Phil 3: 17-Ch. 4 The Presence of the God of Peace

Intro: We saw in our last study what the #1 Goal of every Single Christian needs to be – Seeking to Know Christ More Paul said

A)Because I want my confidence to be in Christ/I have laid aside & continue to lay aside everything that would tempt me to put my confidence in myself

B) And I have made it my Passion & my Pursuit to Know Christ / to lay hold of Christ – to discover the reason Christ has laid hold of me

1) So all of my effort / all of my energy is directed toward that end – to Know Him in the Power of Resurrection / Fellowship of suffering / Conformed

C) We Pick up tonight in v.17 where Paul says ¹⁷Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.

1) The US – That Paul is referring to would be Himself / Timothy / Ephaphroditus/ & Probably Silas who had traveled w/ Paul in Philippi

D) FOLLOW OUR EXAMPLE: We need role models – We seek after role models – natural{ Thankful Jon Courson

1) Young Single gal – Look at a older married woman – That is the Kind of wife I want to be

2) Guy in Business – Another Business man – that is how I want to run my Company

E) CAUTION: Looking for role models – Look for those who are Seeking after Christ !!!!

We all need role Models –but we also need to be Role models – to our Kids / to other Bros/ sisters in the Lord { What kind of example are you

A)Titus 2 :3-5 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things—⁴that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

B) 2 Tim 2: ¹You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ²And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

C) Jesus modeled this : So did Paul – so should we – The church today needs role models – because v.18 ¹⁸For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: ¹⁹whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.

True in our day & age “There are many who are enemies of the cross of Christ”

A)They preach a gospel of personal gain and riches, not a gospel of sacrifice, not a gospel of commitment. And they, themselves, live by these rules.

B) In other words, they brag in the fact that they drive Fancy Cars. Rolls Royce Faith or VW Faith .

1) They brag in the fact that they have their own private jets, that they jet around the world in. & yet they call themselves servants of Jesus Christ.

C) They preach a doctrine of personal gain, of how you can learn to write your own ticket, in a sense{ Quote the right mantra or have enough faith

And Paul said, I’m warning you again, even weeping, because there are those who aren’t really walking a life of commitment.

A)They haven’t really denied themselves. They haven’t r taken up the cross.

B) They are enemies of the cross because the cross speaks of sacrifice.

1) Paul says, ¹⁹Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, (Their belly is actually their God.) Living to please themselves

and whose glory is in their shame, (Things that they should be ashamed of, they are glorying in, because) who mind earthly things.) Their hearts are in the earthly treasures, in the earthly possessions.{ Earthly focus

Why shouldn’t our focus be on earthly things ? v.20 Because our Citizenship is in Heaven

²⁰For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

A)This world is not our home we are just passing thru { Heaven in where it is at !!!! Belong to that Place

B)We need to appreciate all this would mean to the Philippians, who valued their Roman citizenship so greatly.

1) even though they were far from Rome, Pride in the fact they were part of Rome

2) So too We are to Value our Heavenly Citizenship even though we are far from Heaven

C) One paraphrase of citizenship is in heaven reads like this: “We have our home in heaven, and here on earth we are a colony of heaven’s citizens.”

Paul is saying: “Just as the Roman colonists never forgot that they belong to Rome, you must never forget that you are citizens of heaven; and your conduct must match your citizenship.” (Barclay)

D) Heaven is WAITING !!! Something to REJOICE about – No longer going to hell

1) I had a really bad – day – Yea but you are not going to Hell

E) I don’t feel good my body is giving me Problems – Yea but one day you are going to go to heaven – transform vile Bodies

1) Subdue all things to himself{Glorious hope that is

Church / Saints we don’t have to have a hopeless outlook as we see Society crumbling around us –

A)The Lord is coming Back – Subdue all things to himself – make it right / So we are eagerly waiting & Watching – Ch.4:1 Therefore

B) Because Jesus is coming – because heaven is waiting / because our Citizenship is in Heaven

Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

C) Because Heaven is waiting / Jesus is coming – Just Stand Fast – Hang in there !!!!

