Philippians 4:5-9

Peace

V5 Would people who know you describe you as gentle?

                How do gentle people act?

V6 Be Anxious for nothing

                What causes anxiety in our lives? Uncertainty, health problems, relationship problems

                How does Paul describe the type of prayer that is the antidote to anxiety?

                                Supplication – Asking God to meet your needs

                                Thanksgiving – Thanking God for everything

                Other Types of Prayer

                Praise, Intercession, Confession

                What does this passage say that the peace will do? Guard your heart.

                Against what?

V8 Thinking

                True

                Honorable

                Right

                Pure

                Lovely

                Good repute

                Excellent

                Worthy of Praise

Is this way of thinking related to V6 (Be anxious for nothing)? Both commands result in peace.

Why is it that this way of thinking gets pushed aside, and we often criticize, moan, and grumble about others?

How do you avoid the falling into the trap of a negative attitude?

V9 – Follow my example

Philippians 4:1-3

Stand Firm Thusly

3 imperatives follow - 2 of which we will consider this week.

Live in Harmony, Rejoice

Chapter 3 -  Paul talked about where his confidence rested – in Christ, not in himself.

He also urged the Philippians to follow his example (many acts including selflessness, joy, looking ahead and not behind).

Now he is saying – In light of all I have said in this letter so far, stand firm. They faced judeizers and hedonists, among other false doctrine, and they must have needed a clear direction to follow since Paul provided one for them.

How can we apply this challenge to “stand firm” today?

V2 is a challenge to live in harmony. How does standing firm and living in harmony go together?

Does standing firm mean we should dig in our heels and not compromise?

What is more important total harmony or truth in doctrine?

Philippians 3:17-21

From 2:19 through 3:16 Paul has used I 27 times, me 9 times. Just prior to this passage where he tells the Philippians to follow his example, he puts himself up as a model for them. Let’s look back over those verses and see what example behavior Paul is asking them to follow.

2:20-21 He seeks after the interests of others before his own.

2:24 He plans what he will do next.

2:25 He sent Epaphroditus to them because Epap wanted to go.

2:29 He encouraged others to hold men who deserve it in high regard.

3:1 and other places. He rejoices.

3:3-7 He counted his own efforts toward righteousness as loss

3:9 He trusted in the righteousness of Christ

3:12 He realized he is not perfect.

3:13 He presses on.

3:13 He forgets what is in the past.

3:16 He is living by the Standard of Christ

How can we observe those who walk according to the pattern we see in Paul? Does this mean to simply watch them? How close do you need to get to really see if someone is worth emulating?

Abraham Lincoln said, “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.”

V18 – Paul says he is weeping over enemies of the cross of Christ.

Three characteristics mark these people. First, they give free rein to the satisfaction of their sensual appetites and do not restrain the flesh. Second, they find satisfaction and take pride in things that they do that should cause them shame. Third, they involve themselves almost totally in physical and material things, things pertaining to the present enjoyment of life, to the exclusion of spiritual matters.

Do we see these kinds of people today? What is our reaction?

Our Citizenship is in Heaven. Does that fact impact our daily lives? How?

Philippians 3:12-16

Paul has just finished talking about the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.

In these verses, he comments on his current state, Imperfect, and striving for a better conformity to Christ.

Paul says that he has to press on X2.

Why do you think he used the term “Press On”? This denotes a challenging path, not an easy way.

Is the pursuit of righteousness easy?  Why not?

Paul talks about looking ahead instead of looking behind. How can looking back hinder us from pressing on toward the upward call of Christ Jesus? 

How can looking back help us in pressing on toward the upward calling of Christ Jesus?

Forget our shortcomings and forgiven sin, Remember God’s blessings and provision.

Paul talks about as many as are perfect (mature) have this attitude.

Philippians 2:4-6 Have this attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus – Looking out for others.

Philippians 3:1-11

Confidence!

Some people inspire confidence – others, not so much.

What can people do to gain your confidence in their ability?

How do we gain confidence in our own abilities?

What might be the danger in too much self-confidence?

We have just concluded the section where Paul gave us a couple of excellent examples of laborers, Timothy and Epaphroditus. Paul ended that section of the letter by compelling the Philippians to “Receive Epaphroditus in the lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard”.

The passage we will look at today begins with Joy also, but then turns to a warning about what kind of men to look out for.

Judaizers – people who believed that to be a righteous person, one had to maintain all of the jewish law, including circumcision, and the whole Mosaic law. It other words, they thought that faith in Christ alone would not provide righteousness in God’s eyes.

Philippians 3:1-11.

Paul had lots of reasons to be confident in his own ability to obtain righteousness through the flesh. What were some of those reasons? 7 -Circumcision, Pure Jewish blood, Benjamite, Hebrew of Hebrews (strict Jewish raising, Studied OT in Hebrew), Pharisees (most Orthodox), persecuted Christians, Obeyed all the law.

What does Paul say about all of these means of righteousness? – They are worthless.

What does he say about the true source of righteousness?

Paul was supremely confident in the righteousness that came from God on the basis of his faith.

How can we be confident in the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of Faith?

Philippians 2:12-18

Do Everything Without Grumbling

Keep in mind- this is for the whole church. Look at this as a group admonition, not an individual charge.

“God’s Therefore” – V9

Therefore to the believers at Philippi V12

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.

What do these verses tell us about the resources we have to work out our salvation?

Command - to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose

What can we as a church do to obey this command?

Why fear and trembling?

What are some of the reasons people grumble or complain?

How does grumbling usually help?

Can grumbling help us (as a body) “fulfill His good purpose”?

What would this letter have been like if Paul had grumbled through it rather than rejoicing?

How would it help us to replace grumbling with gladness and rejoicing?

Philippians 2:5-11

Attitude

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The most significant passages in the whole book.  Because of the theology – Jesus in his pre-incarnate state existed in the form of God – He was God. When he chose to take on the form of man, he did so to provide a way for us a way to a relationship with Him.

Jesus did not give up his deity to come to earth. He did not cease to be God when He became a man.

What did Jesus empty himself of to become a man?

Physical body restrictions (sleep/food),

Dependence on the Father (Prayer)

Omniscience, Omnipresence, Omnipotence (Not used for his own convenience) But used for his service to others.

Jesus took the unimaginable step from heaven, to earth, but then He further humbled himself to die a terrible death on the cross.

What does the act of dying on the cross tell us about Jesus “Attitude”?

How can we possibly copy that attitude?

Then God, the Father, exalted Jesus, and said that every tongue will confess that He is Lord. In the end Jesus will demonstrate his glory and power and everyone will acknowledge His position.

Can this verse mean that if we as Christians live a life of serving Him in humility, that God will reward us in some way in eternity?

This passage is a great example of what believers need to copy in Jesus. His example shows us obedience, humility, and ultimate reward. We as believers should see these as perfect examples of how we need to live out our Christianity.