WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.379 Grab a Bible and turn to Philippians chapter 4. 00:00:06.600 --> 00:00:07.879 Philippians chapter 4. 00:00:11.540 --> 00:00:16.839 So it's page 1180, if you've got a church Bible. 00:00:16.839 --> 00:00:19.460 1180 Philippians chapter 4. 00:00:20.660 --> 00:00:24.620 So we are right at the end of our series in the book of Philippians. 00:00:24.620 --> 00:00:30.160 And so let me pray for us and ask the Lord's help as we look at his word together. 00:00:30.260 --> 00:00:30.679 Let me pray. 00:00:31.760 --> 00:00:36.620 Father, we want to pray just especially now that you might help us as we look at your words. 00:00:37.359 --> 00:00:41.219 We don't just want to understand it with our brains. 00:00:41.219 --> 00:00:44.780 We want to be moved with our hearts to love you and trust you. 00:00:44.780 --> 00:00:51.439 We're very conscious of our need of your work by your spirit. 00:00:51.620 --> 00:00:57.000 That he who inspired these words might now be at work even in our own hearts. 00:00:57.200 --> 00:01:00.579 To teach us to love you and trust you as we should. 00:01:01.320 --> 00:01:04.359 Pray that you'd help us to understand them rightly and truly, these words. 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:06.840 And please be with us, we pray. 00:01:07.159 --> 00:01:08.099 In Jesus' name. 00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:08.859 Amen. 00:01:08.859 --> 00:01:15.459 Let me read to you from verse 4 down to verse 9. 00:01:17.140 --> 00:01:18.959 Rejoice in the Lord always. 00:01:19.159 --> 00:01:20.219 I will say it again. 00:01:21.039 --> 00:01:21.560 Rejoice. 00:01:22.079 --> 00:01:24.019 Let your gentleness be evident to all. 00:01:24.099 --> 00:01:24.840 The Lord is near. 00:01:26.099 --> 00:01:28.219 Do not be anxious about anything. 00:01:28.539 --> 00:01:34.840 But in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. 00:01:34.840 --> 00:01:42.400 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 00:01:43.659 --> 00:01:55.420 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, 00:01:56.000 --> 00:02:00.100 if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. 00:02:00.099 --> 00:02:09.959 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me, put it into practice and the God of peace will be with you. 00:02:09.960 --> 00:02:21.760 Okay, so if you are willing to accept that verses 10 down to the end of verse 23, we covered largely in our overview of the book. 00:02:21.900 --> 00:02:29.120 So verse 10 to 20 are basically Paul describing his thankfulness to the Philippians for their gift to his ministry. 00:02:29.659 --> 00:02:32.740 If you're prepared to accept that we dealt with those verses in our overview, 00:02:32.740 --> 00:02:37.240 then what I want us to do is spend our time in verses 4 to 9 and focus on those. 00:02:37.340 --> 00:02:41.800 So six verses in 25 to 30 minutes might sound manageable, but there is lots here. 00:02:42.180 --> 00:02:47.379 So to help us navigate just these few verses, and I know there are only a few of us here this evening, 00:02:47.540 --> 00:02:50.760 so I'm expecting some interaction as well from you. 00:02:51.260 --> 00:02:54.980 There are three dominant instructions in these verses. 00:02:54.979 --> 00:02:59.919 Okay, so there are lots of small instructions, but there are three dominant ones, 00:02:59.919 --> 00:03:04.280 and the others are sort of gathered around those imperatives in the passage. 00:03:04.419 --> 00:03:11.679 So the three dominant instructions are, what are the three dominant instructions in the passage? 00:03:17.719 --> 00:03:19.419 Yes, you see, Jen, that was very wise. 00:03:19.500 --> 00:03:21.560 See, if you get in there early, you get the easy one, right? 00:03:21.560 --> 00:03:23.960 So rejoice, yeah, that's the first one. 00:03:28.340 --> 00:03:29.920 It's a negative, the next one. 00:03:32.840 --> 00:03:34.180 Do not be anxious. 00:03:34.740 --> 00:03:35.159 Well done, Sam. 00:03:41.280 --> 00:03:42.000 Final one. 00:03:45.180 --> 00:03:47.080 The instruction to pray, no. 00:03:47.080 --> 00:03:52.280 So that comes on the back of the don't be anxious one, yeah. 00:03:53.540 --> 00:03:56.540 I'm going to say the third one you're going to find out as we go along, okay? 00:03:56.640 --> 00:03:58.939 So I'll keep you in suspense, right? 00:03:59.240 --> 00:04:00.560 So let's start with the first one. 00:04:00.720 --> 00:04:01.700 Rejoice, rejoice. 00:04:02.340 --> 00:04:03.780 Let's read verses 4 and 5 again. 00:04:03.939 --> 00:04:05.240 Rejoice in the Lord always. 00:04:05.880 --> 00:04:07.160 I will say it again. 00:04:07.740 --> 00:04:08.140 Rejoice. 00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:09.960 Let your gentleness be evident to all. 00:04:10.580 --> 00:04:12.020 The Lord is near. 00:04:12.020 --> 00:04:16.759 Now, obviously, rejoicing is so important that Paul says it twice. 00:04:17.120 --> 00:04:17.900 Rejoice, rejoice. 