Class Notes, Phil 4:1-23

Phil 4:1 (NIV) Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!
• So how should we stand firm?
• "that is (NIV)" refers to previous discussion and not to new discussion
• But other versions could be interpreted differently to say that how you stand firm is explained by the imperatives that follow.  In which case, the following summarizes chapter 3, and chapter 4 deals specifically with how to stand firm
• Stay away from the Judaizers
• Make your faith a relationship, not a list of do's and don’t's
• Realize that this world is not our home
• Our citizenship is in heaven
• Live in the hope of the rapture
• We don't miss out on anything -- we don't believe that but it is true
• Follow the pattern of others
Phil 4:2-3 (NIV) I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
• Obviously, not everything is perfect in Philippi.  There is disagreement between two women.  How does Paul deal with the disagreement?
• He pleads individually -- he does not impose or force or suggest for someone else to
• He asks them to agree in the Lord.  What does the Lord want in the situation, not what do I want
• He asks for others to help them
• He asks for others, by implication, to honor them because they contended at his side with the gospel (more joint partnership as described in chapter 1).  In other words, they have both served faithfully and we must not dismiss their contributions
Phil 4:4-7 (NIV) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
• Why the emphasis on rejoicing?
• There is a lot to be thankful for
• Rejoicing takes the edge off of controversies
• Rejoicing helps us to see a larger picture
• How does gentleness fit into the equation?
• QT ENTRY:
NOTE: I'm pretty sure I'm going too far with this verse 3, but here it goes -- a summary of chapter 3.  In chapter 3 Paul starts out with the exhortation to rejoice, which is he also calls a safeguard.  He then warns the Philippians of the Judaizers, spending a lot of time explaining why outward things are rubbish, and finishes with a discussion on the hope of the resurrection, which is best understood as experiencing the rapture.  In these verses, he summarizes the beginning and the ending of chapter 3 with a one extra tidbit.  The extra item is: let your gentleness be evident to all.  To me, this is the part of our Christian witness that marks maturity in Christ (and contrasts with the lives of the Judaizers).  People aren't attracted to the faith by our ability to follow some set of rules or checklists or rituals (although, some people are but for the wrong reasons).  What attracts a person to Jesus, and makes a Christian attractive is love, evidenced by a gentle spirit.  As I imagine Jesus' life, this character quality is what stands out most to me, his loving and gentle spirit.  He would have been a good earthly friend (and he is a good friend now!).  Someone who cared about a person's struggle.  Someone who did not immediately judge you or tell you what you were doing wrong.  Someone who listened.  Someone who gently led you back to truth.  Someone who did not get angry for mistreatment but whose anger arose in defense of others or of God.  And even that anger would be controlled and gentle, firm and resolute.  Those are the people who please God, not the ones who have the rule book down flat.
• Prayer is an essential aspect to gentleness, why?
• Worry and gentleness do not go together.  Gentleness is defined by a relaxed spirit.  Worry is defined by an agitated spirit
• Additionally, spiritual maturity as evidenced by gentleness, is attained by a life of prayer.  Why? Because in chapter 3, that is how one gains Christ, how one gets to know Christ, at least as evidenced by Paul
• What is the result of prayer?
• Chapter 3, where prayer is implied, argues for a deep relationship with God
• Peace of God
• Transcends understanding means that something cannot be understood
• It can be experienced because it is a result of prayer
• Protection of our hearts and minds in Christ
• The world draws our hearts and minds away from the Savior
• Prayer draws us back to the savior
• Howard Hendricks called verses 2-6 "a five-part recipe for conflict resolution: (1) 'Rejoice in the Lord,' that is, get beyond yourselves and look to the Lord. (2) 'Let your gentleness be evident to all.' In other words speak with kindness to each other. (3) 'Do not be anxious.' Relax, and give it all to God. (4) 'Be thankful.' The simple act of expressing gratitude for our blessings takes the heat out of infection. (5) Present your requests to God. Prayer realigns us and restores peace . . ." (Hendricks, "Color Outside the Lines," p. 96)
Phil 4:8-9 (NIV) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
• If "stand firm" refers to chapter 4, then this is the fourth imperative on how to stand firm (rejoice, agree together, pray, and think on good things)
• One other protection for us besides rejoicing and a relationship with God through prayer, is what we spend our thoughts upon (Constable, 2010)
• "True" (alethe) means valid, honest, and reliable (cf. Rom. 3:4)
• "Honorable" or "noble" (semna) means worthy of respect (cf. Prov. 8:6; 1 Tim. 3:8, 11; Titus 2:2)
• "Right" (dikaia) refers to what is just and upright
• "Pure" (hagna) denotes cleanness and connotes moral purity
• "Lovely" (prosphile) means what is amiable, agreeable, or pleasing
• "Of good repute" or "admirable" (euphema) refers to what is
Praiseworthy because it measures up to the highest standards
• APPLICATION: How might this list change some of our movie recommendations?  Actually, I suppose there would be few movies we could ever go to, but it does challenge us to consider carefully the things we expose our mind to
• I would add one more imperative, what is it?
• Application (what you have learned … put into practice)
• As we think on good thing, and God's word is one of the best things, we will be challenged by truth and by a need to change something in our own lives.  But we can't just look into the mirror and forget what we see, we must act (James 1:22)
• What is the promise of application?
• The God of peace will be with you. Obviously God is always with us, but when we obey his word to us, we experience his presence and enjoy the peace that comes when we walk in fellowship with God (Constable, 2010)
Phil 4:10-19 (NIV) I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. 17 Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
• I want to focus on two things in this last section, both related to money
• ONE: Paul says that he has learned a secret -- what is it?
• To be content in every circumstance (in plenty or in want)
• What does it mean to be content "in plenty?"
• Riches never satisfy, people always want more
• Learning to give joyfully
• Learning not to get something you want even though you can easily afford it
• Waiting on God in prayer
• What does it mean to be content "in want?"
• Waiting on God in prayer to supply
• Sometimes, for Paul, that meant opening back up his tent business
• Sometimes we can be a better witness by not being full-time but being part of the work force
• We can reach people, a pastor can never reach
• Most people see a huge disconnect from a pastor and a normal person (not realizing that a pastor is really no different)
• It is emotionally hard to be "in want," but it is spiritually harder to be "in plenty."  Why?
• Because we forget God when things are going good
• TWO: We talked about the "joint partnership in the Gospel" in the beginning of the letter.  Why is Paul so excited about their partnership, that is, there giving to support his efforts?
• Clue: it wasn't the money -- although that was appreciated
• IT WAS THEIR BENEFIT.  It was "what was credited to their account"
• Giving has transformational powers
• It is an indication of spiritual maturity
• It is for our good, and it is amazing how many neglect the spiritual blessing that comes from giving
• It pleases God!  (in contrast to the Judaizers tithe requirement, God wants the heart)