Philippians 4B

• As we approach tonight’s text, I want to quickly recap several essential items that we covered in Lesson 4A.

  • The Apostle Paul, in verses 2-6 began to outline several things the believer should implement in their lives in order to stand resolute in both external and internal conflict.

  • In verse 4, Paul mentioned that the believer should learn that, in all circumstances, joy can be experienced when our perspective is heavenly minded.

    • In other words, our joy in this life is not based on what we are going through, but rather who we are going through it with.

    • That Person in whom we are going through our circumstances with, Jesus Christ, is the very object of our faith.

  • As Paul has pointed out from Chapter’s 1-3, God, by His grace, has provided us the provision necessary to not only overcome the penalty of sin, but to escape the coming judgement upon the world, by way of the Rapture.

    • Paul then wrapped up last week with the necessity of the body of Christ remaining steadfast in the Lord and in unity with one another.

    • This was off the heels of rejoicing in the glory that is to come when the Lord Jesus appears in the clouds and conforms our earthly bodies into “the body of His Glory”.

  • Paul, in other words, is saying that the believer has not only a secured promise in Christ, by way of Justification, and growth in maturity by way of Sanctification, but we have a secured hope in the future by way of Glorification.

    • That within every tense of our salvation, it is not only upheld by the word of God but it is sustained by the hand of God.

    • This is why Paul exhorts the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord – the emphasis being “in” the Lord.

    • This positional reality is to become more and more apparent for the believer as we grow to know Christ more and more.

  • When we can realize the fullness of the spiritual resources and privileges we have in Christ, it begins to cause our perspectives in this life to shift.

    • After that, Paul exhorts the Philippians in how they are to live in light of their current circumstances.

    • And the caveat to how they are to live is rooted in the imminent event Paul has taught about prior – the Rapture.

  • So, Paul informed the Philippian church in verse 5 that they are to be kind, not only to one another but to “all men”.

    • Meaning, how you deal with people becomes a reflection of how people will see the God in whom you serve.

    • Kindness, therefore, becomes a virtue of the Christian life.

  • As my wife often says, there is a distinct difference between being nice and being kind.

    • For example, being nice is telling someone it’s raining outside.

    • Being kind is giving someone the umbrella they need for the rain they will encounter.

  • Therefore, kindness requires a sacrifice, yet it does not lack boundaries.

    • Whereas being nice is conditional and is based on a transactional exchange or response.

    • Therefore, external factors will either determine the outcome of your responses or, at best, inform it.

  • Lastly, we found in verse 5b, Paul concluded with the sentence, “The Lord is near.”

    • In fact, it is interesting that in the NASB translation, the translators close the statement with a period.

    • Whereas the ESV places a semicolon at the end of this phrase.

  • Now, in grammar class, we learned that a period separates two complete sentences, and a semicolon connects two complete sentences.

    • The semicolons connect the two sentences because there is a shared idea.

    • So, it’s possible that the ESV picks up on this point because, as we will see at the start of our reading, the command in verse 6 is because of the reality of what verse 5b states.

  • However, before we get into the thrust of tonight’s teaching, I want to provide us an outline of what we will see in the text. We will see the following:

    • 1. Pray on these things (vv.6-7)

    • 2. Think on these things (v.8)

    • 3. Practice these things (v.9)

  • If I were to put a tag on tonight’s text, it would simply be: As a Man Thinketh.

  • With that being said, I invite you to meet me in Philippians 4:6-7, for the reading of the word of the Lord.

Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

• If the sentence structure flows correctly, then Paul is saying that by walking in the joy of the Lord and in kindness accompanied with the reality of Christ’s nearness and coming at any moment, then anxiousness becomes a back-burner matter.

  • Anxiousness at its core is an amalgamation of fear and worry about things that are outside of our control.

    • Anxiety rises when our focus becomes more on the problem than the Problem-Solver.

    • This is not to say that day-to-day concerns will not flood your mind from time to time. (Issues, various circumstances, illness, loss of loved ones…)

    • So, we shouldn’t be so foolish to think that genuine concerns people have are to be minimized or for them to be deemed as “less spiritual”.

  • However, it is to say that for the believer in Christ, the worry and fear should not outweigh the nearness of our God both presently and in His coming.

    • In other words, although life’s circumstances can be daunting, as the old folks used to say in the Baptist church, “Trouble won’t last always.”

    • And in knowing this truth and in whom we serve, Paul provides the Philippians with insight to the spiritual resources all believers have access to – prayer!

