"These Things"

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 78:17-31

Psalm 78:17–31 ESV

Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved. They spoke against God, saying, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness? He struck the rock so that water gushed out and streams overflowed. Can he also give bread or provide meat for his people?” Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of wrath; a fire was kindled against Jacob; his anger rose against Israel, because they did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power. Yet he commanded the skies above and opened the doors of heaven, and he rained down on them manna to eat and gave them the grain of heaven. Man ate of the bread of the angels; he sent them food in abundance. He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he led out the south wind; he rained meat on them like dust, winged birds like the sand of the seas; he let them fall in the midst of their camp, all around their dwellings. And they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved. But before they had satisfied their craving, while the food was still in their mouths, the anger of God rose against them, and he killed the strongest of them and laid low the young men of Israel.

Scripture Reading: Genesis 1:31

Genesis 1:31 ESV

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Sermon:

Well once again and as always good morning church, I was glad when they said to me, let us go. And worship in the house of the Lord. Today, I wanted to start a little differently. Give you a bit of. Fun trivia, a fun fact,

if you were to go and Google, How many thoughts does the average person have in a day? You'd find that studies show the answer is Between six and sixty thousand. It's the first thought I had when I read. That was, why is there such a big difference? It's because You, it's hard to describe what is exactly. A thought and and so how much intentionality goes into these thoughts, becomes part of the question and why It's a a hard answer to find.

But Even we go to the low end 6. 000, thoughts a day. That's a lot. And it turns out Studies have shown that between 60 to 80 percent of these thoughts that we have. Are negative. Or come from a negative place. And so as people do this, research and psychiatrists and people seek to understand this, one of the things they found is The more intentional you are. And in how you are thinking and what you are thinking about the better, your life will be.

And the first thought that I had after reading all of this was, The Bible's been saying that for like 2,000 years and it took full-on scientific studies to discover this. Scripture has been clear for all of scripture that what we set our heart to, and our mind to become very important. Paul talks about in other places Taking every thought captive and and These thoughts become important. And we see that in Philippians Philippians chapter 4 verses 8 and 9. We will be looking at this morning. What we think on? Becomes important. Let's read our text. For today, Philippians 4 starting in verse 8… finally. And I'll note this is kind of the the last finally we we are here at the end of Philippians. This is the last of We call the imperative portion of Philippians. He has a final thought that we're going to spend some time with we're not done yet, but this is really the the punch the the last portion of this letter. Finally. Let's start again.

Philippians 4:8–9 ESV

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.

These are the words of the Lord for us this morning. Let's open with a word of prayer.

Our Holy Father in heaven, We thank you for your grace and mercy. For the kindness that leads us. To repentance. We thank you. That you see fit to redeem. Save and sanctify. Wretched Sinners, such as us. Incline our hearts towards you. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear. May we in your word be shaped and changed into the image of your son. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We pray that your spirit would work in. It's in Jesus name that we pray. Amen.

These verses are Very famous. Most of us have heard them at least once in our lives. When I was, Kid growing up. I remember hearing songs. About thinking and what thinking on things that are lovely and pure and understanding what what is going on here? And, and so today. These are simple verses and I think they have simple points that are very profound. In some ways difficult. But in other ways, Just wonderful beautiful encouragement from Paul to the Philippian church and therefore from Paul. To us. So we're gonna walk through this passage And try to understand the case that Paul's making. To, in many ways sum up all of Philippians, that's come before. And so we start with this exhortation. It's almost a command. Think on. These things.

Think on these things

Paul gets the end of verse 8 and he says, think about these things and so our questions should be. Okay, what things? That's a long list.

Things that are true things that are honorable things that are just things that are pure, things that are lovely, things that are commendable, things, that are excellent things that are worthy of Praise.

These are the things That we should. Think on. And when we look at this list and this will be the subject of Grace group. We're going to try to put this verse into sort of practical application. So I encourage you go to Grace group this week. But I want to try to help us understand the heart that I'm going to try to get to In the grace group discussion. As we think through … this is why this becomes challenging in many ways, right? If we think through what it means to think on these things. We end up in in some trouble. Because everything. Either can Or can't fit into this sort of thought process and this is what I mean by that… If we're too strict in how we read this and think that this means that, everything every thought we have has to be true, honorable just pure lovely commendable Excellent worthy of Praise.

