Thoughts on Philippians – Part 3
PHIL 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
PHIL 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
PHIL 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
Not everyone who says the name of Christ walks with Christ. Some are just false professors. They profess but have never possessed. They might make mention of Jesus with their lips, but they have never received Him in their heart. Others get saved and then backslide. They will go to heaven, but they are not walking daily by the Savior’s side. Paul writes and tells them to be followers of him. He encourages them to follow his example. We are to look at the example of other Christians who are sold out for the Lord and we are to follow their example.
PHIL 3:18 (For 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:
PHIL 3:19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
Paul wept tears over the fact that people were naming the name of Christ but they were not saved. Paul calls them the enemies of the cross of Christ. Paul gives some characteristics of these people. One their belly rules them. The needs of their flesh is their god.
Two they seek glory. Paul says this is their shame. And three they mind earthly things. This sounds like a lot of churches today. When you bring the worlds rock n roll music into the church you are minding earthly things. It feeds the flesh. Many have given in so that they can get the big crowds. That means more glory and a bigger paycheck. The entire philosophy of bringing the world into the church is wrong and not biblical. This kind of thing caused Paul to weep and God is none too happy with it either. Christians are to be different.
PHIL 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Everything we do as well as what we say communicates. Our conversation is to be focused on heaven. Our eyes are to be looking for the Saviour. Keep your eyes on Jesus and not on the world.
PHIL 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
The young do not relish this great promise like Christians who are older. The young do not understand the term vile body that is used in verse 21. They have not experienced their eyesight going, or their hearing. It does not yet hurt them just to get out of bed in the morning. They have not yet had the experience of lingering a few moments longer on the couch just to gather up the strength to get up. They have not had to deal with constantly aching joints and all the other medical problems that come with age.
The old understand the term vile body. They have bodies that have been going downhill for years. The reason is that our bodies were made with a sin nature. The wages of sin is death. Sin is the great destroyer. Everyone’s body deteriorates and everyone dies because everyone has sin. When you get saved your soul gets eternal life, but not your body.
But one day Jesus will change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body. A new resurrected body. A body that is not vile. A body that is not stained with sin. A body that does not ache and hurt. A body that will always respond correctly and quickly. You older people know exactly what I am talking about. Right about now the young are saying O.K. that will be nice. But the old are shouting Praise the Lord. I can hardly wait.
Jesus will have no problem in giving everyone who believes a new glorious body because, “he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”
Jesus can do it, because Jesus is God.
PHIL 4:1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
Anytime a verse starts with the word therefore you need to pause and read again the verses right before it.
PHIL 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
PHIL 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
The truths in verse 20 and 21 are to have an effect upon us. The fact that Jesus is our savior and the fact that we look for His return. And the fact that He will give us a new resurrected body one day like unto His. And the fact that He is able to subdue all things unto himself.
Because of all of that then:
PHIL 4:1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
Because of who Jesus is and what is has done and what He will do, then stand fast. Stand fast in the Lord no matter what. Thru all the trouble and all the trials and persecutions. Stand for the Lord. He is the one that we should be focused on pleasing and standing for.
PHIL 4:2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
PHIL 4:3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
Both the principal of unity of the believers where they do things without strife and the principal of helping other believers is seen here. Too many people who name the name of Jesus do not understand these principals.
Regardless of the size of the group, to keep them in the same mind in the Lord you must have a standard of truth. Something where people’s opinions can be held up to this standard. And the standard needs to be believed and submitted to as the final authority in all matters of faith and practice.
That standard of course is the preserved Word of God that was preserved thru the Majority text. Some call that line of manuscripts the received text. It is the line of manuscripts that find their root in Antioch. The standard is not the corrupted line of minority texts.
The standard was faithful translated into English in the KJV bible.
And to keep the group in the same mind in the Lord everyone in the group must humble themselves and let what the Bible says settle the matter. They need to change their thinking to line up with the Word of God.
And our hearts need to be filled with love and service for our brothers and sisters in Christ. And not some kind of sentimental only love, but real helpful and practical help that does some real good.
You would see a lot more churches have real unity and purpose if they would get ahold of these 2 principals.
PHIL 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
This was not penned by a man who never had trials and tribulation. Quite the contrary. God did not choose a man who never had trouble come his way. Instead God choose Paul to pen it. Paul had been beaten, he had been stoned, and he had been shipwrecked. Paul had people forsake him. And yet Paul writes, “Rejoice in the Lord alway” And then he hammers it home some ore by writing, “and again I say, Rejoice”
Rejoice when you are done wrong. Rejoice when you are betrayed. Rejoice in the Lord always no matter what the circumstance. Paul is talking from a life of experience and he tells us to Rejoice no matter what. Paul had personal experience with this. He knew that it is possible to still rejoice in the Lord no matter what storm is raging around you. How is that possible? We can rejoice even in hard times because of God’s enabling grace. He never leaves us or forsakes us. Even when in a fiery furnace He is there with us. (Dan Ch 3).
We can rejoice no matter what because our rejoicing is in Jesus our Lord and not in the circumstances that surround us.
PHIL 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
PHIL 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
PHIL 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
A basic principal in Bible study it to take notice of connecting words. For example verse 7 tells about the peace of God, which passeth all understanding. It tells us that this peace shall keep our hearts and minds. Think about that for a minute. Don’t you ever have problems, trials, and tribulations? Don’t things come up in your life that cause worry and stress? If you are honest I think you would have to say yes. But God has a peace that He gives His children that can give them peace no matter what the circumstances.
