Now What?

Good morning, welcome to New Horizon Christian Church. Please open your Bible to Philippians 4.

Finishing this sermon series.

Next couple of weeks- Oscar preaching next week; Following week back into Ephesians 4.

Read Philippians 4:8–9- “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Pray.

Philippians is a book written by the apostle Paul to a church that he has planted (in Acts 16) and with whom he continues a very strong and loving relationship.

Throughout the letter, we find Paul expressing this love for the church.

He shares his experiences of what he is going through under house arrest.

He shares some of his deepest personal thoughts about his faith in Christ- to live is Christ, to die is gain.

He encourages them in how they ought to think of his own circumstances.

He thanks them for all that they have done on his behalf from the time the church was planted.

He shares deep theology with them that is meant to impact the way that they live.

He reiterates with them the foundations of the gospel- salvation by grace through faith alone.

So now, he comes to the end of his letter. How will he close such a deeply personal letter to a known and loved congregation.

Don’t pass too quickly on these words. Imagine the words you would use in closing what is possibly the last form of communication that you will have with someone you love.

What would be the last words you’d want to say to your spouse, your children, your closest friends, your life group?

Do this, pursue that, become what you want to become.

Paul went with something different.

Here we find some of Paul’s last words, final instructions, that he shares with Christians that we wants to see grow in their faith.

Notice where Paul goes with his encouragement. He goes to thought life and practice, specifically the practice of imitation.

1. What you think about matters deeply.

Let’s start with the most basic idea that we find in our text- that there is a right and a wrong way of thinking.

Or perhaps more accurately, there is right and wrong stuff on which to set our minds, on which to think.

Paul tells his readers, this church that he loves, to think about things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and praiseworthy.

These are the meant to be the qualities of whatever fills our minds and lives.

If it is true that these are the qualities of that which fills our minds, then it means that there is plenty that should not fill our minds.

logizomai- To think, to compute, to dwell, to reckon.

Not speaking here of fleeting or shallow thoughts.

Paul is instructing his readers to not only think briefly about these qualities, but instead to reckon them, to compute them.

Run these ideas through the system constantly.

This is to be a constant question in our lives- are we thinking about, pondering, considering the right things.

Ali’s filter for our kids- gatekeeper.

In the same way, this is Paul’s gatekeeper. What is the stuff that is entering our heads?

Think just a bit deeper.

Why is it important that we think on these things? Because we become what we think about.

Learned this very early in parenting.

Aletheia- Leave me alone and get your own life.

If what we bring in possesses the mentioned qualities, If these qualities are in our minds, then we find that more and more, these qualities begin to define who we are at our core.

This brings us to our next point.

2. We must think and practice.

After Paul tells his readers to think about these things, he mirrors his language of “these things” by moving from thought to practice.

From think about these things, to practice these things.

What does it mean to practice something? For some, we might view the word practice in light of hobbies.

prasso- to do something, to commit oneself to something.

Thoughts are meant to transform life.

What is it that is supposed to be practiced? What has been learned, received and seen.

Notice the order of these words.

You learn about the godly life, it is not a natural way of thinking about life, it must be taught, and received.

Then, when you see it lived out in a person, live in such a manner.

What Paul is not saying- look at all of my life and imitate me- Instead, when you see what you have learned and received, live in that way.

This ought to be our life in the context of the church.

Learn, receive, see it, and practice.

3. The content of our thoughts and lives.

Take a moment to consider what Paul instructs the Philippians to have on their minds.

These qualities are the very best of what life can offer.

Language used mirrors the heights of Greek or Hellenistic culture of the day.

Stated more clearly, Paul looks at the best of what the surrounding culture has to offer and states that people are to fill their heads with the best of life.

These is also a word of encouragement to be made here.

When you consider the very best of what makes up society, the things you most long for, the qualities of utopia, you would do well to contemplate whether such a place exists.

Reading about Narnia or Middle earth, what makes the descriptions so beautiful is that we can begin to imagine what such a place would look like because of our own experience.

In much the same way, but a little in reverse, perhaps we ought to think about these descriptive words that Paul uses and ask what it would be like to be truly immersed in such experiences of truth, honor, justice, purity, loveliness, commendable, excellent and praiseworthy.

What if our experiences of these qualities, that which is most enjoyable in all of life, could be extended to perfection.

What would it be like for our lives to be made up of experiences, thoughts, behaviors, that were nothing BUT what Paul listed here?

Can you see where I am going with this?

The beauty of these descriptive words that Paul uses is that we have experienced all of them in part.

But all of these qualities can be experienced in a fuller way than our current lives.

Paul directs his readers to think on past this life.

Live and think now, however imperfectly, in the qualities that are eternal in heaven.

These words given by Paul are not only meant to be instructional, they are also meant to be words of encouragement.

Live and think in the ways that you will one day perfectly live and think.

There is a certain allure to these words of Paul. His challenges to the Philippian church are not meant to be overbearing or impossible, but lovely, encouraging and prodding one on.

4. Our ultimate aim and its results.

When we consider that which is honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise, what is Paul really telling us to focus our minds upon?

The highest expression of each of these attributes are all shared in the same person- Paul instructs minds to be set entirely on God, or on that which leads us to the contemplation of the character and work of God.

They are eternal qualities because they are the very quality of God.

The point that Paul is making in our verses is that the more we think about God, His character and His work, the more we will live the way He calls us to live.

Everything is to be focused on God.

Notice how our foundational doctrines of the Christian faith impact the way that we live.

Think about the character and work of the Father- know Him as sovereign and watch your trust and faith grow.

Think about the character and work of the Son, particularly His death, resurrection and ascension- know Him as Savior and yourself as loved.

Think about the character and work of the Spirit- know yourself as well-equipped for the life ahead of you.

Think about the cross of Jesus- know that you are called to humble yourself and sacrifice yourself for the good and betterment of others.

Think about the resurrection of Jesus- know that you can live a life without fear of anything given Jesus’ defeat of death.

Think about the return of Jesus- know the hope that you can possess when you are reminded of life beyond the grave.

All of what we learn in the basics of our faith is meant to expand in our minds, but is also meant to inspire every day life.

Every day we need to be reminded of these basic foundations of the Christian faith, but also of the implications that they hold for life being lived.

Our ultimate aim is the character and work of God- the results of such an aim is a life that honors and worships God, but also seeks to live His character in a fallen and broken world.

Salvation- healing. How does God heal this world? Through His Church.