Philippians 4:4-9

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Philippians 4:4–9 NIV
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, 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. 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.
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Pray

Introduction

A letter to a church ten years after it started
Paul is under house arrest in Rome and has been in chains for the last few years leading up to the righting of this letter
Communication is coming and going through messengers
Some of the big ideas of the book:
The Gospel moves forward
even when the messengers face difficult circumstances
even when people have bad motives
Thinking rightly lends itself to joy
Thinking and doing are paired throughout the letter and we will encounter it again in this text
Paul’s call to action is first and foremost a call to church unity
Chapter 3:
be on guard against legalism and understand the righteousness of Christ described in 3:9
living out the righteousness of Christ means we have purpose and direction
Last Week: Understanding Gender Roles in the Church
Tonight our text has 5 Commands and 2 Mandates
These actions primarily deal with the private life of the individual.
These actions primarily deal with the private life of the individual. Most of these commands can be obeyed privately. They do not hinge on a corporate gathering of the church or society.
Most of these commands can be obeyed privately. They do not hinge on a corporate gathering of the church or society.

Rejoice

Command #1 and #2
Joy and Rejoice is found more times in this letter then any other letter written by Pal
“joy” is found 5 times in Philippians.
Also there is χαίρω or Chairo which means rejoice. It is found 9 times in Philippians
Here are the passages in Philippians where Paul has already talked about joy or rejoicing.
always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,
What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.
And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith,
fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
  Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.
Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.
For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,
Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

Gentleness

Philippians 4:5 NIV
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
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4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!o 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.p 6 Do not be anxious about anything,q but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.r 7 And the peace of God,s which transcends all understanding,t will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
o ; ; ; See ; ;
5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.p
p ; ; ; ,
q
p Ps 119:151; 145:18; Heb 10:37; Jas 5:8, 9
r ;
s ; See
The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Php 4:5.
t
The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), .
tolerant or lenient towards deviations from moral rectitude. It is a gentleness.
Mandate #1
Definition: “tolerant or lenient towards deviations from moral rectitude. It is a graciousness.”
Also found in ,
1 Timothy 3:3 NIV
not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.
Titus 3:1–2 NIV
Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.
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In 2 Cor. 10:1 Paul beseeches his readers by the ‘gentleness’ (epieikeia) of Christ, coupled with his ‘meekness’ (praÿtēs). epieikeia suggests the yielding of a judge, who, instead of demanding the exact penalty required by strict justice, gives way to circumstances which call for mercy.

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This definition brings to mind
John 7:53–8:11 NIV
Then they all went home, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Jesus has dealt with us with gentleness.
Illustration: My dad taught me that other people's bad behavior is an opportunity to shine. When people behave badly... are rude... it gives you an opportunity demonstrate graciousness and wisdom. It give Jesus a good name when we respond with gentleness.
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Anxiety

Philippians 4:6–7 NIV
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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.
Command #3 and Mandate #2
Note: This is situational anxiety or event based anxiety. Paul is not talking about a biological based anxiety that is detached from life but present non the less.
Word Definition:

Uneasy feeling of uncertainty, agitation, dread, or fear

In the Bible anxiety is frequently depicted as the common human reaction to stressful circumstances. Saul’s father was anxious about his lost donkeys, and then about Saul’s failure to return from looking for them (1 Sam. 9:5; 10:2). The psalmist confesses that anxiety is “great” within him (Ps. 94:19). Anxiety is portrayed in the Scripture as being inconsistent with trust in God.

Psalm 94:19 NKJV
19 In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.
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Psalm 127:2 NKJV
2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.

19 In the multitude of my anxieties within me,

Your comforts delight my soul.

Psalm 127:2

2 It is vain for you to rise up early,

To sit up late,

To beat the bread of sorrows;

For so He gives His beloved sleep.

Proverbs 12:25

25 zAnxiety in the heart of man causes depression,

But aa good word makes it glad.

Jeremiah 17:7–8

7 “Blessed lis the man who trusts in the LORD,

And whose hope is the LORD.

8 For he shall be mlike a tree planted by the waters,

Which spreads out its roots by the river,

And will not 3fear when heat comes;

But its leaf will be green,

And will not be anxious in the year of drought,

Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

Matthew 6:25–34

25 “Therefore I say to you, ydo not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 zLook at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one 1cubit to his 2stature?

28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not 3arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But aseek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Mark 4:19

19 and the hcares of this world, ithe deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Philippians 2:28

28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.

Philippians 4:6–7

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

1 Peter 5:6–8

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

8 Be 3sober, be 4vigilant; 5because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

19 In the multitude of my anxieties within me,

Your comforts delight my soul.

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2 It is vain for you to rise up early,

To sit up late,

To beat the bread of sorrows;

For so He gives His beloved sleep.

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Proverbs 12:25 NKJV
25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.

25 zAnxiety in the heart of man causes depression,

But aa good word makes it glad.

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Jeremiah 17:7–8 NKJV
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. 8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
25 zAnxiety in the heart of man causes depression,
Matthew 6:25–34 NKJV
25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
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But aa good word makes it glad.
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1 Peter 5:6–7 NKJV
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
z Prov. 15:13
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a Is. 50:4
Summary
The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Pr 12:25.
The Bible makes it clear that it is not God’s will for us to be an anxious people.

Prayer, Supplication, Thanksgiving, Requests

but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Note: the three actions Paul is encouraging the saints to take as an alternative to anxiety: Prayer, Supplication and Thanksgiving.
Note the three actions Paul is encouraging the saints to take as an alternative to anxiety: Prayer, Supplication and Thanksgiving.
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Meditate on these things...

Command #4
Meditate Definition: to ponder, reflect, reckon, calculate
What things?
whatever things are true = unconcealed, real
whatever things are noble = being honored, entitle to honor and respect
whatever things are just = in conformity with justice, law and morality
whatever things are pure = chastity, holiness, innocent
whatever things are lovely = pleasing and agreeable
whatever things are of good report = worthy of praise or commendable
If it has virtue (excellent) = goodness, excellence, valour
if it is praiseworthy = something worthy of high commendation
Jesus is all of this and more…

These do...

Conclusion:

John 14:27 NKJV
27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.k I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubledl and do not be afraid.

3 You will keep in perfect peacei

those whose minds are steadfast,

because they trustj in you.

3 You will keep in perfect peacei

those whose minds are steadfast,

because they trustj in you.

John 14:27
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3 You will keep in perfect peacei
3 You will keep in perfect peacei
those whose minds are steadfast,
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trustj in you.
because they trustj in you.
i See ; See , ;
i See Job 22:21; See Isa 9:6, 7; Php 4:7
j See ; See ; See 28:7; See
j See 1 Ch 5:20; See Ps 22:5; See 28:7; See Isa 12:2
The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Is 26:3.
The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), .
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3 You will keep him in perfect dpeace,

Whose mind is stayed on You,

Because he trusts in You.

Isaiah 26:3 NKJV
3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
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