Paul Reminds the Church @ Philippi what things they
are to Meditate On
Philippians
4:8-9 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. 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. KJVWhen we last left off, Paul declared to these Philippian believers and we believers today that when we rejoice continually in Christ Jesus our Lord and on the salvation that He purchased for us on the Cross of Calvary, then we would be enveloped, enfolded, and completely enclosed in the peace of God that none of us can ever understand. What Christ accomplished by His death, burial, and resurrection from the dead and our faith in it and in Him cannot ever be undone by the devil, his many invisible devils, nor any of his many two-legged devils. However, with that being said, there is still a very important daily responsibility that falls upon each one of us as sincere believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and one of the most important is what we allow to dominate our thinking. The enemy cannot and does not have the power to control our minds at all, but what he can do is influence our thinking. Our Lord Jesus Christ told us while He was on earth what the enemies desire is for all of humanity and especially those of us who are redeemed and that is as follows, “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have {and} enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” (John 10:10) (Amplified Bible). The first half of these words spoken by our Lord Jesus declares to us the only motive of the devil, but praise Jesus the second half declares to us the victory that is ours “in Christ”. The devil by influencing our thoughts wants to steal our joy in Christ, rob us of the peace of God, kill our sanctification in Christ, and destroy our witness to the rest of the world dying in sin ending in hell. Therefore, Paul warns these Philippian believers and we believers today to exercise our minds to the following as he says with these words, “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.” (Philippians 4:8) (KJV).
First up on this list is things that are true and this English word is translated by the Greek word alethes meaning that which is not concealing, that is, covered up or hidden; the act or activity of keeping something secret. In other words, Paul wants us to be transparent with God the Father (in our thoughts) knowing that he sees them all anyway, but also transparent with ourselves by keeping our mind more and mostly focus on things we know to be true according to the only Authority that matters God and His Holy Word just as King David declared with these words of a Psalm he penned, “LORD, WHO shall dwell [temporarily] in Your tabernacle? Who shall dwell [permanently] on Your Holy hill? He who walks {and} lives uprightly {and} blamelessly, who works rightness {and} justice and speaks {and} thinks the truth in his heart, He who does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his friend, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor; (Psalms 15:1-3) (Amplified Bible). This is our first duty to our Lord Jesus Christ not out of fear or dread, but out of love for Him and for what He has done for us. Second, Paul declares we must saturate our minds with things that are honest and this English word is translated by the Greek word semnos meaning things that can be revered, lifted up highly, or idolized, that is, that which is worthy of being honored or that which can be adored bringing about positive actions in the life. In other words, Paul wants us to have our minds on things that can lift us up toward heaven (where Christ is seated now) and not drag us downward by yielding more often to our old nature (Colossians 3:1-2), but just as important our conduct in the sight of men as he declared to the Romans with these words, “Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is honest {and} proper {and} noble [aiming to be above reproach] in the sight of everyone.” (Romans 12:17) (Amplified Bible).
Thirdly, things that are just and this English word is translated by the Greek word dikaios meaning equitable (in character or act); by implication innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively): In other words, having just things in our minds will keep us formed and shaped to do no harm to others despite what is happening in the world, this does not bar us from self-defense at all, but it disposes us to have the best interest of humanity in our thoughts and actions as the Proverb declares with these words, “For a righteous/just man falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.” (Proverbs 24:16) (Amplified Bible). Fourthly, Paul expresses to these Philippian believers and we believers today to exercise our minds to things that are pure. This perhaps is the most difficult one of these eight exhortations that we have because of the day’s we believers live in today of constant bombardment on television ads, print ads, and the internet of women in bikini’s or lingerie, or even naked that causes our old man or old nature to rise up leading our minds back down to impurity instead of purity, however, although Paul did not live in our time, he witnessed the same things we see today just in a different manner, let us be reminded of the Church at Corinth for the example. The English word pure is translated by the Greek word hagnos meaning properly clean, that is, (figuratively) innocent, modest, perfect: - chaste. In other words, Paul was a proponent of what we learned at the beginning of the computer age when the saying was penned by someone saying garbage in equals garbage out and so it is with our minds when we allow sexual lustful things into our mind to take up residence, then we can certainly expect those things to manifest themselves in our un-chaste, un-clean, and un-holy behavior. Note: “This is a constant fight, struggle, and battle every single day that we cannot ever win in our own strength, it takes our yielding to God the Holy Spirit for us to have victory in this area as Paul said to the Galatian believers when he wrote these words, ‘But I say, walk {and} live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to {and} controlled {and} guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings {and} desires of the flesh (of human nature without God). For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free {but} are prevented from doing what you desire to do. But if you are guided (led) by the [Holy] Spirit, you are not subject to the Law.’” (Galatians 5:16-18) (Amplified Bible).