1) I love Paul’s Phraseology here – calls these people His Joy & Crown

D) I believe that People we have prayed for / people we have shared the gospel w/ - will be our Joy & Crown in the Lord { See them in Heaven

¹⁾ Romans 10:15 “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

E) Jerry Young – Ugly feet – Not to Jesus !!!!!

²I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. ³And 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.

Now Apparently there was this dispute or conflict going on w/ these two women in the Church.

A)Two women who at one point labored w/ Paul in the Lord – but now the implications was that this dispute was keeping them from being used

B) When Division creeps into a relationship it can really Kill what God is desiring to do w/ those individuals

1) But I want you to notice how Paul deals w/ this – He isn’t going to counsel them – he isn’t going to hear both sides & decide who is right

C) He simply says – Get it together – Be of the same mind – In other words put aside the things that you are disagreeing on

1) And focus on the things that You do agree on – Be of the Same mind

Urges his companion ( JAILER)– Help them to do this

D) I have found in conflicts whether it is w/ my wife / a friend / or someone on staff – the thing that makes me want to state my case – MY PRIDE

1) I want the last word – Once I can put away my Pride – even if I am right & realize / not worth it –

E) We can get so distracted on petty little things – that distract us that put us at odds w/ Brothers in the Lord

1) Fellow saints who like Paul says here – their names are written in the lambs book of Life – { When that is my perspective – nothing matters

Note the Affect that Phrase has on Paul – breaks into Praise v. 4 ⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

A)Jack Hayford – middle of a Study – reminds me of ………..

B) Rejoice in the Lord – Why ? Your names are written in the Lamb’s Book of life !!!!! ______________/______________/ ______________/ __________

C) Note Rejoice in the Lord – May not be able to rejoice in my circumstance – Rejoice in the Lord always & again I will say rejoice

⁵Let your gentleness be known to all men.Why? The Lord is at hand.

A)That Phrase the Lord is at hand encompasses two ideas – He is here among us now - & He is coming back again

B)Now When we live with the awareness of Jesus’ return, it makes it all the more easy to rejoice in the Lord and to show gentleness to all men.

C) Now Paul used an interesting Greek word (that is translated gentleness here.

1) Other translations of the Bible translate it as patience, softness, the patient mind, modesty, forbearance, the forbearing spirit, or magnanimous.

D)It is a word that speaks of a Yieldedness – Giving others the right of way

1) Contrasted that by the mentality so prevalent today – Lookout for yourself Get yours no matter who you have to hurt !!!

E) Also notice The sphere is broad Be known to all men:. We show this gentleness to all men, not just whom we please or those that we like

⁶Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

This is the way to stay in that Place of rejoicing & remain gentle toward others – Be Anxious for nothing – No – thing

A)People are Anxious – 89 million people world wide suffer regularly from Anxiety attacks – Major Problem

Trying to break away from my worries was like wrestling an octopus.

B) In fact I would venture to say that many of us came in here tonight – worrying anxious about things - / hard time paying attention

1) Distracted in worship – All because of Anxiety – what do we do

C) ⁶Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Now the word Prayer is interesting – a word that speaks of communion or a dialogue –

A)Sometimes we fail to realize that prayer is a two way conversation – Sometimes we think I talk to God thru prayer / He talks to me ..word

B) Yes it is true He speaks to us thru the Word but He also wants to speak to us in the Spirit – thru Prayer

1) I want to encourage you if you don’t do this already is talk & then listen { because Prayer is not a Monologue but a Dialogue

C) You talk to God & then let God talk to you { Praying for a person – don’t just say Amen & go on your way – Wait on the Lord

1) He might speak to your heart concerning that person or that situation

So you attack anxiety thru Prayer – communing w/ God – Mary vs Martha who was Anxious about many things

A)And thru Supplication = To make our request – Place it in the Lords hands – Casting your cares on the Lord …. For you !!!!

