Philippians Part 17, Chapter 4:1-4:8
I. Introduction to Philippians (4:1)
A. Beloved—27 agapétos (ag-ap-ay-tos') beloved Usage: loved, beloved, with two
special applications: the Beloved, a title of the Messiah (Christ), as beloved beyond all others by the God who sent Him; of Christians, as beloved by God, Christ, and one another.
1. Commonly used by Paul in his letter—occurs in 11 Letters not counting Hebrews
2. Example-Romans—9 times
3. "Beloved and longed for" is not a mere hurried phrase, or a gush of exuberant feeling
that quickly dries up. There are rivers which dip down and flow underground, and
then come out again into the light. So Paul's love, always flowing though some
times unseen here sparkles in the sunshine. This love was grounded in a common
discipleship of the same Master. To love the same Saviour opens a new fountain
of love in our hearts. As men are drawn to Christ, they are drawn closer to each
other. (Biblical Illustrator)
B. Longed for
1. 1973 epipothétos (ep-ee-poth'-ay-tos)--- greatly desired Usage: longed for,
missed, greatly desired.
2. Longed for, missed, greatly desired. From epi and a derivative of the latter
part of epipotheo; yearned upon, i.e. Greatly loved.
C. Joy
1. 5479 chara (khar-ah')-- joy, delight Usage: joy, gladness, a source of joy.
2. Joy, gladness, a source of joy. From chairo; cheerfulness, i.e. Calm delight.
3. There is no greater joy in the world like bringing another soul to Jesus Christ.
4. Used 16 times in Philippians in more than one form such as rejoice.
5. The source of my joy. He rejoiced in the fact that they had been converted
under him; and in their holy walk, and their friendship. Our chief joy is
in our friends; and the chief happiness of a minister of the gospel is in
the pure lives of those to whom he ministers (Barnes’ Notes)
D. Crown
1. 4735 stephanos (stef'-an-os)-- that which surrounds, a crown Usage: a crown,
garland, honor, glory.
2. properly, a wreath (garland), awarded to a victor in the ancient athletic games
(like the Greek Olympics); the crown of victory
3. Athlete crowned – wild olive leaves, interwoven with green parsley, and bay
leaves
4. The crown with which guests were crowned when they sat at a banquet,
at some time of great joy. (WB pg 70)
E. Stand fast
a. stékó (stay'-ko) to stand, stand firm Usage: I stand fast, stand firm, persevere.
b. Used to describe a soldier standing firm in the midst of battle, with the
enemy surging down on him.
II. Euodias and Syntyche (4:2-4:3)
A. Euodias—literally prosperous journey; means sweet savor or frangrance
B. Syntyche—means good luck, fortunate
C. Labored together with Paul at one time in the past
D. Divided—urged to be of the same mind
E. Since Christ cannot be divided, a divided church cannot be tolerated. Such a
Church is a standing contradiction to the unity of Christ’s person.
F. To disrupt the fellowship of Christ’s people is a serious matter. In any church, differences
of opinion will arise, but to let these grow into bitterness and hostility is to contribute to
a fragmenting of fellowship. Love does not insist on its own way; it negotiates in
kindness in a real attempt to determine and do God’s will. We are called on to
exercise our gifts, not to get our way or to wield power in order to win in our
game-playing. (RFR pg 122)
G. A quarrelling church is no church at all, for it is one from which Christ has been shut out.
No man can be at peace with God and at variance with his fellow-men. (WB pg 74)
III. Rejoice in the Lord (4:4)
A. Rejoice—4796 sugchairó (soong-khah'-ee-ro) --to rejoice with Usage: I rejoice with,
congratulate.
B. properly, sharing God's grace with another person, so that both rejoice
together (mutually participate in God's favor, grace).
C. Scriptures: Deuteronomy 12:7 “rejoice in all”; Deuteronomy 16:11; Psalms 5:11
D. Does the lack of joy in Christ not betray a lack of faith?
E. Psalm 16:11 If our spiritual life droops, so does our joy. Every revival of life is
a revival of Joy.
F. Psalm 32:11 There are abundant reasons why God’s people should “Shout for joy
in the Lord.” It is a blessed choice to leave the doubters and join such shouters.
