ETB Philippians 4:1-9
C.Chafee
ETB Fall 2021 • Sermon • Submitted
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Transcript
Welcome Time
Today we get to talk about rejoicing and peace and how they can be found in even the most stressful of situations. When you think of peace or peacefulness what images come to mind?
Pray
Understand the Context
Understand the Context
Having traversed the first three chapters of Philippians, we have given attention to the theme of joy that threads through those chapters. In the opening verses of chapter 1, attention was drawn to joy that is experienced through prayer. In the second half of the opening chapter, we looked at how joy can be found amid adversity. In the second chapter, emphasis was given to the role that humility can play in experiencing joy. The third chapter brought us to the very basic truth that there is joy simply in knowing Jesus.
This week’s study focuses on experiencing joy and peace through our relationship with Christ, even though outward circumstances might be in turmoil. [LifeWay Adults (2020). (p. 54). Explore the Bible: Adult Leader Guide - ESV - Fall 2021. LifeWay Press. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]
After looking a timeline of events around the time that Paul wrote this letter to the Philippians I noticed that Nero was already emperor so some persecution had begun toward not Roman religions but at this time is was still legal to be a Christian however after the fire in 64 AD, about the time Paul supposedly died, persecution of Christians specifically became more sanctioned and eventually the law. This would definitely add some stress to new believer and small growing congregations.
Explore the Text
Explore the Text
Paul starts today’s verses with a similar admonishment throughout the letter to “stand firm” something young churches and new believers today still need to hear.
Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
“Therefore” is that great transitioning word the usually includes dutiful action. Because of all the things just discussed - do this. Because of who Christ is, what He has done on our behalf and how we desire and strive to be more like Him we are able to “stand firm” ( Php 1:7) “hold fast (Php 2:16) and “hold true” (Php 3:16) to these truths of Christ and our sanctification until He completes it (Php 1:6).
What are some obstacles that keep people from standing firm in the Lord? How does the faithfulness of a believer impact the lives of others?
One of the things that stunts the growth of a church is dissension between its member, for new churches it can be worse. Paul therefore uses this letter to try and bring back harmony between 2 members of the small congregation
I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 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.
This is one of sentences that makes we want to learn to read Greek better. Nearly all the articles I read on these verses agree that the third person “yokefellow” or in the ESV “true companion” is a single word - Syzygus. I think it is just his name being translated out. Just like my name “Cedric” could be translated as “kindly and loved” but you would try to get me to come to the phone by asking for “kindly and loved”. Euodia is “prosperous journey”, Syntyche is “fortunate” and Syzygus is “yokefellow”. Regardless, the first two ladies have an issue that is disrupting unit and Paul not only addresses it directly but even delegates the responsibility to make sure this rift gets repaired to another trusted believer.
I also like the concept suggested that they can “agree in Lord and His desires” even if they don’t agree with each other. This call for unity points us all the way back to Php 2:2 “complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.” It may be possible that Paul had this particular disagreement in mind when first beginning the letter and used it as a way to emphasize a need of unity.
If you have ever had to settle a disagreement between 2 or more people, sometimes it is not easy but when a common goal can be used to help guide the reconciliation it eases and can even speed up the process.
If you were told to “help” these women what would that look like for you?
Most I think would have a gentle conversation or maybe a humble appeal to both of them. Interestingly, this is not what Paul had in mind the word he used for help has much more violent connotations. Jesus used in the Garden when the people came to take Him away by force.
And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me?
Capture, arrest, seize - help? Paul was serious about these ladies getting this issue “fixed”. He is asking Syzygus and the other believers to restrain them from doing other activities freely until reparations have be satisfactorily made. Or as is famous for being quoted around here, they need to “nip in the bud” before it spread to other church members.
Part of the way to bring back a fellowship between believers is to focus on and worship Christ together agreeing with each other that He is worthy of praise, rejoicing in His work in and through us.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
When we see repetition in Scripture, we should pay close attention. If it is something that has to be repeated, it means we often miss it or may not grasp how important it is. Think about the way the word holy is used and repeated for emphasis in Scripture. God is holy. The center of His earthly temple was the “holy of holies”. The angels in His presence in heaven declare Him to be “holy, holy, holy”. Paul uses this word “rejoice” 5 other times in this short letter and most are commands like in this verse. He didn’t say it was easy or that we would always want to, but it is important to constantly realize the “lord is at hand”, close by because He has drawn us into His kingdom, and we have much to rejoice about.
Christian joy is one of the best doorways into prayer. Paul had experienced this in the Philippian jail and in his Roman imprisonment. A full heart will overflow with praise and prayer in the Lord’s presence. Rejoicing is an active verb. It does not depend on something acting upon us, as would be the case with a passive verb. We can choose to rejoice. [LifeWay Adults (2020). (p. 57). Explore the Bible: Adult Leader Guide - ESV - Fall 2021. LifeWay Press. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]
And when rejoicing is a pattern in our life it gets notices by others.
Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
So, what does “reasonableness” look like. In other English translations the words used are graciousness, gentle spirit, unselfishness, moderation, good sense, & considerate. As I read through these and other articles and saw how this outward appearance comes from following the practices and mindsets in this letter and especially the next few verses, one example kept coming to my mind. He focus on others and following God’s call was so complete that when Daniel 6:4 “the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.” So reasonable and gracious that they had to use God’s perfect law to find grounds for complaint.
Not only are believers to rejoice in the Lord always, we are to be gracious to everyone. Doing so may call for putting aside one’s own rights in order to show gentleness and consideration to others. Doing this may come easy with some people, but the expectation is that our graciousness will be known to everyone. [LifeWay Adults (2020). (p. 57). Explore the Bible: Adult Leader Guide - ESV - Fall 2021. LifeWay Press. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]
Daniel was gracious even to the ones trying to ensnare him. Jesus was so gracious he washed the feet of the one about to betray him. How can we be gracious to those who make our lives difficult? Paul gives us the key in the next few verses.
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
How much are we allowed be anxious about? Other words used to here are worry, fret, and “take thought”. One article I read said that this word is
“probably connected with merizo, “to draw in different directions, distract,”Vine, W. E., Merrill F. Unger, and William White Jr. Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words 1996 : 89. Print.
Some of the antonyms for this word are “neglect”, “overlook” and “to have little regard for, despise”. Good example of anxiety and its opposite is in 1 Peter 5:7 “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” Jesus has never had anxiety over our sins nor can we cause him anxiety with them because He cares for our eternal person so fully that earthly temporal things are not in His focus except to help us overcome them.
When our thoughts about what “could be” begin to overwhelm us modern medical professionals call it a “panic attack” There are physical, observable changes that happen to us when it get to this extreme. Our focus becomes so irrational that we become “unreasonable” our body reacts and people around us see it. Not exactly the rejoicing, peaceful image that Paul is trying to encourage.
Prayer helps and may even force a change of focus on where our mind is dwelling.
Paul uses two different words to describe the kind of prayer that prevent an improper perspective of our circumstances. The first word translate “prayer” in the ESV is a pray direct toward and focus on God. The second “supplication” is a making of personal needs or request of benefits being made. Prayer appears to have more focus on God and recognizing Him as who is being spoken to whereas supplication is more about the personal needs being requested. Paul probably put them in this order for a reason.
To be frequently asking but seldom thanking is unbecoming for children of a loving and generous Father. Thanking and petitioning form a powerful combination. It is a good combination at all times for all praying. [LifeWay Adults (2020). (p. 58). Explore the Bible: Adult Leader Guide - ESV - Fall 2021. LifeWay Press. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]
Notice the timing of our anxiousness is the opposite of when we should be praying. But in everything - pray. Acknowledging that we cannot do life, or any aspect of it, on our own puts us in the proper perspective to ask for help. Prov 16:3 “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” Every task committed to God brings Him glory even if the task itself is a complete failure.
When we pray appropriately, we and those we are praying for are drawn into the presence of God and His peace begins to become recognized and transforms our thinking. Not only that but Paul here assures us that when God is present then our hearts and minds are protected “guarded” from those anxiety and circumstances that are intended to prevent us from rejoicing.
We get our modern medical term for the heart from the Greek word used here “kardia”. Although in the original readers mind this spoke more to the center of life instead of the physical organ we can see the correlation - life without heart is not possible, it is critical to who we are. The mind though in not the brain but the places of thoughts, concepts and understanding. We can, and often do, change our mind - but we keep our hearts.
Word order here also important. Who you are is first, than what you think is next. Also note that “soul” is not listed as it does not need guarding from these anxieties for as a believer it is already secured under the grace and blood of Christ.
Our hearts and mind need guarding from all the evil forces.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
This verse helps us see that these anxieties are not just physical or psychological but initially a heart - sinful heart - condition. God, who is peace, either reins in your heart and mind or the anxieties of the world does. God is perfect gentlemen and will not force his way. The world however will try and force its way in at every chance it gets. Prayer help keep the Guard at the gate. But sometimes our minds do not follow our hearts as closely as we would like so Paul gives us the keys to that discipline as well.
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.
If you haven’t memorized any verses in a while, this one and verse 6 would be a good place to start back. Maybe work the way up to verses 4-9 over several of weeks.
With Paul’s second “finally” to brothers, his list and commands will not help any unbeliever as their hearts and minds will not be guarded against distractions as their soul is not with/under/in Christ. Even for those of us who are believers staying focused and looking for these things only is a difficult task.
With our hearts directed toward God in prayer we now have a direction to guide our minds as well. This continues Paul “put off” and “put on” theme prevalent in many of his writings (Ephesians 4:22–24).
I think it was Pastor Steve that I heard go through these words in the verse one sermon at a time did a character study of biblical people that exemplified each trait. I started early this week because I knew the word study portion for this text would probably take longer than most other weeks. I’m not going to go through all my notes, but I do encourage you to go through this verse one word at a time using the cross references in your bible or a bible app see how much you can discover about each.
