LIVING IN CHRIST- Part 4
(Philippians 1:12-26; 2:1-13; 3:7-21; 4:4-19)
Part 4
REJOICING IN CHRIST
Philippians 4:4-13
June 2006
Introduction
Three weeks ago we began a series of messages to explain the Biblical basis on what it means to give Christ a position of primary importance in our life, encouraging us to be Christ’s person in every situation and to seek to glorify Him “whether it be by life, or by death.” It also emphasize what it take on His mind, or attitude; how Christ can help us persevere in our struggles when we feel like giving up.
Today’s message is entitled “Rejoicing in Christ,” is taken from Philippians 4:4-13. This would be our last message in this series on LIVING IN CHRIST. In today’s text, Paul challenges followers of Jesus to “rejoice in the Lord” even when their surroundings are less than ideal.
We should keep in mind that Paul’s words were not written in a vacuum. He was a prisoner of Rome when he wrote this letter. His faith challenges us to evaluate our circumstances in light of our faith in Christ, not to evaluate Christ in light of our circumstances. Regardless of our situation, Christ is unchanging and always faithful.
1. Always Rejoicing (vv. 4-7)
A. God’s Presence (vv.4,5) Rejoice in the Lord always. Continual rejoicing requires a constant, steadfast basis. We find that constancy only in God, of whom we sing, “Rejoice in the Lord, rejoice in the Lord. Celebrate in the presence of the Lord for He is worthy to be praise.”
That basis for rejoicing is most evident when circumstances seem to undermine any reason to rejoice. This does mean, however, we didn’t feel sorrow. We feel sad when our love one got sick or died; we feel sad when we faced hard trials in our Christian walk. But the joy is overall for we know our God is in control. He is above all. He is our comfort our strength our hope our peace.
To rejoice in the Lord involves understanding the Lordship of Christ – his benevolent and powerful reign. This time, he tells them twice in one verse and he tells them to rejoice always, even in the face of persecution and relational difficulties. Paul seemingly goes over the top.
If we learn to rejoice in the Lord, to direct our minds to the awesome truth that Jesus Christ is on the throne of creation and is bringing everything under the power and goodness of his lordship, then we’re in position to respond to whatever the Lord wants of us. Rejoicing always, regardless of circumstances, is counter-intuitive. That’s why we need to hear the command as often and Paul issues it.
Christian Joy is always “in season.”
I want you to notice, dear brothers and sisters, that this rejoicing is commanded. It is not a matter that is left to your option.
Again I say, Rejoice. Paul had said it before (3:1), and, like any effective teacher, he will say it again and again.
“This was, first, to show Paul’s love for the Philippians. He wanted them to be happy. They had been so kind to him, and they had made him so happy, that he said, "Oh, dear brethren, do rejoice; dear sisters, do rejoice. I say it twice over to you, "Be happy, be happy,’ because I love you so well that I am anxious to have you beyond all things else to rejoice in the Lord always." (Charles Spurgeon)
Read verse 5. Let your gentleness be seen by all Here, what the Lord wants of the Philippians is that their “gentleness be evident to all,” even and particularly those in opposition to the gospel, those who would otherwise give them every reason not to rejoice. Hw who constantly rejoice in the Lord will not respond angrily in word deed to small vexations.
The point is well-taken: we must be gentile and forbearing in dealing with one another. A response of gentle forbearance tends to surprise those who oppose us and give credence to the gospel. “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger”(Proverbs 15:1).
Paul then says, “The Lord is near,” in reference to the return of Christ. We can rejoice in the Lord because his return is near, when he will set everything right.
B. Prayer and Peace (vv. 6,7) Do not be anxious about anything. The phrase means, “don’t worry” or “have no anxiety.” It echoes the themes of part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:25-34)
What “things” that would be most anxious about? Particularly, we worry about the opposition to our plans, hopes and dreams. Some of us were having to struggle for the necessities of life: food, clothing and shelter.
