Philippians 4:1-23

Rejoicing in the Lord, Always

Verse 1, Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

1. Crown - incorruptible - I Cor. 9:25.

   1. To be kept (guarded) - Rev. 3:11.

   2. To be cast at Jesus feet - Rev. 4:10.

Verse 2, I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

1. Little leaven - I Cor. 5:6.

Verse 3, And I entreat 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.

1. Book of life.

   1. Great white throne judgment - Rev. 20:12.

   2. Fellowlabourers - other preachers.

Verse 4, Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

1. Paul instructs these believers to rejoice.

   1. Rejoice means to be happy, to be glad, to be well exceedingly.

      1. There is no requirement that circumstances make us rejoice.

      2. We are to rejoice regardless of the circumstances.

   2. Paul instructs these believers to rejoice two times, not one time.

      1. It is as if believers to do not hear if he only says it one time.

      2. It seems easier to think of bad things than good things.

      3. This is why God, through Paul, admonishes all believers to rejoice.

   3. Philippians scriptures that urge believers to rejoice.

      1. Philippians 1:18 – “What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.”

      2. Philippians 1:26 – “That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.”

      3. Philippians 2:16 – “Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”

      4. Philippians 2:17 – “Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.”

      5. Philippians 2:18 – “For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.”

      6. Philippians 2:28 – “I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.”

      7. Philippians 3:1 – “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.”

      8. Philippians 3:3 – “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”

      9. Philippians 4:4 – “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”

      10. Philippians 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.”

Verse 5, Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

1. Moderation - Matt. 25:1-13. – The parable of the Ten Virgins.

   1. A fruit of the Spirit - Gal. 5:22,23.

   2. Reasonable service - Romans 12:1.

2. Moderation is being gentle or patient. It is being equitable, fair, mile, seemingly suitable.

Verse 6, Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

1. Definitions of words.

   1. Careful - being anxious, or worried, trouble in spirit.

   2. Prayer - Not just thinking, but praying to God, habitually attending to the place of prayer.

   3. Supplication - A need, a seeking, an asking, entreating God for aid and help.

   4. Thanksgiving - Not just an outward saying of thanks, but an inward believing that the present situation is the very best for you.

   5. Requests - Your petitions or the things you desire God to do for you.

   6. Be known unto God - It is not that God doesn't know, He wants you to know that He knows, and this happens when we tell God what He already knows.

2. Be careful for nothing - Matt. 6:24-34.

   1. Obey God - Acts 5:29-32.

   2. Don't worry about what people think (70 disciples) - Luke 10:1-12.

   3. Pray for God's will to be done (Model prayer) - Matt. 6:9-13.

3. It is very important to be thankful.

   1. Positive things to be thankful for.

      1. Jesus Christ as saved us from eternal destruction in hell.

      2. God has allowed us to be a member of one of His local churches.

      3. God has given us a spouse and loves us and understands us (some of the time!).

      4. God has allowed us to live in the greatest nation on the face of the earth.

      5. God has given us health so we will be able to work and supply the needs of our families.

      6. God has fulfilled His promises to us in giving us a place to live, food to eat, and clothing.

   2. Negative things to be thankful for.

      1. Romans 8:28 - When something “bad” happens to us, we must remember that God intends everything to be for our good, and His glory. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

      2. When we are tempted, God always gives us a way to escape that we may be able to bear it and not fall into sin.

         1. I Cor. 10:13 - There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

         2. James 1:12 - Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

         3. Rev. 2:10 - Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

      3. If we aren’t thankful for everything that happens to us, we will not pray right, and God will be unable to answer our prayers so that we can have peace in the midst of our trials.

      4. If we aren’t thankful for everything that happens to us, our request for help will be polluted.

Verse 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

1. The peace of God is that peace which gives patience and takes away the tumult about our situation.

   1. Our situation may not change for the better, or even make a change of direction toward what our heart desires, but we know that God is with us.

   2. We know that even if we suffer in this present world, it is God's will for our lives.

      1. This is a peace that passes all understanding.

      2. It is peace in the middle of all our trouble and strivings.

      3. It is peace when all seems to be falling apart.

      4. It is an inner peace that comes because we know God is with us in all things.

2. This peace shall keep (guard) our hearts and minds.

   1. It is good to have our hearts guarded, but this isn't talking about retaining our salvation.

      1. It is talking about remaining faithful to God

      2. and keeping true to Him in our hearts.

   2. Our minds shall also not wander from the truth.

      1. We will have no doubts at all about the outcome, although we don't know what the outcome will be.

      2. All is in God's hands, and He is watching over our best interests.

3. What a blessedness this is.

   1. This is better than world peace, or peace between family members, or any other situation. It is peace and blessedness while in the midst of all sorts of opposition.

   2. It is peace when Satan buffets us.

   3. That is peace!

4. This is not the highest form of peace there is!!

   1. When we are in this circumstance, we might believe there is nothing greater than this sort of peace, but this is the very beginning of true peace between us and God.

   2. Please understand that there is no limit with God to give us more and more and more and more - without end.

      1. There is no law (limit) with God.

      2. He is able to give more than we ever could ask or think!.

      3. His gifts to us gets better and better, without end, greater and greater.

   3. The closer to God we get, the more we realize our sinfulness and his holiness.

      1. We only want to be more and more like Him.

      2. See verse 9 for a greater peace!

Verse 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.

1. God doesn't leave our minds empty when He gives us peace.

   1. He fully intends for us to be busy thinking right thoughts.

      1. Satan tells everybody that what a person thinks doesn't affect his spirituality,

      2. but he is the father of lies.

   2. It is simply impossible to fill you minds full of "soap opera mentality" and expect to continue in the peace of God.

      1. We need to think right things.

      2. We must put an effort into thinking right things.

      3. Thinking right things does not come “naturally” in this depraved body and mind.

2. This verse gives us a list of things to think because we don't know what to think unless God less us.

Verse 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.

1. God doesn't leave our bodies with nothing to do when He gives us peace.

   1. Our bodies are full of sin, wickedness, and wantonness.

      1. If we don't keep our bodies busy with the things of God, they will lead our minds and heart astray from God's peace.

      2. Therefore God wants us to continue doing in our bodies what we have learned, received, and heard in our minds.

   2. We are to follow the example of Godly men and women, not following the example of wicked people of this world.

      1. Do not follow the example of movie stars because the most of them are full of sin and adulteries.

      2. If you make those type of people your idol, you will soon be doing what they are doing.

2. The God of peace shall be with you.

   1. This is different from the peace of God described in verse 7.

      1. Verse 7 speaks about the peace that God gives, but verse 9 talks about the God that gives peace.

      2. It is one thing to have the peace that God gives, but it is quite another thing to have the God that gives peace.

   2. Do you see that it is better to have God with you than it is to have peace?

3. Moses had a commission from God to lead Israel into the promised land.

   1. God said that He would give Moses peace to go and authority to command Israel.

      1. Moses declared to God that if God Himself didn't go with him, he didn't want to go.

      2. This is how we ought to be.

   2. There are things God commands us to do, and we ought to do them, but if God Himself doesn't go with us, go before us, and if we don't have a spiritual knowledge that He is with us each and every step of the way, there is a blackness, an emptiness and a lacking within us as we go forward.

      1. You see, faith is not that we go under our own strength, but that we go in His strength and power.

      2. It is not enough to have a command of God to go, we need God to go with us.

Verse 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.

{11} Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. {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. {13} I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. {14} Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. {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. {16} For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. {17} Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. {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. {19} But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. {20} Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. {21} Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you. {22} All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household. {23} The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.