Philippians 4 Verses 1 to 9 Rejoice in the Lord Always March 21, 2021

Philippians 4 Verses 1 to 9 Rejoice in the Lord Always March 21, 2021

Class Presentation Notes AA

Main Idea: In love, the church is urged to be united, to rejoice in the Lord, to be gentle, to replace anxiety with God’s peace through prayer, and to think on praiseworthy things.

Question to Explore: How can I have peace and not worry amid difficulty?

Create Interest:

· This passage is speaking to Christian believers, not to unbelievers. Unbelievers do not have peace with God. They reject, question, deny, curse, and oppose God. God feels no peace between Himself and an unbeliever. No matter how mild the unbeliever's questioning and rejection is, it is still questioning and rejection and not peace. But when an unbeliever surrenders his life and accepts God, peace is made between him and God. Peace rules both within and between the person and God. In fact, God causes a flood of peace to surge through the heart and life of the new believer.

· The question is this: once we have the peace of God flooding our lives, how do we maintain that peace? How do we keep the peace of God ruling and reigning within our souls? How do we stay aware that God's very own presence is within us—stay aware that the God of peace lives within our very being? This is the discussion of this passage: the challenge of the steps to peace.

Lesson in Historical Context:

· Paul and his missionary team had taken the gospel to Philippi. He continued to have a close relationship to the church that was started there. When the church heard of Paul’s imprisonment, they sent financial help and one of their members to be with him. The member, Epaphroditus [ih-paf-roh-DIGH-tuhs], almost died. Paul sent Epaphroditus back to Philippi with a letter, Philippians. One of Paul’s purposes in writing was to assure them that his imprisonment was an opportunity to witness among his Roman guards. Another reason for writing was to deal with some fellowship problems in the church at Philippi. Paul had been through the trauma of disruptive dissension at Corinth. Philippi’s problems were not yet that serious, but he wanted to ensure that he did everything he could to restore the good fellowship in the church.[1].

· The point of this whole passage (4:1–9) is the peace of God (v. 7)and the presence of the God of peace (v. 9b). Let’s look at the challenging steps a believer should take to maintain the peace of God within his heart and life.[2]

Bible Study: The Challenges of the Steps to Peace………………………

Philippians 4:1 (NASB) The Challenge to Stand Firm 1 Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.

· Chapter four begins with the word "therefore." This word deals with that which has gone on before. Paul has been speaking about the coming of the Lord and the fact that we are citizens of Heaven. We are to pursue being Christlike which is the goal of this life and the prize of our life in Heaven.

· The exhortations that follow in chapter four are tied to chapter three. Here in these verses are exhortations dealing with some problems existing in the church family at Philippi. Chapter three concluded with the reminder of the all-sufficiency of the power of God to meet any and every emergency in this life. In chapter four, Paul confronts a problem. Apparently, there had arisen in the Philippian church some problems which baffled solution. Paul now reminds them that the same power is available to solve every problem and settle every situation in their midst. The word "therefore" thus forges a link between God's power and man's problems. The fact that there were problems in this church shows us that there are no perfect churches. All churches have problems because all churches have people. Where there are people there are problems.

Treasures From the Scriptures - Treasures from Philippians.

· Philippians 4:1reflects the way Paul felt about his brothers and sisters in the Philippian church. Notice the words the apostle used about their relationship. He called them my brethren. They were dearly beloved and longed for. If and when Paul was released from prison, he hoped to visit Philippi again (2:24).He called the Philippian believers his joy and crown. Joy is one of the key words in the letter.

· Paul found his joy in the people whom he loved. To the Thessalonians Paul wrote, “For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy” (1 Thess. 2:19–20). Later in that same epistle he added, “For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account” (1 Thess. 3:9). The joy of seeing his beloved Philippians grow more like Jesus Christ motivated Paul’s exhortation to stand firm.[3]

· The Philippian believers were Paul’s reward for being a missionary. The Greek word agapetoi occurs twice in verse 1. It is translated dearly beloved. The New International Version and the Holman Christian Standard Bible translate the second use of this word as “dear friends.” Regardless of how we translate agapetoi, Paul thought of the people in this church as friends.[4]

· The problems of defeatism and instability have plagued the church since the very beginning of the church. We are engaged in a great spiritual conflict which calls for facing the foe without flinching, faltering, and failing.

o Ephesians 6:13-17 (NASB) 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

· The words "stand firm"come from the Greek word steko (stay'-ko) which means "to stand firm; to persevere; to persist; to keep one's standing." The tense of the verb indicates we are to do this continuously or always. This word steko, was used to describe a soldier standing firm against the onslaught of an enemy. Christian soldiers are to stand fast no matter how great the trials, no matter the pressure of temptations or allurements made by others. Jesus was a perfect example of one who stood fast and persevered.

