Philippians 4

4:2-23 4TH HORN - THROUGH THE PEACE OF CHRIST Spiritual mind - The antidote to worry

C. The peace of Christ produces a spiritual mind

1. Peace through prayer (2-7)

2. Peace through thinking (8-9)

3. Peace through giving (10-23)

A spiritual mind causes us to have joy, for a spiritual mind is not worried but trusts in God. A spiritual mind is the antidote to worry, the spiritual mind is sound, strong and full of courage. A spiritual mind cares about the things of God, the will of God and focus on the Lord, it lives in Scriptural Truth and experiences the peace of God.

Philippians 4:1-7

V.4:1 f) Establishment - In the Lord Withstanding.

I. My crown - People are our crown, our reward consist in what we did to His people. Matt.25:31-40 II. We have to stand fast at least in 8 ways:

1. In one spirit. Phil.1:27

2. In the Lord. Phil.4:1

3. In prayer. Mark 11:25

4. For a cause. Rom.14:4

5. In faith. 1.Cor.16:13

6. In the liberty of Christ. Gal.5:1

7. Against the Devil. Eph.6:11-14

8. In the Word. 2.Thes.2:15

9. Peace through prayer (2-7) 3 ways to have peace:

10. Prayer. v.6-7

11. Positive Thinking. v.8-9

12. Plentiful Giving. v.10-20

V.1-9 is a military passage, full of military terms, Paul had said that Epaphroditus, their messenger was a soldier (2:25) and now he urge them to be that as well. The earthly mind makes a worrier but the spiritual mind makes a warrior.

V.2 a) Goal - Plea for unity.

I. Euodia and Syntyche, or as someone has rendered them, “ Odious” and “ soontouchy”

1. Odious people (People who spreads stench of bitterness and disunity) will always cause problems in the Church.

2. Soontouchy people (People who do not mind their own business) will as well cause problems in the Church. II. Paul commanded these two woman to be united, how wonderful if Odious would stop spreading disunity and bitterness, and Soontouchy would mind her own business. They needed the spiritual mind. 2:1-7, 20; 3:16; 4:7-9 V.3 b) Grace - Practical advise.

I. Paul is perhaps now writing to the leading Pastor of the Church.

II. Laboured (Gr. sunathleo) means to wrestle in a company. (A military term) These woman were soldiers for Christ but had started ” friendly fire” .

III. Believers names are written in the book of life (before the world began). Rev.17:8 V.4 c) Gladness - Pleasure in the Lord.

The spiritual mind always rejoices in the Lord, even if it’ s in a dark tunnel it can see the light and rejoices over that light instead of being saddened of the darkness.

V.5 d) Gentleness - Prepare for His Coming.

They should live their lives in expectation of Christ coming and therefore be gentle to all.

V.6-7 Right Prayer.

V.8 Right Thinking.

V.9 Right Living.

V.6 e) Goodness - Pray to God.

I. If we stop praying worry begins, worry reveals lack of prayer.

II. 4 attitudes of prayer:

1. Prayer - Communication with God. A single mind focuses on prayer.

2. Supplication - A stronger term of requesting, a continual prayer. A submissive mind focuses on supplication.

3. Thanksgiving - Gratitude for God’ s blessing and prayer answer. A simple mind focuses on thanksgiving.

4. Request - All the prayer petitions we bring come before God. III. The altar of incense had 4 horns and here we notice 4 attitudes of prayer. V.7 f) Guard - Peace of God.

I. Worry is:

1. Wrong thinking (the mind)

2. Wrong feelings (the heart)

II. The peace of God (God’ s own peace) can be experienced in true prayer. Is.26:3

1. The peace of God surpasses understanding.

2. The love of God surpasses knowledge. Eph.3:19

3. The Peace of God Guards us. v.7

4. The God of Peace Guides us. v.9

5. Peace with God (Salvation)

6. Peace of God (Sanctification)

III. Guard is a military term and describes the defence of God upon the praying believers.

IV. Look within and be depressed

Look without and be distressed Look to Jesus and be at rest.

