Living in the Goodness of God's Peace Part 4

LIVING IN THE GOODNESS OF GOD’S PEACE–PART 4

An Exposition of Philippians 4:9

By Pastor Brian Wilbur

Date:   March 10, 2019

Series: Philippians: Gospel Partnership on Mission in the World

Note:   Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard   Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

INTRODUCTION

Christianity is meant to be lived, to be put into practice, to be expressed in our ordinary and everyday conduct. God’s will for your life is that you embody His truth in concrete behavior that glorifies Him and furthers the interests of His kingdom.

This opening statement may strike some people as rather obvious, but that doesn’t change the fact that we need to say it over and over again. The most basic reason why we need to press home the priority of practical conduct is because Scripture does so. In today’s passage, Paul says “practice these things” (Philippians 4:9). Earlier in the letter he had told us that “[our] manner of life [should] be worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27). James taught us that we should “be doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22), and he warned us that when faith is not accompanied by the works of love, such superficial faith is not true faith at all (James 2:14-26). The Lord Jesus made it clear that it is “those who hear the word of God and keep it” who enjoy the blessing of God (Luke 11:28). After Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan to the religious scholar in order to teach the wayward man what it actually means to love your neighbor, Jesus told him, “You go, and do likewise.” (Luke 10:37)

Understanding sound doctrine leads to a way of life that accords with it. We are hearing God’s Word rightly only if our hearing of it leads to the doing of it. When a person has a lively faith in Jesus, such faith expresses itself in love for other people. And in terms of Philippians 4:8-9, godly thinking (v. 8) is supposed to show itself in the fruit of godly living (v. 9).

All this is easy enough to understand at the conceptual level, but in reality we get tripped up in various ways. And the reason we get tripped up is because each one of us is flawed and prone to imbalance. Some people suppose that they feel very much at home in verse 8: put them in a comfortable chair by the wood stove, and they will happily think into their good book all day long! But if a neighbor shows up in the midst of a practical crisis, they are utterly unhelpful! Other people suppose that they feel very much at home in verse 9: give them a job and they will get the job done! But if the other neighbor shows up, the one who is having a real spiritual crisis, they are clueless about how to speak the gospel into this person’s life!

Please note that this isn’t mainly a matter of different personalities and different giftings. There is a place to appreciate differing personalities and giftings, but the teaching here in Philippians 4:8-9 is more basic and foundational. Every believer, regardless of personality and gifting, ought to be indulging in the grace of holy thinking (v. 8). And every believer, regardless of temperament and skill set, ought to be flourishing in the grace of holy doing (v. 9). If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s will for your life is that you be a thoughtful practitioner of God’s Word: you are to be a doctrine-loving doer, you are to be a tree with deep roots in the life of your mind and beautiful fruits in your manner of living.

THE SCRIPTURAL TEXT

Holy Scripture says, through the apostle Paul:

“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.” (Philippians 4:8-9)

LIVING IN THE GOODNESS OF GOD’S PEACE

As we dig into verse 9, remember that the context of this instruction involves living in the goodness of God’s peace. Verse 7 assured us that as we entrust ourselves to our gracious heavenly Father, His peace “which surpasses all understanding, will guard [our] hearts and [our] minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7) Now at the end of verse 9 we see that “the God of peace will be with [us]” as we “think about these things” and “practice these things.” So verses 8-9 are telling us what is going on in the mind and in the life of people whose minds are being protected by God’s peace and whose life befits fellowship with “the God of peace.” What is going on in the mind? Holy and wholesome thinking that intends to enact that holiness and goodness in practical action. What is going on in the life? Faithful and godly conduct that has been informed and inspired by the truth of the gospel. So even as we focus on doing in this particular sermon, don’t disconnect it from the larger issue about living in the goodness of God’s peace. Here’s the point: we cannot expect to be blessed by the presence and protection of God’s peace unless we walk in the way of peace, and walking in the way of peace includes putting God’s Word into practice: “practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING

But before there is doing, there is learning. A true and faithful Christian is a learner. You will not live Christianly unless you learn Christianly. When Paul instructs the Philippians to “practice these things,” his instruction is based on the fact that the Philippians have already learned these things: “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me–practice these things.”

When we begin the Christian life through the Holy Spirit’s supernatural regenerating work in our heart, we are now spiritually alive and attuned to the things of God, but we are not yet well-taught, we are not yet wise, we are not yet mature in our understanding. We have a lot to learn! Therefore, we must learn! We must learn and receive the instruction that God gives us in His Word – and we must take it in with an attitude of humble faith and with an eagerness and readiness to grow. With spiritual perception we must also see the good example that mature Christians are setting for us – and we must take it in with a teachable heart that is ready to imitate what is good (3 John 11).