· There are several areas where we are to stand firm and persevering for Christ.

o We are to stand firm in Faith.

§ 1 Corinthians 16:13 (NASB) 13 Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

📷 We are to be alert to spiritual dangers. We are to be faithful to Christ and behave in a mature fashion. We are to be strong and courageous in the Lord.

o We are to stand firm in Fellowship.

§ Philippians 1:27 (NASB) 27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

📷 Much energy is lost by infighting in the church. Satan has a way of getting Christians distracted by petty matters. Our priority is to be united in serving Christ and opposing our real enemy, Satan. It takes discipline for a church to stay focused on serving the Lord Jesus Christ.

o We are to stand firm in Freedom.

§ Galatians 5:1 (NASB) 1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

📷 Jesus came to set us free from the bondage of sin. We are not free to do what we want, for that would lead us back into slavery to our sinful desires. In Christ, we are free to live unselfishly. When we live sinfully, we are becoming entangled in the bondage of sinful habits. God did not intend that we use our liberty in Christ to destroy ourselves.

o We are to stand firm in our Foundation in Christ.

§ 2 Thessalonians 2:15 (NASB) 15 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.

📷 In spite of persecution and suffering, we are not to waver from the truth of God's Word.

o We are to stand firm in the Family of Christ.

§ Philippians 4:1 (NASB) 1 Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.

📷 Paul calls the Philippians his "joy and crown." They were trophies of God's grace. The word for "crown" is Stephanoswhich was the victor's crown of the athletes. The Philippian believers were the results of victory. The fact that they were his joy and crown shows that Paul's ministry was a people centered ministry. He loved people and served them. He longed for and loved people dearly.

§ 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 (NASB) 19 For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.

Treasures from the Scriptures - Treasures from Philippians.

Thoughts to Soak on:

· How does a believer stand firm? When the temptation to surrender is so appealing and the trial is so terrible, where can the believer find the strength to stand fast? There are two places.

o There is the believer’s source of strength: the Lord Himself. Note the words, “Stand firm in the Lord.” There is only one place the believer can stand firm, and that is in the Lord. The believer must be living and moving and having his being in the Lord; that is, he/she must be …

§ praying, talking, and sharing with the Lord all day long.

§ keeping his thoughts upon the Lord: the glorious salvation, hope, and mission He has given believers.

§ serving and ministering for the Lord, bearing testimony of Him and meeting the needs of those who hurt and need help.

· When a believer is walking in the Lordthroughout the day, his mind and thoughts are upon the Lord. Therefore, when the temptations and trials come, he is conscious and aware of the Lord’s presence and strength. He has been thinking and sharing and talking with the Lord—standing and walking in the Lord—all day long; therefore, he is much more able to stand firm against the temptation and trial. This is exactly what is meant by being “in the Lord.”

· Believers are to be walking in prayer and praise all day long. This is what keeps the peace of God dwelling in their lives—the “peace of God” that conquers all trials and temptations.[5]

Philippians 4:2 (NASB) The Challenge of Serenity 2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord.

· A church can have great power when its women are faithful prayer warriors. It can be a nightmare if they gossip and quarrel. Here are two good women that Satan got an advantage of and they became the gazing stock of the church. Euodias means "prosperous journey or fragrant" but her arguing was stinking up the church. Syntyche means "with fate or accident." These two women were not getting along at all. Their attitude and actions were fleshly and carnal.

o 1 Corinthians 3:3 (NASB) 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?

· There is room for difference of opinions and originality of thought in the church.

o There may be diversity without division, a difference of methods without a disunity of minds, and disagreement without a departure in fellowship.

o Subjecting to Christ and His Word will save the church from division and dissension. When there is disunity in the church, it hurts the testimony of the church for Christ.

