Citizens: A Study on Philippians (Part 16)
October 4, 2020Give Online: Tithes & Offerings
Citizens: A Study on Philippians
(Part 16)
In a study on the letter to the Philippians… written by Apostle Paul
- What we know: this church was very dear to Paul
- They have literally saved his life
- And Paul not only calls them family…
- But he also calls them his Joy and His Crown… which means
- He sees this church growing in Jesus AS his reward from God
- So as he concludes his letter (remember: long time b/w letter)
- He is leaving his people with a final command
- And then gives practical ways to walk that command out
Phil. 4:1
Paul tells the Philippians: Stand firm… which is how he started the letter
- And again this is the imagery of the Roman army…
- Relentless… Unified… Shoulder 2 Shoulder
- Paul says this local church needs to be the same way
- And he follows by giving practical ways to stand firm in unity
- First way is by having the same mind
- Meaning: Be in unity when it comes to the goal
- Not that we always get there the same way… but to same place
Paul gives a case in point: Two leaders who are at odds with each other
- Tells them… stop looking through the lens of your ego/feelings
- Start looking thru the lens of the Gospel
- Says: You need to fix this not for yourself… or b/c its right
- But for the sake of the Gospel
- And you don’t have to be best friends
- But right now you are hurting the witness of the entire church
- If we are supposed to be a glimpse of what heaven will be like
- You are doing a terrible job
TAG: So we first stand firm by being of the same mind
Today we pick up in verse 4 as Paul continues
Phil. 4:4-7
[PRAY]
Paul starts verse 4 w/ the final command of the letter
And its one of those commands sometimes… don’t want to hear
- First thing I think: Well that’s a great concept… but not practical
- Like is there anything worse that being in a bad mood
- Having someone tell you to rejoice
- I’ll rejoice after I punch you in the face
- Paul actually commands us to rejoice (how often)… always
- It’s not a suggestion – It’s not when you feel like it
- It says to “REJOICE ALWAYS”
- But if anyone can say: If I can rejoice… you can rejoice – Its Paul
- He’s like that friend when you tell a story…
- They tell a story that always makes ur story seem insignificant
- Man I’m hungry > Well there are starving children in Africa
- I’m super tired > Well I woke up at 2am this morning
Paul’s in prison – Not sipping lemonade in the Bahamas saying “rejoice”
- So how can he rejoice with his life on the line…
- B/C if I can figure that out… this is super applicable to my life
- And Paul tells us why he is able to rejoice like he does…
- It’s because he is REJOICING IN THE “WHO” – IN THE LORD
- Paul chooses to find his joy… not in circumstances but in Jesus
- B/C we all know – Can’t always rejoice in our circumstances
- But I can always rejoice in Jesus
Not to say there aren’t times I can rejoice in my circumstances
- Last Sunday… Seahawks beat the cowboys
- Cardinals lost against the 0-2 Lions
- And I destroyed my dad in fantasy football… I was re..joice..ing
- Listen when God blesses you… say thank you – okay bad examples
- But when my son asks if he can go on a walk with Michelle & I
- That’s a blessing!
- And I will rejoice!
- When you get the call you’ve been praying for from the doctor
- That’s a blessing!
- And you should rejoice!
