Philippians 4:2-9 (Outline)

Introduction

I have just recently became a father as of December 3, 2020. (Show Picture)

Nothing could have prepared me for that moment

As soon as I saw little face, part me part Lindsey, I was in love

With such a great gift came great responsibility

This leads me to question, “What makes a great father?”

Great father is leader for his family

If family is not led well in faith, father is lacking on God given responsibilty

Great father sets example of how to live right

Cant expect kids to live one way while you live another

Father is under microscope as kids observe everything he does and want to be like him

A good dad not only models how to live well, but great Father will give advice on how to do so

Kids may wonder why you did something a certain way

Advice from dad on how to live will be based on how God wants you to live

A great dad will communicate these things to his children

Great father doesnt want kids to worry or be anxious

When I picture good father, I picture someone who provides for kids and wants to see them happy

He also would point them to our peace in life, Jesus Christ

Finally, a good father wants his kids to get along

When kids are constantly fighting, it effects the whole family

Fighting is not a fruit of the Spirit in which a good father is training them to live

A family is a team and when members of team dont get along, it effects the whole team

Looking at our text tonight, we will see that Paul is like a father to this church in the way that he cares for them

None of these people are actually his kids so if you hear me refer to Paul as ol Dad, know that I mean spiritual father

Philippians 4:2-9

2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

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.

The Kids Not Getting Along

From the very beginning, we see Paul has a fatherly problem.

Two of the kids arent getting along.

These two women had a problem, we are not sure what

Their problem caught attention of ol dad

He decided to mention it in the letter

People probably had disagreements all the time

Why mention this one?

Euodia and Sytyche were not known for this behavior

These two women were mature in faith, even working side by side with Paul

When two kids who are usually on best behavior start having problems, it is time for dad to get involved before it effects rest of family

Only problem, Paul is in prison, unable to see them face to face

So Paul mentions it in letter and asks someone by name of true companion to help

Paul doesnt set out to play counselor in situation, who was wrong who was right etc.

Paul urges two women to “agree in Lord”

When we start thinking inward, our own wants or feeling, we tend to lose sight of big picture

These two women

Members of church

Names written in book of life

Striving side by side with Paul

Now noticed differences between themselves

Whatever their differences may be, it is not more important than spread of gospel or building up of church

So Paul tells them the one thing you have in common is far greater than whatever your differences may be.

So agree in the Lord

Rejoicing and Praying with Peace

Paul just called for peace between two women in the church who had a disagreement, so that it would not effect the church and they could get back to working as a team for the sake of the gospel

He just told them to agree in the Lord, now tells church rejoice in the Lord always

Not sometimes, but always

When joy is found in God, it makes burdens and dissagreements in life so much less important

If you think about it, its hard to be mad and happy at same time

If we look at our lives, what happens to us in world, we could find tons of things to make us mad or sad

BUT

There are even more reasons to rejoice in Lord

If we are always doing that, we will find a lot of things that bother us arent such a big deal after all

If Euodia was rejoicing in Lord always, she wouldn’t have been upset that Syntyche took her favorite seat in church

If I was always rejoicing in Lord, I wouldnt get upset at work when coworkers leave me their work to do

We are called to let our gentleness by known to all

This means even people that wrong us, we are to treat them right

Seems impossible right?

We are not left to do this on our own

Text tells us the Lord is near

Since we know this, we should call upon him regarding these things

Not just these things, but all things

Just as we are not to rejoice in the Lord only sometimes but always, we are called to not only bring some things to God but all things in prayer

In prayer, letting requests be made known to God, we are given peace

We know that we have just spoken to God who created universe, who cares about us and hears every little prayer

The result of our praying about all things is that peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard our minds and hearts in Christ Jesus

Of all tools on Christian toolbelt, prayer is one size fits all solution for every problem

If we are looking for the peace of God to guard us, we must bring everything to him in prayer

Leading by Example

There is a lot of ugly things in this world

All we have to do is turn on news and we see enough to leave us worried about what happens next