§ For this reason Paul urges these people and the church to be united in their thinking and “to live in harmony in the Lord.”

📷 Philippians 2:2 (NASB) 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

📷 Philippians 2:5 (NASB) 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

📷 Philippians 3:15-16 (NASB) 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.

📷 1 Corinthians 1:10 (NASB) 10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.

📷 1 Peter 3:8 (NASB) 8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;

Treasures from the Scriptures - Treasures from Philippians.

Philippians 4:3 (NASB) The Challenge to Service 3 Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause ofthe gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

· The word "companion" comes from the Greek word suzugos (sood'-zoo-gos).This word means "companion, teammate, yokefellow or fellow worker, colleague, or partner." The need here is for a true friend, a companion, to intervene and help those who are quarreling. Thus, this means a person who pulls and works cooperatively with others. God uses this person to bring reconciliation and peace to the church if division rears up its ugly head.

· The women who helped Paul, labored or struggled together with Paul. This same word is used to describe soldiers that fight side-by-side together in battle. We are soldiers of Christ that are to be fighting together in the Lord's army for the souls of men so that their names will remain in the Book of Life.

· One of the key reasons why people fuss and fight in the church is they are not busy serving the Lord. Paul tells these folks who are not getting along with one another to get busy for God. They are to serve or help the women that labored with Paul. We should take note and do the same.

· The Book of Life is the record of all who have ever lived whether inside or outside the womb of the mother. When a person rejects Jesus Christ as their Savior and dies in their sin, their name is then removed from the Book of Life. They suffer the second death. The Great White Throne Judgment is the judgment for unbelievers. The Book of Life will be used in this judgment along with a book of works which will be used to determine their degree of punishment in Hell. If their name is not in the Book of Life, they will spend eternity in Hell. The reason it is not in this book is because they are not saved. If you want to keep your name in this book, you must be born again.

o Revelation 20:11-12 (NASB) 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.

Thoughts to Soak on:

· The quarrelers were co-laborers in the gospel. They had helped Paul and Clement and others in the church. They needed to be serving in the gospel, not arguing and differing. Therefore, every effort possible had to be exerted in trying to salvage them.

· Their names were in the Book of Life. They were true believers who had slipped back into a life of sinful divisiveness. Despite their sin, they were true believers; therefore, every effort needed to be made to restore them.[6]

Philippians 4:4 (NASB) The Challenge for Constant Rejoicing 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

· Sometimes the trials and pressures of life make it almost impossible to be happy. But Paul did not tell his readers to be happy. He encouraged them to rejoice in the Lord. In fact, he said it twice in verse 4 (cf. 3:1; 1 Thes. 5:16).

· Christ is the One in whom the sphere of rejoicing was to take place. Surely there are many circumstances in which Christians cannot be happy. But they can always rejoice in the Lord and delight in Him. Paul himself was an excellent example of one who had inner joy when external circumstances—such as persecution, imprisonment, the threat of death—were against him.[7]

· One of the best ways to extinguish problems in the church is to count your blessings and rejoice in the Lord. It's hard to get mad when you are happy, isn't it? Rejoicing is a great antidote for discouragement, depression, division, and disunity. In spite of our trials, we can still rejoice.

o Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NASB) 17 Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls, 18 Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

· Here the exhortation to rejoice is linked with the challenge to quarreling saints to settle their differences. We are to be constantly, habitually rejoicing indicated by the tense of the verb. Christians usually are not rejoicing when they are in disagreement with one another. Disunity is a destroyer of joy. Paul tells us to rejoice in the Lord always. In case we did not get the message he says, "Again, I say rejoice."

· Our knowledge and intimacy with Jesus Christ will lead to joy and is the key to rejoicing in the Lord. The joy that the Lord provides also gives us enough strength to face trials and suffering.

o Acts 5:41 (NASB) 41 So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.

o Nehemiah 8:10 (NASB) 10 Then he said to them, "Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

· Treasures From the Scriptures - Philippians.

Thoughts to Soak on Before Moving On:

Having addressed individuals in the church, Paul now turns to give instructions to all the members.

