PHILIPPIANS 4: 8-9 “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 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.”
As Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote these words, he was chained to a Roman Guard. He had plenty of opportunity to have his own pity party. It’s almost humorous to realize that not only was Paul chained to the guards, but the guards were also chained to Paul. You think Paul ever talked to them about the things the Holy Spirit was revealing to him? He wrote Philippians and three other New Testament Epistles while in prison in Rome.
Paul in verse eight tells us some things to think on no matter in what situation we may find ourselves. The key in the verse is this phrase:
“if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Proverbs 23:7 says this about thinking: “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”
Is it not a gift from God that you have a choice as to what controls your mind?
Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in Thee”
2 Corinthians 10:5 “Take every thought captive to obey Christ.”
In verse 9 Paul adds one more step for peace that cannot be left out.
Vs9 The things which you learned and received and heard and seen in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Paul balances four activities: “learned and received” and “heard and seen.”
You cannot separate outward action and inward attitude.
It is one thing to learn a truth, but quite another to receive it inwardly and make it a part of our inner man.
"heard and seen" - Facts in the head are not enough: we must also have truths in the heart.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 "We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God’s word, which is also at work in you believers."
Isaiah 32:17 “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and peace”
James 3:17 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable”
Right living is a necessary condition for experiencing the peace of God.
The peace of God is one test of whether or not we are in the will of God!
God’s peace is the“umpire” that calls us “out”!
Col. 3:15, “Let the peace that Christ can give keep on acting as umpire in your hearts”
Philippians 4 is the “peace chapter” of the New Testament.
