain trials and the truth is God gave grace so that it wasn’t too tough even though it could have been. Maybe that’s part of what Paul calls “the peace that passeth understanding”. Then there have also been times where dealing with life’s issues was very difficult indeed. Maybe our walk of faith, or trust just changes over time and though out our life. Sometimes faith seems to come more easily and naturally. At other times we have to fight the good fight and preach to ourselves. I think it is part of our growth and the real spiritual battle we are in. I read once where in the Christian life we sometimes face “doldrums” this is an expression used by sailors when they are at sea and the wind dies. Suddenly there is no momentum. Sometimes it goes on like that for days before eventually someone feels a slight breeze and then slowly but surely the wind builds until the sails fill and there is momentum and direction again. That too is part of the Christian journey. Brother Lawrence sat under a tree once in winter and saw a similar analogy. Sometimes you are in Winter and sometimes Spring but the life in the roots can grow through both seasons. So let’s keep saying Psalm 42 and remembering the fantastic four also: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Sometimes trust seems to just be given to us but sometimes we have to fight for it. Peace.