The source of the believer’s joy is not in the world, nor in themselves, but in the
Lord. They sing unto Him a “new song,” because they have been made new
creatures, who enjoy new delights. The rejoice in the Lord because of His:
1. Word 2. Works 3. Lovingkindness
4. Power 5. Knowledge 6. Faithfulness
7. Grace
G. Rejoice—It is our duty and privilege to rejoice in God, and to rejoice in Him always; at
all times, in all conditions; even when we suffer for Him, or are afflicted by Him.
We must not think the worst of Him or His ways for the hardships we meet with in
His service. There is enough in God to furnish us with matter of joy in the worst
circumstance on earth. [In prison after being beaten, Paul and Silas prayed and sang
praises.] Paul had said it before, here he says it again; Rejoice. Joy in God is a duty
of great consequence in the Christian life; and Christians need to be again and again
called to it. If good men have not a continual feast, it is their own fault.
(Matthew Henry)
H. Habakkuk 3:16-19 If our joy is in the blessing instead of the Blesser, it will soon whither.
The prophet looked ahead and saw troubles, invasion of their land. The enemy will
continually, until he be put down, try to invade the property of God’s people.
1. Vines – Grapes, Vinegar, Raisins
2. Figs – Eaten fresh and dried
3. Flocks – Ox, sheep, goats, -- meat and milk
4. Destroy the vines and the fig-trees, and you make all the mirth of a carnal heart
to cease. But those who, when they were full, enjoyed God in all, when they
are emptied and impoverished can enjoy all in God, and can sit down upon a
melancholy heap of ruins of all their creature comforts and even then can sing
to the praise and glory of God, as the God of their salvation. This is the
principle ground of our joy in God . . .
I. The one thing all men need to learn about joy is that it has nothing to do with material
things or with a man’s outward circumstances. It is a simple fact of hum experience
that a man living in the lap of luxury can be wretched and a man in the depths of poverty
can overflow with joy. A man upon whom life has apparently inflicted no blows at all
can be gloomy or peevishly discontented and a man upon whom life has inflicted every
possible blow can be serenely joyful. The secret is this—that happiness depends not on
the things or on places, but always on persons. If we are with the right person, nothing
else matter; and if we are not with the right person, nothing can make up for that absence.
The Christian is in the Lord, the greatest of all friends; nothing can take away his joy.
Christian joy is independent of all things on earth because it has its source in the
continual presence of Christ. (William Barclay)
J. Joy in God is never out of season, nay, it is in a special manner seasonable when we meet
with losses and crosses in the world, that it may then appear that our hearts are not set
upon these things, nor our happiness bound up in them. (Matthew Henry)
IV. Moderation (4:5)
A. Moderation 1933 –epieikés (ep-ee-i-kace')-- seemly, equitable, yielding
Usage: gentle, mild, forbearing, fair, reasonable, moderate.
B. Moderation = forbearance, patient opposite to the spirit of contention and self-seeking,
being satisfied with less than his due.
C. Moderation (Robbins pg 127)
1. The Greek word was used to express the disposition which contented itself with
less than its due and shrank from insisting on its strict rights. It expressed a
mind-set opposed to the eager overrating of personal worth or objects and
opposed to the arrogance that insists on its will.
2. The word describes the attitude which forgets self in favor of others and willingly
yields purely personal claims.
3. It denotes the spirit that enables Christians to bear injuries with patience and to
resist demanding all that is rightly their due.
4. The word conveys the quality which leads believers to yield rather than insist on
the full measure of their rights, to suffer wrong rather than to do wrong.
D. This essential Christian spirit was to be so conspicuous a feature of their character that
it would be known to all people with whom they came in contact.
V. Be careful for nothing (4:6)
A. Careful – 3309 –merimnaó (mer-im-nah'-o) -- to be anxious, to care for Usage: I
am over-anxious; I am anxious about, distracted; I care for.
1. The root idea of the Greek word is a divided mind. Also, it means to be pulled
in different directions, to strangle.
2. It describes the mind as looking two ways and not being able to find a place where
it can settle down. The Greek construction indicates a prohibition of the
continuance of an action going on habitually. (RFR 127-128)
3. He did not mean that they were to exercise no care about worldly matters. They
were to exercise confidence in God who would free them from anxiety.