00:04:18.060 --> 00:04:21.639 But this is not just, it's not an instruction to be happy, right? 00:04:21.699 --> 00:04:25.060 This is not Paul channeling his inner Bob Marley. 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:27.060 No, this is not, don't worry, be happy. 00:04:27.220 --> 00:04:29.100 That's not the vibe here. 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:34.600 Rather, this is rejoice in the Lord always, okay? 00:04:35.400 --> 00:04:40.300 See, in other words, Paul is telling the Philippian church that whatever is happening in your life as an individual, 00:04:40.540 --> 00:04:44.920 however difficult things are for you as a church right now with the persecution that you're facing, 00:04:45.439 --> 00:04:53.420 there is and there always will be a sufficient cause in the Lord for you to rejoice. 00:04:54.820 --> 00:04:58.500 And verse 5 spells out further what this rejoicing will look like. 00:04:58.500 --> 00:05:04.079 So, interestingly, rejoicing in the Lord is not always be singing songs of praise, 00:05:04.279 --> 00:05:09.579 or it's not always be smiling even through the toughest seasons of the Christian life. 00:05:09.680 --> 00:05:15.740 Rather, rejoicing is, verse 5, letting your gentleness be evident to all. 00:05:17.800 --> 00:05:22.139 The display of joy is gentleness. 00:05:22.139 --> 00:05:28.360 Gentleness, gentleness that is founded on the reality, in verse 5, that the Lord is near, 00:05:28.699 --> 00:05:30.459 or literally the Lord is at hand. 00:05:31.300 --> 00:05:37.879 In other words, in Philippians 4, verses 4 and 5, the happy Christian, the rejoicing Christian, 00:05:38.019 --> 00:05:41.979 is the Christian who remembers that the Lord is returning, 00:05:42.479 --> 00:05:46.439 and that his return is closer now than it has ever been at any other point. 00:05:46.439 --> 00:05:52.660 And remembering that looks like, remembering that, rejoicing in that, 00:05:52.779 --> 00:05:58.199 looks like an absence of harshness, of judgmentalism, of anger, of frustration, 00:05:58.199 --> 00:06:04.120 because rejoicing in the Lord who is returning soon is seen in gentleness. 00:06:04.120 --> 00:06:16.500 Oh, Nick! See, Nick has nailed the third instruction, put into practice. 00:06:16.959 --> 00:06:17.639 Well done, Nick. 00:06:19.740 --> 00:06:23.340 I'm glad you found that, but you have literally spoiled the surprise in my talk, Nick. 00:06:23.420 --> 00:06:25.660 So, there you go. Everyone now is zoning out. 00:06:27.180 --> 00:06:32.420 Anyway, this instruction to rejoice, displayed in gentleness, is obviously challenging, isn't it? 00:06:32.420 --> 00:06:38.980 I think it is my observation, both of others and also an observation of my own personal Christian life, 00:06:39.240 --> 00:06:42.740 that actually, this does not come easily, does it? 00:06:43.699 --> 00:06:52.500 Rejoicing displayed in gentleness is not necessarily the forte, particularly, might I say, of older men. 00:06:53.400 --> 00:06:57.520 Being a grumpy old man is definitely a thing, isn't it? 00:06:57.780 --> 00:06:59.920 I'm not going to look at anybody, you can't, Sam, that's fine. 00:07:00.600 --> 00:07:01.740 It is a thing, isn't it? 00:07:01.740 --> 00:07:03.319 And it's a thing in church. 00:07:04.100 --> 00:07:09.620 And it happens, says Paul, to Christian men who forget that the Lord is returning soon, 00:07:10.019 --> 00:07:14.199 and that therefore there is sufficient cause to rejoice in every season, 00:07:14.740 --> 00:07:16.439 because the Lord is on his way. 00:07:17.240 --> 00:07:19.879 And men who forget that become desperate, don't they? 00:07:19.920 --> 00:07:21.060 So the women who forget it. 00:07:21.340 --> 00:07:23.139 We become desperate and hurried. 00:07:23.300 --> 00:07:25.620 We are always looking to make a point to younger people, 00:07:25.840 --> 00:07:27.819 who don't know as well as we know, 00:07:27.819 --> 00:07:32.599 and so we're trying to point it out to them in a hurry and with a lack of gentleness. 00:07:34.759 --> 00:07:36.240 This is the older man, isn't it? 00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:39.459 Or woman who is always telling people how many years of experience they have. 00:07:40.279 --> 00:07:42.180 Always pointing out the faults in everything. 00:07:42.180 --> 00:07:47.319 There was an older gentleman in a church I was in a number of years ago who was like this. 00:07:47.860 --> 00:07:55.060 He seemed to think that it is his role at church to berate younger people for their lack of seriousness in the Christian life, 00:07:55.620 --> 00:07:57.300 particularly in the way that they raised their children, 00:07:58.259 --> 00:08:02.579 the way that they prayed or the way that they spoke, not smoked, but spoke. 00:08:02.759 --> 00:08:03.840 That would be bad, wouldn't it? 00:08:03.839 --> 00:08:05.899 But spoke in small groups. 00:08:06.739 --> 00:08:09.919 And I don't think the problem wasn't that he was wrong in his observations. 