Is taking out the trash. Okay, I gotta remember to take out the trash today. Is that? Honorable maybe because it's kind of good taking care of my family was, it's kind of mundane.. Is it true that I have to take out the trash? Well, Don't want to sort of be a rules lawyer up here, but I don't have to take out the trash like if I forget, it's kind of annoying but the trash will come back next week. Is it Lovely to take out the trash. That's gonna be a stretch. I don't know. So, can I even think that thought? So, Nothing can fully achieve this standard other than contemplating, the beauty and Grace and Glory of God all the time, 24 7 365.

On the other hand. If I'm not careful, I can find ways in my creative ability in my heart, to justify my sin to sort of qualify, all sorts of things that fall short of this. But I can lie to myself and say that they do… This movie is based on real events, so it is true… well it is also true that it has a graphic sex scene...

Even that thought I can lie to myself shows that we often have thoughts that don't achieve this standard.

So what is going on? How do we think on these things? I think the important thought to remember, then, Is everything that's come before in Philippians. I'm going to get in details. Again, if you go to Grace group, I'll get in details on how to exactly bridge this Gap, I think.

But I'm going to have to, you're gonna have to take my word for it. That what Paul is talking about here? Is is a principle to apply to our life and how this works out Then is this:

Philippians chapter 1 verse 27. Only let. Manner of life, be worthy of the Gospel. Of Christ.

Philippians 2 5. Have this mind among yourselves. Which is your? In Christ, Jesus.

Philippians 3, 1 finally. My brothers Rejoice, In the Lord. Philippians. Four. Rejoice in the lord, always. Again, I say Rejoice, we looked at this last week

Philippians 4: verse 7. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds. In Christ Jesus.

What does it mean to think on these things? It means. Shortly and sweetly. Live in light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Every moment of every second of your life. And knowing that the gospel impacts everything then becomes the driving force. So let's go back to taking out the garbage. I have this thought I need to take out the garbage today.

How does that connect to the gospel? Many ways? Praise be to God. That he has allowed me to live and part of that living and part of what he has called me to is in fact taking out the garbage... I think that's thinking on things that are true and just and lovely.

As I take out the garbage. This mundane thing I have to do… We have a savior. Who lived and walked on this same mundane world. We usually go to the extremes, Jesus sympathizes with us in our pain and suffering, and yes that is true… But even in the mundane, Jesus, sympathizes with us, praise be to God for them.

To think on these things is to have a gospel and christ-centered mindset. It's too in every opportunity in every moment and every chance I have be grateful to the God who love me so much that he would send his only son, that whoever believes in him, will not perish, but have everlasting life.

It's to warp our mind in such a way that we seek and attempt to find in every opportunity in every moment that we can praise. To the Lord. Who o’re all things, so wonderfully reineth. It means that we— in our hearts and in our minds, Seek to offer him all glory honor and praise that He is due. Because ultimately, this is where I've landed.

Jesus. Is true.

Only Jesus truly is Honorable. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. And yet, there was one who Did not sin. Jesus only, he is worthy of Honor.

Who is just? even the most just judge here on Earth pales in comparison to the just judge of all of the universe in Jesus Christ.

Who is pure? Jesus alone

Who is lovely? Jesus, my savior who is commendable. Jesus, my Lord. Is excellent. He alone is worthy of Praise. The answer to all of these things. Is Jesus. And so just like Paul elsewhere, right? He will talk about in Thessalonians, pray without ceasing. How do you pray without ceasing? Well, you you seek to frame your life in such a way that prayer, becomes the focus of your life and your life is a Living Prayer in many ways and you spend your life figuring out what that means and learning how to do that.

So too, how do we think on these things we think on Jesus? And if you're not thinking about Jesus, all the time, you need to think about him more. How often should you think about Jesus? more! And then one day, When we Get to the other side of Eternity and we Behold Him face to face, we will for time upon time time, without ceasing all of eternity be singing praises to his name. That's the point.

And so to this has been the resounding thought in Philippians, right? We spent a lot of time over the last few weeks talking about the resurrection and the life to come. Even this thought that we should think on these things that are true and honorable just pure lovely commendable. Excellent things we are preparing our hearts and our lives for eternity. When there we will praise Jesus. Forever. So, think on these things,

Practically speaking. To give you some application to your life. That means Taking your thoughts captive. Being honest with where your mind and heart wander. And bringing all praise glory. And adoration. To Jesus. And if you do that, When you do that.

You will then begin to live out. These things.

Live out these things

Verse 9. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. What does Paul say? practice These things.

There's two levels here that I want to make sure we touch.

