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Lesson Seven

Philippians 4:4-7

Philippians 4:4-74 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:8-9

Philippians 4:8-98 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.9 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.

Philippians 4:10-12

Philippians 4:10-1210 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Philippians 4:13

Philippians 4:1313 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Focus Verse

II Corinthians 12:10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in

reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am

weak, then am I strong.

Focus Thought

In this present world, we shall have tribulation. We must keep the right spirit

and attitude, rejoice, and praise God in all things.

IntroductionIntroductionIn his second epistle to the believers in Corinth, Paul the apostle wrote: “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (II Corinthians 12:10). The idea of what Paul was saying is fundamentally foreign to the mindset of the modern-day North American culture. Take pleasure in infirmities? Many people would probably respond, “You’ve got to be kidding, right?”

IntroductionPaul was not kidding; he was absolutely serious. Paul’s treasures were not anchored in this world. He had discovered a greater treasure, and he possessed a spiritual perspective that looked beyond this present life and forward to a future day when he would receive the remainder of his eternal inheritance. He had received only the earnest of his inheritance—the Holy Ghost—and based on the initial reward he had received, he knew that an unimaginably awesome eternity lay in store for him.

IntroductionPaul also had discovered a significant key to living a successful life in Christ Jesus: when we are weak, we discover our real strength, which comes from the Lord Jesus Christ.

IntroductionFrom various places of confinement—from house arrest to the infamous Mamertine prison—Paul humbly accepted his path. With a right attitude, he continued praising God, exhibiting a positive outlook on life, and doing what he could for the Lord Jesus Christ—writing at least five epistles of the New Testament from prison. It pays to keep the right attitude through every circumstance of life.

I. Paul’s Suffering (A)Paul’s Suffering

If anyone could understand the extent of human suffering in this life, surely the apostle Paul could have understood. He gave a comprehensive journal of his sufferings in his second epistle to Corinth. (See II Corinthians 11:23-33.) Paul stated that he endured much labor, many stripes on his body, frequent encounters with jail, and even death (II Corinthians 11:23)!

I. Paul’s Suffering (A)Perhaps he alluded to his being stoned and left for dead at Lystra (Acts 14), about which some biblical students believe he wrote in II Corinthians 12 when he wrote of one who was caught up into paradise and saw unspeakable glories. What we know for certain was that he suffered many things for the cause of his Savior.

I. Paul’s Suffering (A)Paul was beaten with rods, stoned, and shipwrecked, and he spent “a night and a day” lost at sea. He journeyed, encountered great perils of many sorts, and experienced great depths of weariness and pain. He suffered hunger and thirst, fasted often, and had to deal with cold and nakedness. Moreover, in addition to physical suffering, Paul experienced emotional stress from the burden of caring for the churches (II Corinthians 11:28).

I. Paul’s Suffering (A)A. Persecution

The apostle Paul had visited both sides of Jesus’ admonition regarding persecution of believers, for he had been both persecutor and persecuted. Jesus warned His disciples, “And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake” (Luke 21:16-17).

I. Paul’s Suffering (A)Saul of Tarsus, as he was known prior to turning to Jesus Christ, hated the Christians and went to great effort to destroy them. Following his dramatic conversion to Christ Jesus on the road to Damascus, however, he also tasted the bitter fruit of the hatred of others. He had experienced persecution from both perspectives.

Acts 8:1, 3“And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a

great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they

were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. . . . As for Saul,

he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to

prison” (Acts 8:1, 3).

Acts 13:50

“But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief

men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and

Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts” (Acts 13:50).

Acts 14:19

“And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who

persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city,

supposing he had been dead” (Acts 14:19).

I. Paul’s Suffering (A)By his own testimony, Paul humbly admitted that he was unworthy of his apostolic role in the fledgling church, for he had persecuted the church (I Corinthians 15:9). But Paul went on to say that he had experienced the enormous grace of God (verse 10). He seemed to be determined to exert more effort on behalf of Jesus Christ than he had exercised against Him and His disciples.

I. Paul’s Suffering (A)Jesus admonished His followers that they would experience tribulation, or persecution, but He encouraged them not to fear, for He had “overcome the world” (John 16:33). As it was for the apostle Paul, so it is for believers today: we shall suffer persecution, but our ultimate victory is secure in Christ Jesus.

Phillip Brooks

“Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for

tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the

doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be a miracle”

(Phillips Brooks).

I. Paul’s Suffering (B)B. Religious Opposition

It is interesting that much of the persecution of the early believers came from established religion. Perhaps there is no greater measure of insecurity than that which exists in people who are insecure in their faith. Insecurity causes one to resist anything that might challenge his belief system. On the other hand, when a person is secure in his faith he does not fear the challenge demonstrated by opposing ideas or systems of thought.

I. Paul’s Suffering (B)The proponents of Judaism so feared the new sect of individuals who followed Jesus Christ that they openly resisted them and persecuted them at every opportunity.

John 5:15-18

“The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. And therefore did the

Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him,

because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was

his Father, making himself equal with God” (John 5:15-18).

I. Paul’s Suffering (B)As the Jews continued to resist the believers following the death of Christ, there was one wise man by the name of Gamaliel who obviously was secure in his Judaism. He was a learned scholar of the law and an educator among the Jews. He counseled his fellow Jews to leave the men alone. (See Acts 5:34-39.)

I. Paul’s Suffering (B)He reminded them of two other men who had arisen with variant views that conflicted with Judaism, but their work had come to nothing. If this new way is “of men, it will come to nought,” he assured them. He went on to say, “But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God” (Acts 5:38-39). 

II. Ambassador in BondsAmbassador in BondsAmbassador—“an official representative of a sovereign or state. . . . an authorized or appointed representative or messenger” (Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary).

II. Ambassador in BondsPaul saw himself as an ambassador for Jesus Christ. The fact of his arrest and imprisonment did not change his status as a representative of Christ; it only changed his field of labor and means of representation.

Ephesians 6:19-20

“And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the

mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein

I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:19-20).

II. Ambassador in BondsIf only we could comprehend that our circumstances do not change our position, status, or calling in Jesus Christ and His kingdom! Rather than bemoan circumstances about which we may have absolutely no control, we should seek the direction of our Master. “Lord, how would You use these circumstances to direct my path as an ambassador for You?” The Scriptures assure us that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

II. Ambassador in Bonds (A)A. Opportunities to Minister

Since he viewed himself as an ambassador for Jesus, Paul went about his work from within the jail cells he occupied at various times throughout the rest of his life. He refused to see his times of incarceration as obstacles or as an end to ministry; his circumstances simply opened new doors of opportunity for him to minister to others from jail.

II. Ambassador in Bonds (A)1. Philippian Jailer (Acts 16:16-34). Paul and Silas dramatically affected the jailer in the Philippian prison where they were confined. They were thrust into the deepest parts of the prison, and their feet were secured in leg irons. The authorities were able to take their freedom from them, but not the song from their hearts! At midnight, Paul and Silas began to pray and sing praises to the Almighty. Not only did they cause a stir among the prisoners who heard them, but they also stirred the portals of heaven!

Acts 16:26

“And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of

the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were

opened, and every one’s bands were loosed” (Acts 16:26).

II. Ambassador in Bonds (A)The jailer awoke and saw that the prison doors were open. Assuming that all the prisoners had fled, he drew out his sword and prepared to take his own life (Acts 16:27). However, Paul called out to him not to harm himself, for all the prisoners were present. Because the jailer was so deeply moved by all the events, he inquired of Paul and Silas how he could be saved (Acts 16:30). He was baptized that very night!

II. Ambassador in Bonds (A)2. Felix, Festus, and Agrippa (Acts 24-26). Because of his confinement, Paul had the opportunity to witness of the gospel to several prominent men. In Caesarea, Paul had several opportunities over two years to share his faith with Felix, a Roman procurator of Judea. He also spoke before Festus, the successor to Felix.

II. Ambassador in Bonds (A)Finally, Festus took Paul before Agrippa, the ruler over Judea at that time. Paul gave a moving defense before Agrippa as well as a testimony of his faith in Christ. So moved was Agrippa that he confessed, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian” (Acts 26:28). Agrippa found no guilt in Paul and would have set him free had it not been for Paul’s appeal to Caesar. So Agrippa sent Paul to Rome.

II. Ambassador in Bonds (A)3. In Rome (Acts 28:16-31). In Rome, Paul called together the “chief of the Jews,” which Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary says referred to “the rulers of the synagogues and others of position and influence.” After he explained his circumstances and spoke the Word of God to them, there was much discussion. When they left Paul, some believed and others did not.

II. Ambassador in Bonds (A)Apparently because of the political sensitivity of dealing with Paul, the authorities of Rome took no immediate action regarding him. Rather, they kept him under house arrest for two years, during which time he was able to receive all visitors who came to him. Further, he apparently spent much of his time writing epistles to the churches.

II. Ambassador in Bonds (B)B. Letters from Prison

The apostle Paul wrote at least five epistles from prison: Philemon, Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and II Timothy. He could have withdrawn into a cocoon of self-pity, feeling that both God and his fellow Christians had forsaken him. But Paul chose instead to rejoice that God had counted him worthy to suffer for the cause of Jesus Christ. What a difference Paul made through his anointed writing that has ministered to untold numbers of people around the globe!

III. Praising GodPraising God

We can learn from Paul’s determination to worship God in every circumstance. It was prayer and praise in the midst of a trial that led to an evangelistic opportunity in the Philippian jail: “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. . . . And the keeper of the prison. . . . brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? . . . And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway” (Acts 16:25, 27, 30, 33).

III. Praising GodHad Paul and Silas been mired in their own self-pity, they probably would not have had the opportunity to minister to the jailer and see him and his entire house receive salvation.

III. Praising GodHow can believers today make the greatest impact on the unsaved world all around them? Perhaps the three greatest actions they could take are the three things Paul continued to do from the midst of his trials: rejoice, pray, and be thankful.

I Thessalonians 5:16-18

“Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ

Jesus concerning you” (I Thessalonians 5:16-18).

III. Praising God (A)A. Rejoice Always

“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same

things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe”

(Philippians 3:1).

Philippians 4:4

“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians

4:4).

I Peter 4:12-13“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing

happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of

Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be

glad also with exceeding joy” (I Peter 4:12-13).

III. Praising God (A)Human nature causes a person to feel singled out and alone any time he experiences difficult circumstances. It is natural for one to feel that nobody suffers like he does and, consequently, to believe that life is unfair. How often we hear children complain, “But that’s not fair!”

III. Praising God (A)Believers experience a new, redeemed nature. They do not lose their human nature, but when they receive the Holy Ghost, the Spirit affects their human nature, empowering them to approach life with a more positive outlook and attitude. Still, it is a choice that every believer must make for himself.

III. Praising God (A)To rejoice in the Lord is the best choice a believer can make in every circumstance of life. Christians will experience the same problems, hurts, disappointments, sicknesses, and difficulties as every other human. However, when he chooses to rejoice in the Lord, the believer defuses Satan’s power to use life’s challenges against him.

III. Praising God (A)Satan understands that his greatest power against anyone is through that person’s thoughts, emotions, and attitudes; consequently, he uses the normal activities of life to discourage an individual at every opportunity. When we rejoice in the Lord, however, Satan’s barrages against us become completely impotent.

III. Praising God (A)There is power in praising God! Further, one also receives spiritual strength when he prays and gives thanks to God in every situation. 

III. Praising God (B)B. Pray and Be Thankful

“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door

of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I

am also in bonds” (Colossians 4:2-3).

III. Praising God (B)Paul exhibited an attitude of prayerfulness and thankfulness. He never seemed discouraged by his suffering but appeared to be thankful that the Lord would honor him with such a high privilege. He wrote to the believers at Philippi, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

III. Praising God (B)Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him . . . that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead” (Philippians 3:7-11).

III. Praising God (B)Paul had one supreme, overarching objective in life—to attain unto the resurrection of the dead—and nothing else seemed important against the backdrop of that pursuit. He wanted to spend eternity with Jesus Christ, and he was ready and willing to give his life in the pursuit of that goal. Nothing else really mattered.

IV. Keeping a Right AttitudeKeeping a Right

Attitude

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to

man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted

above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a

way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it”

(I Corinthians 10:13).

IV. Keeping a Right AttitudePaul recognized that temptation is the common thread that runs throughout all humanity, and none can avoid it. However, he maintained a right attitude and proper perspective toward suffering. He knew that God is faithful, and with every temptation there is a means of escape and the strength to bear it until relief comes. His positive attitude enabled him to keep his focus on the eternal prize without wavering in his spirit.

IV. Keeping a Right Attitude (A)

A. Think Positively

“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).