00:08:10.039 --> 00:08:12.060 I think he was often right in his observations. 00:08:12.279 --> 00:08:12.919 He had a point. 00:08:13.379 --> 00:08:16.439 His problem was, though, and I think this is my problem too at times, 00:08:16.519 --> 00:08:21.459 is he thought that it was his grumpy interjections of instruction 00:08:21.459 --> 00:08:25.699 that would be the means that the Lord would use to make these people more serious about the Christian life. 00:08:26.799 --> 00:08:29.039 And so that was a mistake, wasn't it? 00:08:29.179 --> 00:08:31.819 He was not gentle and he was robbed of joy. 00:08:31.819 --> 00:08:38.460 And so instead, this instruction is to rejoice with a gentleness that grasps this imminent return of Christ 00:08:38.460 --> 00:08:39.939 when everything will be resolved. 00:08:40.740 --> 00:08:46.379 And it's not just simply that, you know, most things are way above our pay grade to resolve, aren't they? 00:08:46.419 --> 00:08:47.480 They belong to the Lord Jesus. 00:08:47.620 --> 00:08:50.159 They're in the realm of Christ will sort it out when he comes again. 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:54.240 But also it's grasping that it's a gentle rejoicing spirit, 00:08:54.559 --> 00:09:00.120 which is the means that the Lord uses to bring himself glory and correct other people. 00:09:00.120 --> 00:09:03.500 So the steady Christ is returning. 00:09:03.720 --> 00:09:04.299 God is good. 00:09:04.379 --> 00:09:05.220 The gospel is true. 00:09:05.399 --> 00:09:06.799 Praise the Lord faithfulness. 00:09:06.919 --> 00:09:10.600 It's that that the Lord uses for his glory and the good of those around us. 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:14.600 So, brother, sister, don't be impatient. 00:09:14.980 --> 00:09:15.679 Don't be grumpy. 00:09:16.120 --> 00:09:19.299 Don't be a harsh older person that the devil would love to make you into. 00:09:19.419 --> 00:09:21.960 But remember, the Lord is at hand. 00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:23.200 Rejoice. 00:09:23.580 --> 00:09:24.139 Say it again. 00:09:25.159 --> 00:09:25.600 Rejoice. 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:25.720 Rejoice. 00:09:26.320 --> 00:09:28.019 And do it with gentleness. 00:09:28.700 --> 00:09:32.259 The second instruction then is there at the beginning of verse 6. 00:09:32.580 --> 00:09:34.740 And it is no easier, I don't think, than the first one. 00:09:34.860 --> 00:09:36.220 It is don't be anxious. 00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:37.420 Verses 6 and 7. 00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:40.480 Let me read those to you. 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:49.500 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your request to God. 00:09:49.620 --> 00:09:55.960 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 00:09:57.580 --> 00:10:00.480 Again, those qualifiers don't make it any easier, do they? 00:10:00.759 --> 00:10:03.420 Don't be anxious about anything. 00:10:03.419 --> 00:10:07.279 Instead, in every situation, he says. 00:10:08.779 --> 00:10:12.879 Rather, instead of being anxious, we should be praying, he says. 00:10:13.019 --> 00:10:18.620 Praying with thanksgiving and requests, which will give us an inexplicable peace. 00:10:19.199 --> 00:10:29.839 The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, which is beyond grasping, beyond understanding, will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. 00:10:29.840 --> 00:10:34.700 When you think about this, this is a really lovely command, isn't it, of Paul? 00:10:34.780 --> 00:10:37.480 Because he's not only telling us, listen guys, don't be anxious. 00:10:37.920 --> 00:10:40.340 He's giving you the tool to obey the command. 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:42.360 Saying, essentially, listen, don't be anxious. 00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:44.379 Instead of being anxious, pray. 00:10:44.820 --> 00:10:46.920 Prayer is the opposite of anxiety. 00:10:47.240 --> 00:10:48.639 Prayer is the opposite of worry. 00:10:49.780 --> 00:10:51.100 Of course, it's true, isn't it? 00:10:51.940 --> 00:10:55.460 Anxiety here is more than just a sort of sensible awareness of trouble. 00:10:55.460 --> 00:11:00.259 It is a taking on of responsibility to itself, which it never really should have. 00:11:01.200 --> 00:11:05.400 The anxiety of a child who feels like they don't have any parental support. 00:11:05.560 --> 00:11:09.460 It's the fear of a soldier who feels like they have no commanding officer. 00:11:09.759 --> 00:11:14.180 It's the fear of a builder who feels like there's no architect with any kind of design. 00:11:14.800 --> 00:11:17.240 But, of course, as Christians, we know we have a father in heaven. 00:11:17.400 --> 00:11:18.500 We have a commanding officer. 00:11:18.820 --> 00:11:20.340 There is an architect of history. 