(RFR 127)
4. There must be no anxiety or worry about anything (Matthew 6:25-34)
5. Why? Worry chokes the Word and you become unfruitful.
(Matthew 13:22 & Luke 21:34)
6. It is possible to be cautious and rightly concerned, and yet not be anxious.
7. To care was a virtue, but to be overanxious is destructive.
8. Faith ends where anxiety begins.
9. Anxiety is an attempt to carry the burden of the future for oneself, prayer is leaving
it in the safe hands of God. Thanks giving for past benefits is the surest road to
confidence in future ones.
10. 1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.”
11. Worry is wrong thinking (the mind) and wrong feeling (the heart). (WB 126)
12. Worry is the greatest thief of joy. It is an inside job.
B. To conquer worry three conditions to meet are: (WW 126)
1. Right praying
2. Right thinking
3. Right living.
VI. Prayer and Supplication with Thanksgiving (4.6)
A. Overanxiety is an emotional illness, and an illness needs a cure. Paul described a treatment:
prayer and commitment of life to God. The Greek word for prayer is a general word
conveying the ideas of adoration, devotion, and worship. It does not refer to the petitions
but the mood of the petitioner. “Prayer” describes a frame of mind or an attitude. When
Christians find themselves anxious, their first action ought to be to get alone with God
and worship Him. (RFR 128)
B. When anything burdens our spirits, we must ease our minds by prayer; when our affairs are
perplexed or distressed, we must seek direction and support. (Matthew Henry)
C. While prayer is the general offering up of the wishes and desires to God, supplication
implies special petition for the supply of wants. Thus prayer points to the frame of
mind in the petitioner, supplication to the act of solicitation.
D. Prayer carries the idea of adoration, devotion, and worship. Whenever we find ourselves
worrying, our first action ought to be to get alone with God and worship Him. Adoration
is what is needed. We must see the greatness and majesty of God! We must realize that
He is big enough to solve our problems. (Warren Wiersbe pg 126)
E. Supplication
1. 1162 deésis (deh'-ay-sis) -- a need, entreaty Usage: supplication, prayer,
entreaty.
2. heart-felt petition, arising out of deep personal need (sense of lack, want).
3. Ephesians 6:18; 1 Timothy 2:1; 1 Timothy 5:5
4. The word “supplication” is a more specific term than “prayer.” It is a word used to
designate a single feature of prayer: petition for necessities. The term describes
sharing of needs and problems with God. God does not need to be informed of
our necessities, but we need to express them to Him.
5. God knows how to give what we want when we know not how to get it.
6. If we were, by faith, as unconcerned about tomorrow as the fowls of the air, we
would sing as cheerfully as the do.
7. Supplication is an earnest sharing of our needs and problems. While prayer is the
general offering up of the wishes and desires to God, supplication implies special
petition for the supply of wants. Thus prayer points to the frame of mind in the
petitioner, supplication to the act of solicitation. (WW pg 126)
8. The word “supplication” is a more specific term than “prayer.” It is a word used
to designate a single feature of prayer: petition for necessities. The term
describes sharing of needs and problems with God. God does not need to be
informed of our necessities, but we need to express them to Him.
F. Thanksgiving
1. 2169 eucharistia (yoo-khar-is-tee'-ah) -- thankfulness, giving of thanks
Usage: thankfulness, gratitude; giving of thanks, thanksgiving.
2. After adoration and supplication comes appreciation, giving thanks to God.
3. Scriptures:
a. 2 Corinthians 4:14-15 “Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall
raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.”
b. Ephesians 5:2-4 “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath
given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling
savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be
once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor
foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving
of thanks.”
c. Colossians 2:6-7 “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so
walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith,
as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”
d. 1 Timothy 4:3-4 “Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from
meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them
which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and
nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:”
G. Worldly Goods Cause Cares
1. Our care must be to keep ourselves in the love of God, and then we may be easy
whether we have little or much of this world.
2. The illness here is carefulness – anxiety – worries. The cure is prayer, supplication,
and thanksgiving. The end result of the cure is the peace of God.
3. Your anxiety will tell where your heart is.
a. Satan will have a hold on you as long as you have a hold on this world.
b. Why set your heart on something you cannot keep?
