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I can remember back about a year ago when my Discipleship Group was studying this passage, from Philippians 4:8.
It reads,
Philippians 4:8 follows Paul teaching about what we should do about anxiety.
He says
Because it was in the context of prayer, we came to a good conclusion with our Discipleship Group that the list in Philippians 4:8 would be an excellent list for praying.
I can remember that there was one really difficult relationship that I had at the time, and I applied this list of characteristics to the prayer.
I started off by reciting what was true about this person, and prayed for God to bless that.
Then I prayed about what honourable, and just and pure.
And I kept on praying for this person using the list from Philippians 4:8 as my model.
Don’t read this passage, it is for the screen to help the congregation.
The result was an amazing thing in my heart.
I began to see in that person what was true, and honourable, just pure and lovely.
I saw what was commendable and God used that prayer to shape my own life and thinking.
And so, I thought that that was what I would be primarily sharing with you this morning.
How this list in Philippians 4:8 can have a huge impact on our relationships.
But what I have discovered in my research, although this list is very helpful for how we see others, it is an amazing filter for how we see the world that we live in.
How should a Christian respond to events that happen in culture?
Are there solid truths that we can learn outside of the church?
I see a connection to a person’s way and their thoughts.
What you think is very important.
How you think is very important.
We need some divine help to think in a way that is life giving.
This summer my family and I were in Virginia, and one the favourite things that we did there was to hunt for fossils.
The tool that we used to do this was a pasta strainer.
We would in the water of one of the rivers, scoop up sand from the bottom, and then sift it through the strainer.
Then we would have some rocks and other things to sort through.
And that is how we found all sorts of fossilized shark teeth and stingray plates.
Without that filter, it would have been much more difficult to sift through the sand and rocks to isolate what was of value.
In Philippians 4:8, Paul is giving us a filter for how we can sift through most anything that we will encounter in our lives.
Is there something that you need to sift through today.
Stop and and think for a moment?
Is there a relationship that is difficult?
Is there a tough decision at work?
Is there some new interest that you want to ensure is worth your time and attention.
Pick something, and keep it in mind.
Because as we work through this filter of Philippians 4:8, you can apply it to that issue.
Whatever is True
Truth is the opposite of a lie.
What are you facing?
Is it true?
What defines what is true?
Jesus claimed to be the truth.
He didn’t just say that he could help us discern what is truth, no he said
What would Jesus say about the issue that you are facing.
If you were to read his teachings, what would he teach about what you are going through?
What quickly becomes clear hear, is that if we are to focus our thoughts on what is true, we need to learn what God says is true.
This means that we need to learn what the Bible teaches.
If you are looking for where to start in your Bible, then as it relates to this message I will recommend that you start with the book of Matthew.
Matthew shows Jesus as the Great Teacher.
This means that as you read Matthew, you can consider him to be your teacher and you to be his student.
But be more than a student.
Students can pick and choose what they want to apply to their lives.
Jesus is the Great Teacher, he understands this world, our lives and our hearts better than any other.
And that is because he is God.
Therefore, in order to truly learn what he teaches, you must be committed to living out those truths.
Whatever is Honourable
Noble.
Worthy of your respect.
If something isn’t true, then it hasn’t passed through the filter, and I am going to stop thinking about it right away.
Here is the next question of the filter; is this information, (situation, relationship, fact,) honourable?
HONOURABLE - Things that are worthy, things that have inherent worth.
Consider, what is the sum total of this thing or action that I am considering.
Is it deserving of honour?
Is their enough value here to command my attention, where if my thoughts lingered on this, and I took it to heart, I would be better for it?
I find the honour filter very helpful when it comes to evaluating relationships with people, and how I think about others.
They might have done something to me that hurt, and so that is true.
But is that how I should think of that person, through a lens of a legitimate hurt?
No, now I apply the second filter of honour.
I want to think about others in a way that captures the worth that God has put on their life.
I don’t want to spend time considering the impact of their hurt, and letting my thoughts dwell in that pain.
It is better to think about what is honourable in the other person than what is painful.
Jesus and the Woman Caught in the Act of Adultery
Remember how Jesus would respond to the outcasts of his day?
They brought a lady to Jesus after they caught her in the act of adultery.
That was the truth, she was caught.
But Jesus saw the value and the worth in this woman.
He didn’t stop at truth, he continued on to honour.
Her accusers wanted the death sentence for her.
But Jesus wanted life for her.
He told her to “Go and sin no more.”
How do you see others?
Do you stop at truth?
I want to encourage you to continue on to honour.
What is worthy about that person?
What quality has God made them with?
Whatever is Just
Some translations say whatever is right.
The sort of justice, or rightness, that is being referred to is a honourable truth that is fair for all involved.
Thinking just thoughts will steer you away from quarrels with others.
Because you are thinking of win-win scenarios.
You are using truth, and honour, but at the same time are attempting to consider what is best for everyone involved.
How will your decision on the matter affect family, church, fellow employees, neighbours.
Thinking about whatever is just means that you are considering more than the immediate ramifications of a decision.
You think through long term effects as well.
An interesting cross reference is found in Romans 1:17
The “it” at the start of the sentence refers to the gospel, God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes.
(Ro 1:16)
For in that Gospel is God’s righteousness.
We are to evaluate based on the sort of justice or righteousness that is found to be revealed in the gospel.
The Gospel, or Good News, is that Jesus has the power to forgive your sins and give you a eternal life in relationship with God.
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