· Paul could not stress too much the importance of his fellow-believers rejoicing, but, as always, the cause of the Christian’s rejoicing is the Lord. Paul is not calling here for general, happy optimism that has no basis. There are no reasons for rejoicing without the Lord, but with Him there is no end to such reasons.

Paul’s formula for joy is apparent in this letter. We can summarize it by saying we must have:

o the cause of Christ as our priority. That cause, of course, includes the fellowship, the furtherance and the faith of the gospel (1:5, 12, 27);

o the character of Christ as our pattern. This is the character of sacrificially giving one’s self up in the interest of others (2:5–8);

o the comprehension of Christ as our passion. This means crying out with Paul ‘that I may know Him’ (3:10);

o the care of Christ as our peace, which the apostle is about to express (4:6–7).

· Those who put these items on their personal agenda and seriously pursue them will find that Paul has indeed given a foolproof formula for joy. They will not have to seek it because it will have sought and found them.

· What would happen if you and others in your church lived lives of constant rejoicing? Think of all the sins that are overcome by a heart that rejoices in the Lord always. Would this practice not conquer sins like envy, gossip, stinginess, arrogance, discontentment, and complaining? These sins grow out of a heart that’s not finding joy in Christ. Further, when we rejoice in the Lord while we serve the Lord, we honor Him. Our attitudes as we serve the Lord matter to Him. So, let’s regularly reflect on how graciously the Lord has treated us, and may that lead us to live a life of joy.[8]

Philippians 4:5 (NASB) The Challenge to Public Patience 5 Let your gentle spiritbe known to all men. The Lord is near.

Be gentle………………

· The Greek word focused on is epieikes (ep-ee-i-kace'). This word means "yieldingness, gentleness, considerateness, sweet reasonableness, gracious, or agreeableness." Tyndale translated it "softness" and the Geneva Bible rendered it "patient mind."

· This spirit of being gracious and kind and being willing to put up gently with all that is unpleasant in others is to be demonstrated in their dealing with ‘all men’. They would find motivation for doing this by remembering that ‘the Lord is at hand,’ either near enough to observe their dealings or coming soon to receive from them an accounting.[9]

Thoughts to Soak on:

· Is your graciousness evident to your friends, family, neighbors, and fellow church members?

· Maybe a better question is, Do you desire this character/quality?

· What do you want to be known for—fame, success, beauty or gentleness and graciousness?

· May we all aspire to have a reputation, as individuals and as a church, for being gracious and gentle in our dealings with both those inside and those outside the church. [10]

Philippians 4:6-7 (NASB) The Challenge to Trust and Pray 6 Be anxious for nothing, 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 comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

· Christians are not to be filled with anxiety and tossed with care. They are rather to bring their problems and needs to the Lord with the confidence that he cares for them and his care is sufficient. They are to do so with thanksgiving, remembering how very gracious God has been to them. An ungrateful child always seeks more from his parents without giving thanks for what he has received. We are not to be ungrateful children.

· Believers who carry their burdens to the Lord will find peace and rest in their spirits. This peace will stand at the door and guard the hearts and minds of believers so that anxious care and worry cannot enter. It is a glorious peace from the Lord that unbelievers cannot find and cannot explain, and it is a peace that believers themselves cannot fully understand.[11]

· There is the charge: be anxious(merimnate) for nothing. The idea is that the believer is not to worry or fret about a single thing. The word nothing (meden) means not even one thing. Humanly speaking, the Philippians had every reason to worry and be anxious.

o They were suffering severe persecution (Ph. 1:18–19).

o They were facing a disturbance in the church, some disunity and quarreling (Ph. 1:27, 30).

o They had some carnal members within their fellowship, some members who were prideful, super-spiritual, and self-centered (Ph. 2:3–4; 3:12).

o They were facing some false teachers who had joined their fellowship, and the teachers were fierce in attacking the cross of Christ (Ph. 3:2–3, 18–19).

o Some of the believers were having to struggle for the necessities of life: food, clothing, and shelter (Ph. 4:19).