00:11:20.340 --> 00:11:25.139 And so we should not be anxious and take on those responsibilities to ourselves. 00:11:25.540 --> 00:11:26.980 But we should turn to God. 00:11:27.620 --> 00:11:29.259 Because he is Lord of all. 00:11:30.180 --> 00:11:32.300 This problem is yours, Lord. 00:11:32.460 --> 00:11:34.240 This problem is in your world. 00:11:34.580 --> 00:11:39.120 This relationship breakdown that we're experiencing belongs to your world, Lord. 00:11:39.180 --> 00:11:40.240 You know what to do. 00:11:40.519 --> 00:11:42.860 This health problem is here, Lord. 00:11:42.920 --> 00:11:45.080 And you know that I am not sovereign over that. 00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:46.060 You are, Lord. 00:11:46.100 --> 00:11:47.019 I leave it with you. 00:11:47.019 --> 00:11:56.899 And Paul says that as we do that, as we pray like that, we find that this supernatural peace of God, a peace that cannot be explained by the world, comes over us. 00:11:57.379 --> 00:11:59.000 Now, of course, you know that to be true, don't you? 00:12:00.259 --> 00:12:06.000 I am sure that if you've been a Christian for any length of time, you have probably experienced it. 00:12:06.600 --> 00:12:12.980 I remember a few years ago when we were living in Liverpool, it was a particularly stressful period of life in the church. 00:12:13.379 --> 00:12:15.279 There were lots of things going on all at the same time. 00:12:15.279 --> 00:12:16.339 We had issues with the building. 00:12:16.539 --> 00:12:17.600 We had issues with the staff. 00:12:17.779 --> 00:12:20.839 We had church members who were sick and dying. 00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:23.100 We had some financial struggles in the church as well. 00:12:23.679 --> 00:12:28.199 And, you know, as you sit and think about them, you can just feel your heart rate going up. 00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:32.559 You can feel this kind of wave of worry and anxiety coming over you. 00:12:33.539 --> 00:12:35.819 And the only thing I could do was pray. 00:12:36.159 --> 00:12:37.399 Lord, these are your troubles. 00:12:38.419 --> 00:12:40.519 These are beyond the realms of my gifts and my abilities. 00:12:40.639 --> 00:12:41.459 I can't fix this. 00:12:41.500 --> 00:12:42.419 I can't sort this. 00:12:42.500 --> 00:12:44.339 I'm a passenger of your providence in this. 00:12:44.340 --> 00:12:45.680 You are the driver, Lord. 00:12:45.720 --> 00:12:46.360 I trust you. 00:12:46.980 --> 00:12:53.180 And you can almost sense, just even as you say those words, this peace of the Lord washing over you. 00:12:54.200 --> 00:12:55.440 God has got this. 00:12:56.300 --> 00:12:58.560 That became a bigger thought than the worries themselves. 00:12:59.899 --> 00:13:08.200 A guy called Raymond Brown, who wrote a commentary on the book of Hebrews, calls prayerlessness, the act of not praying, practical atheism. 00:13:08.200 --> 00:13:10.879 And, of course, it's right, isn't it? 00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:14.320 The action of not believing in God is not praying. 00:13:15.040 --> 00:13:17.660 And the fruit of not praying is anxiety. 00:13:17.659 --> 00:13:24.899 I think it's worth saying that we live in a time where anxiety is at epidemic levels, especially amongst young people. 00:13:25.679 --> 00:13:30.439 I've been reading this book called The Anxious Generation by a guy called Jonathan Haidt. 00:13:30.440 --> 00:13:35.500 Not as in H-A-T-E, but as in, well, I think it's what? 00:13:35.700 --> 00:13:37.060 I think I've supposed to put it down here somewhere. 00:13:37.320 --> 00:13:37.680 I don't know. 00:13:37.780 --> 00:13:39.560 H-A-I-D-T. 00:13:39.680 --> 00:13:40.460 That's how you spell his name. 00:13:41.320 --> 00:13:47.540 And he charts anxiety, kind of clinical anxiety in different age groups in the U.S. 00:13:47.539 --> 00:13:49.159 And the statistics are similar for the U.K. 00:13:49.799 --> 00:13:56.740 So that for 18 to 25 year olds and those younger, there has been a massive rise in anxiety since 2010. 00:13:57.159 --> 00:13:58.519 So let me, I think I've got a chart here. 00:13:58.620 --> 00:13:59.039 Look at that. 00:13:59.839 --> 00:14:05.000 This is the prevalence of anxiety in the U.S. 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:09.579 What happened in 2010, you think, that led to that? 00:14:11.719 --> 00:14:12.120 Sorry? 00:14:12.980 --> 00:14:13.419 COVID? 00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:14.939 No, so that's later. 00:14:15.019 --> 00:14:15.459 That's 2020. 00:14:17.539 --> 00:14:17.779 Sorry? 00:14:18.679 --> 00:14:20.360 By the recession. 00:14:20.819 --> 00:14:22.219 So it's after the recession. 00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:25.939 I think Lucy knows. 00:14:29.559 --> 00:14:33.000 So in 2010, Facebook bought Instagram. 00:14:34.279 --> 00:14:35.860 And Instagram went massive. 00:14:37.559 --> 00:14:41.500 And smartphones were issued with front-facing cameras. 