Philippians Chapter 4

Paul’s Final Words...

We come back to these last thoughts from the book of Philippians here with chapter 4.

Remember that in this letter Paul is dealing with issues inside the church that are hurting it. There are those their, heretics their teaching you much hold to the law if you hope to be saved, that you must obey the dietary and physical covenant laws like circumcision.

There is nothing farther from the truth, Paul would remind us that we are saved by grace and grace alone. It is the sacrificial work of God in our lives and there is nothing else… He loved us and worked on our behalf.

Paul is reminding them to be careful and watch out for wolves in sheep’s clothing...

He calls for unity, He calls for them to take upon themselves the mind of Christ is all things…

There my friends is truly the way to live in all areas of life, especially the church.

Lets begin by look at verse 1 Phil 4:1

Philippians 4:1 ESV

1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

The introduction here begins with “therefore” We understand the significance of that word, In light of all that he has taught in this letter, because of this....do that.

He says there are brothers that are loved, longed for… Paul hoped to return to them and be with them.

He calls them “his joy and crown”

The church was his joy, it didn’t replace the joy of the Lord or anything of the sorts. He had joy because he knew them, he had seen them develop and stand up and become a a healthy church. He wanted that to continue.

The crown minds us of the reward God gives to His servants, His work, their salvation served as crown for him. Paul had brought the gospel to them and they believed!

Now verses 2-3

Philippians 4:2–3 ESV

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.

So several things I want you to see here: The first, part of the problem of the church is the lack of harmony… Paul is asking that these ladies agree in the Lord..

We do not know the entirely of the issue at hand, but Paul is calling them to put this behind them and move on.. Why? a church that is divided cannot carry the gospel forward.

Disharmony in the church is like a vehicle with wheels spinning in the mud, they put forth effort but it is never successful. They are stuck, which will lead to stagnate conditions. This leads to death...

To agree means they are to have the same attitudes and values that Christ had....

We are not told so who true companion is, but they are called to help mediate the issue between the two women that they might be restored.

These ladies and their input or leadership ( not that they held a office in the church when we say leadership), but they being strong women have influence, work, and presence in the church is important. Why?

They had previously worked alongside Paul, Clement, and the rest of the workers in the church

And to summarize it all, Paul says whose names are written in the book of life.

So we know these ladies, and the rest of the believers there are saved born again believers.

Friends, it does not matter concerning the day or time… people cannot allow disharmony to invade the church like a fatal disease.

The remedy is verse 4

Philippians 4:4 ESV

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

How wonderful my friends, the true remedy of dis harmony…Looking to the Lord and rejoicing.

Paul not only says rejoice, the wording is actually a command. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Paul’s own life reminded them their was joy available in the Lord. Not life and its circumstances or anything else. True joy comes from walking with and living for Him.

That must permeate every area of life, His joy brings peace and nothing else

And with you tie that to verse 5, listen to what else Paul says....

Philippians 4:5 ESV

5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;

So here Paul reminds them to walk, live and love gentleness. Why? A gentle person does not insist on their own rights. Constantly Paul has called for people to care for the needs of others over their own needs.

This reminds us that “we are to never consider us or our ways” as important. The most important thing is “His Ways.”

This is really the mark of true Christian leadership.. 1 Tim 3:3

1 Timothy 3:3 ESV

3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

Did you see that, be gentle… This is to be our way of life. and if for no other reason, remember, the Lord is at hand.

Listen the Lord is a righteous judge, we have to stand before him and we should hope to do so having lived correctly.

So each day it is important to ask the Lord to help you examine our lives. Lord, is there anything in me, thought, word or deed that is not you and your ways. Show those to me that I might put them away and better glorify your name to those around me.

Verse 6

Philippians 4:6 ESV

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

This next step is a negative with a positive push to it. Do not be anxious, but .....

Let me ask you… What makes you anxious?

Sinful people

the Economy

shortages and rising prices

Illnesses in my life or others

What????

Here Paul says do not be anxious about it… instead we are to be placing it into the hands of Jesus.

Remember Jesus as already talked about anxious living in the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 6:25–34 ESV

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Wow… What is the summary? Trust God today, God has already provided for you this day… and he will take care of tomorrow. If he sustains the world, He can sustain us.

Paul says But.... in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Prayer cures anxiety.... Prayer is to be offered with thanksgiving. Richard Melick says The attitude of gratitude accompanies all true approaches to the Father.

And thanksgiving contributes directly to our own peace.

If you are thankful, your focus is off the anxious issue and placed back upon Him. The one who gives true lasting peace.

Verse 7

Philippians 4:7 ESV

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

See, I told you. The answer to anxiety is the peace of God. Paul makes three statements about peace here.

A. It’s Divine Peace. It is God’s peace, and it invades us as His children. He gives it to us at every opportunity… There is no problem or situation it cannot help, why? His help is always perfect.

B. It is a peace that transcends all understanding. Peace excels over knowledge. There are times when our knowledge, our reasoning is insufficient, we cannot explain or reason our way through the situation. Peace will always meet the needs of our heart.

C. Peace will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Guard is a military term, it is as if peace stands guard protecting us, keeping back anxiety and those things that would seek to rob us of our peace.