· There is an answer to worry and anxiety, a supernatural answer: the peace of God. God will enable the believer to conquer worry and anxiety. God will overcome the trials of life for the believer, no matter how terrible and pressuring they may be. God will infuse the believer with peace—with the very peace of God Himself—a peace so great and so wonderful that it carries the believer right through the trial. Of course, this does not mean the believer is not to be concerned about the problems of life, but there is a difference between concern and anxiety or worry. Concern drives us to arise and tackle the problems of life with an indomitable courage and diligence. Concern drives us to tackle and conquer all that we can handle.

o Matthew 6:31-33 (NASB) 31 "Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' 32 "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

o Luke 12:29-30 (NASB) 29 "And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. 30 "For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things.

o 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NASB) 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Note: The remedy for anxiety and worry: prayer. The four words used in Vs. 6 for prayer show exactly how prayer is the answer to anxiety and worry.

· The word prayer (proseuche)refers to the special times of prayer that we share in periods of devotion and worship.

o We are to have set times for prayer, times that we especially set aside for devotion and worship, expressing our love for God.

· The word supplication (deesis)refers to the prayers that focus upon special needs.

o We feel a deep, intense need, therefore, we go before God and supplicate, that is, pour out our soul to God. Need—great need—confronts us, and the only possible help and deliverance is God. Therefore, we come and lay our need before Him as a child: crying, pleading and begging for His help, comfort, deliverance, and peace.

· The word thanksgiving (eucharistia) means that we thank and praise God for all that He is and for all that He has done for us.

· The word requests (aitemata) means specific and definite requests.

o Our praying is not to be general, but specific. We are to lay before God exactly what is needed, and we are not to fear that we are being too detailed with God or bothering God.

o Neither are we to hold back from asking because we fear He will not answer something so specific. Too often believers fear not receiving the answer to a specific request, fear that it will show how weak they are spiritually if the request is not granted.

Note: what Scripture says: “but in everything” pray like this—use all four ways of praying and use them in praying for everything. Think of the acronym ACTS…

Adoration , Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication

· We are to walk in God—live, move, and have our being in Him—and we do this by prayer. We live and move in God through prayer. We pray “in everything”—all day long as we walk and move about our daily affairs.

· We are to pray about everything no matter how small and insignificant it may seem. God is interested in the details of our lives, in the most minute details. He wants us acknowledging Him in all our ways or steps because He wants to care and look after every single step.

Thoughts to Soak On:

· Picture the scene: we are walking throughout the day, sharing with God every step of the way, and God is taking care of every step of the way.

· What then can take the peace of God away from us?

o Absolutely nothing! For as we walk in prayer and fellowship with God, God is infusing us with His presence and peace.

o No matter the conflict or trial, we are continuing to share with God and God is continuing to infuse us with His peace.

o Through prayer He is giving us the peace to conquer and walk through the trial.

o Our relationship with God and His peace is unbroken.

§ Luke 21:36 (NASB) 36 "But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

§ Ephesians 6:18 (NASB) 18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

§ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NASB) 16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

· The promise: Peace (eirene) means to be bound, joined, and woven together. It means to be assured, confident, and secure in the love and care of God. It means to have a sense, a consciousness, a knowledge that God can deliver manthrough the most severe circumstances and tragedies of life; only God can infuse assurance and security within the human soul. The wonderful promise about the peace of God is twofold.

o First, the peace of God passes all understanding. It is beyond anything we can ask or think. It surpasses all our imaginations. Think of the most terrible situation you can imagine; then think of the peace you would want as you went through that trial. In actual experience, the peace of God is far greater than anything you could ever imagine or understand. The peace of God actually carries the faithful believer through the very midst of trial and tribulation.

o Second, the peace of God “guards your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. The words will keep (phrouresei) is a military word meaning to garrison, to keep guard and protect. The peace of God is like a most elite soldier who guards and protects the most precious possession of God: the believer’s heart and mind.

· Note that God can keep us only as we are “in Christ Jesus.” We can know the peace of God only if we have trusted Christ as our Lord and Savior and only if we walk in fellowship with Him. To be in Christ means to walk in Christ—to live, move and have our being in Him.

o John 14:27 (NASB) 27 "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

o John 16:33 (NASB) 33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

o Romans 14:17 (NASB) 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Philippians 4:8-9 (NASB) The Challenge of Thinking on Praiseworthy Things 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

The book of Proverbs says: ‘… as he thinks in his heart, so is he’

Proverbs 23:7 (NASB) 7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, "Eat and drink!" But his heart is not with you.

