Philippians 4:7,8To: Philippians Main MenuTo: Grace Notes Home Page Philippians 4:7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.Prayer and peace go hand in hand. This is the blessed result of leaving everything in the hands of God by prayer. AND THE PEACE OF GOD "Peace" is harmony after the removal of all disturbing elements. The disturbing element in this context is the disagreement of Euodia and Syntyche. If a person enjoys rest and contentment, there is less likelihood that they will enter into conflict with others. If our harmony with God is foremost our harmony will people will follow. "Of God" means that God is the source of this peace. It is the peace of God because he is the source of it. John 14:27. This is not the imputed peace of justification but the imparted peace of sanctification. This is not the peace with God but the peace of God. Peace with God is the result of casting our cares on him. God gives unruffled calm within, an inner tranquillity. Prayer puts us at rest. This eliminates religious St. Vitas' Dance of the soul. We are able to sit down on the inside. We sit at ease in our soul. We no longer strain, pull and tug. When we leave something in the hands of God, we walk away from the situation in perfect peace. WHICH SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING The word "surpass" means to have above, over top, exceed or rise above. This transcends the faculty of the mind. It is not a mind distracted by hurts. It is a disciplined and discerning mind. The peace of God eclipses the mind as a preventative for worry. The mind is the seat of anxiety. Lack of peace of mind drives many to psychologists and psychiatrists. The peace of God surpasses every human device as a means of securing tranquillity of heart. The phrase "passes all understanding" reminds me of Eph 3:19,20, "To know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us." The love of Christ is so far beyond our capacity to take in that we cannot fathom it all. It is the same with the peace of God. The peace of God surpasses all understanding. It not only passes all understanding it also passes all misunderstanding as well. The peace of God is divine. That is why it defies all understanding. It is inexplicable and inscrutable. "Understanding" is the seat of reflective consciousness. It comprises the faculties of knowing, perceiving, judging and determining. This peace will surpass all thinking power. It is humanly inexplicable. This peace surpasses human understanding. Psychology cannot explain this. PRINCIPLE: Inner friction of soul often results in outer conflict with people. Keeping peace in our heart will keep peace in the church. APPLICATION: The peace of God is a promise to the believer, not a prayer. What is eating at you today? It is not what you eat that kills you; it is what is eating at you. There is a direct correlation between our antagonism and our failure to pray by faith. Our enemies are not people, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against power, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Eph 6:12). We can dismiss people as the ultimate problem right off. We fight a spiritual war. Only by placing the battle in God's hands by faith can we have inner peace. WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS The word "guard" is a military term. It means a mounted guard. This image was familiar to Philippians because the city was a military outpost of the Roman government. This word is used in II Cor. 11:32 of a garrison guarding a city, "In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me (Paul)." In I Pet. 1:5 this term in Philippians is used of God, "Who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." God guards our salvation until we go to meet him in eternity. The peace of God stands guard over our soul. God protects our hearts and minds from inner disturbance when we present anxieties to him in prayer. The sentinel of God's peace will stand mount guard over our hearts and thoughts. The future tense here is the future of assured results. God's peace patrols before the heart's door like a sentinel defending it from assaults of temptation, anxiety, and bitter resentment. If we have the peace of God in our hearts and minds, we will not be full of anxious resentment. We will not enter into conflict with an Euodia or a Syntyche of our lives. We cannot live in conflict with others and possess the peace of God simultaneously. The peace of God and personality conflict cannot coexist. The word "heart" is used in the Bible for the mainspring of moral and spiritual desire that determines the entire character. The peace of God will guard the whole person. There are times we are anxious in our hearts and then there are times when we are anxious in our minds. The word "mind" is the product or result of thinking. If we focus our mind on the Lord, he will keep us in peace, Isa. 26:3, "You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You." (Isa 26:3). THROUGH CHRIST JESUS The word "through" should not translate as means but sphere--"in." Union with Christ is our sphere for peace. The more we appreciate our union with Christ the more we understand that God guards our hearts and minds. PRINCIPLE: We cannot have the peace of God and antagonism toward someone else at the same time. APPLICATION: God will guard our hearts against antagonism toward others if present our problems to him in prayer. Philippians 4:8Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things.In this verse we find a catalogue of thinking for developing a proper mental attitude. This is the fourth and last