We see

People being killed

Wars all over world

Natural disasters

All kinds of terrible things

If we think about these things all time, we will be left constantly worrying and anxious

It is inevitable these things will happen but doesnt mean we should constantly think about them

Paul tells us what we should be thinking about

Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellenceif there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things

Notice he didnt say

Think about what you will do if they arrest you and throw you in prison like they did me

How you will act if Syntyche takes your favorite chair at church too

He doesnt tell us to think about any of bad things that happen in life but only good things

If you are only thinking about things Paul mentioned here, you shouldnt find any place for anxious thoughts or worry

This is standard we should strive for

We are weakness so we will still find ourselves worrying and anxious from time to time

If we do happen to wander out of mindstate Paul mentioned, we should go to God in prayer, whose peace will guard our hearts and minds

Look at Paul, ol Dad, sitting in prison

If anybody had reason for anxiety, you would think it would have been him right

It sure seems peace of God is guarding him for him to be such a happy man in prison

It would seem Paul found his joy in Lord, so no matter what situation he found himself in, he wasnt focused on bad

Paul was only focused on what was true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable

It resulted in the peace of God guarding his heart

As a spiritual father, Paul was to set example of how to live Christian life

All the things he urged church to do, they can see him practicing in his life

We discussed how a good father was a good leader, and we see Paul boldly leading by example for this Philippian church

Summary

Paul bears marks of great father in his dealing with Philippian church

Paul is leading by example, practicing way of life that he is asking them to live

Not only lives Christian life well, but gives them advice on how they can do same

He explains to them how to deal with anxiety and different troubles in life

We see Paul concerned about 2 of his spiritual children not getting along in the church

We see that Paul has a great love for this church and desires them to live for Christ and have peace in the Lord

Application

How does message apply to us?

Passage is full of application

I will provide 3 ways we can begin to apply to our lives today

Make Amends

Pray over Anxiety

Think about good things

Make Amends

We see in verse 2, Paul mentions to Euodia and Syntyche to agree in Lord

Are there people in church you don’t get along with?

What about outside the church?

Passage tells us to let our gentleness be known to all

If there are people in your life you don’t get along with, I want you to consider big picture and how the issues you have with that person relate

Ask yourself this question

If I am finding my joy in the Lord, is this really such a big deal?

After realizing it isn’t, I challenge you, whether you were right or wrong, to go out of your way to make ammends with this person

This can be really hard to do but it is great example of gentleness that Paul is urging us to show toward others

Pray Over Anxiety

Think about what in your life causes you anxiety or worry

I bet everyone could come up with quite a few things

Are these things you are consistently bringing to God in prayer?

If not, I want you to make a habit of praying on these things

Those of us who are anxious, and looking for peace, our text tells us the peace of God will guard our hearts as we bring our anxietys to him in prayer

If you already make a habit of praying about anxietys and even if you dont, I challenge you also to pray for others anxietys

I love when people ask me, is there anything I can pray for you about

I have a ton of things they could pray for but typically mention one or two of the more important ones

Maybe you know someone at church or in your life who is struggling

For most people, it would make their day if they knew that you were taking time out of your day to pray for them

Think About Good Things

Finally, what are you thinking of the most?

Are you filling your minds with pure and true thoughts?

Or

Are you doing the opposite?

Text tells us what kind of things we should think on

If we are not thinking on these things, chances are we are very anxious and worried

What are the anxietys you are worried about and praying for?

I challenge you to think on something lovely and commendable in place of those things

For example:

If you realize that your sins are great and God requires perfection to get to heaven

You could think about the perfect work of Jesus on the cross, of how he made sinners like ourselves to be reconciled to God

By faith in him, we are forgiven those many sins and will spend eternity with him in heaven where there is no more weeping and tears

No more sickness and disease

But eternity in the presence of the Christ who laid down his life on the cross to save us

I cant think of anything better than that to think on

Think on these things and the God of peace will be with you

May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Lets pray!