One author says prayerful people are peaceful people....

Let me ask you a question… Have you experienced the peace of God.

Now lets jump on to verses 8-9

Philippians 4:8–9 ESV

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.

Wow… So how can you help yourself to have peace? Paul shares this here. He says whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, if there any any excellence, and worthy of praise think on those things...

What he is telling us is simple, what you choose to think about can bring peace or anxiety.

These positive steps of thought, putting those into place is a must…

Why is it a must? He says think about these things!

Put them into practice.... Good knowledge leads to good thoughts.

Can you put these 8 qualities into your Christian life...

True… truthfulness, dependability...

Honorable .....Noble… Worthy of respect, honor

Just …implies giving to others and God what is worthy of who they are

Pure… speaks of holy, as in relation to God

Lovely… is found only here, calls for a person to be lovable,

Commendable… It is worthy of praise, admirable, will not cause to be offended.

Excellent. speaks to morally excellent, this is a christian virtue

Praise worthy… worthy of praising God...

___________

So while Paul presents the standard for life…He turns quickly to Christian practice....

The church there in Philippi were to cultivate these attributes in their life which would translate to the whole church. And when you live that outwardly, the result is the peace of God being with them.

So take what God has taught you, take what you have seen in me and emulate them… God peace will come upon you.

Now lets look at verse 10

Philippians 4:10 ESV

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.

From what we know the church at Philippi has helped Paul before, as we see in 2 Cor chapter 8. And then more recently here with the gift that Epaphroditus brought to him while he is in prison there in Rome.

The gift they sent was a cause for Paul to take joy in, and rejoice in. You see it was the right thing for them to do, as it is for any of us in Christ, we are to help others.

Now verse 11-12

Philippians 4:11–12 ESV

11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

So we see that Paul didn’t need the gift, it wasn’t that he was without. His needs were met, even in prison his basic life needs were taken care of fully.

But more than that, Paul had learned to be content.. Content with what he had and what God had provided...

Now there is one of the hardest things my friends, learning to be content.

? What gets in the way of contentment? Well ultimately, self. But the world adds to this, sin, lust and the list can go on and on my friends.

When you look at verse 12, we see that Paul was a person who learned through walking with the Lord and life experience who to be content in every circumstance. It didn’t matter if he had a little or a lot he was the same

You know what happens when most people get a lot in life, they want more… why? They hadn’t learned to be content...

And then we come to one of the most pivotal verses in the book.. Verse 13

Philippians 4:13 ESV

13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

We hear this verse used a lot, claimed a lot, what does it mean.. Paul depended on Christ for his strength, the indwelling Christ is who strengthened Paul.

The indwelling Christ did strengthen Paul so that he could accomplish all that God wanted through that strength given to him

So often people lay claim to that verse, God does strengthen people, but did he do so for the reasons you claim, His power is always tied to the outcome of His purposes.

And then secondly here I would be reminded that Paul, while knowing the source of this strength understood a greater lesson. He was at his best when he was nothing, at His weakest. For truly at His weakest, He was at His best. Doesnt sound right,

But at his weakest, he was totally depenedent not on himself, but God.

Are you totally dependent upon God or you?

I saw that becasue what are we asking for....

Do you pray over a big purchase, or is it the right thing to do, Do you pray over the day before it begins, Do you pray over what you are to do, or do you just go hopeing God will bless it.

At your weakest you are at your best

Philippians 4:14 ESV

14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.

Paul is not ungrateful, He is very thankful for their care and concern, that they loved him enough to work on His behalf and were not ashamed of him even when others were because Caesar had him under his watch

Now verses 15-17

Philippians 4:15–17 ESV

15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.

Paul commends them for the way they support and cared for Him. They were the only church in Macedonia to help Paul and show him that they cared..

One of the reasons he remembered them fondly…When they first heard the gospel they understood they were to be a part of the mission to spread it near and wide.

Their care and support of Paul provided for a natural friendship to establish and grow. Remember being Christian wasn’t always easy in those days as the church was considered some “cult” like group by many and even Rome was tired of the complaints...

Paul also expresses his thankfulness because they worked hard to help him.

Paul didn’t seek a gift from them, his intentions were not wrong like some modern day televangelist that hoped to get rich. No, Paul didn’t seek the gift but he was thankful for their love and support.

Now verse 18-19

Philippians 4:18–19 ESV

18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

In these verses we see again His gratitude for them, and what they gave was beneficial to them as well. God blesses a cheerful giver my friends.

Paul testifies that his need was met, He had sufficient resources to carry on God’s work , they gave abundantly to him in the gift that Epaphroditus brought to him,

And because of their sacrificial giving, God would supply all their needs according to their riches.

I have seen it in our life and in the lives of others, when people give, God blesses them.

As we come to the last 3 verses, we see a doxology (v 20) and closing if you will

Now verses 20-23

Philippians 4:20 ESV

20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Philippians 4:21–23 ESV

21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Greet, welcome all your brothers and sisters in the Lord,

Timothy, Epaphroditus, and anyone else who belonged to the body of Christ that was with him, they greeted them , even those who had believed and trusted the message and resided in caesar’s household.

Philippians 4 ESV

1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. 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. 10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. 21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.