I have seen Christians go thru tough circumstances and they have this peace and I have seen others who were a mess. So this peace is not given to everyone at all times. This is where we need to take a look at the first word of verse 7. The word And. Here it is used as a connecting word. It connects the result of verse 7 with the behavior in verse 5 and 6. We all want the result of verse 7 and to have it we need to do what is in verses 5 and 6.
PHIL 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Moderation means that you are not coveting, you are not indulgent in excess. It means you are content with such things as you have. You are living your live in balance and in moderation with your eye on the fact that The Lord is at hand.
He is near and He is watching and we are to live like He could come back at any time.
And because we realize He is at hand and that He cares and He listens then we are to take our cares to Him in prayer.
PHIL 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Be careful for nothing in this case means don’t be full of care. Don’t be fussing and fretting and full of worry. Instead pray to God. Make all your requests known to Him. And it tells us to pray for everything with thanksgiving.
What we see here is a heart attitude of thanks unto God. A heart attitude that trusts Him in all things. A heart of faith that believes that He hears and that He answers. Faith that enables you to give the problems over to God. Trusting that however He decides to handle it will be for your best. Even if you don’t understand the reasons why He handles it the way He does.
First you live like the Lord is at hand and then you pray with this kind of heart, then comes the peace that passeth all understanding. You will have a peace in the storm that others simply cannot understand. It is a wonderful thing. But always remember. First verse 5 and 6 then verse 7.
PHIL 4:8 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.
What you think about matters. Why? It is important for many reasons. What you think about affects your heart and out of the heart comes all the issues of life.
Pro_4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
How you handle everything in life if affected by the condition of your heart. And the condition of your heart is affected by what you choose to think about.
We are instructed in 2 Timothy to flee lusts and follow righteousness and faith and charity and peace.
2Ti_2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
The Lord wants us to walk with Him and to call upon Him out of a pure heart. Fulfilling that has to start with what you choose to think about. And a big part of that is what you feed your mind with.
What you input into your mind has a lot to do with your output in life. So to have a better output think on the things that are true and honest and just and pure and lovely and things that are of a good report, and think on virtue and praise.
Turn off all of the Tuckers and Kellys and Owens and all that kind of bad input and instead put in and think about things that fit verse 8. Your walk with God will be stronger and your inner peace will be better and the output of your life will improve.
PHIL 4:9 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.
I have heard some men proudly say, I will follow no man. We are only to follow Jesus. While there is some truth in that. Jesus is to come first and Jesus to be above all others. What they say is actually not biblical.
God does call and provide a few men to be leaders. And here we see the right kind of leadership. Leadership by example. This is not what I have seen way too often and that is do as I say and not as I do. That is the wrong way. I have also see leadership try to run a church like the marines. Or like a cattle ranch where they drive with cattle prods. Both of those methods are also wrong.
The correct method that the Lord wants His leaders to use is do as I do. Follow my example. He leads like a shepherd leads sheep. You do not use cattle prods on sheep. You don’t drive sheep. You lead sheep. Huge difference.
God does have a system of leadership for local churches. It is to be a vertical authority structure. Jesus is the head of each local church, then a God called man, and then the flock. That is it. Simple. No earthly headquarters. No horizontal man made authority over the local church.
And hugely important a God called man who leads the right way. A servant leader who like Paul says do as I do.
PHIL 4:10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
PHIL 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
PHIL 4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
PHIL 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Verse 13 is one of those verses that is taken out of context and misused by many. I can do all things is not talking about all things like becoming a brain surgeon. It is not talking about becoming a quarterback and winning the super bowl. There are many things in life like that which are impossible for me physically to do.
Keep the verse in its context and look about what is being addressed here. Paul is talking about his state of having enough or being in the state of suffering want. He is talking about having plenty at times and at other times actually being hungry.
And Paul says in whatsoever state I am, he has learned to be content. In whatever state Paul has learned the right way to handle it and still be content. Where did Paul find the strength to live for Jesus no matter the circumstances? That is what Paul is telling us in verse 13.
Verse 13 is not talking about talent or job skills. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheth me is talking about Jesus giving you the strength to properly handle all the circumstances that life can throw at you. No matter what they are you can have the strength to live for Jesus thru any trouble.
PHIL 4:14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
Communicating and helping those in need is a good thing to do. Paul says well done to the Philippians.
PHIL 4:15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
It is sad but they were the only ones to help. They were in the minority. It is the same today. Very few Christians want to help.
PHIL 4:16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
The Philippians did not help only once. With them it seems to have been a habit. They sent help again and again to help Paul.
PHIL 4:17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
Paul was glad to see it. Not because he desired a gift. But because Paul understood that God would reward them for it. Some of the fruit of Paul’s ministry would go to their account because of their involvement; because of their help. We are to lay up treasures in heaven and this is one way to do it.
PHIL 4:18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
Paul says that their help was a sweet smelling sacrifice to God. He says that their gifts were acceptable and well pleasing to God.
I hope that you understand this principal. Giving gifts, help, and money to people who are getting the Word of God out is well pleasing to God, and that some of the fruit of that ministry will go to your account. You will be rewarded for it. I believe that most of the reward will be given to you in heaven. Which is actually better than getting it now if you think about it. A reward now lasts only a short time. A reward in heaven lasts forever.
PHIL 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
And you do not have to concern yourself about not having enough for yourself if you give some to God’s work. He will supply all your need.
PHIL 4:20 Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
PHIL 4:21 Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.
PHIL 4:22 All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.
PHIL 4:23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
I really like the way Paul ends his letters. Here is a reminder that glory belongs to God and thru all Eternity. And the desire that Paul has for all believers to walk in and experience the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. And I believe not just now and then but that His grace will be with you as in all the time. Amen.
See more lessons from Philippians