00:14:43.099 --> 00:14:45.519 And so Jonathan Haidt says that there's a link between that. 00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:55.319 That it's basically led to an epidemic in anxiety amongst young people, which is of massive, massive proportion. 00:14:55.559 --> 00:14:59.199 So you can see just how that chart is going up and up and up. 00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:03.080 And what does Paul say to all that in Philippians chapter 4? 00:15:03.660 --> 00:15:08.780 Well, he doesn't just yell in the face of the panic-attacking teenager, don't be anxious. 00:15:09.420 --> 00:15:11.700 He says instead, pray, pray. 00:15:12.400 --> 00:15:13.280 Turn it to the Lord. 00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:16.840 Seek from the Lord what you'll never find in the approval of others. 00:15:17.040 --> 00:15:21.180 Come to him for the assurance that you belong, for the affirmation that you crave. 00:15:21.179 --> 00:15:33.599 So let me challenge you, whatever your age, included, that if we find ourselves scrolling on social media for more time than we are praying, we can expect to be anxious. 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:38.879 Because prayer brings peace as we hand over to God what was always his. 00:15:40.300 --> 00:15:46.620 Okay, third and final instruction, which Nick tells us via Zoom, is put into practice. 00:15:46.620 --> 00:15:49.340 It's there at the end of verse 9. 00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:52.340 So let me read verses 8 and 9 to you. 00:15:52.899 --> 00:15:53.759 Put into practice. 00:15:53.759 --> 00:16:20.600 There's the instruction. 00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:22.299 Put into practice. 00:16:22.299 --> 00:16:26.399 Specifically, put into practice what they've seen Paul do. 00:16:27.479 --> 00:16:33.699 And the thing that's described above has been true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. 00:16:34.039 --> 00:16:36.779 It's not just a general instruction, is it? 00:16:36.819 --> 00:16:41.659 But it is an instruction to put into practice how they've seen Paul do those things. 00:16:42.699 --> 00:16:47.559 When I was a teenager, maybe I was a slightly precocious teenager probably, 00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:57.479 but I printed out these verses with the exception of verse 9, just verse 8, and put it on a sign and blue-tacked it to the television, right? 00:16:58.179 --> 00:17:00.259 So, you know, this whatever is true, whatever is noble. 00:17:00.339 --> 00:17:07.240 I think I did that in the hope that my sister would watch less Brookside so I could watch more sports on the TV, right? 00:17:07.240 --> 00:17:09.460 I think that's what I was really aiming for. 00:17:10.059 --> 00:17:13.359 But I don't actually think that's particularly what's in mind here. 00:17:13.420 --> 00:17:20.599 It's not a general, if this is a praiseworthy thing, you know, if this is like England winning the ashes, then you can watch it. 00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:21.859 But if it's Brookside, you can't. 00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:22.500 It's not that. 00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:30.920 It's more that there's a specific shape to these true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy things. 00:17:31.220 --> 00:17:34.819 And the shape is Paul's behavior, right? 00:17:35.380 --> 00:17:43.220 You see Paul doing true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and excellent things in Philippians. 00:17:43.339 --> 00:17:46.359 And the Philippians are to put that into practice. 00:17:46.359 --> 00:17:48.940 So whatever they've seen Paul do. 00:17:48.940 --> 00:18:01.860 So I wonder, just for a moment, with the person next to you, perhaps, you can scan through the letter and just look at praiseworthy things that Paul has been doing in the letter to the Philippians. 00:18:02.539 --> 00:18:09.779 Don't take ages over it, but just skim over the words and have a look for some praiseworthy things that Paul is doing. 00:18:10.080 --> 00:18:13.799 I've got a long list here, and then you can see how many of them that we get the same. 00:18:13.799 --> 00:18:20.619 So just have a quick scan through and put your finger on them, and then we can talk about them in a moment. 00:18:22.339 --> 00:18:23.039 Okay, go on then. 00:18:23.099 --> 00:18:25.659 Let's shout some of these out to me. 00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:32.339 Excellent and praiseworthy things that Paul is doing in the letter to the Philippians. 00:18:34.220 --> 00:18:35.279 He's praying for them. 00:18:35.399 --> 00:18:35.759 Yes. 00:18:36.500 --> 00:18:37.339 Praying with joy. 00:18:37.460 --> 00:18:38.200 He is humble. 00:18:38.659 --> 00:18:38.799 Yeah. 00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:40.399 Where were you looking particularly for? 00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:40.840 Yeah. 00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:44.440 Yes. 00:18:44.600 --> 00:18:44.920 Yes. 00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:46.580 So he's humble like Christ. 00:18:46.700 --> 00:18:46.820 Yeah. 00:18:46.940 --> 00:18:48.040 Imitating Christ's humility. 00:18:48.660 --> 00:18:49.259 Anything else? 00:18:52.860 --> 00:18:53.280 I'm sorry. 00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:56.519 Yes. 00:18:56.620 --> 00:18:58.300 He's acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord. 00:18:58.460 --> 00:18:58.620 Yeah. 00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:03.620 More things in chapter one. 00:19:03.740 --> 00:19:04.780 Any other letters? 00:19:04.780 --> 00:19:05.040 Yes. 00:19:05.040 --> 00:19:05.160 Yes. 00:19:05.160 --> 00:19:05.220 Yes. 00:19:05.220 --> 00:19:05.259 Yes. 00:19:05.259 --> 00:19:05.300 Yes. 00:19:05.300 --> 00:19:05.360 Yes. 00:19:05.360 --> 00:19:05.460 Yes. 00:19:05.460 --> 00:19:05.860 Yes. 00:19:05.860 --> 00:19:06.360 Yes. 00:19:06.360 --> 00:19:07.360 Yes. 00:19:07.360 --> 00:19:07.460 Yes. 00:19:07.460 --> 00:19:08.460 Yes. 00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:09.460 Yes. 00:19:09.460 --> 00:19:10.380 Yes. 00:19:10.380 --> 00:19:11.440 Yes. 00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:12.720 Yes. 00:19:12.760 --> 00:19:17.440 Yes. 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:18.080 Yes. 00:19:20.280 --> 00:19:21.200 Yes. 00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:21.260 Yes. 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:25.880 So he's living with a confidence that God finishes what he started. 00:19:26.100 --> 00:19:26.320 Yeah. 00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:27.200 Yeah. 00:19:27.940 --> 00:19:29.620 That's a praiseworthy thing to think about. 00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:32.100 That God finishes what he started. 00:19:32.940 --> 00:19:33.300 It's great. 00:19:33.400 --> 00:19:33.540 Yeah. 00:19:33.540 --> 00:19:33.840 Yeah. 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:40.459 what about his love for gospel partners 00:19:40.459 --> 00:19:44.919 so this sense of partnership in the gospel which he really delights in 00:19:44.919 --> 00:19:49.339 loves yeah anything else 00:19:49.339 --> 00:19:58.679 yeah 00:19:58.679 --> 00:19:59.879 yeah 00:19:59.880 --> 00:20:05.180 yes 00:20:05.180 --> 00:20:09.700 yeah so he reminds us to think about the lord jesus 00:20:09.700 --> 00:20:15.380 his life death in our place the incarnation yeah 00:20:15.380 --> 00:20:22.640 he tells us to um oh go on lucy 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:32.680 he boasts in jesus and not himself yeah yeah and what was claire's one sorry 00:20:32.680 --> 00:20:39.520 he loves them yeah yeah what about this thing about um 00:20:39.520 --> 00:20:45.060 not being put off by people who are doing things out of envy and rivalry 00:20:45.059 --> 00:20:52.419 yeah so how he deals with people who are envious and full of rivalry he just rejoices that the gospel is being preached 00:20:52.419 --> 00:20:56.200 he seems to be able to find the good doesn't he to rejoice in 00:20:56.200 --> 00:20:59.299 even when people are out to get him 00:20:59.299 --> 00:21:04.379 he lives for christ so that dying is gain 00:21:04.379 --> 00:21:05.599 yeah 00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:07.879 he sacrificially serves 00:21:07.879 --> 00:21:13.319 he invests in eternal joy above temporary joy 00:21:13.319 --> 00:21:16.039 he's more interested in 00:21:16.039 --> 00:21:21.859 the joy that he will have when he meets the lord jesus than he is in the comforts of this life 00:21:21.859 --> 00:21:28.039 he's pouring himself out for others 00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:32.259 this is an interesting one he he is willing 00:21:32.259 --> 00:21:36.240 to receive the support of others his name 00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:40.599 so he he delights in epaphroditus's 00:21:40.599 --> 00:21:45.159 visits and in his support of him and at the philippian church's support of others 00:21:45.159 --> 00:21:45.919 yeah 00:21:45.919 --> 00:21:50.219 some of us aren't very good at accepting help i say that about myself as much as anybody 00:21:50.220 --> 00:21:52.000 that's the thing he does 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:56.620 puts no confidence in his flesh 00:21:56.620 --> 00:22:00.420 considers everything a loss compared to knowing christ 00:22:00.420 --> 00:22:06.220 he presses on knowing that he's not yet perfect but that one day the lord jesus will meet him 00:22:06.220 --> 00:22:10.700 and everything will be finished and completed he keeps the eternal goal in sight 00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:14.420 he values gospel unity above personal