Philippians 4:9 and the Great Commission of Matthew 28

This priority of learning is woven into the very nature of discipleship. In the Great Commission Jesus told His disciples to “make disciples” (Matthew 28:19). ‘Disciple’ means apprentice, student, learner. Anyone who is not a true disciple of Jesus Christ is a spiritually dead sinner who is “following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2). You are either a disciple and follower of Jesus or you are a disciple and follower of the devil. You are either ruled by Jesus or you are ruled by sin. You are either alive to the Word of God or you are alive to the disobedient world that is all around you. There is no middle ground.

Now how does a spiritually dead sinner become a true disciple of Jesus Christ? Not by a halfhearted decision to turn over a new leaf. Not by a mere act of your own will to try harder. Not by attempting to reform your behavior. A spiritually dead sinner becomes a true disciple of Jesus by the powerful regenerating work of the Holy Spirit: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) To be “born again” (or born from above) means to be born “of God” (John 1:13), to be “born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). In other words, almighty God must generate new life in a sinner’s heart, otherwise the sinner’s heart will remain captive to sin and unresponsive to the teaching of God’s Word.

This regenerating work of God’s Spirit happens in conjunction with the preaching of the gospel. The apostle Peter said to Christians: “… you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God…. And this word is the good news that was preached to you.” (1 Peter 1:23, 25) So the Spirit of God (John 3:3-8) makes use of the Word of God (1 Peter 1:23) in order to cause new life to spring up in the hearts of those whom God has appointed to eternal life (John 6:37, 43-45; Acts 13:48). This new life expresses itself in repentance (=turning away from sin) and faith (=treasuring Jesus). Repentant believers are then to be baptized as a public and visible sign of their allegiance to Jesus and their incorporation into His public and visible body, the church. Baptism takes place at the beginning of the Christian life and sets the stage for what? For a lifetime of learning within the context of the church. Listen to the entire Great Commission:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

The main connection I want to make between the Great Commission of Matthew 28 and the instruction of Philippians 4:9 is that to be a Christian is to be a disciple who learns and then puts into practice what he or she learns. The language of Matthew 28:20 is to be taught to “observe” or do what Jesus has commanded. The language of Philippians 4:9 is to learn in order to practice what Jesus has made known through the apostles. But the same idea is present in both passages: a true and faithful disciple is someone who learns. This learning is not to be piecemeal and selective, but comprehensive: we are to learn “all that [Jesus has] commanded” so that we can “observe all that [Jesus has] commanded.”

This priority of learning is so great that Jesus has appointed ministers of the Word for this express purpose: “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teaches, to equip the saints” (Ephesians 4:11-12). Paul told Timothy: “preach the word… reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” (2 Timothy 4:2) Paul told Titus: “teach what accords with sound doctrine.” (Titus 2:1) Paul also taught that faithful “[older] women… are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.” (Titus 2:3-5) Paul taught fathers to bring up their children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). Teaching, teaching, teaching, teaching – always with a view toward obedience! Be a hungry disciple who feasts on the Word through the sermons every Lord’s Day, midweek lessons, Bible studies, family devotions, edifying conversations one with another, and the wide accessibility of good teaching, which are all there for your good and for your growth in the Lord!

Learning and Growing is Not a Matter of Merely Human Effort

It is important to understand that this learning and growing is not a matter of merely human effort. Do you recall what we learned about spiritually dead sinners from the Ephesians 2 passage I read a few moments ago? Ephesians 2:2 tells us that “the prince of the power of the air… is now at work in the sons of disobedience.” But do you remember what Philippians has taught us about who is at work in believers? The basis of Paul’s appeal that the Philippians continue to walk in obedience is this: “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13) The Holy Spirit transforms our hearts and propels us forward on the path of holy conduct.  

You Have Learned, Therefore Practice

Although there is always more to learn and more growth to experience, nevertheless if you have been a disciple for any time at all, then you are in the same position as the Philippians: “you have learned,” “you have… received and heard” God’s instruction, “you have… seen” faithful Christians set a godly example. The question is: what you are doing with it? Physically speaking, those with able bodies ought to eat calories in order to expend those calories in productive activity. So here in terms of our spiritual life: those who have taken in the life-giving nutrition of God’s holy Word should be diligent to transfer this nutritional strength into practical action: we “have learned” these things in order to “practice these things.”