We’re concerned that something or someone – or maybe even God himself – will rise up to prevent us from realizing career, relationship or ministry hopes. Simply, we don’t know if we’re going to get what we want, so we’re anxious.
Don’t be anxious about anything. Paul is not supposing that one could ever not be anxious about anything. He’s giving us a way of dealing with anxiety – a way of channeling it, if you will.
In the midst of such circumstances, the only way a person can keep from worrying Is to receive an injection of supernatural power. The way to be anxious about nothing is to be prayerful about everything. It is to “present your requests to God” by means of prayer.
We are to pray with thanksgiving. We have to recount countless of blessing we received from God. We are to pray about every thing no matter how small and insignificant it may seem. God is interested in the details of our lives, in the most minute details. He wants us acknowledging Him in all our ways or steps because He wants to care and look after every single step.
When you give thanks, you’re acknowledging God as the GIVER of good gifts. You decide to look at life, no matter how difficult it is right now, for what it is – a gift from God.
Thankfulness must be chosen. You must decide to give thanks in difficult circumstances. . Many circumstances present us with the option of being thankful or resentful. You choose gratitude instead of resentment. Cultivating a lifestyle of thankfulness lessens anxiety.
Read verse 7. The Promise of Peace. Anything laid before the Lord in honest prayer is on the way to a solution. Because the Lord is “able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20) Only God can infuse assurance and security within human soul.
This peace “transcends understanding” in that it goes beyond the usual anxiety-based ways of dealing with life. Those who know God can enjoy a peace that they themselves cannot arrive at with their own efforts apart from prayer and thankfulness.
This is a peace “not as the world giveth” (John 14:27). It is Christ’s answer to the trouble and fear that one encounters in the world (John 16:33). God gives us his peace in connection with prayer through the assurance that our all-wise, all-powerful and all-loving Father knows exactly what to do with our requests.
You don’t necessarily pray and instantaneously experience peace, although God may grant it in this manner. This is more process oriented, more lifestyle oriented, more relationship oriented. The verbs here express continuous action, not one-time action. The peace of God comes through relating to him time and time again, day in and day out, year in and year out.
The peace of God comes when we know that God, without pulling back the curtains, assures us that something beautiful is waiting behind them.
11. Clear Thinking (4:8,9)
A. Mental Attitude (v.8) Paul begins to list some of the virtues that should dominate our thinking. These are introduced by the expression, “whatever is….” The list falls naturally into four pairs: True and honest, just and pure, lovely and of good report, and having virtue and being worthy of praise.
• The first two describe what is upright and dependable, despising deceitfulness in all its forms.
• The second pair describes what is incorruptible and undefiled; not tainted by a sinful world.
• The third pair describes what is seen and known above reproach.
• The fourth pair describes what is most respectable and respected- of highest quality and known to be so.
Thinking clearly of these things has nothing to do with the PMA movement of our days. Thinking clearly is focusing our mind in Christ.
The point is this: when a person accepts Jesus Christ, his mind is made new by the Spirit of God. Once a person has been converted to Christ and becomes a new person, he is to FOCUS his thoughts upon the good things of life and upon GOD.
However, God is calling to us, not only through the scriptures but through the culture in which we live. Yet not all of it is from God, of course. We let in only what is from God, and the scriptures serve as our sifter. Looking out on our culture, evaluating it in light of scripture and allowing the good things to touch our hearts can actually motivate us to put the things of the scriptures into practice.
One adjective describes all these subjects recommended for consideration: Christlike! “Turn you eyes and your mind upon Jesus.”
B. Uplifting Example of Paul (v.9). Paul turns again to his own example. He did not ask his friends to act simply on the basis of abstract principle. He provided an example to them.
They were also to practice what they heard from others about the apostle’s life, as well as the principles they saw operatives in his life while he was with them.
Do! Put into practice what you have learned from our Bible studies and from sermon messages.
