Philippians Lesson 7

Philippians 4:4 - 23
Chapters 22, 23, and 24 in Motyer

Today we’ll spend some time looking at a series of final commands that are given to the Philippians at the close of Paul’s letter to them.

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Paul begins with a double command to start this list of God’s commands to us. Note that there are not constraints on this command to rejoice. Back in the early 70s a book was published that is still in print. The title is Power in Praise and it has sold millions of copies. The book was/is good in the way it stresses the importance of rejoicing in God constantly but the extension of the principle to praising God for evil in our lives as a method of acquiring what we want from God is problematic. These aspects were criticized during the 70s (at least in the circles I ran in) but the general principal of rejoicing in the Lord always holds true because it is Scripture. So what is the key here? First, that we are commanded to rejoice in the Lord … always. The driving force in our rejoicing is the unchanging eternal Lord who has taken us from the kingdom of darkness and placed us in the Kingdom of Light. Remember the song, “It is Well With My Soul”? That hymn continually comes back to a steadfast rejoicing in the work of salvation. In the Lord we rejoice and we don’t stop. Secondly, in the midst of a bad thing we praise God for His work and His sovereignty in all things. I don’t praise God for the bad thing but I praise Him for His care and love in my life. Satan means bad things for harm but God will use the same things for good. Sometimes we don’t see that in our life and we have to trust God. The accident that Pat and I had was a bad thing. I don’t want to do that again. However, God used the time to draw us closer together as a husband and wife. It was a very positive thing in our marriage. I praise God for the accident but I’m not praising God for a bad thing. I praise God for what He did in turning a bad thing into something good. The hard thing is that we don’t always get to see the end. Thirdly, if you think this is a means of manipulating God into giving you what you want then you really need to think about who you are dealing with. He isn’t your Mom or Dad. He can read you like a kid’s popup book. You can’t manipulate God and His arm is way too big for you to twist.

Paul repeats our command for emphasis and because he knew it would not always be an easy thing to do. This thankfulness is a commandment. You shouldn’t refuse God because you just aren’t feeling like rejoicing from time to time. You must not withhold your rejoicing because of circumstances. It is hard to rejoice when things are not going well and God knows our struggle with this. He is there in the midst of our trials. One awful thing that can happen is the birth of bitterness in our heart towards God for our circumstances. It is awful because it puts you in sin and it is awful because it separates you from the only true source of peace and fellowship with the Savior of your soul.

Philippians 4:5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Although these scriptures can be read like a bulleted list I think that they are connected. The rejoicing in God always produced a rock solid faith in His Lordship. Nothing is out of control even when everything appears to be out of control. In this verse we are told to let our “gentleness” be evident to all. The word translated “gentleness” is a word that has no good direct translation to English. That should worry us since we are told to let it be evident to all and we don’t even have a word for it. The old KJV had it as “moderation” and that should make you scratch your head. I had a friend (still have a friend) in the 70s that his mother (an irreligious woman) decided was a Jesus freak (well maybe we were). She said this verse meant he should chill out and not let his love of Christ rule in his life. Nice try but we already owned a Strong’s Concordance. The word is ἐπιεικής [epieikes /ep·ee·i·kace/] and is translated as gentleness, patience, moderation, equitableness, fairness, or mildness. The word seems to really indicate a generosity that ignores offenses. Jesus is our perfected example ring spirit, of which Jesus provides the supreme example of a person with such strength of character that they. Such a person does not insist on his rights (2 Corinthians 10:1; Philippians 2:1–4). I wish we had one word for epieikes rather than a paragraph that would carry the fullness of this humble selfless graciousness. Is there any wonder we don’t have a word for this? You need this character to be displayed in your life to keep you rooted and grounded in the rejoicing of the prior verse. If we are going to live the opposite of egotism in our lives then we need the Holy Spirit every moment.

Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, 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.

First we are told to rejoice, then we are told to display a humble selflessness, and now we are told not to be anxious about anything. We may not have a word for epieikes but we sure have one for anxiety. Some existentialists raise anxiety to a godlike status. Think of the painting called “The Scream” by Edward Munch. It was in the news lately because it was stolen and the recovered. The point is the anxiety or angst that man feels in his aloneness but awareness. The feeling of dread is thought of as good because it means you are aware and alive. It is a desperate lost feeling. So we don’t even have a word for what we are supposed to show to all men and we paint paintings of what we are commanded not to have. God is gracious and full of mercy.

If you feel anxious then you are commanded to pray and petition God with thanksgiving. The thanksgiving is not a method to get what you want but it is a method to keep your feet on the Rock. It helps us remember that He is in control. We don’t want to pray and wallow in anxiety since that really means we are not allowing the awareness of God’s sovereign control to have a place in our minds. Anxiety means we have forgotten who is in control. We need to ask for what we need. Sometimes we don’t have something because we didn’t ask for it. Sometimes we ask for reasons that are bad and God says no. Sometimes God just says no and doesn’t explain. But we are told to ask. If you don’t ask with thanksgiving then you are disobedient to God. After asking for what I want then the meditation on Him and His love for me and His promises for me brings that Divine Peace transcends understanding. It isn’t contrary to understanding but transcends and goes above and beyond a human understanding.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, 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.

Our feelings are not as easily corrected by God as our thinking. God can command with His revelation in Scripture and we can obey. When God tells us to rejoice He isn’t telling us to generate a feeling of happiness. He is telling us to “rejoice in the Lord” or to rejoice in what we know to be true in Scripture. Even when I don’t feel happy I can rejoice in my salvation and my right standing with God and a whole list of God’s promises in scripture.

In this scripture we are told to think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. This isn’t a command to feel but this is a command to think. I’ve been thinking about The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien again lately. I’ve been listening to some comments by a Baylor professor who has taught on the Gospel in Tolkien’s work for years. One of the things that struck me is that this work growing out of Tolkien’s love of language is a meditation on virtue. It is all about truth, noble things, admirable things, lovely things, excellence, and praiseworthy acts. There is no real mention of divinity in the book while good and evil are brought to the forefront. What a tremendous very long meditation on virtue.

Philippians 4:9 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.

Paul was always sure to maintain a lifestyle and a teaching that was worthy of imitation. My dad frequently said to “Do as I say and not as I do.” That was not a Biblical concept but I knew what he meant. He pointed to Scripture as authoritative. Paul is clearly worthy of imitation. Doctrinally, Paul was used by God to deliver most of the New Testament. Clearly you can not learn what God wants you to learn unless you pay attention to what the Church learned, received, heard, and saw in Paul. Don’t try the false dichotomy of defining some doctrines as “Pauline” to make them less than God’s word to you.

Philippians 4:10-13 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

I can be in need for a while but I have a lot of growing to do before I’m likely to put up with bad circumstances; however, isn’t it good to see the context of “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength?” It isn’t moving mountains and building cathedrals. The context is being content with God in whatever circumstances you find yourself in. Wow. That should humble us and stop our mouths. We are so accustomed to placing our comfort and conditions first that truly we should embrace this scripture to find our contentment as our mountain to move into by God’s strength.

Philippians 4:14-16 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need.

These people were Paul’s dear friends and old friends too. They supported his work for years.

Philippians 4:17-20 Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Our offerings are sacrifices to God. Note again the context of God supplying all your needs is in response to the obedience in giving.

Philippians 4:21-23 Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send greetings. All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Grace starts the book and Grace ends the book. The undeserved favor of God is our life.