Scripture:
Philippians 4:2-9 NKJV
[2] I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. [3] And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, 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 gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. [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 understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. [8] Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. [9] The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Observation:
The letter to the Philippines is one of the first things I read when I started falling in love with the bible. I didn’t read well at all, but something inside me told me that this was a book I had to open and search through. I wanted to know more about the LORD, and so many people pointed me to the bible being the place to see exactly who HE is and the kind of characteristics that HE had. If I am to be honest reading at the point was not my favorite thing to do. Part of the reason is… I had a hard time doing so. But over the years of opening the bible and trying to find out what it said, GOD steady opened my heart and showed me HIS face, and by that I mean HE showed me who HE is through the pages in the bible and teaching me how to read and understand it. Yes what I am telling you is that GOD taught me how to read, by placing HIS word in front of me and filling me with the desire to know HIM more. What i have learned in all the years of study is that GOD wants us to love HIM above all else and to love our neighbors the same way we love ourselves. As I was praying this morning asking HIM what HE wanted me to write about. I found that the internet was down at my house. I feel like that is HIS way of saying, “Just open the book and where it lands, start there.” So here we are, in Philippines. This letter was written to a small church with a big heart. They were kind, and generous, and had a lot of people that wanted to help. Now in my bible there were three different subheadings involved in the verses we have read this morning. That’s because its important not to cherry pick the bible. Its easy to twist and misuse it when you only take the parts that you like. Its not a book that is to be pulled apart like that. Knowing the whole council of GOD is the key. The chapters and verses were put in by man to make it easier to study, but the enemy uses them to manipulate our thoughts and twist the message that GOD has for us. The being said what is is that HE is telling us here. First and foremost I believe what Paul is saying is to be likeminded. We talked about this a few days ago the first subheading in my bible says, “Be united, joyful, and in prayer.” It seems like there were two people in the church who Paul seemed to bring to the attention of the church saying that they were helping him with the spread of the gospel. HIS request to the church was that they help them in their labor. Letting gentleness lead the way, and rejoicing in the LORD that others have the desire to serve. Verse 6 and 7 are two of my go to verses. What they tell me is to place everything in GOD’S hands. Knowing that HE is in control will bring a peace to our hearts that is beyond even our own understanding. In the last two verses we get a glimpse of the message that GOD has for us, and honestly probably one of the biggest battles we face. Paul had been a warrior for the cause. He had walked thousands of miles been shipwrecked, snake bitten, placed in prison, and that’s not to mention flogged several time and pelted with rocks and lift for dead. He knew the tendency that is in us to think negatively. I believe that when he was written the letter to the Philippines, his heart was set on encouraging them. Keeping their mind on the right path. His instructions to them prove that. As he guides them on how to be united and of one mind. He wants to make sure that not only do they know that they are not alone in their labor but that GOD wants to be in the middle of everything we do. So bringing every thing to HIM in prayer is one of the keys. But there is a little more to it than just that. Our thoughts have to be guided as well. You see Paul knew after everything he had faced that there would be a tendency to think negatively and we could not just allow our minds to run with those kinds of thoughts. In verses 8 and 9 he even gives us the right things to think about. Things that are good true right noble think on these things he says. As I think about those 2 verses I can almost see Paul taking the first Crack from the whip and thinking…. what am I doing this for. The battle that took place in his mind when he was shipwrecked with a bunch of guys that he told to stay where they were. Keeping his thought on the calling he had received was the key to his ability to press on. He had to stay positive and he was passing that on to the church here in Philippi.
Application:
There is a reason we are all brought together, and honestly im going to challenge you to think outside the 4 walls you call the church. We are the church. It has nothing to do with a building we gather at. Being united and working together is how GOD intended for all this to happen. Keeping our minds fixed on HIM can be difficult at times. That’s why its so important that we work together. I cant tell you how easy it is for my mind to run away with thoughts about how things are going to happen, and to be honest the more negative things I think the more negative things I see. Staying focused on the savior and what HE has done for all of us, when the world keeps pelting you with rocks is tough. But as we said yesterday your circumstances don’t define you they refine you. Life is a big crucible. Its designed to take all the impurities out of you. Fixing our minds on the joy, love, and peace that is found in Jesus releases us from the stress, anxiety, and depression that the enemy tries to feed us. Ultimately what we need to always keep in mind is that GOD is in control. HE is the one who set the world on its axle, and holds the sun and moon in place. Knowing GOD is knowing peace. But what about when our minds start to slid off on the negative side of life. Well, HE has left nothing out of HIS instructions. HE has given us the ability to redirect our thinking. These verses are not the only place this idea is found. Bringing our worries and fears to HIM, and changing the way we think, stopping our thoughts in the middle and making them line up with what HE say. Is what i mean when I say we need to consider the whole council of GOD. The book is designed to be studied as a road map for life. In fact it says it in the pages… study to show yourselves approved. GOD has instructed us to believe what HE says and keep it fresh on our minds. Making a regular habit of reading and studying HIS word will help you renew the way you think and where you go with your problems.
Prayer:
Father, you know how our mind works. What we think about determines the direction we go, and the direction we go determines what we see on the way, and what we see on the way, determines what we think about. Help us to see you moving. Gently guiding us to the path you have for us. We want our minds fixed on you. Father, you know my thoughts and how desperately we need you. Do what only you can do. Take this jumbled up mess that has been put together and speak to the hearts of those who have taken the time to read it. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.