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- Philippians 4:1-9 February 19, 2006
Paul had reason to worry: - potential division - Philippi - dealt with in chap 2 - “be of one mind” read 1 Philippi (close church) Lydia, demon-poss girl, jailer read 2 friends were disagreeing: Euodia = prosperous journey Syntyche = pleasant acquaintance ** he was not there to help...in prison
- division of believers in Rome (Phil 1:15-17) - the possibility of his own death - JAIL BUT...he explained to us the secret of victory over worry
THE PROBLEM
Anxious (6) = “to be pulled in different directions” …our hopes pull us in one direction …our fears pull us in another direction * we are pulled apart, distracted = to strangle/paralyze
definite conseq. headaches, ulcers, neck and back pain; affects one’s thinking, digestion, coordination Carefulness is a Christian virtue...Worry is SIN
“Worry is wrong thinking (the mind) and wrong feeling (the heart) about circumstances, people, and things.”
…worry is the thief of joy - but you can’t just say “I won’t worry” or “Don’t worry” EXAMPLES - Phys exams, job, exams
THE CURE
Antidote = 4:7 - a secure mind...vs 7 …guard (7) = to protect or garrison by guarding...over a certain area; military term - HUNGARY
“When one has a secure mind, the peace of God guards you, and the God of peace guides you (vs 9)” ...why worry? To have a secure mind, one must obey guidelines (6)
1. right praying - 6-7 a. adoration - recognize greatness/majesty of God b. supplication - sharing of needs and problems…confess Col 4:12 - “wrestling in prayer”, Ps 23 “walk” c. appreciation - 10 lepers in Luke 17
Phil 1 - single mind...double-minded can’t praise chap 2 - submissive mind...proud won’t ask 3 - spiritual mind...unsaved would not know he has anything to be thankful for “Therefore” (1) we must practice Ph 1,2,3 to experience... 4 - secure mind *** the level were God wants us
Daniel 6:10-11 “prayed, and gave thanks before his God, and he made supplication” ...peace in lion’s den
2. right thinking - 8 Peace involves the heart and the mind Is 26:3 - You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You. II Cor 10:5 - ...every thought captive...
“Watch your thoughts, they become words, words... actions, actions... habits, habits… character, character, it becomes your destiny.”
“Whatever” is plural in Grk...could include several things
- true = Walter Cavert - survey...only 8% of the things one worries about ever happen; 92% were imaginary, never happened, or concerned matters over which they had no control - Satan is a liar - Jn 8:44 - even if true, give it to the Lord Inter- - honorable = noble, venerable ... every thought change-- right = conformity to God’s standards captive able - pure = wholesome; moral purity terms - lovely = (only used here NT) promotes peace, not conflict - good repute = (only used here in NT) admirable; positive, constructive, not neg, destructive “If you don’t have anything good to say...” ...high and noble thoughts - strive for moral excellence
3. right living - 9 - “practice” / “DO” - theory into practice One can’t separate outward action from inner attitude “FAITH WORKS” Jm 3:17 - But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable Jm 1:22 - Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only Col 3:15 - And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts OR - Let the peace that Christ can give keep on acting as umpire in your hearts “Safe” or “Out”
Phil 4 - Peace Chapter Jam 4 - War Chapter...From whence come wars and fightings among you?
Causes of war / conflict… - wrong praying - 4:3 You ask, and receive not, bec you ask amiss - wrong thinking - 4:8 Purify your hearts, you double-minded - wrong living - 4:4 Don’t you know that the friendship of the world is hostility toward God?
4. “holy” – 1:1 …from…to… …4:4…cf 3:1 - “rejoice in the Lord”; 2X now - not “be happy about the situation” ... ”rejoice IN THE LORD”
THE PROOF
“let your forbearing spirit be made known to all” …forbearing = (epieikeis) gentle - because the Lord is near and the glory is near, one can be gentle in spite of every persecution
The peace of God to guard us / The God of peace to guide us ...why worry? ...about anything?
Trust…and do Right
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