· In keeping with that thought, Paul suggests to his readers a ‘divine programming’ that will ensure their peace. He calls upon them to think about things that are:

o true—those things that correspond to the teaching of God’s Word.

o noble—those things that have the dignity of moral excellence.

o just—those things that conform to God’s standards.

o pure—those things that are free from the taint of sin.

o lovely—those virtues that make believers attractive and winsome, such as generosity, kindness, compassion and willingness to forgive.

o things of good report—those things that give Christians a good reputation and a good name.

· Positive thinking is the answer to peace for the Christian believer.[12]

· Paul sums it all up by telling his readers to meditate on anything of virtue and anything worthy of praise.

· It must be said again that Paul is not merely giving way here to pride. Every pastor is called to set the kind of example that others can follow. If one is doing this, he can safely call others to follow him.[13]

· In addition to thinking praiseworthy thoughts, Paul also mentions following godly examples. He writes, “Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you” (v. 9). This is the third time that Paul has explicitly called his readers to follow his example (2:17–18; 3:17).

· Emulate leaders who think holy thoughts. Emulate leaders who set their minds on their Creator and Redeemer. Watch them. Watch how they view creation, what they read, what they talk about, what they value. As a result, Paul says, the follower will know more of God’s peace. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You” (Isa 26:3). How true this is. Set your mind on praiseworthy things, give your burdens to God, and know the perfect peace of God.

· To conclude, Paul shepherds the church lovingly, wisely, and faithfully, urging them to be united, to rejoice in the Lord, to be gentle, to replace anxiety with God’s peace through prayer, and to think on praiseworthy things.

· As we meditate on these things, we should remember the hope we have in Christ.

o Christ is the reconciler, the gentle Savior.

§ His gift of salvation gives us cause to rejoice.

§ He removed our greatest fear and relieves our deepest anxiety through His victorious death and resurrection.

§ He paid the penalty for those who sinned with their thoughts.

§ He grants them a new mind in turn.

📷 Look to the Savior for your righteousness and for daily renewal, and go imitate Him.

📷 As you do, the peace of God will be with you.

Reflect and Discuss

· What was Paul’s solution to the dispute between Euodia and Syntyche?

· Why is division in the body of Christ so dangerous?

· How might you encourage unity rather than division?

· Why are “awkward conversations” sometimes necessary to have with others?

· What would happen if you and others in your church lived lives of constant rejoicing?

· What does Paul mean by “The Lord is near” (4:5)?

· What does anxiety do to you? How does it affect others around you?

· What are the three things Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6-7 about dealing with anxiety?

· What does Paul mean when he says to think about admirable things? How do you do this?

· How are you doing in the discipline of spending unhurried, unhindered time with God? Do you know the peace that comes from being in God’s presence?[14]

[1]Dean, R. J. (2019). Herschel Hobbs Commentary: Family Bible Study, Spring 2004 (pp. 131–132). LifeWay Christian Resources. [2]Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Galatians–Colossians(p. 310). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide. [3]MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2001). Philippians(p. 269). Chicago: Moody Press. [4] Dean, R. J. (2019). Herschel Hobbs Commentary: Family Bible Study, Spring 2004 (p. 132). LifeWay Christian Resources. [5]Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Galatians–Colossians(p. 311). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide. [6]Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Galatians–Colossians(p. 313). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide. [7]Lightner, R. P. (1985). Philippians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 663). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books. [8]Merida, T., Chan, F., Platt, D., Akin, D. L., & Merida, T. (2016). Exalting jesus in philippians. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference. [9]Ellsworth, R. (2004). Opening up Philippians (pp. 83–84). Leominster: Day One Publications. [10]Merida, T., Chan, F., Platt, D., Akin, D. L., & Merida, T. (2016). Exalting jesus in philippians. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference. [11]Ellsworth, R. (2004). Opening up Philippians (p. 84). Leominster: Day One Publications. [12]Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Galatians–Colossians(p.316-318). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide. [13]Ellsworth, R. (2004). Opening up Philippians (p. 85). Leominster: Day One Publications. [14]Merida, T., Chan, F., Platt, D., Akin, D. L., & Merida, T. (2016). Exalting jesus in philippians. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference.