Fellowship - Being With the God of Peace
(Philippians 4:1-9)

(Class Notes)

• Exhortation (Standing together in Him)
  • STAND FAST in the Lord (Philippians 4:1)
    • Our focus should be Heavenly, where our citizenship is, and not Earthly (Philippians 3:17-21)
    • Resurrection is an encouragement to be steadfast and undeterred in labor which will be rewarded (I Corinthians 15:54-58)
  • BE of the SAME MIND in the Lord (Philippians 4:2-3)
    • Paul's desire was for the brethren to strive together for the faith of the gospel and not with each other (Philippians 1:27)
      • One spirit - "the spirit of meekness" (Galatians 6:1), "which is in the sight of God of great price" (I Peter 3:4)
      • One mind - "the mind of Christ" (Philippians 2:3-5)
    • Paul could sympathize with Euodias and Syntyche as he can relate from his own experience with Barnabas (Acts 15:36-40)
    • Our name may not be known to others, but it is known to Him and that should be our joy (Luke 10:19-20)

• Exhortation (Rejoicing individually with Him)
  • REJOICE in the Lord (Philippians 4:4)
    • We should always be able to rejoice in the Lord (I Thessalonians 5:16)
    • Their joy in the Lord was the purpose of his writing them (Philippians 3:1)
  • MODERATION (GENTLENESS) unto all men (Philippians 4:5)
    • Yielding up our own rights for the sake of the edification of others is to have the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:4-5)
    • The Lord is at hand (near) and is as close as our spirit
      • He dwells in us through His Spirit (Romans 8:9-10)
      • It's His Spirit that is joined to our spirit (I Corinthians 6:16-17)
      • It's through His Spirit that we have access to the Father (Ephesians 2:18) and it's in our spirit that He has His dwelling place (Ephesians 2:22)
  • SUPPLICATION with THANKSGIVING unto God (Philippians 4:6)
    • We should not worry about anything, but pray about everything (I Thessalonians 5:17)
    • Thanksgiving should accompany all our requests to Him, for that is His will for us in Christ Jesus (I Thessalonians 5:18)
    • The phrase "to freely give" (Greek, EUCHARISTIA) contains within it the word "grace" (Greek, CHARIS), i.e Thanksgiving = Grace receiving

• Promise - The Peace of God (Philippians 4:7)
  • The peace of God will keep (protect like a military guard) our hearts (Philippians 4:7)
  • The peace of God should rule (decide like a game umpire) our hearts (Colossians 3:15)

• Exhortation (Focus on what is Virtuous and Praiseworthy)
  • Think on these Things (Philippians 4:8)
    • Things pertaining to the Kingdom of God, i.e. things which make for peace and which edify one another (Romans 14:17-19)
    • Things pertaining to thanksgiving (I Timothy 4:3-6)
    • Things pertaining to godliness (I Timothy 4:7-11)
    • Things pertaining to life and doctrine (I Timothy 4:12-15 cf. II Timothy 3:10-14)

• Promise - The God of Peace (Philippians 4:9)
  • Being like-minded one toward another is to fellowship with the God of Peace (II Corinthians 13:11)
  • The God of Peace has promised to preserve us blameless until the coming of His Son (I Thessalonians 5:23-24)

Study Outline

Audio Message (Parts 1-3) Audio Message (Part 1) Audio Message (Part 2) Audio Message (Part 3)