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Step #2

Helping Godly Coworkers (Philippians 4:3)

Give proper respect and assistance to those doing God's work.

The leaders are to lead God's people into God's work, not to do it on their own.

We might have differences, but we are still expected to support God's work rather than to criticize it.

"Indeed, true comrade, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life" (Philippians 4:3).

◊ Related to previous, but hits a different spot.  Support rather than criticize.

• Yoked together, yokefellow: Paul’s wife, one of the two’s husband, Epaphroditus, Timothy, Silas, Luke, Chief bishop,  name “Synzygus”.

Best is comrade -Paul sees the entire church as a unit, as a single individual, who shares with him the apostolic work.  -Hawthorne, p. 180.

• Take and bring together, lay hold of , help, assist

• Three groups: These women, Clement, and other laborers for the kingdom.

• Fight together side by side with”.  Metaphysical word draw from games in the gladiator’s arena.

Application

• How can we have peace when we are not actively participating in God's Gospel program? The Gospel was born to be shared with others. Fight apathy.

• Write a list of leaders God expects you personally to support.

Step #3

Rejoicing in the Lord Always (Philippians 4:4)

Our greatest joy is not in things or circumstances but in the grand person of Jesus Christ. By focusing on His eternal kingdom and holy values we see our greatest service to Him is to cherish and trust Him.

His children are not to focus on how they are treated but on how the Lord has loved them!

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4).

◊ Finally can focus on self, and yet here as His children focus is on the Lord.

• Rejoice   -the action is opposite to what we feel.

• Object -in the Lord

• Duration -always

• Emphasis   -”Again I say”

Application

• Come out from under the burdens of our wants and needs and focus on our Lord's grace. Be thankful and rejoice in Him.

Each time you feel critical of something going on, get by yourself and start rejoicing in the Lord till the feelings disappear.

Deceive themselves as even now ‘a quick war’.  Media isn’t listening to the army speak.  Don’t want to hear.

 

Step #4

Living Graciously (Philippians 4:5)

We normally equate peace with getting everything we want. But the Lord challenges our notion of 'our rights.'

Instead of focusing on getting what we want, we need to focus on giving love and patience to the very people who threaten our chance of getting what we want.

Peace doesn’t come through demanding our rights but by passing up our rights for the glory of God.  Will give us both the strength we need (near) and will take revenge where needed (near).

"Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near" (Philippians 4:5).

◊ Again the Lord confounds our methods for finding peace by challenging the very thing we think peace is: the fulfillment of our rights.  Getting what we want when we should get it.  Giving what we should give (even if it is not good like revenge) when we think it ought to be given.  God says forbearance.

• Magnanimity -almost untranslatable, sweet reasonableness (II Cor 10:1). 

• Scope:  “to all men”          

• For the Lord is near.  Possibly 1) near to me    or  2) soon coming

Ps 34:18, 119:151; 145:18.  ( Lk 12:42-28)

Application

• Do you focus on your demands or on being patient and kind with the disagreeable people around you?

• Can you trust God to take revenge?

Pass on those you have difficulty with to the Lord.

Step #5

Entrusting our Worries to The Lord (Philippians 4:6)

We are first challenged to stop worrying and secondly charged to entrust these worries into God's gracious care.

Worrying is sin that has to be effectively dealt with. Then we can turn temptation into prayer!

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6).

◊ Psychologists and many religionists say that it is good to express your anxieties.  This is not what God is trying to hint at in this verse.  Identifying ones worries is helpful but very limited.  Here we are first challenged to stop worrying and secondly charged to entrust them into God’s gracious care. 

• Stop worrying.  How many of us think worrying is sin.  We probably would admit to that fact, but really don’t believe it.  Perhaps it is through the many years of experience of tolerating worries or at least realizing your many years of Christian experience has not yet brought you to stop worrying. 

• Define worry and anxieties.

• Pray that you worry no more.  Knowing God cares and is able to work out the problem whether it is far away from your presence or the very temptation being dragged about in your soul.

Application

• Pick out one or two circumstances that you tend to worry about. Apply this verse now by (1) stop worry about it and (2) letting the Lord know about your needs and trusting Him to care for you.

God is greater than the greatest problem.   (cf. Ps 54:22; I Pe 5:7, I Co 7:32.)