BACK TO THINKING: THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED

But before we move forward to “practice these things,” let’s for just a moment go back to “think about these things.” As I said in the previous sermon, verses 8-9 belong together: Paul isn’t telling us to “think” about one set of things (v. 8) but to “practice” another set of things (v. 9). Instead the things that we think about are the same things that we ought to be practicing. Now when we add the reality of learning into the equation, what is envisioned here is that we are supposed to be thinking about the things that we have learned.

I am sure that seasoned saints like Jim and Goldie still have some things to learn, but let’s be honest: at this point in their Christian life, they “have learned and received and heard and seen” quite a lot in terms of faithful instruction and godly example. But even though they have already learned a lot, they are not supposed to rest on the laurels of yesteryear’s learning and just coast into the sunset. Even if they or we have already learned a fair amount, this passage calls us to continue to think about the things that we have learned. Think, chew on, delight in, recall to mind, and make fresh application of – the good things that you have learned as a Christian disciple.

Remembering what we have learned is a key aspect of the faithful Christian life. Near the beginning of Philippians 3 Paul wrote, “To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.” (Philippians 3:1) Similarly the apostle Peter wrote to his fellow Christians, “Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder” (2 Peter 1:12-13). Faithful Christians do get to the point where they “know” and “are established in the truth,” but they still need to be stirred up “by way of reminder.” We need to be re-energized in the truth that we already know, we need to be refreshed in the ancient and well-trod path of biblical learning, so that we are ready to take the next step of obedience and ready to practice the truth in the next opportunity that the Lord sets before us. Call to mind the things that you have already learned so that you continue to “practice these things” in your everyday Christian life. 

PRACTICE THESE THINGS: THE CONTEXT OF PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN OBEDIENCE

Indeed, one of the things that we must remember is that the point of learning the things of God, and the point of continuing to think about what we have learned, is to put it into actual practice. While I am going to spend significant time talking about the actual “practice” – the actual doing – of the things that God’s Word teaches us to do, I first want to remind us of the fuller picture in which practical Christian obedience takes place. I am going to be brief on these points, but we must have a proper understanding of the context of practical Christian obedience, otherwise our attempted obedience will devolve into superficial behavior. Here, then, are seven important points to keep in mind:

1) Practical Christian obedience is the result of God’s transforming work in our hearts and lives (Philippians 1:6, 2:13).

2) Practical Christian obedience is the result of sound instruction in God’s Word (Philippians 4:9).

3) Practical Christian obedience is the result of godly thinking (Philippians 4:8).

4) Practical Christian obedience is the result of loving Christ (John 14:15, Philippians 3:3-14).

5) Practical Christian obedience is accompanied by God’s peace guarding our heart and mind (Philippians 4:7) – which means that if our attempted obedience is accompanied by angst or nervousness, something is off.

6) Practical Christian obedience is not done in order to earn a right standing with God, but just the opposite: we obey God as a grateful response to His abundant mercy and grace, by which He has clothed us with the righteousness of Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:3-9). In other words, we do not obey in order to get into a right relationship with God, but rather we obey because – if we are true believers – we already have a right relationship with God through the grace of Christ (Philippians 3:12).

7) Practical Christian obedience is something we do together (Philippians 1:27–2:2). If you have journeyed with us through Philippians, then hopefully you have come to understand that we are supposed to follow Christ together as God’s people. It is simply impossible to “with one mind [strive] side by side for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27) and to “[be] in full accord and of one mind” (Philippians 2:2) unless we are integrated into each other’s lives as we walk together on the path of obedience.

More could be said, but hopefully this orients you to the biblical portrait in which our practical obedience should take place.

PRACTICE THESE THINGS: THE SHAPE OF PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN OBEDIENCE

With that in mind, we now turn our attention to actual practice. Let me put forward some things to encourage us to more faithfully practice the things that God’s Word teaches us to do.

1) Christian Obedience is a 24/7 Reality

First, practical Christian obedience is a 24/7 reality. Just ponder these statements from Philippians. “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit” (Philippians 2:3, italics added). “Do all things without grumbling or disputing” (Philippians 2:14, italics added). “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4, italics added). “Let your reasonableness to be known to everyone” (Philippians 4:5, italics added). “[Do] not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6, italics added). Or how about this one from Romans? “Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God” (Romans 12:16-19, italics added). Or how about this one from 1 Corinthians? “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31, italics added) These key words – nothing, not anything, never, or no one (in terms of what not to do), and whatever, all, everyone, all things and always (in terms of what we ought to do) – show us the comprehensiveness of Christian obedience. In other words, there is never a time, never a place, never a situation, and never a relationship in which the call to “practice these things” is not relevant.

