One Last Thing

Philippians 4:6-7

Introduction: Last week Philippians 3, this week Philippians 4.

Philippians 4:6-7 ‘Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus’. (NKJ)

μεριμνάω merimnao {mer-im-nah’-o}

1. Sense of Conclusion – ‘Finally’ – Verse 8

Paul grateful of acknowledgment s of the Philippian’s kindness to him, with expression of his own content, and desire of their good……ends with praise, salutations, and blessings.

The exhortations rally around duties, steadfastness, unanimity, joy, etc.

1. The Exhortation (first) – Stand Fast – 4:1-3

Philippians 4:1 ‘Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters,1 stay true to the Lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work’. (NLT)

1. Stand Fast
   
   

‘Being in Christ, they must stand fast in him, be even and steady in their walk with him, and close and constant unto the end. Or, to stand fast in the Lord is to stand fast in his strength and by his grace; not trusting in ourselves, and disclaiming any sufficiency of our own’. – Matthew Henry

Application: I pictured in my mind a pastor saying goodbye to a congregation that he had been with for a long time; seeing a lot of challenges, changes, ups and downs…

• My brethren
• Dearly beloved
• Longed for
• My joy and my crown

Warm affections become ministers and Christians towards one another. Brotherly love must always go along with brotherly relation.

• Unanimity and Mutual Assistance (v. 2-3)

‘I beseech Euodias and Syntyche that they be of the same mind in the Lord. This is directed to some particular persons. Sometimes there is need of applying the general precepts of the gospel to particular persons and cases. Euodias and Syntyche, it seems, were at variance, either one with the other or with the church; either upon a civil account (it may be they were engaged in a law-suit) or upon a religious account-it may be they were of different opinions and sentiments’.

Pray that you might be of the same mind, keep peace, and live in love!

Transition: First, a list of duties

1. List of Dignity

• True = truthful. Loving Truth.

• Noble / honorable = Honest

• Lovely / right / admirable = pure from carnality. That which is chaste, honest, pure from fault.

• Good report/good repute/excellent = sounding well, speaking favorably, prosperous.

• Praiseworthy/worth of praise/praise = approval, acceptance, endorsement, encouragement.

Transition: Exhortation to Stand Fast, and be united, a List of Virtues, and a call to Remembrance.

1. Call to Remembrance

Learned – Appraised and notable for increase.

Received – accepted, taken to one’s self, joined to yourselves.

Heard – not just listened to you have considered, learned, perceived.

Saw – seen with eyes but received by senses, noticed, discerned.

‘Practice these things,’ ‘put into practice’!

Conclusion: THEN, the peace of God will be with you!