V. Guard your hearts and minds is the breastplate and helmet of Eph.6:14, 17 VI. In Ephesians peace is a bond for believers. 4:3

In Colossians peace is a ruler for believers. 3:15 In Philippians peace is a guard for believers. 4:7

Philippians 4:8-9

2. Peace through thinking (8-9) V.8 a) Meditation - Things to Dwell and Delight in.

I. The spiritual mind was right praying in v.7 and now it is right thinking.

II. In verse 8 we have 8 characteristic of the mind of Christ available for the believers.

III. If we have the Attitude of Mind of Phil.4:8. then we will have the Mature Action of 1.Cor.13:4-8. IV. Sow a thought - reap an action. Sow an action - reap a habit. Sow a habit - reap a lifestyle.

V. These 8 characteristics are the belt and sword of Eph.6:14, 17. V.9 b) Manifestation - Things to Do.

I. Learning - Through hearing, seeing and receiving.

II. Living - We ought to do it not only learn it.

III. Leading - Not only will the peace of God Guard us it will also Guide us if we learn and live it.

IV. Learned and received, heard and saw are the shoes and shield of Eph.6:15-16

Phil. Ch.4 is the peace chapter of N.T and James ch.4:1-4 is the war chapter of N.T. Phil.4 has right prayer v.6, right thinking v.8 and right living v.9 Jam.4 has wrong thinking v.1-2, wrong prayer v.3 and wrong living v.4

Philippians 4:10-23

3. Peace through giving (10-23) God is overruling in Lordship. v.10-12 God is unfailing in power. v.13-15 God is unchangeable in perfection. v.16-23

Thanksgiving for their recent gift brought by Epaphroditus. v.10-14 Thanksgiving for their previous gift. v.15-20

V.10-12 Paul trusted in the Lord’ s overruling Lordship and therefore was content in whatever state that the Lord had for him.

V.10 a) Surety - Care of the Philippians.

In 1:11 Paul exhorted them to bear fruit now he rejoices over that they flourished again (like a tree during spring).

V.11 b) State - Content of Paul.

I. Paul didn’ t rejoice because they met his need but because he saw their love and sharing.

II. He had learnt through many years of serving God to be content. 1.Tim.6:6-8 V.12 c) Satisfaction - Character of Paul.

I. Paul was content in prosperity or poverty.

II. He had a spiritual mind that trusted His Lordship.

V.13-15 Paul trusted in God’ s unfailing power and he knew that in Christ God had made available exceeding great power to live the Christian life.

V.13 d) Strength - Capability in Christ.

I. Paul knew that he would be safe in whatever state God allowed him to go through as long as he stayed within the will of God. Rom.8:28 II. It was the Spirit of Christ within him that unfolded His power to be content in whatever state he went through. 2.Cor.12:9 III. Paul knew that it wasn’ t him that could fulfil the call of God upon his life, but God would be faithful to complete it in whatever state he went through. Phil.1:6 V.14-15 e) Sharing - Charity of the Philippians.

Paul gives his thanksgiving to the Philippians for their gift to him, he reveals that only they had been generous to him.

V. 16-23 Paul knew that God is unchangeable in perfection and that he always rewards people who give generously.

V.16 f) Sending - Collect received.

I. Even before Paul arrived in Corinth had the Philippians sent him gifts in Thessalonica. Acts 17:1 (Thessalonica was the next town he visited after leaving Philippi)

II. Their giving began not when they were mature but at their conversion.

V.17 g) Seeking - Consideration of Paul.

I. Paul began with a prayer for fruit bearing 1:9-11 and now he ends the letter with an encouragement concerning their fruit bearing.

