1Therefore, my brothers, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
2I exhort Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche, to think the same way in the Lord. 3Yes, I beg you also, true partner, help these women, for they labored with me in the Good News with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
4Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!” 5Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, 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 worthy of praise, think about these things. 9Do the things which you learned, received, heard, and saw in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
10But I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your thought for me; in which you did indeed take thought, but you lacked opportunity. 11Not that I speak because of lack, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it. 12I know how to be humbled, and I also know how to abound. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in need. 13I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 14However you did well that you shared in my affliction. 15You yourselves also know, you Philippians, that in the beginning of the Good News, when I departed from Macedonia, no assembly shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you only. 16For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to my need. 17Not that I seek for the gift, but I seek for the fruit that increases to your account. 18But I have all things and abound. I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, a sweet-smelling fragrance, an acceptable and well-pleasing sacrifice to God. 19My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever! Amen.
21Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22All the saints greet you, especially those who are of Caesar’s household.
23The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
The Path To Peace
Philippians 4 Part Two
The Path to Peace
8 Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, 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 worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 Do the things which you learned, received, heard, and saw in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
Many years ago, when I was preaching through Philippians, I did a Google Search entitled “you are what you think”. It came back with 4.45 billion hits! That is more results than anything I’ve ever searched for on Google. Throughout recorded history, mankind has observed that the condition of a person’s life is in significant part governed by what is going on in his or her mind. This isn’t just a secular idea; it is a spiritual truth. There is a battle for your mind. Paul isn’t exactly telling us that we are WHAT we think, but he’s telling us that we are AS we think.
Did you know that the Bible suggests our thought lives largely determine the quality of our Christian lives? We read Paul urging usto have minds that are not conformed to the world, but instead are transformed by the renewing process of the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us, “I beseechyou therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)
Here is the big question: What are you thinking about? Upon what do you meditate? Paul says the only way to get to where we’re supposed to be is to GO POSITIVE. Many years ago, a man named Norman Vincent Peale wrote a book called The Power of Positive Thinking. That thought is not original. That is close to what the Bible teaches. It is not our positive thinking that brings us power. It is the Holy Spirit who begins to do a work in our hearts when we crawl out from under our circumstances, believing God for a solution. And what is our part? “Whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, 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 worthy of praise, think about these things.(Philippians 4:8b WEB). That’s how we need to be thinking! Put this into practice in your life. Ask the Lord today to redirect your thoughts whenever you even drift over into the negative. Use this checklist as the filter for what you see, hear, speak, and do. And Paul adds that if you do these things, the God of PEACE will be with you. We could all use a lot more peace, and Paul gives us the path to that peace right here in these verses. The choice is yours. Do the things that you have learned, received, and heard in these verses of ancient wisdom.