Think On These Things

Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

To begin with brothers and sisters I am commissioned and compelled teach, talk, and tell us about thinking about the right things. Church don’t let this moment be a time when our church get confused and side tracked about what is really important.

Paul says the church ought to embrace 9 credible things. Everybody say 9 Things. In this life we all have choices and nobody can make you choose righteousness and nobody can make you choose wickedness, it’s totally up to you. Totally!!

Tell your neighbor: It’s totally up to me.

Church let’s try the sensible way because the unknown author says “There is nothing so bad that couldn’t be worse; There’s little that time may not mend, and troubles, no matter how thickly they come,Most surely will come to an end. You’ve stumbled and perhaps even fell, well, welcome to the club so have we all at some time or another.Don’t dwell over much on regret. For you’re sorry, God knows, we’ll leave it at that. Let past things be past,and forget about them. Don’t despond, don’t give up, but just be yourself. Be the self that is highest and best,Just live every day in a sensible way then leave to God Almighty all the rest. The unknown author says let’s be sensible about things. Some things you can change and some things you can’t change. And you got to ask God to give you peace with that.

The first thing the text teaches us is Finally, That means that we’re coming to a finish, we are about to have closure, and we’re about to come to the end.Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,

1. Think on things that are True. Not just True for you but universally True everywhere. When I say something that is True I want the church to say That’s True. Ok

God is Good Somebody say that’s true.

omit God is Alēthēs meaning He’s the True and Living God

God is All Powerful Somebody say that’s True

God is Bread in a Starving Land

God is Compassionate,

God is Deliberate,

God is Eternal and Everlasting

God is Faithful,

God is Great and greatly to be praised,

God is Holy and Helpful,

God is Infinite there’s not end to Him,

God is a Jealous God Never put no other god before Him,

God is the King of Glory,

God is Lord of Lords, God is Mighty,

God is all we need,

God is Omnipotent Omniscient and Omnipresent Somebody said that’s True.

God is Prophet, Priest, and King

God is a Regal Rock in the wearied Land.

God is our Salvation and shelter in the time of a storm, God is The True and Living God,

God is Bigger than the Universe,

God is our Victory Banner when we face the devil,

God is our Way maker when there is no way,

God is our X-Ray God He sees my good and knows my bad, God is Yaweh God of all gods

God is the Zenith of our lives and without Him we can’t do nothing. And the church said Amen.

2. In Philippians 4:8 after the fourth comma the word says Whatsoever things are Honest, 3x. Honest 3x Honesty matters with me. Being Honorable means to have Honor​. Honor means to have A quality that is associated with respect, dignity, and esteem.

Brothers and sisters we ought to Honor the Lord with the first fruits of thine increase .

1.We ought to Bless God with everything we have Everybody say Bless the Lord Honor Him because Psalm 103:1 says Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

2. Then we ought to Honor God’s Church Because David said in Psalms 122:1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. 2 Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.

3. We ought to Bless and Honor our Pastor I Timothy 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. Give Honor to whom Honor is due.

And the church said Amen.

Then the text teaches, talks, and tells us in Philippians 4:8 Whatsoever things are Just. Saints of God listen to me, In today’s politics being a Just person doesn’t seem to matter to some of the American Public anymore. But to God! being Just in our character greatly matters. I know it does because in I Kings 16:30 king Ahab was a heathen king who married Jezebel and scripture says that Ahab grieved God because he was the worse king Israel ever had. He was not a Just man. And brothers and sisters your record follow you long after you’re dead and gone. I want to be considered as a Just Pastor. In other words if it’s good for the goose it ought to be good for the gander. Everybody ought to be treated equal. And the church said Amen. We got to be Just and Honorable.

Then the text says whatsoever things are pure. The word Pure Describes something free from contamination or moral impurity. The word Pure is often times used in religious or ethical contexts to signify spiritual or physical cleanliness. Let me prove it. Somebody say Prove it Rev. Jesus said in the famous sermon on the mount called the beatitudes in Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the Pure in Heart: for they shall see God.

Listen brothers and sisters in Philippians 4:2 Paul is saying to Euodias, and Syntyche, that there egos, super-egos, and their Ids are getting in the way and that they should be on one accord and have the same mind in the Lord with a Pur Heart. Because Jesus says only the pure in heart shall see God.

