Notes from 5/18 Women's Bible Study
Philippians 4:4-9
Philippians 4:4-9
4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
We read in this passage about the peace of God and the God of peace. If you look at these verses you can think it's a lot to live up to: rejoice always, let you moderation be known, be careful for nothing, everything by prayer, then the things we are to think on in V. 8 and in verse 9 do what you saw and heard Paul do. But Paul speaks of peace. Colossians 3:15 says we should let the peace of God rule in our hearts. Peace is an umpire. When the wrong thoughts come in the umpire says "OUT". The whatsoever things of Philippians 3:8 are let in by the umpire and we experience thinking with Christ. Then we can do the things that Paul instructs in this chapter.
It's important to note that Philippians 4:8 is not positive thinking. Positive thinking is a counterfeit version of this verse. It's like the knock-off designer bags you see people selling on the street corners of New York. Looks good, maybe even smell good but not real. It can also lead to false doctrine like name it and claim it.
On the other hand, we're not to go around defeated. We have victory We are overcomers. Our circumstance won't always be good. Sometimes they will even be bad. Paul talks later on in this chapter about all conditions - abased & abounding, full & hungry, having abundance & suffering. Positive thinking would try to paint over the suffering, the hunger, the abasement. That's the world's peace but Jesus gives his real peace. The "whatsoever things" have no conditions. They take away any reflection on self. They bring that Colossians 3:15 peace and it's a peace that passes human understanding.
It helps us in the practical details of life in our walk with Christ.
It's important to note that Philippians 4:8 is not positive thinking. Positive thinking is a counterfeit version of this verse. It's like the knock-off designer bags you see people selling on the street corners of New York. Looks good, maybe even smell good but not real. It can also lead to false doctrine like name it and claim it.
On the other hand, we're not to go around defeated. We have victory We are overcomers. Our circumstance won't always be good. Sometimes they will even be bad. Paul talks later on in this chapter about all conditions - abased & abounding, full & hungry, having abundance & suffering. Positive thinking would try to paint over the suffering, the hunger, the abasement. That's the world's peace but Jesus gives his real peace. The "whatsoever things" have no conditions. They take away any reflection on self. They bring that Colossians 3:15 peace and it's a peace that passes human understanding.
It helps us in the practical details of life in our walk with Christ.
