Grace and Peace be yours in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Rejoice in the Lord always…The Lord is near.
Welcome and happy Tuesday, it’s Bible Study day, and today we’re finishing Philippians.
I read the NIV so if you have one, grab it, if you don’t, you can go here… Grab something to write with and upon and you’ll be all set to start.
First, let’s pray:
Lord Jesus, help us learn and guide us through this mostly familiar chapter. Reveal what we need to see and teach us what we need to know. To bring You glory, Lord. In Your name I pray. Amen.
Read Philippians 4:1
Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity
This is the issue with doing only one chapter a week: remembering what ‘this way’ means. So here are a few reminders.
Chapter 1
1:9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
1:27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Chapter 2
2:1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
Chapter 3
3:1 Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.
10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.
Yes, it’s somewhat possible to follow Paul’s example, but there are faithful among us too, search for them if you need to see someone living by faith so that you have a model to follow. How was that for a review? Therefore, stand firm in this way.
Read Philippians 4:2-3
You’ve probably known of a few faith members who are upset with one another. It’s more than important to heal the rift. We’re called to love one another. Because our names are in the book of life. Relationships are very important. With Jesus and with one another.
Read Philippians 4:4-7
Final Exhortations
Let’s break that down so as to see what we haven’t seen before as familiar as those verse are.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all. – more on that in a minute
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. Anything – Every Situation.
Do all of this, and the peace of God, that peace that surpasses understanding, will guard your hearts, and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Your gentleness… feeling gentle? In my experience very few people are naturally gentle. However, I also know that you can ask for it (prayer and petition) and He can gift it. (always give thanks) Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit too. Having the Spirit is a prerequisite to all of this. The Spirit is proof of faith. The Spirit is your ever present helper and leader and conduit. The fruit that can be produced in your life through living by the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, and kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness and self-control. It’s through the Spirit that we can have it all now, as well as an assured eternity. Yes, that’s how your name is written in the book of life. It’s not written in Scripture as such, but I have a sneaky suspicion that all the fruit we produce through living by the Spirit, is also credited to our accounts. (4:17)
The Lord is near. Oh what good news that is. Yes He is near, closer than your next breath. Closer than anyone else ever is. Within you and around you, over you and under you, sustaining and empowering and restraining you too. Perhaps that is the key in all of these verses, remembering that one sentence. The Lord is near. All praise to You, dear Jesus.
Read Philippians 4:8-9
“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.” “Follow my example” “Live this way.” Can you see Paul in this? What about Jesus? Can you see Him too? For who is the lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy One? He Is. “Think about such things.” Keep your mind focused on Christ and all of life will be less bothersome.
Yes, it’s that song. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His Wonderful Face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace. Not so dim that you’ll miss out on the wonders of life but dim as in nothing matters as much as He does. And the promise is it’ll be worth it. Also reminded me of this Chris Tomlin song called Satisfied. Thank You, Lord.
Read Philippians 4:10-13
Thanks for Their Gifts
Contentment. I’m not going to tell you that it’s possible to be content when you’re hungry, or in need of help or cold or hot or any of the many other feelings we can have, but I will tell you that in Christ, focused on Christ, we have all that we truly need. That is how Paul can say “I can do all this through I’m who gives me strength.” And in 2 Corinthians 12 how Paul says Jesus told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Praise Him for His grace, which we are all given according to John 1:16
Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.
Read Philippians 4:14-17
‘More be credited to your account.’ That is how we should live, giving all we can, living in Christ, and through His empowering sharing what we have and ourselves in the hope that our accounts grow too. Trust me, I know that Faith means more to God than anything. But in faith, much more is available and there is much more responsibility to live as members of The Kingdom.
Read Philippians 4:18-20
Your sacrifices are a fragrant offering. All kinds of sacrifices done for faith, through faith, in faith.
Write out verses 19 & 20 starting with My.
Read Philippians 4:21-23
Final Greetings
Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Amen.