There is only one way to wait in a long line at the concession stand or to drive at a snail’s pace in a mile-long traffic jam: not anxious, not angry, not unreasonable, not selfish, not complaining, but rather gladly trusting God, abiding in His peace and provision, and being peaceable and kind to the person who just cut you off. Walk with Christ in the midst of the waiting, and don’t make a god out of personal convenience. Take this to heart: God’s instruction has a rightful claim upon us at all times, and those who have been “born of God” know that “his commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3-4). Here in Philippians 4:2-7, just as in the very familiar “fruit of the Spirit” passage (Galatians 5:22-23), is the way of love (v. 2-3), joy (v. 4), and peace (v. 7). Here is life in Christ, and it is good! 

2) Practical Christian Obedience Maps Onto The Reailty of our Earthly Lives

Second, practical Christian obedience maps onto the reality of our earthly lives. This is so important. When we think about passages like Philippians 4:4-9 – speaking as it does about perpetual joy and peace, gentleness and prayer, spiritual attentiveness and godly thinking, walking with “the God of peace” and abiding in His gracious protection – there is a temptation to over-spiritualize or hyper-spiritualize it. The temptation is to think that if I’m going to truly practice Philippians 4:4-9, then I need to check out of my mundane, ordinary, and unremarkable life, and spend the whole day reading my Bible, praying, studying doctrine, listening to sermons, attending Bible studies and prayer groups, and watching documentaries about famous Christians. There are at least a couple ways to fall prey to this temptation.

One way to fall prey to this hyper-spiritual temptation is to actually attempt to spend your whole day in overt spiritual thought, and to do this day after day, and in due course you convert your home into a virtual monastery. I doubt many of you have ever pursued this course. The truth, however, is that there is another way to fall prey to this temptation, and it is probably much more common.

The second way to fall prey to this hyper-spiritual temptation is to assume that the way of overt spiritual thought 24/7 really is the better course, but to immediately recognize that you could never do it, and so you make peace with what you think is a sub-par or less spiritual Christian life. And so you live as a Christian under the cloud of ‘you’re sub-par, second-rate, less spiritual, too earthly-minded, and probably not all that pleasing to God’. And your actual spiritual life is significantly weakened, not because you’re not in a virtual monastery, but because you think that you would be more spiritual if you were. As a result, your practical everyday life is unnecessarily disconnected from the reality of Philippians 4:8-9.

So what I want you to understand is that there is a world of difference between this hyper-spiritual mindset that seeks to escape the world of earthly responsibilities in order to live exclusively in a mental-spiritual world, and a healthy mindset that has a spiritual Philippians 4:8 frame of mind and with it engages fully with the richness of earthly life as God intends it. What does this mean practically?   

Paul says, “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me–practice these things.” What “things” does he have in mind? Well, we don’t have a transcript of everything that Paul ever said or communicated to the Philippians. But we do have the manuscript of thirteen letters (including his letter to the Philippians) that Paul wrote to various churches or church leaders, and taken together these letters summarize basic Christian teaching. Of course, the other New Testament books that were written by men other than Paul, as well as the many books of the Old Testament, carry equal authority to instruct us in the way of practical Christian obedience. But I’ll stick mainly to Paul’s letters.

And what I want to emphasize right now – and what is so important for us to understand – is that practical Christian obedience maps onto the earthly realities of our lives. Diapers need to be changed, heating oil needs to be ordered, meals need to be prepared, and – at least in Maine – snow needs to be removed. How does holy thinking (Philippians 4:8) and holy learning (Philippians 4:9) relate to these ordinary earthly tasks? A lot of it, of course, has to do with godly attitudes and priorities: “do not be anxious about anything,” for example. But in addition to this emphasis on godly attitudes, I want us to consider the objective importance of our earthly life.

The Objective Importance of Family, Home Life, Work, and Wealth

Consider, for instance, the importance of family and home life. Marriage and children and extended family are God’s idea, and it is good! God calls husbands and fathers to lead their families and bring up their children in the ways of the Lord (Ephesians 5:25–6:4). A husband and wife are to be mutually devoted to each other’s well-being (1 Corinthians 7:3-5, 32-35). God calls a family – both the immediate family and the extended family – to be faithful in meeting the practical needs of its members (1 Timothy 5:8, 16).

