A Letter From Heaven

We see Philippians as a book of the Bible. Originally like much of the New Testament it was a letter. Written in Pauls hand with God’s words to the people in Philipi.

Paul wrote the letter in Jail!

Philippians In-Fighting

Philippians 4:1–3 (ESV)

Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Understand, Paul cared more about the people in Philipi than he did his own situation. With good reason.

Philippians 4:15 (ESV)

And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.

When he needed them Philippi was the only church to support Paul in his ministry.

Paul had gotten word that there was a conflict in the church that was affecting the unity of the church. In fact it was threatening to split the church which caused even more problems.

Euodia and Syntyche two women that we know little to nothing about had an issue with each other.

The issue bled out of their relationship into the relationships in the churches which led to fear and anxiety which Paul knew from his cell was terrible for the church.

The problem is that when things like this happen in a church it can lead to spiritual instability in the church.

Paul says that he “entreats” these women, and then says “yes, I ask.” These 2 words are the same in the greek. Paul said it twice because he is begging, he is pleading with these 2 women to use some common sense! If this were a Biblical dispute it would be easy to fix. You pick the side that lines up with the word. Apparently this church spat had little or nothing to do with the Word?!

Paul finishes this rebuke of sorts by telling them what is really important. Getting back to work so people that God calls can cement their names in the lambs book of life.

Paul then continues...

Philippians 4:4–7 ESV

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Paul is talking to them about.

Mount Anxious

Why?

Because of the discord between the women. It caused problems.

The damage had been done.

Fear had set in the church.

Anxiety had set in the church.

Worry had set in the church.

Spiritual Instability had set in the church.

Paul needed to remind them why they met in the first place.

First, He says Rejoice twice! He also uses the word ALWAYS!

They are in a bad place. Paul is telling them they need to find Joy. When you are rejoicing always your heart will rejoice always and that will produce an attitude of Joy. Joy is not an emotion. Happiness is an emotion. Sadness is an emotion. Anger is an emotion. Joy is a choice.

True Joy can rise above any circumstance.

“Joy is not a feeling; it is a deep-down confidence that God is in control of EVERYTHING for the believers good and His own glory, and thus is well no matter what the circumstance.” - John McCarthur

The Psalmist said in Psalm 1.

Psalm 1:1–2 (ESV)

Psalm 1:1–2 ESV

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

The world will be there in a big way. But Christians need to meditate on the Lord day and night. For our good.

Is God worthy of our meditating…of course. Meditating on the Lord will keep our heart and our mind exactly where it needs to be. It absolutley benefits us.

Then Paul said that the church needs their reasonableness to be shown to everyone. Let the world see what Christ has done in you and through you. Show them who Christ is! Why? Because the Lord is at hand. At any time, Jesus will be back. Represent him correctly until you go HOME!

Unfortunatly with humanity and fear anxiety and worry are a real thing. Yes we should Rejoice always but how can we when there are mountains of anxiety that stand in our way?

There is a new song by Benjamin William Hastings and Blessing Offer called Thats the thing about praise. A segment of the song says

“Theres what I want, and theres where I’m at

Every one step forward, it got me five steps back.

And I cried, I called, God knows I prayed,

But most days faith is climbing up a mountain that stayed.”

I missed the meaning of this portion for a while then it hit me like a ton of bricks.

We have all heard Matthew 17:20-21

Matthew 17:20–21 (ESV)

He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

Most Christians see this as some sort given. I have faith so the mountain will move. Like it is part of the gift we get when we accept God’s gift of Salvation. But what happens when God’s answer is to leave the mountain right where it is?

That mountain is often fear and anxiety. We have that mustard seed size faith but for one reason or another God wants to take our hand and climb over the mountain.

The Church in Philipi were faced with an Everest of anxiety. There world, their friends, their faith was shaking.

Paul knew that their fear and anxiety was real so he tells them not to be anxious about ANYTHING. That means anything. Anything good, bad, money, family, work, sickness, you name it, there is not a single thing that should make you anxious. So no matter what the mountain is or how daunting it seems in your life don’t be anxious about it. Right. Good luck with that.

Did you ever get scared of the monster under your bed as a kid and when your parent or whoever walked in and told its fine don’t be scared and left. What happened? Nothing. Do you know why? The monster was still under your bed. Now if your parent got down and looked under the bed and then reassured you that there was no monster you would sleep like a baby. Because you were given a solution to the problem. Paul knows like a parent that just saying the words isn’t enough so He gives them a solution.

but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Go to the father in a very specific way.

IN Prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving go to God and tell Him what is causing your heart to be anxious.

If you follow that one simple yet amazing thing then all your problems will go away....no. The mountain of anxiety will just dissapere.....no. But if you God to God in prayer you will get peace!

Not just peace. The Bible says that this peace which surpasses ALL understanding will guard our hears and minds in Christ Jesus. Not just peace. We will have a God in our corner that protects us from the anxiety that is is trying to take over.

John 14:27 (ESV)

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

After this Paul, hoping that he fixed the problem wants to make sure that christians stay on the right track so he uses....

The Mind Filter

I have to give full credit for mind filter to one Teresa Hudson thank you very much.

Philippians 4:8–9 (ESV)

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

The Joy that you have in your daily life is a direct correlation of how you think.

Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)

You keep him in perfect peace

whose mind is stayed on you,

because he trusts in you.

If you keep your mind focused on God no matter what is going on in our world, it cannot drag you down.

Paul tells the people of Philipi that there are 6 things that they should focus on.

#1 - Whatever is True.

Everyone apparently knows what truth is, yet no one can agree on what truth is. Christians know what truth is.

John 17:17 ESV

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

The Bible is Truth. If whatever you think is true lines up with the four corners of the Bible than it is true!

#2 - Whatever is Honorable.

Honorable here means dignified. It means noble. It means that it is worthy of respect.

#3 - Whatever is Just.

Christians need to be careful with this one.

Just is not what you think is Just it is what God thinks is Just. It is what the Bible thinks is Just. If it is even barely off from the word of God than don’t focus on it.

#4 - Whatever is Pure.

Is it Holy and morally clean? If it is it deserves your focus. if it isn’t, it isn’t pure and it isn’t from God.

#5 - Whatever is Lovely.

This is whatever is pleasing and acceptable before God.

This is my happy place. The place I feel closest to God is the ocean. I can’t help but feel it’s power and beauty. I know that There is a God that created that never ending body of water. Focus on what it lovely. What brings you closer to God.

#6 - Whatever is Commendable.

Whatever is worthy of your thought or conversation.

if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

We waste so much of our time focusing on things that take our focus away from God which opens us up to fear and anxiety.

Proverbs 4:23 (ESV)

Keep your heart with all vigilance,

for from it flow the springs of life.

Paul finishes this portion off scripture with a last bit of hope. You may have learned these things but they will need practice in order to perfect them. But if you focus, if you practice, if you pray, the God of peace will be with you,

Close

How big is your personal Mt. Anxiety? It seems like you get over one Mountain and 2 more are sitting there waiting for you. What Paul is telling the Philippians is the same thing that works for us. If you want to change your outlook on life it starts here. It starts with prayer. It starts with the right attitude. And when you get there, if you get there, look around. God is everywhere. It seems like the bad is the shiny thing that keeps our attention. Instead, focus on God. Focus on the good, then enjoy the Peace that God wants you to have. Let’s Pray.

John 16:22 ESV

So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

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