4. There is scarcely any one sin against which our Lord Jesus more largely and
earnestly warns His disciples or against which He arms them with more variety
of argument than the sin of disquieting, distracting, distrustful cares about the
things of this life, which are a bad sign that both the treasure and the heart are
on this earth. (Matthew Henry)
5. We dishonor God when we fret over every little issue of life that we confront.
6. The thought spoken is a disquieting, tormenting thought, which hurries the mind
hither and thither, and hangs it in suspense; which disturbs our joy with God,
and is a damp upon our hope in Him; which breaks the sleep, and hinders our
enjoyment of ourselves, of our friends, and of what God has given us. This is
a distrustful, unbelieving thought. (MH)
7. At the bottom of all our inordinate care and thoughtfulness is the weakness of our
faith, and the remains of unbelief in us. If we had but more faith, we should
have less care. (MH)
VII. Peace of God
A. Peace –1515 eiréné (i-ray'-nay) -- one, peace, quietness, rest Usage: peace, peace of mind;
invocation of peace a common Jewish farewell, in the Hebraistic sense of the health
(welfare) of an individual.
1. This is the peace of God, it is the peace which God possesses. If Christians are
content to trust God and leave all the circumstances of life to Him, God
imparts peace.
2. Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee.”
3. The peace of God is one test of whether or not we are in the will of God. Whenever
we disobey, we lose that peace and we know we have done something wrong.
B. Understanding – 3563 nous (nooce) -- mind, understanding, reason
Usage: the mind, the reason, the reasoning faculty, intellect.
C. Heart –2588 kardia (kar-dee'-ah) – heart Usage: lit: the heart; mind, character,
inner self, will, intention, center.
1. Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he;”
2. Kardia – the heart is the chief organ of physical life and occupies the most important
place in the human system. By an easy transition the word came to stand for
man’s entire mental or moral activity, both the rational and emotional elements.
In other words, the heart is used figuratively for the hidden springs of the personal
life. The heart, as lying deep within, contains the hidden man, the real man.
a. As to its usage in the New Testament it denotes the seat of physical life, the
seat of moral nature and spiritual life, the seat of grief.
b. The heart, in its moral significance in the Old Testament, includes the
emotions, the reason and the will. (Vine’s pg 207)
D. Mind –3540 noéma (no'-ay-mah) -- thought, purpose Usage: a thought, purpose,
design; the mind; the heart, soul, feelings.
1. Denotes, speaking generally, the seat of reflective consciousness, comprising
the faculties of perception and understanding, and those of feeling, judging,
and determining. It denotes the faculty of knowing, the seat of understanding.
2. dianoia – literally a thinking through, or over meditation, reflecting, signifies the
faculty of knowing, understanding or moral reflection.
3. Scriptures
a. Acts 17:11 “readiness of mind”
b. Acts 20:19 “humility of mind”
c. Romans 1:28 “reprobate mind”
d. Romans 15:6 “with one mind”
4. The human mind will always set itself on something and Paul wished to be quite sure
that the Philippians would set their minds on the right things. This is something
of utmost importance, because it is a law of life that, if a man thinks of something
long enough and often enough, he will come to the stage when he cannot stop
thinking about it. His thoughts will be quite literally in a groove out of which he
cannot jerk them. It is, therefore, of the utmost importance that a man should set
his thoughts upon that a man should set his thoughts upon fine things and here
Paul makes a list of them. (WB)
E. Think on these things (4:8)
1. Think About it: Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words;
they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your
habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
2. When believers perpetually cherish unholy, impure, and untrue thoughts, they will
become unholy, impure, and untrue Christians. Character takes on the
complexion and hue of thinking. (Robbins pg 130)
3. Christians who cherish noble thoughts become more noble. If they are generous in
their thoughts, they will be generous in their acts. Believers who are loving and
tender in their thoughts will be loving and tender in their action. If Christians
allow the indwelling Christ to take care of their thoughts, their thoughts will mold
character reflectively and unconsciously into more Christ-like persons.
4. Christians cannot afford to waste mind power on thoughts that tear them down or that
would tear others down if these thoughts were shared with them. (RFR pg 131)
F. There is no middle ground. Either we yield heart and mind to the Spirit of God and practice
right praying, thinking, and living; or yield to the flesh and find ourselves torn apart by worry.