Of course, family and home life are tied closely to work. God established marriage, procreation, and work as three inter-related realities in Genesis 1-2. To be part of a household is to be part of a household economy, and you ought to be thinking about how to make that economy flourish – not out of selfish ambition, but out of a desire to be a faithful servant of God and a desire to bless other people. Men are not being unspiritual when they think about and then actually do things to protect and provide for their families. Women are not being unspiritual when they think about and do all the practical things that are involved in obeying the instruction to “manage their households” (1 Timothy 5:14). God calls us to be diligent workers who take appropriate responsibility for ourselves: “If anyone is not willing to work,” writes Paul, “let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12) Whether as a bondservant or master in the 1^st century, or as an employee or manager in the 21^st century, we ought to do our work in a way that honors the Lord (Colossians 3:22–4:1).

In God’s kingdom, work is good, productivity is good, and stuff is good. Idolaters think that stuff is god, and it isn’t, and their idolatry is fatal. But don’t overreact by treating stuff as bad, because it isn’t. Paul critiques demonically-inspired false teachers “who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.” (1 Timothy 4:3-5) Paul goes on to say that “God… richly provides us with everything to enjoy.” (1 Timothy 6:17) But don’t stop there! While it is right to gratefully receive and enjoy God’s good gifts to us, it is wrong for us to hold onto God’s good gifts as if they are only intended for the exclusive enjoyment of our own family. Immediately after saying that “God… richly provides us with everything to enjoy,” Paul instructs us “to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share” (1 Timothy 6:18). In other words, understand that the stuff is a tool to love other people in a Philippians 2 kind of way: “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4)   

Do you want to do something distinctly Christian in our ungodly, selfish, and individualistic world? Work hard in God’s strength to build a godly home! If what you have learned as a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ doesn’t profoundly shape the way that you live in your home life and in your work life and in your use of resources, then you will be profoundly unable to obey Philippians 4:9, because your home life and your work life and your use of resources account for the majority of your waking hours! Therefore, brothers and sisters, make sure that all your life is Christ-centered and full of grace!

Home Economics and Love in the Body of Christ

Now you may have anticipated that sooner or later I was going to relate “practice these things” to our call to congregational life, and indeed I do so now. But it is important to understand that what we have just been talking about in terms of home life and household economy and productive work is tied closely to our ability to love one another as fellow members of Christ’s church.

All the way back in January 2018, when I kicked off the Philippians series with a sermon from Acts 16, do you remember how the new convert Lydia demonstrated love to Paul and Paul’s missionary team? By opening up her home to them (Acts 16:15). She deployed her wealth in service to the gospel of Christ. As we shall soon see in Philippians 4:14-18, the Philippians sent financial support to Paul on multiple occasions in order to support his ministry. Where did this money come from? The church isn’t a for-profit business, is it? Of course not! The individual Christians and Christian households in Philippi gave out of their own resources in order to fund the church’s missionary budget. Further, when in Philippians 2 Paul tells us to “look… to the interests of others,” this surely includes the readiness to meet practical needs and material needs and transportation needs and relational needs within the church family.

Spiritual Conversation in the Real World

Should we talk about the things of God! Should we encourage one another in the truth of God’s Word? Should we ponder sound doctrine together? Of course, and often! But poor is the church that only does this during official meeting times at the official meeting place! Shouldn’t this sort of conversation be taking place throughout the week? Yes, and quite possibly in your very own house! It is so good to know that there are people in this church family who are opening up their home to others, inviting people over for dinner, and sharing in life and fellowship together.

Our spiritual conversation (Philippians 4:8), as important as it is, doesn’t take place in some ethereal mental space. The other night our family went over to Pat and Rhonda’s house, and we did have substantive conversation, but we also had chocolate pie, overzealous children making a mess with running water, a toddler’s fall and cut lip, and towels and wash cloths to deal with said water mess and said bloody lip. Philippians 4:2-9 is as relevant to all that as it is to this worship service, and shame on us when we think otherwise. If we gather with the church on the Lord’s Day and put on our ‘Sunday best’, but live in a self-absorbed way the rest of the week, then the worship that goes on in this sanctuary is a sham. Brothers and sisters, love each other by letting your lives be deeply linked and integrated with each other, and as you encounter the blessing as well the messiness that goes with this territory, let Philippians 4 be your guide.