B) How? With thanksgiving – Rejoicing – He cares / He loves

The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety. -- George Muller

C) Result : Peace of God that surpasses all understanding {

1) Guard your heart & Mind

D) Most of us have experienced this – Peace that Guards our hearts

1) Sometimes wake up – feel overwhelmed { Lord I just don’t know how I am going to make it today { Devotions { walk & talk –PEACE

E) Guard your hearts and minds: This speaks of a military action. This is something that the peace of God does for us;

1) It is a WARRIOR PEACE - it is a peace that is on guard over our heart and mind. { How many need that guard tonight ? PRAY

v.8-9

Now we have been talking here in Philippians about the key to having Joy in our hearts is having the right thoughts in your mind

A)Thinking of Christ / thinking Like Christ – over & over Paul has stressed how that is a Key to having Joy

B) I cannot Change my heart {My heart might be full of Doubt / I might be discouraged} I cannot Change my heart – but I can Change my mind Now God can change my heart, but He won’t change my mind But if I choose to Change my mind then God will change my heart But if I don’t change my mind then God won’t Change my heart

C) It is true how you think is a key to Christianity – Outlook affects attitude & attitude affects our Actions

1) So how you think is Crucial – So How are we to think Here is how

D) Think on the things that are true / Honest / Pure / Just / lovely/ of good report/ Virtuous & Praise worthy

1) Good verse to put on the TV – doesn’t match turn it off – { Garbage in Garbage out

Now this is not suggesting that you walk around w/ your head in the clouds Think happy thoughts / don’t think negative thoughts avoid negative vibes - I want to punch people who talk like that

A)Listen we have to deal w/ reality – there are problems & obstacles you have to talk about different things

B) But don’t leave people there – take them to the Lord – Staff meeting

1) Eddie Challenges – Depressing - Hey ok – God just gets to do a bigger Miracle

C) The Key word in v. 8 is Meditate – Chew the Cud – I might feel that all the Powers of darkness are after me – if I dwell on that I am done

1) But I am going to Chew on God’s Past Faithfulness in my life

2) Chew on the GREATNESS OF OUR GOD

D) Now Paul says something in v.9 that is great for parents & those in ministry – Things you learned received & heard – all things that he told them But also – things you Saw – Told them & Showed them

v.10 –12

A)Note v.11 Paul declares I have learned to be content : Key insight CONTENTMENT IS A LEARNED THING

B) You learn to be content wherever God has placed you !!! Make the most of it

C) LISTEN: if you learn to be Content it will give your life CON/ TENT

1) A lot of people lack CON/ TENT in their lives – because they are not content in their Present situation

D) Instead of seeing what God wants to do in the situation that they are in they are always looking for a new situation

1) Always looking for or talking about a Change and for that reason they are not used or at least to the Capacity that they could be in the present place

E) They spend all their energy & effort trying to force a change or force themselves into a different location / different Ministry

1) Other relationships – I want to be in w/ those guys – { But God has placed you w/ these guys

F) And so they neglect the here & now { Little energy spent on what God has placed before them { Because waiting for some new thing to open up

Listen Learn to be Content – make the most of your present situation and your life will have CON/TENT

A)And it doesn’t matter what the situation is you can be content because

¹³I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

B) To achieve this contentment in all things. Paul needed the strength of Jesus Christ.

C) Unfortunately, many people take this verse out of context and use it to reinforce a “triumphalist” or “super-Christian” mentality,

1) instead of seeing that the strength of Christ in Paul’s life was manifest in his ability to be content when he did suffer need.

D) It is a true Biblical fact – I can do anything that Jesus has called me to do because He promises to Strengthen me

1) But I wouldn’t want to be caught dead trying to do something that He hasn’t called me to do

E) We must always also put this precious statement of faith in connection with John 15:5: for without Me you can do nothing.

1) With Jesus we can do all things, without Him we can’t do anything.

Now Paul finishes up this letter by talking about their Giving v.14-17

A)Paul knew the importance of Giving to the Lord & the Blessing that Followed Seeking the fruit that abounds to your account

B) Never out give God – Jesus Borrows Peter’s boat & then fills it w/ Fish

v.18-19

C) v.19 Underlined ? Note Context of v.19 – God shall supply the needs of those who are givers

D) Supplied ACCORDING to His Riches in Christ – Unlimited Storehouse

V. 20-23