- I remember when I got married to my wife
- By the end of the wedding reception my cheeks hurt
- Because I never stopped smiling… those are good times
- And I rejoice in those times
- But when my son asks if he can go on a walk with Michelle & I
But maybe ur circumstances aren’t great – maybe ur storys the opposite
- There are many of you today… you are going through a hard time
- What about you… b/c that’s where the Philippians are
- They are oppressed by Rome b/c of their faith
- Their leader might die
- Some of those listening are slaves… terrible circumstances
- What about you… b/c that’s where the Philippians are
- Paul doesn’t tell them 2 rejoice in circumstances… but in Jesus
- B/C when ur joy is always in Jesus: Can rejoice in circumstance
- But if ur joy is in circumstance – U won’t always rejoice in Jesus
- And just to reemphasize how important this is… he says it again
- “And I will say it again REJOICE”
- B/C this isn’t just tongue and cheek… or a nice phrase
- This is how you stand firm in the Lord
And when we discover that true JOY isn’t found in a place but a person
- When I believe AND live like that… it changes everything
- Question: Have you discovered – Is ur joy in a person or thing
- Do you say: I’d be happy if…
- I liked job more / Kids obeyed
- Made more $$$ / It wasn’t always 110 degrees
- Or can you say: I’m happy because
- Jesus forgave me / My past doesn’t define me – Jesus does
- My future is with Jesus / I have purpose in Jesus
- I wonder how different our weeks would be w/ that mindset
- If we actually chose to obey what the Bible says
And Paul goes on in verse 5
Phil 4:5
Gentle spirit: That Greek word is really hard to translate
- B/C there’s no straight English word translation (Adj/Noun combo)
- Big heartedness
- Yeildedness
- Considerateness
- NLT – let everyone see you are considerate in all you do
- And this specific word (EPI – I – KEES)
- It was used when the expected reaction wasn’t kindness
- When the expected reaction was retaliation…
- And while our tendency is revenge – Say something bad back
- Paul saying your joy should overflow into a life of gentleness
- Now if your joy is found in a thing… how likely is that to happen
Phil 4:5
- Not just believers… but to those who have no clue what God is like
- Because we are the reflection of God to the world
- When people see that u give to others what they don’t deserve
- You are telling the gospel to them through your actions
- Because we were given far more than we deserved
- And Paul confirms that with the end of verse 5… “The Lord is near”
- The word “NEAR” was used by Jewish Rabbi’s
- In reference to when people would change their religion
- Can be translated… they have access to God
- So when you choose gentleness instead of retaliation
- People will find Jesus… your boss/spouse/kids/mean neighbor
- All of this because you choose to rejoice in the Lord
Now verses 6-7 – The destruction of Worry & Anxiety
Phil. 4:6-7 (1st… rejoice in the Lord > let ur joy overflow into gentleness)
That word in the Greek is Mari-not-o (comes from 2 Greek words)
- Divide and Mind
- So to be Anxious is to have a divided mind
- Think of James… when we are double minded… unstable
- Also has idea of being pulled in different directions/distracted
- Not focused on the main thing… which Paul says a lot
- Make sure you don’t forget the main goal of all of this
- So to be Anxious is to have a divided mind
- Jesus uses this word with Marth…
Luke 10:41-42
- Remember Martha is in the kitchen making dinner for everyone
- Which was great! (Jesus probably loved going there)
- But Mary was just sitting at the feet of Jesus – focused on Him
- Martha gets mad at Mary for not helping
- But Jesus says… Martha, you are distracted by so much
- Martha was doing a good thing… missed out on the best thing
- She became anxious
When my priorities are wrong (joy isn’t in Jesus) I get distracted
- When I get distracted… I don’t treat people with gentleness
- And I fail to reflect Jesus in the way I should
- And then I end up not trusting and start stressing
- Has that ever described anyone here?
- And Jesus teaches a ton on this in his time here on Earth
- Shows us what worry & anxiety reveal in our lives
Matt. 6:25-26
1st thing worry reveals: We forget who our provider is
- Jesus says: If the birds don’t freak out about food or shelter
- Not worried about a worm shortage… b/c God feeds them
- Remember… you are infinitely more valuable than a bird
- Never forget who your provider is
Matt. 6:27-30
2nd thing worry reveals: A lack of faith
- And you might have some faith… but is it little or is it great
- Jesus said: If you worry – You have “LITTLE” faith not “NO” faith
Charles Spurgeon
Little faith will bring your soul to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to your soul.
