HAVE GOD'S PEACE

Passage: Philippians 4:1-9

Key verse: 6,7

NIV

Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity

4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for,(A) my joy and crown, stand firm(B) in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind(C) in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers,(D) whose names are in the book of life.(E)

Final Exhortations

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!(F) 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.(G) 6 Do not be anxious about anything,(H) but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.(I) 7 And the peace of God,(J) which transcends all understanding,(K) will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.(L) And the God of peace(M) will be with you.

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

4 Therefore, my brothers,[a] whom I love and (A)long for, (B)my joy and (C)crown, (D)stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

Exhortation, Encouragement, and Prayer

2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to (E)agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion,[b] help these women, who have labored[c] side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, (F)whose names are in the book of life.

4 (G)Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness[d] be known to everyone. (H)The Lord is at hand; 6 (I)do not be anxious about anything, (J)but in everything by prayer and supplication (K)with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And (L)the peace of God, (M)which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned[e] and (N)received and heard and seen (O)in me—practice these things, and (P)the God of peace will be with you.

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Footnotes
  1. Philippians 4:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 8, 21
  2. Philippians 4:3 Or loyal Syzygus; Greek true yokefellow
  3. Philippians 4:3 Or strived (see 1:27)
  4. Philippians 4:5 Or gentleness
  5. Philippians 4:9 Or these things—9which things you have also learned
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Agree with each other in the Lord (1-3)

Problems can be opportunities to grow in faith. Paul exhorts 2 sisters to agree in the Lord. He doesn't say why they disagreed or who was right. We must contend with the world in the cause of Christ, but we must agree in the Lord with one another.

2. Rejoice in the Lord and pray (4-7)

When difficult or frustrating problems arise, we must not be anxious or irritable. First, we must rejoice in the Lord; second, we must put the problem before God in prayer, with thanksgiving. Then God's peace will rule our hearts and minds.

3. Think about such things (8-9)

We become like what we think about. Christ must rule our thought world. He does not want us to think about garbage, but about what is true, noble, right and pure.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for worrying instead of praying. Come and rule my thought world; clean out all of the garbage, and dwell within.

One Word: Think on these things