II. God keeps record of our giving. Eccl.11:1; Mat.6:19-21 V.18 h) Sacrifice - Commendable offering to God.

I. The Philippians had given with such a measure that it was flowing over.

II. It was not only sweet tasteful fruit for Paul but a sweet aroma in the sight of God. Mat.25:34-40 III. Even as the incense from the golden altar was a sweet smell before God so were their gifts a sweet aroma of sacrifice. Acts 10:1-4 IV. There are other sacrifices we can offer to God:

1. Our bodies. Rom.12:1-2
2. Our converts. Rom.15:16
3. Our praise. Heb.13:15 4. Our good works. Heb.13:16 V.19 i) Supply - Circuit of sowing and reaping.

I. Supply (Gr. pleroo) means to level up or fill up. The Philippians had made Paul full and now God would make them to be filled up. Luke 6:38; Mat.7:2; Prov.11:25 II. God owns all things and is able to fulfil His promises, but these promises are only to generous givers who gives full measures.

III. God meet the need not the greed.

IV. We have in these verses:

1. The Promise. (Shall supply)

2. The Amount. (All your need)

3. The Capital. (According to His riches)

4. The Bank Address, (In glory)

5. The Signature. (By Jesus Christ)

V. Our contentment comes from:

1. Providence of God. v.10, 14-18

2. Power of God. v.13, 19

3. Promises of God. v.19

V.20 j) Splendour - Chorus of Paul.

All the glory should be returned to God, also what He had been doing in the Philippians.

V.21-23 a) Greeting - Conclusion.

Paul began with grace 1:2 and ends with grace, all things that comes from God is by grace, no believer deserves anything from God and God owes no believer anything yet He gives him everything. 1.Cor.3:21-23

“ Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice” Phil.4:4 “ I rejoice at Your Word As one who finds great treasure” Psalms 119:162 International Bible School - 46 - International Bible School

Reference material used in making the Bibleschool manual:

Bible Commentaries: Thomas L. Constable’ s - Notes on Philippians. Chuck Missler’ s - Written and audio commentary on the epistle of Philippians. Jon Courson’ s - Thru-the-Bible audio commentary on the epistle of Philippians. Chuck Smith’ s - Audio commentary on the epistle of Philippians. Edward Hindson/Michael Woodrow’ s - King Jame’s Bible Commentary on the epistle of Philippians. John Miller - Commentary on the epistle of Philippians. Zondervan’ s Niv’ s - Expositor’s Bible Commentary of the epistle of Philippians. J. Vernon McGee’ s - Commentary on the epistle of Philippians. David Hocking’ s - Commentary on the epistle of Philippians. H. L. Willmington’ s - Guide to the Bible. Old commentaries were used as well with minor help.

Bible Surveys and outlines: Valleys Bible Church’ s - Bible survey on the epistle of Philippians. J. Hampton Keathley’ s - Survey on the epistle of Philippians. Nelson’ s - Complete book of Bible maps and charts. H. L. Willmington’ s - The Outline Bible. Harvestime International Institute’ s - Basic Bible survey. Bob Bolender’ s - Survey on the epistle of Philippians. Gerald Duckett - Bible’ s survey on the epistle of Philippians. Mark A. Copeland’ s - Executable Outlines. Ray C Stedman’ s - Panorama of the Scriptures.

Old Testament types and figures: Kevin T. Connor’ s - The feasts of Israel. Kevin T. Connor’ s - The tabernacle of Moses. Kevin T. Connor’ s - The temple of Solomon.

Encyclopaedia/ Dictionaries: International standard Bible Encyclopaedia. Nelson’ s - Illustrated Bible dictionary. Dictionary of Biblical imagery.

Greek reference material: Strong’ s - Exhaustive concordance. Thayer’ s - The new Thayer’ s Greek-English lexicon. Englishman’ s - The Englishman’ s Greek concordance and lexicon. Vine’ s - Complete expository dictionary.

Bible versions: King James Version 1984 - Is the Bible translation used in this manual. Hendrickson’ s - The interlinear Bible.