  • Paul says that in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God.

    • Our prayer life, as believers, is a game changer not only in our outlook on life but our comfort in the storms of life.

    • Because the reality is prayer is a direct line to the Lord for all that we need.

  • One of my favorite quotes from Dr. Stanley Toussaint of Dallas Seminary is:

“Prayer is nothing more, nothing else, nothing less than asking God for something.”

• What this resource of prayer indicates is a personal connection with a Personal Creator.

  • The unbeliever does not have this type of intimate connection with the Creator of the Universe, yet, by His grace we do.

  • And therefore, because we have this type of relationship, we know that there is a confidence that comes with that type of communion.

  • Jesus stresses this fact on the Sermon on the Mount, specifically in Matthew 6:25-34, where He talks about not being anxious. Check out the text:

Matthew 6:25 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

• • Quickly skip down a few verses to verses 33-34.

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

• What is to be understood from Paul is that there should be a great confidence and trust in the Lord, regardless of what circumstances may be at hand.

  • And to know that even when anxiousness and worry is high, our trust in God’s provision and power is much greater.

  • In other words, an eternal perspective provides a positional confidence in any circumstance.

  • So, Paul lets us know that through our relationship with Christ, who has made peace for us with the Father, we have prayer as a spiritual resource to tap into.

    • And when we learn how to tap into our spiritual resource of prayer, in turn, we can experience the peace of God.

• This type of peace that Paul is speaking about here is not a peace that the world can understand nor even comprehend.

  • The phrase, “the peace of God” is found only once in the New Testament and it’s here in verse 7 of Philippians 4.

    • This peace is not dealing with the peace that has made us right with God – regarding justification.

    • The peace that Paul is discussing here is dealing with what I consider the calm in the storm. (The eye of the storm)

  • Have you ever experienced a peace in your most difficult of circumstances that makes no sense?

    • The kind of peace that others around you stare and wonder, how did you get though what you got through?

    • This type of peace makes no sense because it is a peace that is given to believers, by God, as we are going through what we are going through.

  • I’m reminded of Peter as Jesus calls him out onto the Sea of Galilee.

    • The waters are chaotic, the scene is a bit turbulent, yet as long as Peter is keeping his eyes on Jesus, he is able to stay afloat.

    • But the moment that Peter took his eyes off of Jesus he began to sink.

  • Peter being with Jesus on the water didn’t change the scenery or the situation on the water itself.

    • In other words, the circumstance didn’t change, but the peace remained as long as Peter’s eyes were on the Lord.

  • In the same way, when we pray and make our petitions known to God, although the situation may remain or not, we are confident that the Lord is in it with us.

• Most recently, a famous artist who claimed that he once was a believer, stated on national television that he now has many issues with Jesus.

  • And the reason for his issue was centered on the fact that God did not answer his prayers on a particular matter.

    • If our faith becomes so damaged by an unanswered prayer, the object of your faith was never in Christ, but in what you wanted from Him.

  • As believers, we are going to have to become discerning in our apologetics as it relates to dealing with the world and how we live in the world.

    • Because the world desires a Christ in which is fashioned in their image and can do what they want.

    • Rather than trust in Jesus of Scripture who has made truth known through His life, death, and Resurrection.

  • For even when we fail to understand how the Lord uses suffering in our lives to shape and conform us into His image, we too can easily become intolerant of the sanctification process.

    • The peace of God is in knowing that we are in Him and that He is near.

  • The nearness of the Lord should provide confidence for the believer in our living for Christ and our outlook (perspective) in life.

    • Notice, that Paul says this “peace of God” will guard both our hearts and minds in Christ.

  • The term ‘guard’ in Greek is a military term which means to protect or to keep watch over.

    • This term is found four times in the New Testament and in every sense it is speaking about protection or guarding.

    • And with Paul’s use of the word “guard”, speaking to the resultant peace of God actualized in our prayer life, it is quite significant.

  • In other words, it is through our prayers to the Lord, which provide the confidence necessary to experience the peace of the Lord, that guards our hearts and minds.

    • It’s as if our confidence in communion with the Lord provides a dispatchment of peace to surround us and comfort us.

    • Have you ever prayed during a devastating or overwhelming time in your life, and after you prayed a sense of calm came over you?

    • This is what the peace of God is for believers!

  • This is the benefit of the nearness of Christ, and this peace comes from Christ!

    • Jesus says this to His disciples in John 14:26-27. Check out the text:

John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
John 14:27 “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.