111. Contentment (4:10-13)
A. Renewed Concern (v.10) The cause for Paul’s rejoicing is the renewal of the Philippians’ concern for him as expressed in their recent gift in support of his efforts to advance the gospel.
However, Paul’s rejoicing is not so much about the gifts he received: the friendship he shares with these people and the partnership he has with them in the gospel mission. Giving and receiving was a mark of friendship in the Greco-Roman world.
This gift that Paul had received, to which he is now referring, was no small thing. The Philippians were sensitive to Paul’s circumstances and to his needs. They were aware of the risks and of the difficulty of getting their gift to him. Nevertheless, they cared enough to minister to Paul in this way.
Remember the Philippians themselves were beginning to suffer persecution for their faith (1:29-30). In difficult times, one is inclined to “set money aside for a rainy day,” rather than to give it away to others. Furthermore, Paul was accused of treason against Rome. To associate themselves with Paul was to run the risk of being viewed as Paul’s accomplices. To support Paul could be interpreted as supporting the “revolution” he was charged of promoting.
Paul’s joy is not connected with the meeting of his needs but the Philippians concern for the Gospel.
When someone supports you in your efforts to serve God, it’s cause for double rejoicing. You rejoice not only in the friendship but you rejoice in the partnership.
B. Satisfied (vv.12,13). Literally, Paul says that he has learned “in the circumstances” to be content. Yes, he has learned to be content whatever the circumstances. But he learned this by being in the circumstances. He had learned through a considerable amount of practice how to get along with much or having little.
In Christ he possessed an inner strength that erased any dependence on external help. His sense of self-worth and well-being did not DEPEND on the STATE of his outward circumstances. He could deal with companionship or solitude, popularity or rejection, comfort or pain, good health or illness.
Have we LEARNED to live in that same contentment, brothers and sisters?
“Your ability to be content in any and every situation is connected with your relationship with Christ, which Christ himself fosters through his Holy Spirit. Whatever circumstances you are “in,” you are also “in” Christ. Christ is with you in it. When you walk with Christ in any and every situation, an intimacy with him develops that touches the deepest longings of your heart. Also, as you and Christ emerge from each situation, you begin to believe that he is trustworthy” (Scott Grant)
Whatever circumstances you find yourself in, learn from them. Every circumstance is an opportunity to learn. Don’t waste it. If you have much, you have an opportunity to learn. If you have little, you have an opportunity to learn. From the perspective of this passage, every circumstance is an opportunity to learn to be content in that situation. You learn to be content by ALLOWING the Holy Spirit to DRAW you closer to Christ, AS THE NEXT VERSE INDICATES.
C. Christ, the Source (v13) Paul’s contentment, or self-sufficiency, was really CHRIST-SUFFICIENCY. At this point the strength he needed was the endurance to SERVE JOYFULLY in the circumstances he was now enduring. What a comfort to the apostle to know that his imprisonment could not shut out the companionship of Christ.
CONCLUSION
Worry and anxiety are characteristics of the modern culture. The text we have this afternoon teaches us to REJOICE in every circumstances we are in. Secular PMA wants us to be discontent with our circumstances and to strive for better things; Paul urges us to learn to rejoice in our circumstances, even in our suffering. Paul teaches us to rejoice in our circumstances, knowing that God has purposed for us to be at this place in our lives (see Romans 8:28).
Paul say we are to fill our minds with good and wholesome things. How can we evaluate ourselves in this regard? Paul is surely teaching us that we should not pollute our minds with that which is not true, that which is not honorable, and so on.
What is keeping us from reaching contentment? Some people may say, “If I had this, then I would be content.” Probably not! As long as a thing or things are of top priority, contentment is impossible.
Only when things and circumstances are understood in the light of security- with all the temporal value gone- can we reach contentment.
What are some of the things we have LEARNED, RECEIVED, HEARD, and SEEN that we have yet to do?
Much of what we have learned in these messages, we yet to apply.
Remember that our grounds for REJOICING are as constant as the love of God.
Let us pray.