- The Bible doesn’t say you need great faith in order to be saved
- Just believe you’re a sinner… saved by grace in Jesus
- Believe that Jesus truly is the Savior of the world/your life
- But it’s when you have GREAT faith
- You find that your soul can actually find rest
- And that’s what Jesus is talking about…
- Birds have more faith than you
- And when we start to worry… destruction follows because
- We want to have control over something
- But honestly we don’t have control over much of anything
Prob 27:1
- You don’t know what will happen tomorrow: God does – You don’t
- But if you can’t control any of it anyways… why freak out
- God’s always provided… you’re still here… he always will
- AND truth: Most of what you worry about will never happen
- Ask yourself: What was I worrying about 2 years ago – Today
- Scary thing is some of you know that answer…
- But most people have no clue now… giant in the moment
- John Hagei in his book said: Win over worry… told a story
- A woman who was worried at 40 that she would die of cancer
- But she died of pneumonia at age 70
- So she worried for 30 years for something that didn’t exist
Anonymous
Worry is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but doesn’t get you anywhere
Beware of the lie of worry… b/c it will rob your soul of Joy
- You are commanded to rejoice in the Lord
- But if you freak out every time something comes your way
- Joy is gone… Gentleness is gone… And look just like the world
- Where are you putting your trust… in faith or fear
Matt 6:31-33
3rd thing worry reveals: I forgot what Kingdom I am of
- Jesus says to seek first the kingdom of God… His righteousness
- Everything ur worried about missing out on…
- God will give you what you need
- When I worry or stress about something
- I’ve forgotten what Kingdom I am truly a part of
- B/C I’m not part of this Kingdom – Or this world
- No… I’m called to serve my King, trust in my King
- And everywhere I go… I must bringing kingdom of God w/ me
- If I worry – b/c that thing more important 2 me than Jesus
- Which is actually Idolatry (Worry about what u worship)
- You worry about things that don’t even matter…
- Because you forgot which kingdom you are a part of
- I’ve forgotten what Kingdom I am truly a part of
The more I seek his kingdom… his righteousness: Less anxiety I have
TAG: That’s what worry does… it makes u forget & compromises you
So what about the HOW to do this (Paul tells us)
Phil. 4:6
- So God’s cure for worry is prayer… and Paul uses a few words here
- Prayer – Generalized word for community, worship of/to God
- Supplication – Specific prayers… usually serious & urgent
- Request – Ask God about anything and everything
- And prayer isn’t a monolog… it’s a dialog
- It’s just as much about listening as my list of requests
- Yet He does want me to ask Him for things
And when you pray… remember 3 things (Love/Wisdom/Power of God)
- The Love of God
- He will only give you what’s best for you
- Because he loves you so much
- The Wisdom of God
- He knows what’s best for you
- I have know clue what’s best for me… I’d destroy myself
- The Power of God
- Nothing is impossible with God
- There is nothing to hopeless for him
And the KEY is to pray with THANKSGIVING
- That is where you FAITH is expressed… thanking God in our prayers
Phil 4:6 (NLT)
Don’t worry about anything, instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.
- We are not told to pray and THEN worry… pray and don’t worry
- And that is where faith enters in
- But it doesn’t mean the problem goes away
- It means now you have God’s presence in midst of the problem
TAG: And if I actually do this verse 7 tells us what will happen…
Phil 4:7
- This begins with the word “AND”
- And it doesn’t just connect verses 6 and 7
- It connects the thought of 6 with the reality of 7
- So don’t worry… just pray… and as you pray
- Then the result is the PEACE OF GOD GAURDING YOUR HEART
And surpassing comprehension means it is beyond what makes sense
- The only explanation of your peace is unexplainable except in God
- And many of you have experienced this type of peace
- It’s not that the problem is gone… but we gave it away
- And because we no longer carry it – WE CAN REST
- And it guards out hearts and minds
- Guard was military term of patrol and protection
- So God’s peace will patrol and protect your heart & mind
- Heart: Where you can have wrong feelings
- Mind: Where you can have wrong thinking
WRAP UP: TWO QEUSTIONS
- What are you anxious about… what will you do about it
- Will you trust in God or trust in something else
- Will you ask God to increase your faith
- Will you remember what Kingdom you are a part of
- Are you experiencing God’s peace that surpasses comprehension
- Maybe you have experienced it
- But are you experiencing it
Ps 16:11
- Stop giving things to God… just to pick it back up again
- And the peace you are longing for (asking for) is flood ur life
[PRAY]