3) Practical Christian Obedience Corresponds to the Truth of the Gospel

Third, practical Christian obedience means living in a way that corresponds to the truth of the gospel. I suppose that someone might respond to my previous point by suggesting that I’ve missed the point. Someone might say that Paul was totally passionate about the gospel, and yet I have been talking about marriage and family and home life and the workplace and wealth. What is going on? Well, let me tell you – I am simply applying Philippians 4:9 to your actual life. Paul was indeed totally passionate about the gospel – treasuring it, proclaiming it, and establishing the church in it – and he expects you to be totally passionate about the gospel, too. However, Paul doesn’t expect most of you to become a full-time traveling missionary, theologian, and church planter like he was.  But he does expect you to be a Jesus-treasuring, gospel-cherishing, holiness-pursuing, church-loving Christian in whatever real-life situation you find yourself in – and for many of us, that involves marriage, family, a house and household economy, and a job. So consider more of what Paul has to say about these things.

Paul says to husbands: “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church” (Ephesians 5:25). In other words, to be a truly Christian husband, you must so love the gospel of Christ’s sacrificial love for the church, that you imitate it in your love for your own wife.

Paul tells Dads: “do not provoke your children to anger” (Ephesians 6:4). In other words, “[let] your reasonableness be known to [your children]” (Philippians 4:5)! Dads (and Moms, for that matter) need to drink deeply from the well of God’s mercy and patience that has been given to them through Christ, until they are molded into parents who gladly extend that same mercy and patience to their children.

Paul tells bondservants to work with such integrity and grace that they show forth the beauty of the gospel (Titus 2:9-10). Which means that to be a truly Christian worker, you must so love the gospel that you want to reflect it to others through the character and quality of your work. Moreover, Paul tells Christians to work not only to provide for their own needs, but also in order to give generously to others: “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.” (Ephesians 4:28) What manner of love is this? This is the love that does nothing from selfish ambition and isn’t preoccupied with one’s narrow self-interest, but is instead large-hearted in esteeming others and looking out for “the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). Where does such love come from? This love is revealed to us through the gospel of Jesus Christ, who laid aside self-interest to the point of giving himself for us on the cross – a sacrifice of radical generosity, rooted in love (Philippians 2:5-8, Ephesians 5:25-27). “By this we know love,” writes the apostle John, “that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” (1 John 3:16)

Why do we gladly choose to let our hearts be “knit together in love” (Colossians 2:2) with our fellow believers? Why do we let our lives be harmonized with one another in order that as one unified body we might offer up praise to our God (Romans 15:5-6) and work together to advance the gospel (Philippians 1:27)? Why do we open up our homes to one another and devote our energy and resources to the ministry that God is doing through our congregation? Why these things? Because we love the gospel of God’s redeeming grace through the atoning death and victorious resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. We delight to think about the things that we have learned, because these are the things that we have learned in and through the gospel. And we delight to do the things that we have learned, because this is how we walk in love with the God who has so graciously saved us.

A FINAL APPEAL: PRACTICE THESE THINGS!

G. Walter Hansen helpfully puts verses 8-9 together in the form of a paraphrase. It is as if Paul is saying, “Think about such things as acts of selfless love in the service of others because they are excellent and praiseworthy. And my message and life are devoted to what is most excellent and praiseworthy: the self-emptying, self-humbling love of Christ on the cross. Put into practice the selfless love of Christ that you have learned from me and seen in me so that your lives will be excellent and praiseworthy.”[1]

South Paris Baptist Church, do you want to glorify God? Practice these things at all times. Do you want to advance the gospel and build up the church? Practice these things on the Lord’s Day and every other day of the week. Do you want to make progress together on the path that leads to final glory? Practice these things as you immerse yourself in the life and mission of this congregation. Do you want to set an example that younger believers might observe and follow? Practice these things when others are watching and when they’re not – and yet assume that they are, and be worthy of their trust. Do you want to shine as a bright light in these Oxford Hills? Practice these things wherever you go, especially at home, in the workplace, and throughout your neighborhood – and keep linking up your life with your fellow believers, and keep lifting up praise and prayer to our God.

“[Practice] these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” What more could you want than the companionship of this ultimate Comforter and Strengthener, even our God and Father who has loved us with an everlasting love and has promised to bring us all the way to final glory. He “will be with you,” His grace will support you, and His peace will protect you, as you give yourself wholeheartedly to the doing of His will.

Let us pray.

ENDNOTES

[1] G. Walter Hansen, The Letter to the Philippians (Pillar New Testament Commentary). Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009: p. 300.