Paul tells them. Hey, those things. I'm writing to you, what you've learned when Paul was there preaching to them. In caesarea Philippi Paul preaching to this church, what you learn from me? Do it. What you received from me. Something I learned early in my Ministry. I can say all the right things. I mean there's levels to this too, right? And and in that case, if I have said what God has called me to say, my conscience is clear. I can say all sorts of things but until you are willing to receive these things And part of receiving is active thought anda care… Lets be careful… You don't just take please never take what I say. Or anyone else says as gospel truth until you have seen it in God's word. But if you have seen God's word, And so, all you have learned and then received from me Do those things?

He continues: what you you have heard. Paul's saying look I taught you this I preached you this I said this over and over and over again. If you heard anything from me about how to live a holy righteous life, do it What you have learned, what you received, what you have heard and then here's the kicker. And seen in Me.

What have you seen in me. When you looked at my life, my life backed up, what I was teaching and preaching and talking about. And so you need to Fashion your life. In the same way, I have preached. So the first level to this is, When we hear teaching on how we ought to live, We should do that.

But in all honesty, that's the easy part. When someone comes and teaches me. Okay, this is what you should do. This is what scripture says, this is what God has called you to, okay?

So the first level of this is we gotta live out these things that were taught Here's the hard part of this.

Can we say? What Paul just said. Right. It should work like this. We all learn receive hear and see things in Paul. And then our life changes, we live out these things. And then as we live out these things, the people around us can learn and receive and hear and see in us, these same sorts of things.

These things here, whatever we think on is, I think Paul talking has to be very gospel-minded and oriented. When Paul says the things that you have received and learned and heard and seen I think he's talking about yes, the gospel that's the learned received and heard. But then importantly, The gospel changes us. It plays out IN our lives too, such that those That come into our lives can see it too

Nothing we can do. Can save us. You cannot be good enough. Righteous enough. Holy enough. You can't in your own strengths in life. However, Once we are saved. Our Lives will begin to look like people. Who are saved. We will be Sanctified. There's no, maybe as we read through, scripture scripture is very clear.

Those who are saved live like those who are saved, we judge a tree by its fruits. And so in your life, you have to look what am I? What am I Teaching. What am I preaching? What am I saying? And importantly, how am I living? Can the people around me?

Look at me and say I should practice those things

How we live? Matters. And how we live will be based upon what we think. I think there's a reason Paul does it in this order. Wait, first, our minds are washed and Sanctified our thought process changes and we begin to walk more in the truth of the gospel. And so as our mind is changed and we think more rightly our life has changed and we live more rightly, that's the point.

And so as we get to the end here then of Philippians All of the suffering. That Paul's talked about in this book. Comes to this. Think on these things. All of the exhortation Paul's given us about how we ought to live and how we ought to think and how we ought to behave and what our attitude and mind and heart should be comes to this think on these things. All the exhortations to humility to setting aside, our wants and desires and counting others is more important than ourselves. Glorying in the cross of Christ, understanding, what these things mean, living like Timothy, and epaphroditus doing these things. We contemplate in our minds what this means and we live in our lives. These truths out, that's the point. And when we do, You will receive God's peace.

recieve God’s Peace

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 peace of God will be With you.

When you see in scripture, I would say it's important to teach you. How do I read scripture? What do I look for because I think it'll help you. To know when you're reading scripture. Right? When you see the same word over and over again, It's probably an important word.

So when Paul says, think on these things, practice these things and then we have this word “and” What Paul's saying is If you think, and if you practice these things, what does he say? The peace of God will. Be with you. Not May. Should or might, It will.

The more We think. On Jesus, the more peace you will have. Period, full stop. That's the point.

As the hymn says, turn your eyes upon, Jesus look, full in his wonderful face and the things of Earth — which here I think includes the stress, troubles, trials, troubles difficulties — And the things of Earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and Grace. That's the point.

The more we look to and think on Jesus, the more we will have God's peace. The more we live out the way God has called us to live. The more peace. We will have.

A life lived. Living out these things. Those things that we have learned and received and heard and seen in Paul. And in particular, in this letter, to the book of Philippians, the more we live this out, The more peace, we will have.

As we are lying there — God willing, someday Long in the future for most of us — But as we draw to the close and are lying there Remembering back on our lives. If we have done what God has called us to do, There will be no regrets. Just peace. And did what God called me to. Couldn't do anymore. His strength was made perfect in my weakness.

Therefore, I can rest.

If you are struggling. Here's my exhortation, my call and your application point for today.

If you find yourself struggling to have peace,

What are you thinking on? And how are you living? Find a way. By the grace of God, through the empowering work of the, Holy Spirit to think on these things and live out these things and the peace of God will. I promise you. Be with you.

Let's pray.