Product of Peace
Notes
Transcript
Products of Peace
Products of Peace
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
The inroduction to our text tonight really begains withvs 7
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Keep our hearts and mind.....
One of the characteristics of God’s presence is what
occupies our mind.vs 7 hearts and minds
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
The peace of God is a sense complacency which floods the soul of the believer when he is leaning hard upon God.
Stayed upon Jehovah,
Hearts are fully blessed;
Finding, as He promised,
Perfect peace and rest.
—Frances Ridley Havergal
This peace surpasses all understanding. People of the world cannot understand it at all, and even Christians possessing it find a wonderful element of mystery about it. They are surprised at their own lack of anxiety in the face of tragedy or adverse circumstances.
Having the peace of God controls what we think....
The Bible everywhere teaches that we can control what we think.
It is useless to adopt a defeatist attitude, saying that we simply cannot help it when our minds are filled with unwelcome thoughts.
Mark Twain wrote, “What a wee little part of a person’s life are his acts and his words! His real life is led in his head, and is known to none but himself.
All day long, the mill of his brain is grinding, and his thoughts, not those other things, are his history.” (Reader’s Digest [1/93], p. 155).
I would modify Twain by saying that our thought life forms the basis for and is largely revealed in our actions and words.
But Twain’s comments correctly affirm that our thought life composes a major part of who we really are.
Jonathan Edwards put it this way: “The ideas and images in men’s minds are the invisible powers that constantly govern them” (source unknown).
Thus it is crucial for each of us to bring our thought life into submission to Jesus Christ by learning to think biblically about every aspect of life.
One of the most helpful things I have learned about the Christian life is that all sin begins in our thoughts, which the Bible often calls “the heart.”
20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
mark 7
No one commits these outward sins without first having committed them in his mind. If we want to grow in godliness, we must win the battle over sin on the thought level.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on thee: Because he trusteth in thee.
After all Paul has said he summarized by stating Finally
One of the evidence of Peace with God that passes all understanding is You Thinking
strongholds
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2 cor 10.3
Defeating strongholds
Product of peace is:
I. A Contended Mind
I. A Contended Mind
philipp
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
we must understand that all sin and actions start in the mind.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
james 1.13-
THINK ON WHATEVER IS TRUE.
The word means, “true as to fact ...
The “true” is that which corresponds to reality. God Himself is the only final test for truth.
Since He is unchanging, the moral standards revealed in His Word, which stem from His holy nature, are also unchanging.
33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
john
Since as fallen creatures we are prone to Satan’s lies and deception, the only way we can know the truth and walk in it is to steep ourselves in God’s Word.
We should know the Word so well that we automatically run everything we encounter through the grid of God’s Word.
We also must resist the pragmatism of our culture, which determines the true by whatever works.
THINK ON WHATEVER IS Honest, HONORABLE or NOBLE
The word means “that which inspires reverence or awe; dignified, worthy of respect.”
But the word literally describes “that which has the dignity of holiness upon it.” There are things in this world that are flippant and cheap and attractive to the light-minded, but it is on the things which are serious and dignified that the Christian will set his mind.
It is a character quality required in deacons and deaconesses (, ). Elders should keep their children under control “with all dignity” (). All Christians should “lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” ().
It is a character quality required in deacons and deaconesses (, ). Elders should keep their children under control “with all dignity” (). All Christians should “lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” ().
THINK ON WHATEVER IS Just or Right
This word is used of God Himself who is righteous (; ; ) and of Jesus Christ (; ; ; ; ).
To think on what is right means to think on the holy nature of God, especially as revealed in the person of Jesus Christ, and to model our behavior after Him.
THINK ON WHATEVER IS PURE.
The word refers to ceremonial purity, but also to the moral purity that is pictured by the ceremonial.
It especially means keeping our bodies undefiled by abstaining from sexual sins (see ; ; ; ; ; ).
