Be Honorable
The Choice to Rejoice • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 5 viewsConsider examining Paul’s call to think on things that are true, noble, right, and praiseworthy. Focusing our thoughts on these virtues can transform our mindset. Highlight how Christ embodies these virtues and inspire the congregation to reflect His character in their thinking, which leads to practicing what they’ve learned, thus experiencing God's peace.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
The story of Jesus and the woman at the well.
4 And he had to pass through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
A woman from Samaria came to draw water from the well.
Jesus asked her for a drink of water.
Jesus was not focused on his exhaustion or his thirst; he was focused on the Gospel need of the woman.
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
Jesus reveals to the woman his greatness (knowing details about her life)—which draws her toward a spiritual conversation.
23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Jesus reveals to her that he is the Christ—and it changes her life.
Jesus modeled something here that we would do well to understand.
So often, we are focused on our own needs—our own exhaustion, our own thirst, our own wants and desires.
But God calls the believer to focus on the Gospel—the Good News of Jesus Christ and his free gift of salvation!
We are citizens of heaven and we have a responsibility to stand firm in the Lord—a responsibility to maintain the unity in the Body of Christ (the Church)—and to pray!
This is what we have journeyed through these past several weeks in Philippians 4.
Now we come to the finally.
Text
8 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.
9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Transition
I think it is possible to identify three powerful principles that serve as a summation to our passage of Scripture this month.
We have learned in the past three weeks to:
Be faithful (in the Lord)
Be unified (through humility and placing the needs of others above our own.
Be prayerful by choosing joy, rejecting fear, giving thanks, and experiencing the peace of God.
And now, Paul wraps up his exhortation to Christians.
Point 1
Maintain Gospel-centric Thinking.
Maintain Gospel-centric Thinking.
Hellenistic moralism and Jewish wisdom where the standards of quality living in the days of Jesus and Paul.
But for the quality of living as a believer in Jesus Christ, the moral and wise way of living is drawn from the reality of the Cross.
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.
The following six qualities are intended to be representative rather than definitive.
True: what conforms to the Gospel.
Honorable: what is worthy of respect in light of the Gospel.
Just: what is defined by God and His character (righteousness).
Pure: What is not tainted or contaminates by evil.
Lovely: What is beautiful in the light of the Gospel.
Commendable: What is worthy of consideration (admirable).
In other words, focus your thoughts on what is commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise.
We think and we do what receives the approval of God and brings him glory.
Point 2
Learn and Exemplify the Practices of Faithful Believers.
Learn and Exemplify the Practices of Faithful Believers.
People will influence your attitudes, your priorities, and your actions.
Choose to surround yourselves with those who imitate Christlikeness.
What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things…
All of us need a mentor in our life. Someone who encourages us to live by faith in the joy of the Lord.
Follow and live their godly examples of the Gospel.
Point 3
Live Life to Experience the Peace of God.
Live Life to Experience the Peace of God.
and the God of peace will be with you.
What you are and what you do will determine whether or not you will experience alignment and cohesion with God.
As you live a Gospel-centric life, focused on Christ, you will not just simply experience the peace of God but the God of peace Himself.
11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Conclusion
28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” 30 They went out of the town and were coming to him.
39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”
Prayer Teams
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