Then the text says in Philippians 4:8 Whatsoever things are lovely, Did you know that when you think on lovely things you just feel better… I was thinking about my children and trying to steer their lives my way in my own MIND…3x because they are grown now, and they are men and women with their own ways of thinking… Then I heard Deacon Randy Melancon say in his prayer “Lord watch over our children while they are not in our presence. And church I let it go!!! What so ever things are lovely.

First of all I love the Lord because he heard my cry and pitied my every groan and long as I live I’ll hasten to His throne. The bible says that God is Love. The bible says Love ye one another as Christ has also love you. The bible says that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believe in Him should not perish bit have everlasting life. Jesus loved us so much that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. The bible says no greater love than this that a man lay down his life for a friend. The bible says that There is a Friend that stick closer than a brother and His name is Jesus.

Church we ought to find some love in our lives. Life is too short for you to go through it all mad and sad and acting bad all the time. It’s thanksgiving time. it’s time to think of good things, true things, honest things, Just things, pure things, lovely things,And that brings us to the next thing.

Things that are of Good Report; My Grandmother use to say If you can’t say nothing good then don’t say nothing at all. Church we ought to Look at the glass and see it half full, not half empty. This is my assessment I believe that the Pilgrim BC is the best church on this side of the Mississippi River. Period. “You aren’t going to ever hear me say anything different from that”…You ‘ve got speak positive things over this church, over your family and friends, over your life, over your community, over your city, over your town, over your home, over your job, BUT WHY REV? Because the bible says that life and death are in the power of your tongue. I believe the report of the Lord. I shall live and not die. Brothers and sisters all of our love ones who are sick and shut in I believe in the power of prayer. I believe in having a little talk with Jesus because just a little talk with Jesus make everything alright.

A Good Report asks good questions. I want us to answer yes to the truth. Y’all ready? Is Life worth Living and the church said Yes! Can you see the good in people over the bad stuff they might do? and the church said yes. Can you be kind? and the Church said yes Can you be happy with the things that you have? and the church said yes. Can you have faith the size of a mustard seed and we move the mountains out of our way? and the church said yes

We are talking about a Good Report. Can we give a little more without complaining? to get the church even more on a solid footing? and the church said yes. Can we unite and be on one accord? because united we stand but divided we fall? and the church said Amen.

A Good Report 3x is characterized by this story in the book of Genesis. There was a man named Enoch who was Methuselah’s daddy and Enoch walked with God for 365 years and Enoch walked with God so well until One Day Enoch walked straight on up to heaven.The bible says that He didn’t die God just took him. Now That’s a Good Report.

Then the bible says in Philippians 4:8 If there be any virtue, The word virtue mean to have A moral excellence and goodness of character. Virtue encompasses the development of positive moral qualities and ethical behaviors that enable individuals to lead a life of integrity, righteousness, and moral excellence.

There isn’t a story in the bible better than what Proverbs 31:10-31 says “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. 11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. 13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. 14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. 15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. 18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. 19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. 22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. 24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. 26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. 29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. 30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

This is what virtue looks like for the bible..

Then Finally the bible says in Philippians 4:8 says “And if there be any praise, think on these things. I came here today with a prayer in my soul and a praise on my lips. And I know no matter what the situation no matter what the conditions are and no matter what the circumstances look like My God is Able.

Tell your neighbor : God is Able

And if God is able and you know He is, Then you ought to be able to praise Him. If you can’t change your situation by worrying about it then my advice to you is, to praise your way out of it. Because the bible says in Psalms 150:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. 2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. 3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. 4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. 5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. 6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

Well I’ve held ya’ll long enough I’ve got to close here But tah I’m reminded of a story that comes to my mind, um um um It’s about David the same man who wrote Psalms 150, Lord Yes, The bible says that the Ark of the Covenant was being brought back to Jerusalem safely this time. And David being a Master Musician ordered the Priests and the Levites to play instruments and sing praises unto the Lord while they brought the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem. David has singers and Dancers and Musicians parading back to Jerusalem. David led the convoy lie the Drum Major from Southern Oh Lordy. And David Danced and Danced and Danced all the way back to Jerusalem. Yes He did, And his wife Michel saw King David dancing all out of his clothes and was shame of David. But the Lord was very Pleased with David. The Lord said that David was like the apple of His eye. Oh yes he was.

And Think on these things. Tell your neighbor that everything is going to be alright. Oh Lord because I heard Paul saying Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you