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
THINK ON WHATEVER IS LOVELY.
eph 5,3-5
This word occurs only here in the New Testament. It means what is pleasing, agreeable, and attractive. At times we all find ourselves attracted to that which is evil. But this word must be taken with the context, meaning that which is both pure and attractive. Jesus Christ is inherently attractive, and so we should think often on our lovely Savior, who gave Himself for us on the cross.
THINK ON WHATEVER IS LOVELY.
This word occurs only here in the New Testament. It means what is pleasing, agreeable, and attractive.
The mind of the Christian is set on the lovely things? kindness, sympathy, forbearance? so he is a winsome person? to see him is to love him.
The apostle is speaking of only those things which are not contrary to the will of God, while at the same time they are agreeable and pleasing to men. I would place in this class such things as patience, cheerfulness, sweetness of temper, generosity, and similar virtues. All virtues are beautiful and excellent in themselves, and deserve the approbation and respect of men, for they are all emanations from God and the fruits of His Spirit, nevertheless, there are some more pleasing than others.
THINK ON WHATEVER IS OF GOOD REPUTE.
This comes from a compound word meaning to speak well of something (our word “euphemism” comes from this Greek word).
It refers to something that “deservedly enjoys a good reputation” (F. F. Bruce, New International Biblical Commentary, Philippians [Hendrickson], p. 146). As Paul says in , love believes the best about another person, it refuses to believe an evil report about a brother or sister until there is certain evidence to establish it.
Good Report
It may not be going too far to say that it describes those things which are fit for God to hear.
There are far too many ugly words and false words and impure words in this world. On the lips and in the mind of the Christian there should only be words that are fit for God to hear. Thus, “whatever is admirable” would involve expressing what is kind and likely to win people, and avoiding what is likely to offend people.
TO SUM UP, THINK ON ANYTHING WORTHY OF PRAISE.
The word “praise” is used both of what is praiseworthy in God (, , ; ) and in people (; ; ).
Of course, every attribute and deed of God is praiseworthy, and so we should daily think about how great God is and on the marvelous works He has done, both in creation and in history.
Toward other people, even toward those in the world, we should be gracious by focusing on their strong points and good qualities. Even though we all are depraved by nature, because of God’s common grace even unbelieving people can be kind, caring, and loving. Ultimately those qualities, even in unbelievers, do not bring glory to the person, but to God. So we should be appreciative and affirming toward people rather than negative and critical.
*THINK ON THESE THINGS.
Paul means to reflect on these qualities that stem from God and should be characteristic of us as children of God. “Give them weight in your decisions” (Beare, cited by Bruce, p. 145). Allow them “to shape your conduct”
Evidence of Peace dictates who
Product of Peace is
II. Right Actions
II. Right Actions
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Phillippians 4.9
They saw Paul bleed
They saw people turn on him
They knew he had been shipwrecked
They knew he had been left for dead - stoned
Yes he gives the model testimony to follow...
when you have the peace that passes all understanding you will follow the right example.
A number of years ago, the news media picked up the story of a woman known as “Garbage Mary.” She lived in a smelly Chicago tenement amid mounds of garbage. She spent her time rummaging through trash cans. She would bum cigarettes off her neighbors. Police took her to a psychiatric hospital after she was stopped for questioning and found to be in a confused state of mind. When they went into her filthy apartment, they were astounded to find stock certificates and bank books indicating she was worth at least a million dollars. She was the daughter of a wealthy Illinois lawyer.
It’s a pathetic story, but it pictures the lives of many professing Christians, who could be immersing their thought life in that which is true, dignified, right, pure, lovely, of good repute; that which is virtuous and worthy of praise. But instead, they surround themselves with moral filth, wallowing daily in raunchy TV programs, polluting their minds with the sordid stories of this condemned world, rather than focusing their thought life on the things of God and Christ.
An old Indian Christian was explaining to a missionary that the battle inside of him was like a black dog fighting a white dog. “Which dog wins?” asked the missionary. “The one I feed the most,” replied the Indian. Paul says, “Feed your mind on the pure truth of God’s Word.”
Peace controls
Your Thoughts
Who you follow