• The confidence we have in Christ is because of the truth which He has left for us and in us!

  • We are indwelled with the Holy Spirit who teaches us, comforts us, guides us, convicts us.

  • We have Peace with the Father, who has saved us from the penalty of sin which is death.

  • We have been justified through the death of Christ.

  • And because of the Resurrection, we will be raised like He was and be with Him for all eternity!

  • This confidence, in the grand scheme of things, when weighted against the issues of this life, allow us to gain a greater perspective on things.

    • Therefore, we no longer have to walk in fear and worry but can walk in confidence.

    • And when the trials of life rage wildly, we know that when we put on the mind of Christ and seek Him in it, His peace will be given to us.

  • And we are to know that the world will not understand this reality unless their eyes become open to who Christ is!

    • This “guarding of our hearts and minds” is dealing with the affections of our hearts in light of what we are experiencing.

    • And the guarding of our minds is dealing with our thoughts and decisions as it relates to what we are going through.

  • Peace is not circumstantial it is an actualized positional reality.

    • The reason why the world doesn’t have this type of peace is because this peace is not of the world but is a fruit of the Spirit! (Gal. 5:22-23)

    • This further confirms for us Paul’s previous exhortations as to why believers should rejoice in the Lord. (Phil 4:4)

  • So, when we found ourselves in difficult situations, we should come to those situations with a mindset already set on being victorious even if we don’t necessarily feel victorious.

    • Remember, our feelings don’t dictate our circumstances – truth does.

  • And because we live in a world where truth has become relative, for someone who does not have the Spirit of God, there will be misalignment in understanding.

    • Therefore, we will see in verses 8-9 Paul outline some virtues and truth by which all believers are to walk in. Check out verses 8-9.

Philippians 4:8 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.
Philippians 4:9 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.

• Starting at verse 8 we see Paul unravel a list of six things in which the believer is to “think on”.

  • And along with this list, Paul begins with the word “Finally” suggesting that he is coming to his concluding points.

    • Notice what things Paul says should occupy the minds of the believer in every season of life.

  • He says the following – whatever is:

    • 1. True

    • 2. Honorable

    • 3. Right

    • 4. Pure

    • 5. Lovely

    • 6. Of good repute

  • You’ll notice that each of these virtues listed are preceded by the word “Whatever”.

    • The word “whatever” is in the plural form which suggests that these virtues are and can be applied in every situation the believer finds themselves in.

    • Let’s first begin by understanding these terms as Paul understood them.

• Paul begins with whatever is ‘true’ (alethes).

  • True or truth is dealing with what is trustworthy or valid – not in the sight of man but to God.

• He then mentions whatever is ‘honorable' (semnos). This is something or someone worthy of respect, honor, or to revere.

  • In other words, how we think should be reflective of who Christ is.

    • That we are to hold up our thoughts to the rightful standard of who Christ is.

• Next, he mentions whatever is ‘right’ (dikaios). This is dealing with what is just or fair according to God’s standard.

  • We know that it is God who defines justice, and He alone sets the standard of what is right.

    • Therefore, how we are to approach our thought life and behaviors should correlate with doing right according to God’s word.

• Next is whatever is ‘pure’ (hagnos). This is dealing with the innocence of something.

  • In other words, what is undefiled and clean as it relates to what we do and how we think.

    • Is my thought-life reflective of representing Christ even in my heart, where no one can see or knows its inner workings?

• Next is whatever is ‘lovely’ (pros-philes). This is dealing with being agreeable or pleasing towards one another.

  • As Paul had mentioned the issue between Euodia and Syntyche, the issue was not only centered on them honoring one another in word and deed, but also being agreeable with one another because there is to be in unity in the body.

• Lastly, whatever is of ‘good repute’ or commendable (euphemos).

  • Simply put, relating to what is positive or praise-worthy because of how it measures up to what is truthful and trustworthy.

• In all these virtues, the Apostle Paul mentions that these are the things in which the believer should think upon.

  • Now one might ask: “How am I to think upon these things as I am being inundated with the chaos of life?”

    • As Ironside mentions in his notes on the Epistle of Philippians, all of these virtues were fully exemplified in the Person of Jesus Christ.

  • In other words, as you are thinking about these things, keep in mind the Savior of your soul who lived these things out practically.

    • As you dwell on these things, dwell on the life and work of Christ!

  • And as you find yourself facing the issues of life head on, consider how Christ saw these issues as He too faced them.

