Sermon Tone Analysis

Philippians 4:20-23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen Caswell © 2004

Early Church Fellowship

 

This was the reaction of the unbelieving Greek writer Lucian (a.d.

120-200) upon observing the warm fellowship of Christians: /It is incredible to see the fervor with which the people of that religion help each other in their wants.

They spare nothing.

Their first legislator, Jesus, has put it into their heads that they are all brethren./

The final verses of Philippians at first glance may just seem to be sentimental words.

But on closer inspection they contain some very important truths for the Church.

Paul closes by reminding us one last time about the Family of God.

He shares three things that are very important to /family fellowship/.

*/The Glory Of God, The Greetings Of Saints, The Grace Of Christ.

/*

 

/Firstly,/ The Glory Of God

 

*Philippians 4:**20:* /Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever.

Amen./

To Glorify God In Heaven

 

I do not go to heaven to be advanced, said Brainerd on his dying bed to Jonathan Edwards, his biographer, but to give honor to God.

It is no matter where I shall be stationed in heaven, whether I have a high or low seat there, but to live and please and glorify God … My heaven is to please God and glorify Him, and give all to Him, and to be wholly devoted to His glory.

/a.

Glorify God In Your Life/

 

The Westminster Catechism says */the chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.

/*/Why did Paul include a Doxology at this point?/

After thinking of God’s abundant provision the apostle felt compelled to break out into praise.

/This is suitable language for every child of God who daily experiences God’s gracious care in providing guidance, help against temptation, and the provision of every need./

In *Verse 19* Paul promised that God would graciously provides for all our needs from His riches in glory.

/How can we not praise the Lord?/ Praise is the right thing to do.

We should live each day for God’s glory.

*1 Corinthians 10:31 says: */Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God./

We should look upon God, under all our weakness and fears, not as an enemy, but as a Father, disposed to pity us and help us.

What Hath God Wrought!

In conversation with Professor S. F. B. Morse, the inventor of the telegraph, the Rev. George W. Hervey asked this question: /Professor Morse, when you were making your experiments yonder in your room in the university, did you ever come to a stand, not knowing what to do next?/

Oh, yes, more than once.

/And at such times what did you do next?/

I may answer you in confidence, sir, said the professor, but it is a matter of which the public knows nothing.

I prayed for more light.

And the light generally came.

Yes, and may I tell you that when flattering honors come to me from America and Europe on account of the invention which bears my name, I never felt I deserved them.

I had made a valuable application of electricity, not because I was superior to other men, but solely because God, who meant it for mankind, must reveal it to someone, and was pleased to reveal it to me.

/In view of these facts, it is not surprising that the inventor’s first message was,/ */What has God wrought!/*

 

*Matthew 5:14-16: */You are the light of the world.

A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and *glorify your Father* in heaven./

· / Our great object of *glorifying *God is to be mainly achieved by the winning of souls.

/*/Charles Spurgeon.

/*

· */ /*/Resolved* *that all men should live for the *glory* of God.

Resolved* *that whether others do or not, I will.

*Jonathan Edwards */

· / Let us thus think often that our only business in this life is to *please* God.

*Brother Lawrence*/

· / As it is written, He who *glories*, let him *glory* in the Lord/.

*/1 Corinthians 1:31/  *

 

/b.

Glorify God With Your Lips/

 

God is perfect.

He is pure and holy and everything that He does is right and just.

*/Since this will always be true of God, He deserves the glory forever and ever.

/*We should live for the glory of God.

Only He is worthy of such devotion and praise.

*Hebrews 13:15: */Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name./

Communion Prayer

 

It is fitting and right to sing of you, to praise you, to thank you, to adore you in all places of your dominion.

For you are the ineffable God, inconceivable, invisible, incomprehensible, existing forever and yet ever the same, you and your only-begotten Son and your Holy Spirit.

You brought us into being out of nothingness, and when we had fallen, you raised us up again.

You have not ceased doing everything to lead us to heaven and to bestow upon us your future kingdom.

For all this do we thank you and your only-begotten Son and your Holy Spirit - for all the benefits of which we know and those of which we are ignorant, for those that are manifest to us and those that lie concealed.

We thank you also for this sacrifice, which you are pleased to receive from our hands, even though there stand before you thousands of archangels and myriads of angels, Cherubim and Seraphim, six-winged and many-eyed, borne aloft on their wings who sing, proclaim, cry out, and chant the triumphal hymn: */Holy, holy, holy, Lord of Hosts!

Heaven and earth are filled with your glory./*

Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest!

*/John Chrysostom/*

/c.

Glorify God As Our Father/

 

We can also praise God because He is our Father.

God cares for us as only a loving Father can.

He has blessed His children and laid a vast inheritance aside for them.

Unlike earthly fathers who make mistakes our Heavenly Father knows what is best.

He is worthy of our respect and obedience.

He wants what is best for us.

*Ephesians 1:3: **/Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ./*/

/

/ /

Enriching Every Sphere

 

Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40, and /Jesus for only 3/.

Yet the influence of Christ’s 3-year ministry infinitely transcends the impact left by 130 years of teaching from these men who were the greatest philosophers of all antiquity.

/Jesus painted no pictures;/ yet, some of the finest paintings of Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci received their inspiration from Him. /Jesus wrote no poetry/; but Dante, Milton, and scores of the world’s greatest poets were inspired by Him.

/Jesus composed no music;/ still Haydn, Handel, Beethoven, Bach, and Mendelssohn reached their highest perfection of melody in the hymns, symphonies, and oratories composed in His praise.

*/Every sphere of human greatness is enriched by this humble Carpenter of Nazareth.

/*

 

Application

 

/How do you glorify God in your life?

Do you praise the Lord for His grace, love, faithfulness, majesty and power?

Do we tell others about our wonderful Lord?

Do you live for the glory of God?/

This is the highest thing we can ever do!/ *Will you give Him first place?*/

*/Will you live to please God in all you do?

Is anything more important?/*

/Secondly,/ The Greetings Of Saints

 

*Philippians 4:21-22: */Greet every saint in Christ Jesus.

The brethren who are with me greet you.

All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household./

Paul */greeted/* every saint in the Philippian Church.