Rejoicing with Focus

Introduction

Last week, we looked at verse one where Paul tells us: “Stand firm in the Lord in this way.

Last week we told you that Paul was going to show us three ways that we are to stand firm in the Lord and in this way.

Last week we looked at standing firm by: Living together in unity (v. 2-3).

Today we are going to look at the final two ways to stand firm in the Lord in this way by: Rejoicing in all occasions (v. 4-7).

And by: Focusing on the good that God brings us (v. 8-9).

So, if you have your Bibles, turn with me to Philippians 4, and we’ll begin reading with verse 4.

Standing Firm by Rejoicing

I have to be honest, if you’ve been around church very long, you have probably heard say the words of this verse. Let’s begin with verse 4.

Philippians 4:4 NIV

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Throughout this letter, Paul has repeatedly talks about his rejoicing and the need for the church at Philippi to rejoice (cf. 1:18; 2:17-18; 3:1; 4:4, 10).

In 3:1 he reminds them to rejoice, and says that it is no problem for him to write this over and over to them. Now, in 4:4, he again tells them to rejoice.

Rejoice in the Lord always—Think about that, there should never be a time or a circumstance in which we are not rejoicing in the Lord.

Paul does not tell us to be happy, but rather to be filled with joy! Joy has less to do with emotion, and more to do with a conscious choice that we make—Perhaps that is why we are given the to “Rejoice in the Lord always. . .”

Now, just in case we didn’t grasp the significance of the command, Paul repeats it for us!

Remember, when the Bible repeats a something, it is because it is important—but when it is repeated so closely together it is very important!

That means that rejoicing must be pretty important because it is repeated twice here, but three times between chapter 3 and 4.

Next, Paul is going to tell us how to keep a rejoicing mindset. Look at verse 5.

Gentleness Evident to All

Philippians 4:5 NIV

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

As followers of Jesus, gentleness (Gk. considerate, forbearing, gracious) should be seen by everyone around us. This should be evident to believer and non-believer alike.

But gentleness is a mark of rejoicing. You see, I don’t have to get all bent out of shape when I’m rejoicing in the Lord.

Our gentleness should be evident to all because the Lord is near!

Don’t be Anxious

Philippians 4:6 NIV

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

In our world today, anxiety is running rampant. Paul tells those of us that follow Jesus how we can control at least some of our anxiety.

There is nothing worthy of our anxious response, when I’m rejoicing!

Instead, we should attack every situation the same way:

We should pray (general communication with God).

We should petition (Gk. deesei, pleading)

We should give thanks (Gk. eucharistias, it has the idea that we should remember the ways in the past that God has acted on our behalf, and this should give us cause to give thanks).

We present our requests (Gk. aitemata, our individual requests that form the whole--entire--prayer).

When we do this look at what happens!

Philippians 4:7 NIV

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

When we turn our focus to God through this kind of prayer, the result is that we receive a peace that comes from God (v. 7).

This peace goes beyond all human understanding.

This peace will guard our hearts. It keeps our hearts in touch with Jesus.

This kind of peace will guard our minds. It keeps our minds focused on Jesus.

Standing Firm by Focus

Quote: Zig Ziglar used to say:

“A positive mental attitude won’t allow you to do everything, but it will allow to do everything better than a negative attitude will.”

Now the positive thinking group often gets a bad rap, but there is something similar in our passage today.

Look at what writes in verse 8.

Philippians 4:8 NIV

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Paul now gives us a grocery list of things that we should think about. Paul uses the plural form of the word whatever to show us that there are many different “things” that fit into each category.

True— (Gk. alethe) valid, honest, reliable (Rom. 3:4) .

Noble— (Gk. semnos) honorable, worthy of respect (Prov. 8:6; 1 Tim. 3:8, 11; Titus 2:2).

Right— (Gk dikaia) just, upright.

Pure--(Gk. hagna) innocent, moral purity.

Lovely— (Gk. prosphile) admirable, agreeable, pleasing.

Admirable— (Gk. euphema) commendable.

QUOTE: (Pentecost, J. Dwight. The Joy of Living: A Study of Philippians. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1973. p. 201)

“The greatest area of sin in the believer’s life is not the area of actions but the area of thought.”

Paul now uses a connective word, IF.

Paul knew that in Philippi, people believed that some things were considered to be excellent, and other things were considered of being worthy of praise.

So, allowing them to determine what they thought was excellent and what they thought was praiseworthy, Paul says that these are the things upon which they needed to focus and think!

Final Part of Standing Firm

Philippians 4:9 NIV

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Paul concludes that one way to stand firm is by following a godly example, so this passage by reiterating what he said back in 3:17—follow my example. Now, saying it in a different way,

Paul tells the Philippian believers that they need to put into practice:

Everything they had learned from Paul.

Everything they had received from Paul.

Everything that they had heard from Paul.

And everything that they had seen in Paul.

The way we experience God’s peace is by changing our focus. When we put verses 8 and 9 together we have a list of all the things upon which our mind should focus.

With our focus on God, and what God approves we will experience peace of God which comes from God!

Conclusion

Paul has given us a road map of sorts of how we can stand firm in the Lord!

We stand firm by:

Having unity of spirit (vrs. 2-3)

We stand firm by rejoicing in the Lord (vrs. 4-7). This is done by:

Working to control our anxiety (v. 6)

By praying

By petitioning our God

By giving thanks

By experiencing God’s peace

We stand firm by focusing our mind:

On the truth

On noble thoughts

On right thoughts

On pure thoughts

On lovely thoughts

On admirable thoughts

To sum up up, think on things that are excellent and things that are praiseworthy.

Three key things that will help each of us standing firm!