Here is what I discovered. If you take our context from the first verse of today and “stand firm in the Lord” and the opposite of “do not be anxious” then the “whatever” is between the two as we go about daily life. When things try to enter our minds, we filter through Scripture and if it has portions which match up with the list, we focus on that, the rest we let go.
“whatever is true” -
the unveiled reality lying at the basis of and agreeing with an appearance; the manifested, the veritable essence of matter. - Zodhiates, Spiros. The complete word study dictionary: New Testament 2000 : n. pag. Print.
The common OT word for truth appears some 126 times. It denotes a reality that is firm, solid, binding, and hence true. With reference to persons it characterizes their action, speech, or thought, and suggests integrity. - Kittel, Gerhard, Gerhard Friedrich, and Geoffrey William Bromiley. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament 1985 : 37. Print.
that candour of mind which is free from affection, pretence, simulation, falsehood, deceit - 1 Strong, James. Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon 1995 : n. pag. Print.
Next is “honorable, right, honest, or noble”. Here’s my favorite one for this.
Semnós represents not only earthly dignity (kósmios [2887]), but that which is derived from a higher citizenship, a heavenly one, which is the possession of all believers. There lies something of majestic and awe–inspiring qualities in semnós which does not repel but rather invites and attracts - Zodhiates, Spiros. The complete word study dictionary: New Testament 2000 : n. pag. Print.
Whatever is just, righteous or the old English “rightwise”
used of him whose way of thinking, feeling, and acting is wholly conformed to the will of God, and who therefore needs no rectification in the heart or life. 1a3a only Christ truly. - Strong, James. Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon 1995 : n. pag. Print.
Things that are pure we recognized as being untainted by sin, lacking any fault, free from defilements but I like the what the earliest meanings of the Greek word used
“what awakens awe,” - Kittel, Gerhard, Gerhard Friedrich, and Geoffrey William Bromiley. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament 1985 : 19. Print.
Things that are lovely, loved, pleasing, or acceptable. But we must remember, pleasing and lovely to God, not human standards.
Next are things that are commendable, good repute, kind, good report, admirable. Is it worth telling someone that they did a good job or showed godly intent? Do you wish to express to them how it lifted you mind out of this world?
If there is any excellence. Can you find even the remotest inkling of excellence? If so, then dwell on that part and let all the rest go. This more of a moral excellence than a well-done task or superior workmanship. This is excellence of character as derived from godly habits.
Then last in the list is “worthy of praise”. Again, this is directed at the godliness being worth noting not just some to say “praise God” about.
Only God’s approval counts, not public acclaim (Rom. 2:29; 1 Cor. 4:5). The idea is that of vindication rather than reward. épainos is God’s saving sentence at the manifestation of Christ (1 Pet. 1:7). - Kittel, Gerhard, Gerhard Friedrich, and Geoffrey William Bromiley. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament 1985 : 242. Print.
I think I like this concept the best.
God’s throne is surrounded by dóxa and épainos (1 Chr. 16:27). - Kittel, Gerhard, Gerhard Friedrich, and Geoffrey William Bromiley. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament 1985 : 242. Print.
Something truly praiseworthy can be found around the feet of God in His throne room.
All these things were are to think, dwell or fix our minds on. But this is not just a mental exercise but really starts with the heart - our being - wanting and focusing of the things or attributes of God that He is trying to develop and perfect within us. This “think about” is in direct opposition to our “do not think about” in verse 6 and a continuation of the good examples from Chapter 3 that we are to “keep your eyes on”. And like in the previous chapter Paul again puts himself as an example.
What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
I like that he uses the word “practice” instead “do” it gives a little more room for mistakes. Practice also points more the repetitive habitual routine that is attempting to be created in contrast to a finished or completed work. I also always found the practice before a game or recital much harder work than the final performance.
Whenever I read the words “these things” it always takes me back to one of the first verses I memorized, and I have engraved on a pen the Laura gave me on our first anniversary. I think it is a good summary statement for all the Paul has been telling us in this letter.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
When we seek God, or look for attributes of Him, He will let us find Him and all the things of His kingdom are opened up for us to make use of while still being separated from Him physically on earth.
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 peace of God and the God of Peace are the same. He is Peace and peace comes from Him. The peace of God here and in v7 are representations of His presence. You cannot have His peace without having Him. And wherever He is His peace will be present.
This is how we can rejoice always, let the anxieties of the world fade away in the prayerful worship of God as we dwell in and think on and practice being more like Him and His Son every day. Living out His truths visibly to others and being reasonable in the midst of a chaotic world.
Apply the Text
Apply the Text
As I thought through all the things in these verses as I read through all the materials here are some questions that may take some practice to resolve.
How am I standing firm in the Lord? Where am I not so firm?
Can I help restore peace between anyone I know, especially other believers?
Where does my thought life need a little more “putting off” the world and “putting on” of Christ?
Am I seeing, hearing, and learning things about God in those around me? If not, what can I do about it?