    • Because at the end of the day, we must first think well which allows us to see well and thereby resulting in us doing well!

  • What I mean by that is, there is to be an example of One who has done these things well so that they may be imitated well. (I do, you do, we do)

    • And as we have previously seen through Paul’s address to the Philippians, the ultimate example provided is Christ Himself.

    • These virtues are impossible to achieve in an ethical/moral standpoint by mere pursuit of human strength.

    • These virtues are fully realized when they are seen, meditated upon, and followed out! (Ezra 7:10)

  • This is why Paul says, if there be any excellence and anything worthy of praise, to dwell on these things.

    • That word ‘dwell’ means to consider, to ponder, or to remember these things.

  • Why? Because when life knocks us around, we have the tendency to forget these foundational realities and virtues of our faith.

    • But if our minds remain steadily on the Lord, we can shift our thought life to eternal things not temporal things.

    • I love what Psalm 1:1-2 says. Check out the text:

Psalm 1:1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.

• This past week, my wife and I had to talk to our son about the potential influence of others versus the influence of biblical truth.

  • Children tend to allow the words of others to dictate how they see themselves or what they know to be true.

    • The reality is peer pressure can sometimes influence them more than the foundational truths they are taught at home.

    • Therefore, they must be constantly reminded of who Christ has called them to be and what truth is.

  • So as my wife and I were talking with our son, we reminded him of who he is in Christ, that he is fearfully and wonderfully made, and that he is made in the image of Christ.

    • Friends, may I encourage you that when we dwell on the Lord Jesus and how He overcame sin and the grave, it gives us great insight on our eternal future.

  • I love how Paul wraps up verse 9, he says:

    • “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.”

• One might ask the question: What are “the things” Paul is talking about here in verse 9a?

  • Well, he starts by saying, the things you have learned.

    • The learning requires teaching to be had. And from Chapter 1 to Chapter 4, Paul has been doing just that.

  • From justification to sanctification, to glorification, and how the believer should walk out the middle tense of their salvation amid suffering – and how to do it well.

    • That the believer is able to walk in a manner worthy of Christ because we have been enabled by the Holy Spirit to do so.

    • And along with the enabling power of the Spirit comes spiritual resources given to the believer to live well, think well, and walk well.

  • He then mentions about the things we have received. We have received this glorious salvation by grace and are to live in such a way that reflects this reality!

    • He continues by saying the things in which we have heard and seen in him.

    • These are in reference to the practicality of our faith as it relates to imitating the examples in which Paul laid on in Philippians 2.

  • In other words, there are examples of biblical men, and women for that matter, who are examples of Christ-like modeling. (Titus 2:1-12)

    • And what Paul is saying is that these aren’t things that should just look good from a distance yet not be adamantly pursued.

  • That because you have been bought with a price, you should live as such.

    • Because the grace of God is sufficient and the blood of Christ is sustaining, pursue God with all your heart, mind, and strength.

    • That because you have been justified, there is no need to look back as to where you have come from – pursue your new life in Christ to the fullest.

  • Because you have been sanctified and enabled with the indwelt power of the Holy Spirit, walk in a manner worthy of the Gospel.

    • And because your future is glorification, know that there is no power in hell that can keep you from being with Jesus in the end.

  • Friends, Paul’s point is simple: If you are looking for peace and joy in this life, know that the Creator is in it with you.

    • If you are feeling as if life is too overwhelming and up is not down or right is not left, look up to the hills from which cometh your help!

    • For when you set your mind on Christ, by practicing what has been taught, he says the God of peace will be with you!

  • In other words, the believer’s ability to put into practice the word of God along with putting on the mind of Christ will experience a fellowship with Christ.

    • When we rightly walk in fellowship with the Lord, not only are our minds guarded, but our peace is guarded, because we are in Him.

  • This is why the church mothers in the Baptist church would say: “You can’t make me doubt Him cause I know too much about Him.”

    • What they meant was, we have walked with the Lord and trusted in His word and have seen Him move, every time.

    • Therefore, there is no way that life can veer me from not trusting Him.

  • This type of fellowship is one that has been tried and true. It doesn’t mean it’s been easy, but it does mean that the God of peace has been with them through it!

    • What a joy it is to know that our hope and stay is in the Lord?!

    • As one of my favorite theologians puts it: We are not fighting for a position of victory. We are fighting from a position of victory.

  • Friends, may we walk, think, and live in a manner that is reflective of the life we have been freely and graciously given in Christ.

    • Let’s Pray.