Scripture: Philippians 4:1-5

C.I.: The Attitude of a Secure Mind

Some are thermometers others thermostats. – One is changed by surroundings & other has the power to change.
Worried over impending death, didvided Philippi? NO! – Our nation today: $ problems, war, elections, etc.?
Today we will learn the secret of living a life without worry!!! – Paul focuses on solutions & not problems!!!

•  The Secret of a Worry-Free Life, (chapter 4:1-9)

•  “What, Me Worry?” (verses 1-9)

“Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I will say rejoice!” ( v. 4 ).

•  Joy, rejoice, etc. are used almost 20x. – Joy requires being in a right relationship w/God.

2) Happy requires being in a right relationship w/world. – God commands Joy – never happiness.

1. Right Praying, (vs. 4-7)

a. “Be anxious for nothing but in everything with prayer & supplication & thanksgiving your requests be
made known to God,” ( v. 6 )
1) Sometimes people try to help by saying, “Just pray about it.” – But only right praying is effective!

•  Prayer = adoration, devotion. – When we find ourselves worried/anxious – get alone with God!

•  Supplication = Offering needs/problems. – Gethsemane, ( Heb. 5:7 ), “He offered up P. & Sup…”

•  Thanksgiving = This is the Xns' way of demonstrating trust/faith through prayer – ( Rom. 8:28 ).

•  “And the peace of God which….” = Since “worry” has both an emotional & mental component – right praying will guard both of these areas – and grant us God's peace (i.e., His presence)!

•  Right Thinking, (v. 8)

•  “Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable….”

•  “True” = only 8% of our concerns are legitimate. – Focus on truth– not Satan's lies! ( Rom. 8:38-39 ), “I am convinced that neither life, nor death, nor angels, nor principalities, nor, things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing…”

•  “Honorable, Right” = If we become what we think ( Pro. 23:7 ) – let us think RIGHTLY!

•  Pure, lovely, good repute = Things morally pure, lovely & worth speaking/thinking about.

•  Excellence, worthy of praise = What we think about must not “dirty-up” our minds.

•  Dwell = to live, remain, stay. – We need to get rid of stinken-thinken!”

•  Right Living, (v. 9) Feelings = Thoughts + Actions! – To change how you feel change 1/both the other two.

•  “The things you have learned & received and heard & seen in me, practice these things; and the God..”

•  Its one thing to learn a truth – but another to receive (internalize) it! – Does what I learn change me

•  We teach others by what we say and how we live. – Hypocrisy is saying but not dloing/living.

•  Satan uses our worry to keep us ineffective as Xns, ( Matt. 13:22 ), “…the worries of the world…!”

•  Worry is nothing more than faith in the “wrong god”! – But God gives us the Secret of worry-free living

II. The Secret of Contentment, (chapter 4:10-23)

A. Trusting in the Power of God, (v. 10-13)

1. “… I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. – I know how to get along w/humble means,
and I also know how to get along in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of
being filled and going hungry, both of having an abundance and suffering need,” ( v. 11-12 ).
a. The “inner resources” of a person's life are brought to the surface by problems (hunger, need, etc.).
1) What a person really believes is seen when things are at their worst.
2) “Adversity does not create character – it reveals it!”

b. Paul gives the inner resources of the believer, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
1) The believer has all the inner resources they need – it just needs to be unleashed through faith !!
2) Do we trust in God's power to provide us with the resources we need to complete our Mission? – God
has sent to us people who have the skills, the leadership with the vision, people with the heart!
3) There's a difference between contentment & complacency: Contentment = sees the battle for the
souls of the lost - but trusts in God's power; Complacent = Just don't care! – Contentment = seeks
opportunities to share God's blessings; Complacent = Just don't care & enjoy blessings for self.

B. Trusting in the Promise of God, (vs. 14-20) – Paul compares their giving to 2 familiar things…

1. An Investment, (vs. 14-17), “… no church shared with me in the matter of giving & receiving but you alone
… Not that I seek for the gift itself, but I seek for the profit that increases to your account,” ( v. 15-17 ).
a. Giving really is an investment – but not in a tel-evangelical sense – but for a far greater reward…
1) ( Matt. 6:19-21 ), “Do not lay up … But lay up for yourselves … for where your treasure is, there…”
2) The person who understands theses promises of God – is the one who will be content in life & giving!

2. A Sacrificial Offering to God , (vs. 18-20), “…I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what
you sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well- pleasing to God.”
a. There are many such “spiritual sacrifices” that Christians are called to make to God daily…
1) Our bodies – ( Rom. 12:1 ), “…that you present your bodies a spiritual sacrifice, acceptable to God…
2) Our love – ( Eph. 5:1 ), “Walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself for us, an offer..
3) Our worship – ( Heb. 13:15 ), “Let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that…”
4) Souls we bring to Jesus – ( Rom. 15:16 ), “…that my offering of the Gentiles might become acceptable

b. When Christians have learned the secret of contentment - they will willingly offer all these to God!!!

CONCLUSION: Review (Book & Chapter) – offer invitation – Matthew 28:19-20.