principle for the correction of personality conflict. The first principle focuses the mind on the Lord rather than people (v.4). The second principle--pliability and flexibility in non principle areas are crucial to incorporate different viewpoints into one group (v5). The third principle presents the problem to God in prayer so the anxiety of uncertainty does not negatively invade relationships (vv6,7). FINALLY, BRETHREN "Finally" points to the last principle for the resolution of discord. By displacing unworthy thoughts with God thinking, a person disengages from strife. As we think on worthy objects, our attitude changes into God honoring orientation. Six "whatevers" follow. All are in the plural. That indicates several categories reside under each "whatever." These six things and anything else within their categories are things about which God endorses us to think. The principle of displacement means that we fight fire with fire. It is not enough to cast out wrong thinking from our minds. If we simply reject a thought by sheer will it will come back when we stop exercising our will. The mind cannot stand a vacuum. It will always draw something into it, good or evil. If we do not structure God's thoughts into our thinking, thoughts counter to God will direct our thinking. If we displace the world's thoughts with God's thoughts, we take on a new orientation. That new orientation is an attitude. We form God's frame of reference or bearing about things. This passage says we are to think about that which is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, good report, virtue and praiseworthy. PRINCIPLE: The principle of displacement means that we replace our thinking with God's thinking and are thereby controlled by God's viewpoint. APPLICATION: What volume of thought do you give to God's viewpoint on life? Is your mind controlled with God's thinking and values? "How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word... Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You" (Ps. 119:9,11). "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." If the Christian is to control the thought life, he must place God's thought structure into his mind. Paul lists nine areas around which the Christian should focus his thinking. Euodia and Syntyche thoughts shred each other with hatred and bitterness. They held those thoughts so long that resentment became a part of their thinking. Resentment became an attitude. The way to counter negative attitudes is with positive biblical attitudes. Their focus was not God centered. Paul is asking them to refocus their thoughts to the way God thinks. The first area of restructuring their thought life is the category of that which is "true." WHATEVER THINGS ARE TRUE This is not simply something that is true as over against that which is fictitious or false. "True" here is truth in the widest sense, true in the sense of valid, reliable or honest. It includes motives and conduct. "True" involves anything that is reliable or consistent with God's character. God wants us to think about his Word so that we can change our lives. The more we apply God's truth to our experience the more we grow. It allows to think about life from God's viewpoint. When a thought comes into our minds we should subject it to the test of whether it is true. Is it worthy of consideration? Does it ring true? Do the things to which we give attention ring true to God's Word or do they twist God's view of things? PRINCIPLE: Truth is a building block of a good relationship. Truth builds trust between people. APPLICATION: Are you fair in the way you deal with people in your life? Instead of honestly facing what they may say to you, do you justify your position at all costs? Do you manipulate the truth to make yourself look better? Are you secure enough to face your flaws? Are you truthful with yourself? Have you rationalized your position so much that those close to you no longer attempt to deal with the issue any more? Paul is challenging Euodia and Syntyche to think in an entirely different way. They suffered defeat by bitterness towards each other. If they are to conquer these thoughts they must replace them with the way God thinks. WHATEVER THINGS ARE NOBLE "Noble" is that which is worthy of worship or reverence. "Noble" signifies that which claims respect. Some things are base, mean, frivolous or flippant. These things do not carry respect. We respect things for their morale or spiritual quality. This word is used in I Tim. 3:8, 11 and Titus 2:2 of church officers. This quality makes them worthy of respect. Venerate each other. Euodia needs to respect Syntyche. Syntyche needs to find what she can respect about Euodia. Instead of tearing each other down we should find areas where we can honor each other. Esteem is a building block of a good relationship. PRINCIPLE: Mutual respect is a building block of a good relationship. APPLICATION: Do you seek to find what you can respect in another person? Is your orientation to find fault in other people? Do you try to discover the commendable side of other people? WHATEVER THINGS ARE JUST "Just" is that which is right or fair. "Just" refers to conformity to God's standards. Thus it is worthy of God's approval. Anything that is fair and square in relation to God or man forms a proper attitude. The Christian should think about whatever is on the level. Certain types prejudice against people of color or level of income. Bias blinds their sense of fairness. PRINCIPLE: Fairness is a reflection of God's character. A sense of fairness is a building block for a good relationship. APPLICATION: Are you unfair with people close to you? Do you use unfair tactics with them that make them feel manipulated by you? Have you considered the possibility of relating to people fairly regardless of the consequence? You will have done your half of building an environment for a good relationship. The issue of fairness is tricky business. A friend may do something wrong and deeply grieve over the wrong. We may not see that grief. We may severely blame them for something they have already deeply exercised their own hearts. They may have already confessed it and put the necessary corrections in place. This is to engage in unnecessary work. It is blindness to fairness. WHATEVER THINGS ARE PURE "Pure" refers to that which is undefiled because it resists or is untouched by evil. This is not freedom from sins of the flesh alone but from all avenues of the heart and life that violate God's will. Both motive and deed need to be undefiled if we are to build a proper attitude. PRINCIPLE: The principle of purity is the principle of simplicity in dealing with other people. We cannot mix both the pleasure of hurting someone and living in the will of God. If we live in the will of God we must be pure in our dealings with others. APPLICATION: Have you contaminated your relationships by a mixture of your motives? Do you want both your cake and eat it too? Do you want to hurt God's people and yet walk with God? God does not want us to mix our drinks! WHATEVER THINGS ARE LOVELY The word "lovely" comes from two Greek words: "towards" and "affection." "Lovely" is anything that inclines the affection toward towards others. This quality endears and attracts others to ourselves by its grace. Lovely speaks of what promotes accord rather than conflict. This person is free from hatred, bitterness, jealousy, envy. On the other hand, this person is amiable and agreeable. Do you seek concord with others? Some minds are so set on vengeance they bring out bitterness and anger in others. Syntyche was so fixed on criticizing and rebuking Euodia she destroyed her opportunity to win Euodia. The target of her attack resents her. Syntyche was not winsome or attractive in her approach. That is no way to correct conflict; it only alienates and distances people from each other. PRINCIPLE: It is important to work on our attractiveness to others. We are not very attractive when we approach people with the soul kinks of bitterness. We win others with a disposition of agreeableness. APPLICATION: How amiable are you? Are you a disagreeable person? Are you hard to get along with? Do you drive a hard bargain? WHATEVER THINGS ARE OF GOOD REPORT "Good report" is sweet speaking or fair speaking. This person speaks well for himself. He is reputable, winning, attractive and leads others to exclaim "well done." He is commendable. This believer is positive and constructive rather than negative and destructive. Do not dwell on the negative and bad report. Dwelling on discouraging things distorts our view of the world. Ugly and untrue words destroy the possibility of reconciliation. If Euodia thinks on the virtues of Syntyche, her sister in Christ will develop a greater likelihood of reciprocity. If Euodia magnifies her graces and minimizes her faults, Syntyche will sense appreciation. She has the greatest context to link to Euodia as a friend. If, on the other hand, Euodia is a gossip monger, who tells every horrible story she can find about Syntyche, there is little hope for reconciliation. Some people love to relate the failures of other people because it makes them look good by contrast. PRINCIPLE: God wants us to tell good, kind and true stories about others. This builds an environment for reconciliation. APPLICATION: Instead of dwelling on the failures of our friends we focus on their positive contributions we have a much greater potential for reconciliation. When there comes an occasion to correct a friend we will have built an environment of credibility that will allow us to critique them. Paul describes the last two areas by an "if" clause. Both of these clauses appeal to something that is true in the Christian. This is not something potential in the believer. IF THERE IS ANY VIRTUE The "if" in this clause is not an "if" of doubt but of fact in the Greek. The "if" assumes actual fact: "Since there is any virtue." "Virtue" is moral excellence. "Virtue" is first used in the sense of superiority in every respect. Then the New Testament uses it in a moral sense of that which gives a person their moral worth. It is their good qualities. It is excellence in any sphere of life and the prestige which such excellence attracts. Excellence is that which best becomes a person who operates under the grace of God. We are not to allow the unworthy to clutter our minds. The unworthy may not be vulgar but it may be tawdry. The tawdry is not worth giving mental space. If we store our minds with the right things distortions will find no room. "Virtue" is found only two other times in the New Testament: "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (I Pet 2:9). The word "praises" in "the praises of Him" is the word "virtue." We praise God by pointing out his excellence. He is superior in every respect. The point of this verse is the believer has status before God because God "chose" him, made him a "royal priesthood," "a holy nation," "His own special people." Each Christian has this status and needs recognition by every believer for that fact. God is to be praised for his virtue, excellence in making each believer this way. The last time the word "excellence" or "virtue" is used in