Philippians 4: 1-9
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, [fn2] 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.
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beloved and longed for brethren
my joy and my crown
stand fast in the Lord
Agree in the Lord
be of the same mind in the Lord
help these women who labored with me in the gospelHelp these women to agree
rejoice in the Lord always
Be reasonable
let your gentleness be known to all men
- don’t be anxious about anything
Pray, supplicate, and thank God for your concerns
You will have the peace of God which is beyond human understanding
Thing about what is
True (true life is with God, not circumstances on earth.)
Honorable (honors God and brings Him Glory)
Just (Right teachings from scripture)
Pure (Sincere and without deceit)
Lovely (loving and gracious)
Commendable (Good for those who receive it)
Excellent (Meet the goals God seeks)
Praiseworthy (
Imitate me and you will have God’s peace
emulate me
=If you do all these things God will be with you
V1: what feelings does Paul express about them? 6 names used?
What does it mean to “stand firm” (to persevere, to persist)
V2-3: what does he ask of them and for what purpose?
Why do people get agitated and angry with others? (fear of loss of status, shame, comfort, fear of pain)
V4 What does it mean to “rejoice in the Lord”?
rejoice - not in your circumstances but in God’s love, power, wisdom & honor
V5 reasonableness (equitable, fair, mild, gentle)
V6 Don’t be anxious/over concerned/ distracted from what is important from honoring God
- Anxious - pulled in different directions - thief of joy
- What causes anxiety? Fear of loss..
- How do we respond? a) we turn to fleshly comforts. -often turn to sinful addictions that distract us from God b)we turn against others around us
Ok to have cares, but what is important is what you do with them.
We need to plan how we will over come worry. Fail to plan and plan to fail. Need to intentionally plan and think of your action plan to control your thoughts.
2 Cor 10:5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
RECOGNIZE THOUGHTS BY MEMORIZING SCRIPTURE ABOUT FEARS
1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Genesis 15:1 "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great."
Three ways to know if worry is excessive
- about what you desire than God’s honor
- hurry into ill advised situations
- constantly agitated in unrest
When you are overwhelmed by a concern that is out of your control, and decide to try to figure it out yourself and don’t turn it over to God, it is wrong since it distracts you from God’s honor.
Prov 23:7 - as a man thinks in his heart so is he
God’s power, love and wisdom are doubted. (not acknowledging God Prov 3:5)
The way to get more peace of mind is to extract negativity, and replace it with positive things.of the promises of God, not just positive thinking.
News, Movies, TV, will teach you negative thoughts. Negative thoughts plan negative feelings of pain, hopelessness and depression. If your thought life is a sewer your life will begin to smell.
Work out your salvation, to activley use your will and volition to make a plan and prepare to use scripture and positive things to overcome negative and worrysome thoughts.
Satan cannot rob you of your salvation, but he can rob you of the peace and joy which is the benefit of the promises.
Don’t just pray for relief, but work to build right thoughts through studying, memorizing, meditating and praying God’s promises.
How will we do this?
What is the result? Gal 5:22 Fruit of the spirit of love joy peace...
- don’t focus on earthly circumstances
- do focus on heavenly purposes
- do renew your mind by meditating on Phil 4:8
Meditate on these things
Meditate on these things
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Phil 4: 10-23
The thousands of advertizements we are exposed to each week breed fleshly discontent. Discontent leads to covetousness, bitterness, anger, disobedience, and distrust of God's love, power, wisdom to provide relationships, material needs, and satisfaction.
We desire comfort, health and happiness, and God sees that to grow closer to you he needs to apply sickness, loss, pain, and suffering.
We are to be a conduit/vessel for God in provision to others.
God's Kingdom grows based on our humility to be available and usable as a conduit of His love, money, message....
"he who loves God cannot be content in anything without Him." Thomas Watson
Secret to Contentment
- Gratefulness to God acknowledges Him as creator, provider, redeemer, father, lord.
- Content = self-sufficient, to be satisfied, to have enough
- Doing a google search yields more different views from different faiths on this topic than it seems any other topic...as it seems everyone is focused on how to be content, have peace, satisfaction, to be happy. In searching this topic there are some great authors who have weighed in on this topic.
Contentment is not indifference and uncaring, it is putting my satisfaction based on the (supernatural) unchangeable character and relationship with Christ and other's relationship with Christ, and being indifferent to the (natual) circumstances of my life in the world.
Signs of lack of contenment;
1. Covetousness - being anxious, aggitated, or annoyed that others have more than I do...looks, brains, friends, spouse, children, education, job, money, stuff, health, weight, respect, faith, joy, peace.
2. Boredom - not gaining satisfaction from the activities, relationships, things around you. Always needing to get out or do the next thing to escape.
3. Frustration and Discontent with things around you that you are not able to control
Phil 4: 11-12 - Choose an attitude of humility - be willing to accept the humblest of means - and acknowedge that whatevery they are they are a given by God for a purpose.
Acts 16:25-26 - Choose an attitude of praise - because in our good times or bad - God's love, wisdom and power are still infinite.
1 Timothy 6:6, "Godliness with contentment is great gain," verse 8 "And having food and clothing, let us be content."
Hebrews 13 verse 5 "Be content with whatever you have, for He said I will never leave you or forsake you."
God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with him. Jim Elliot
He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. Jim Elliot
Wherever you are - be all there. Jim Elliot
Contentment is not escape from the battle, but rather abiding peace and confidence in the midst of the battle. Warren Wiersbe
The whole issue of self image revolves around feeling confident in who we are and what we can do. If we humble ourselves before God, obey His word by serving and loving others, and the outcomes are all His, then we have great confidence that he will do great things....through us.
Great Bible examples of contentment in the Life of Joseph, Esther, Ruth
Mourning is working through a change, Murmoring is arguing a change and badmouthing God .
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Book of Philippians Reviewed
Path to Peace and contentment....Philippians outline
1. the Single Mind - Unity - For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. -
2. The Submissive Mind - Submission - Have this mind among yourselves, which you have in Christ Jesus...
3. The Spiritual Mind - Spiritual growth ...that I may know him and the power of his resurrection...
4. The Secure Mind - Security - I can do all things in him who strengthens me.
1. the Single Mind - Unity - For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. - repent and chose Christ - James 1:8 a double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
- Present your body and life as a living sacrifice - Rom 12:1
- Accept the place where he has put you - Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
- Make knowing Him the priority in your time, money and activities. Mat 6:21 For where your treasure (time) is, there your heart will be also.
2. The Submissive Mind - Submission - Have this mind among yourselves, which you have in Christ Jesus...
- Plan how you will submit - James 1:21
- Pursue knowing him through personal study of his word - Luke 9:23 - take up your cross daily and follow
- Pray his promises and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you his principles. 1Jn 5:14........ "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." Isa 55:11....... "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." Jn 15:7.......... "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you."
3. The Spiritual Mind - Spiritual growth ...that I may know him and the power of his resurrection...
- Practice memorization and meditation on his word to transform your mind - Rom 12:2
- Purpose to train yourself daily on knowing God and His Son Jesus Christ. - (Colossians 3:23).Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men
4. The Secure Mind - Security - I can do all things in him who strengthens me.
- Pray for those he brings in your life to know him and for his kingdom - Ephesians 1:17-18
- Provide for the needs of others that he brings in your file - Proverbs 11:25, 2 Corinthians 9:11-13
- Observe His power as you see see God work in the lives of those you minister to - Ps 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
- Experience His peace as you gain a confidence in His Love, Power and Wisdom Jn 16:24 "Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."