Fifthly, Paul declares that we are to have our minds exercised to things that are lovely and this English word is translated by the Greek word prosphiles (the one and only use in the New Testament) meaning friendly towards, that is, acceptable: - lovely. In other words, our minds should not be filled with desires to injure, hurt, or harm our fellow-man, but instead filled with thoughts that are peaceable and friendly towards others (unless we are assaulted physically) again as Paul instructed the Roman believers with these words, “If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18) (Amplified Bible). Sixthly, Paul wants our minds focused on things of a good report and this English phrase is translated by one Greek word euphemos meaning well-spoken of, that is, reputable: - of good report. In other words, it is our duty to exercise our minds to things that are honorable and not born out of someone’s gossip to us about others or conditions or circumstances, but only what we know to be the facts of a matter and not innuendo, implication, or insinuation as Paul warned the Corinthian believers to do with these words, “So do not make any hasty {or} premature judgments before the time when the Lord comes [again], for He will both bring to light the secret things that are [now hidden] in darkness and disclose {and} expose the [secret] aims (motives and purposes) of hearts. Then every man will receive his [due] commendation from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:5) (Amplified Bible). Seventhly, Paul declares that our minds should be filled with things of virtue and this English word is translated by the Greek word arête meaning properly manliness (valor), that is, excellence (intrinsic or attributed). In other words, things that serve the purpose of promoting the general good of all mankind and things that are strong and substantive, the very opposite of folly as Paul exhorted the Thessalonian believers to do with these words, “See that none of you repays another with evil for evil, but always aim to show kindness {and} seek to do good to one another and to everybody.” (1 Thessalonians 5:15) (Amplified Bible).
Eighthly, Paul wants us to exercise our minds to things of praise and this English word is translated by the Greek word epainos meaning laudation; concretely a commendable thing: - praise. In other words, the things that are of value, virtue, and vitality to our Heavenly Father, should be things we have in and on our minds, for these things honor Him and are praiseworthy such as repentance, joy, love, peace, abhorring evil, honoring father and mother, confession of sin, giving to the true work of the Gospel, giving thanks to our Father in Heaven for all things, etc. as Paul declared to the Hebrews with these words, “Through Him, therefore, let us constantly {and} at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of our lips that thankfully acknowledge {and} confess {and} glorify His name.” (Hebrews 13:15) (Amplified Bible). Think on these eight things Paul declares and the English phrase “think on” is translated by one Greek word logizomai meaning to take an inventory, that is, estimate (literally or figuratively): - conclude, (account (of), esteem, impute, lay, number, reason, reckon, suppose, think (on). In other words, our minds are to be like a business ledger or an accounting journal recording our thoughts in the positive or negative side of the ledger and having the positive side or thoughts far out numbering the negative side of the ledger, knowing that as redeemed, regenerated, and reborn sons and daughters of God the Father through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, that we have the mind of Christ even though we don’t always exercise Christ mind within us, we should be more inclined to think like Christ than to think in opposition to Him. Paul uses himself as the example of all these eight things he is exhorting the Philippian believers and we believers today to follow as an example. Paul walked and lived among these believers, so they were eyewitnesses to his daily conduct and behavior, however, we have the Word of God that details for us Paul’s manner of life for our example. Paul declares that not only will God’s Peace be in us, but that when we are obedient to exercise our minds to these eight things or ways of thinking and meditating, then we will know the Presence of the “God of Peace” Himself walking, talking, and fellowshipping with us somewhat like the angel Gabriel spoke concerning himself when he said, “And the angel replied to him, I am Gabriel. I stand in the [very] presence of God, and I have been sent to talk to you and to bring you this good news.” (Luke 1:19) (Amplified Bible).
“We must be moderate in our ambitions and gentle in our behavior. We must ever practice the presence of our Lord-He is always at hand. We must turn over all causes of anxiety to the Father’s infinite care and leave them with Him. We must thank Him for the past, and count on Him for the future. While we pray, the Angel of Peace will descend to stand as sentry at our heart’s door. But we must possess the God of peace as well as the peace of God-the one condition being that we must earnestly pursue all things that are true, just, pure, and lovely.” F. B. Meyer
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
No comments:
Post a Comment