preferences 00:22:14.420 --> 00:22:18.259 now i'm sure there are more right but you get the idea 00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:25.480 paul is saying listen put into practice what you have seen or received or heard from me 00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:32.039 and because those are things that are true and noble and right and pure and lovely 00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:38.579 and i think then there's a sort of implicit warning in these verses isn't it isn't there that you 00:22:38.579 --> 00:22:42.599 you become like those that you think about 00:22:42.599 --> 00:22:50.059 okay so if you spend most of your time and your energy reading and thinking about politics 00:22:50.059 --> 00:22:53.339 you become a politician right 00:22:53.339 --> 00:22:57.319 always maneuvering being economical with the truth 00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:59.679 seeking power and influence 00:22:59.679 --> 00:23:04.559 if you spend your time thinking about those who have wronged you 00:23:04.559 --> 00:23:09.779 you become bitter seeking personal justice all the time 00:23:09.779 --> 00:23:17.779 if you spend your time thinking about the perfect home or the perfect body or the perfect outfit or the perfect wedding whatever it is 00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:21.779 you become shallow and comparative and materialistic 00:23:21.779 --> 00:23:27.000 if you spend most of your time thinking about conspiracy theories or philosophies 00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:32.000 then you become introverted and obsessive lost in your own mind 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:39.000 but if you think about the lord if you think about the example of saints who've gone before us 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:42.000 like the apostle paul the lives of men and women who've lived for jesus 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:45.960 well then you become like them says paul 00:23:45.960 --> 00:23:47.220 so do that 00:23:47.220 --> 00:23:48.859 and what will happen 00:23:48.859 --> 00:23:50.539 if we follow that 00:23:50.539 --> 00:23:53.259 well then he says the peace of god 00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:54.900 will be with you 00:23:54.900 --> 00:23:57.440 so repeat isn't it of the peace of god 00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:59.000 just like it was with paul 00:23:59.000 --> 00:24:01.960 i don't know when you do this if you drive on the motorway 00:24:01.960 --> 00:24:05.119 the most relaxing way to drive on the motorway is what 00:24:05.119 --> 00:24:09.119 to find someone who's going a sensible speed 00:24:09.119 --> 00:24:10.900 and follow them 00:24:10.900 --> 00:24:11.759 right 00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:15.240 and the stress is lifted from you then isn't it 00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:16.920 because the decisions are taken away from you 00:24:16.920 --> 00:24:17.879 all you have to do is follow 00:24:17.879 --> 00:24:20.839 and that's what paul is saying as he follows christ 00:24:20.839 --> 00:24:24.799 you know paul what should i do about these people who are being so unkind to me 00:24:24.799 --> 00:24:26.339 don't worry 00:24:26.339 --> 00:24:27.700 follow me 00:24:27.700 --> 00:24:29.279 i know what to do 00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:31.839 rejoice in the gospel going forwards 00:24:31.839 --> 00:24:36.019 you know paul i've got this big decision to make about what i should do with my life 00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:37.859 where i should invest my ambitions and my dreams 00:24:37.859 --> 00:24:38.980 don't worry 00:24:38.980 --> 00:24:41.740 follow me as i follow christ 00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:43.039 and it will all become clear 00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:49.160 paul i've messed up my life is full of failed projects and patterns of sin 00:24:49.160 --> 00:24:53.640 don't worry i'm following jesus follow me 00:24:53.640 --> 00:25:04.720 it will all become clear put into practice whatever you have seen received or heard from me and the god of peace will be with you 00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:12.000 well any comments or questions before i pray and then we sing our closing hymn 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:13.059 any thoughts 00:25:13.059 --> 00:25:14.920 go on liz 00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:24.720 yeah 00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:26.620 yeah 00:25:26.620 --> 00:25:40.620 yeah 00:25:40.619 --> 00:25:51.739 is this is this just me but i wonder whether we think about 00:25:51.739 --> 00:25:53.199 um 00:25:53.199 --> 00:25:56.419 and maybe this is because the way we've been taught but we 00:25:56.419 --> 00:25:59.579 we think about learning truths and then moving on from them 00:25:59.579 --> 00:26:00.459 don't we 00:26:00.459 --> 00:26:00.819 so 00:26:00.819 --> 00:26:06.639 we think there's a certain set of basic truths about the christian gospel that we need to learn and then we move on from them 00:26:06.639 --> 00:26:12.399 but actually the christian life is not like that is it the christian life is about the repetition of basic truths 00:26:12.399 --> 00:26:14.799 so that we're increasingly shaped by them 00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:21.759 so i don't think there's much in philippians 2 about the person of the lord jesus that you 00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:27.419 you probably don't know already about the incarnation and what jesus has done 00:26:27.419 --> 00:26:35.220 but it is the repetition of that and the ongoing learning of it which shapes you isn't it to be that kind of person 00:26:35.220 --> 00:26:35.700 yeah 00:26:35.700 --> 00:26:37.019 that's really helpful 00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:39.059 yeah 00:26:39.059 --> 00:26:40.059 yeah 00:26:40.059 --> 00:26:52.059 yeah 00:26:52.059 --> 00:26:54.059 yeah 00:26:54.059 --> 00:26:58.059 yeah 00:26:58.059 --> 00:27:02.059 yeah 00:27:02.059 --> 00:27:08.059 yeah 00:27:08.059 --> 00:27:09.059 yeah 00:27:09.059 --> 00:27:11.059 yeah 00:27:11.059 --> 00:27:11.559 yeah 00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:13.059 amen 00:27:13.059 --> 00:27:13.879 yeah 00:27:13.879 --> 00:27:15.299 that i 00:27:15.299 --> 00:27:15.819 yeah 00:27:15.819 --> 00:27:17.899 fighter i was so helped by that as well 00:27:17.899 --> 00:27:20.079 just being reminded that the 00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:23.079 it's not just because some people tell you don't be anxious 00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:25.639 and it's really it's quite that's quite difficult to say it's quite a burden 00:27:25.639 --> 00:27:28.000 but actually to be told 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:29.139 pray 00:27:29.139 --> 00:27:32.220 that thing that you're anxious about take it to the lord 00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:34.139 pray and then the peace of god 00:27:34.139 --> 00:27:36.139 will come 00:27:36.139 --> 00:27:36.700 yeah 00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:38.000 it's great 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:39.559 yeah 00:27:39.559 --> 00:27:39.619 yeah 00:27:39.619 --> 00:27:40.000 yeah 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:41.000 yeah 00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:42.000 yeah 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:42.500 yeah 00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:43.000 yeah 00:27:43.000 --> 00:27:44.000 yeah 00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:46.940 well let me pray for us and then we'll sing our closing hymn 00:27:46.940 --> 00:27:53.799 heavenly father we want to pray that you might help us to rejoice 00:27:53.799 --> 00:27:55.599 in the lord 00:27:55.599 --> 00:27:57.039 always 00:27:57.039 --> 00:27:59.500 we pray that we might be 00:27:59.500 --> 00:28:01.079 gentle 00:28:01.079 --> 00:28:05.639 knowing that the return of the lord jesus is not far away 00:28:05.639 --> 00:28:11.099 pray lord that we'd be those joyful christians who with great gentleness 00:28:11.099 --> 00:28:14.039 live as if christ is coming any moment 00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:17.639 we pray that you might help us to turn to you in prayer 00:28:17.639 --> 00:28:19.099 instead of worrying 00:28:19.099 --> 00:28:21.139 we worry about many things lord 00:28:21.139 --> 00:28:24.240 but you have them all under your control 00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:28.700 give us that great peace which transcends all understanding 00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:32.920 and lord we we think about lots of things too 00:28:32.920 --> 00:28:35.819 lots of things going through our minds 00:28:35.819 --> 00:28:37.319 and they shape us 00:28:37.319 --> 00:28:42.400 so lord pray that we might increasingly be shaped by the truth of your word of 00:28:42.400 --> 00:28:44.440 who you are what you're like 00:28:44.440 --> 00:28:49.180 that we might ponder on and consider the lives of those who followed you 00:28:49.180 --> 00:28:53.220 and that we might put those things into practice we pray 00:28:53.220 --> 00:28:59.019 whatever's true or noble or right or pure or lovely or admirable 00:28:59.019 --> 00:29:01.400 anything excellent or praiseworthy 00:29:01.400 --> 00:29:05.299 help us to think about and put those things into practice we pray 00:29:05.299 --> 00:29:08.200 so that your peace might be with us 00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:09.660 in jesus name 00:29:09.660 --> 00:29:10.740 amen