the New Testament is in II Peter 1:3, "As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue." Again, this is God's virtue. God calls us by his virtue. He calls us by virtue of his excellence. Every Christian possesses nobility, excellence and virtue because of his call. PRINCIPLE: It is a fact that every believer holds a status before God. Every believer should recognize that status no matter how carnal the other person may be. APPLICATION: Our anger may blind us to the reality that we attack a child of God. That Christian holds status before God. Do you respect the status of every born again believer? To disrespect that status is to disrespect God who called that person. AND IF THERE IS ANYTHING PRAISEWORTHY The word "praiseworthy" is preceded by an "if." The "if" is an if of assumed fact: "Since there is actually something praiseworthy" in the other person. Every true child of God has something praiseworthy in them no matter how distorted they may be. This is the second assumed fact about which the believer is to think. We are to think about what is praiseworthy in other Christians. "Praiseworthy" is anything capable of praise as a result of the practice of moral excellence. There are things that humans universally approve. It is whatever generally deemed praiseworthy by all human beings. There are things in both Euodia and Syntyche worthy of praise no matter how far they have deteriorated into carnality. Paul says in effect "If you cannot approve of each other's growth or spirituality, at least you can approve of each other as human beings!" This is an approval of the civic worth in the other persons. Paul is saying, "At bare minimum, be civil with each other!" PRINCIPLE: God expects us to find at least a modicum of praise in other Christians. APPLICATION: It is easy to find fault with others. One of the easiest things to find is fault. The person who is always finding fault seldom finds anything else. It is a lot easier to blow out another person's light than to light your own. It is more difficult to find something to praise in other people. Take a good look at your worst enemy. Is there anything "praiseworthy" in them? At minimum, be civil with them! --MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS The nine objects of thought in verse eight form the attitude. If we yield to constant negative thinking our attitude will form a direction different from God's will. If we "meditate" on these nine areas they will displace negative thinking. The word "mediate" means to reckon, rightly estimate and take account in a practical way. The idea is to give structure to the thought life. "Give continuous attention to the things listed above. Occupy your mind with the above catalogue. Focus your attention on the charter of thought God sanctions." God wants us to account for our thought life. The greatest area of sin in our lives is not in overt sin but the thought life. "Meditation" controls the thought life, "Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night" (Ps 1:1,2). The word "meditate in this Psalm means to chew the cud. The idea is to ruminate about the Word of God. David likens himself to a ruminating cow. He takes a Scripture and ruminates over and over it until he can appropriate the Word to his life. II Corinthians 10:5 is a verse I have used more than any other to deal with wrong thoughts, "Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." Meditate on our wonderful Lord. Do not give your mind to cruel, ugly and hateful things. If all we read is the newspaper which is filled with murder, rape, riot, graft, robbery, accidents, we will structure our mind around God. If that is all we read, we fill our minds with misery. We need to ride herd on our head. We dare not think anything we please. We dare not put our minds in neutral and let the world push it around. Evil thoughts waste our spiritual energies but so do wool-gathering and daydreaming. We might dream about winning the lottery. We may dream that we will marry at tall, dark and handsome man with money and mussels. We will probably marry a short, skinny man with warts who will grow up to be fat, bald with ulcers!! Lasso every thought unto the obedience of Christ. The more we store the Word of God in our hearts the less room there is for the useless and vulgar. If we put a drop of arsenic into a glass of water, the water will not dilute the arsenic. The arsenic poisons the water. Resentment poisons the spiritual life. The Word of God will displace the bitterness. PRINCIPLE: God wants us to sit in judgment on every thought that comes into our mind. If it does not pass the test of verse eight, we should reject it. APPLICATION: Do you have trouble with your thoughts? There are six legitimate categories about which the child of God can think. The mind will always fix itself on something. The real issue is what we will set on mind upon. If we think negatively about someone long enough, we will reach the point where we develop a sinful attitude. An attitude is harder to control than a single thought. God wants us to develop godly attitudes by habitual meditation upon God's Word. ---------- Copyright © 1995, Dr. Grant Richison. All rights reserved. There is no charge for Grace Notes Materials. You can help further this work by your prayer and by sending a contribution to: Grace Notes 1705 Aggie Lane Austin, Texas 78757 wdoud@bga.com Grace Notes Web site: http://www.realtime.net/~wdoud/ Anonymous FTP site: ftp://ftp.bga.com/vendors/wdoud/ Grace Notes is a ministry of Village Missions International. |
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