IV. Keeping a Right Attitude (A)

Every individual encounters unpleasant and unfortunate circumstances. However, focusing on all the disappointments and painful experiences in life is counterproductive. To be absorbed by one’s problems and focused on one’s hurts always saps a person’s physical and spiritual strength. On the other hand, it is so empowering to think on good things!

IV. Keeping a Right Attitude (A)

Which is more edifying to the psyche of a person: to think about things that are true, or to think about things that are false? The apostle mentioned eight themes around which a believer should focus his thinking in order to achieve positive results:

IV. Keeping a Right Attitude (A)

(1) things that are true; (2) things that are honest; (3) things that are just; (4) things that are pure; (5) things that are lovely; (6) things of a good report;(7) anything virtuous; (8) and anything praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).

IV. Keeping a Right Attitude (A)

Thinking on these kinds of things will surely revolutionize any person’s thought patterns, and he will certainly feel better and experience better results in life. On the other hand, were one to focus on the opposites of these positive themes, he surely would live a depressed, gloomy, and miserable existence.

Sally PookTen percent of the British people believe they would be better off dead, according to a survey. One in four people said they were unhappy in their jobs, while one in three felt exhausted, unappreciated, or underpaid. Christine Webber, the psychotherapist who carried out the survey, said: “Sadly, it comes as no surprise to me that so many people are unhappy at home and work. It seems that people’s lives do not live up to their extremely high expectations. It is particularly worrying to see so many people dwelling on morbid thoughts, with a large proportion just plainly exhausted by life” (Sally Pook, London Daily Telegraph, 10-16-2000).

IV. Keeping a Right Attitude (B)

B. Be Content

Paul encountered many experiences in life—both positive and negative. However, he had learned that one of the keys to successful living involved having the right attitude, whatever circumstance befell him. He had lived at times with plenty when all his needs were cared for in abundance, and at other times he had lived with less than he really needed. Still, without complaint he had learned the power of living with contentment.

Philippians 4:11

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever

state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11).

IV. Keeping a Right Attitude (B)Perhaps one of the most serious conditions of

modern North America is the lack of contentment, which often leads a person to covet the possessions and privileges of others with envy and jealousy. Many people in this contemporary culture never experience satisfaction. They buy the latest product based on its promises to be better than the last version, only to realize all too soon that the purchase did not satisfy them.

IV. Keeping a Right Attitude (B)Consequently, they set their sights on something

else and appear to think that the key to satisfaction and contentment can be purchased from the shelf of a store. Sadly, they will never find contentment through materialism or human achievements.

Dan Erickson“I often think of what one of the Dallas Cowboys said after winning the Super Bowl one year. As he sat in the locker room an hour after the game, he asked, ‘Now, who do we get to play next?’ Even our most magnificent achievements seldom bring total satisfaction” (Dan Erickson).

IV. Keeping a Right Attitude (C)

C. Trust God

True contentment and satisfaction come through learning to trust God—coming to depend completely on Him in every circumstance of life. He is the source of all spiritual strength and true joy in life.

Philippians 4:13

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”

(Philippians 4:13).

IV. Keeping a Right Attitude (C)Only when we learn to rely on Jesus Christ and

trust His ways for our life can we truly experience the depths of satisfaction.

ReflectionsSaul of Tarsus was a ravenous persecutor of the early Christians prior to his conversion to Jesus Christ. Following his Damascus Road experience, however, he became a new believer in Christ, destined to become Paul the apostle. As one who had once persecuted the church, he tasted the same bitter cup of suffering at the hands of those who persecuted him. Moreover, he discovered that the most intense persecution came from those who claimed to be religious.

ReflectionsPaul had experienced both sides of suffering, but he obviously viewed his future destination as worth every trial, every temptation, and every experience of suffering. Nothing in this life compared to his hope for eternity.

ReflectionsWhen Paul was arrested, he refused to become discouraged and depressed over his circumstances. Rather, he looked for ways to continue ministering for Christ from prison. He impacted many individuals in a positive way by testifying to them of Christ Jesus, but one of the greatest means by which he dramatically influenced the world was through the epistles he wrote from jail. From prison, Paul penned at least five New Testament books.

ReflectionsPaul was determined to keep a right attitude, or spirit, even when he was suffering for the cause of Christ. He continued to rejoice in the Lord, pray, and give thanks to Him. Moreover, he disciplined his thoughts to focus on positive themes that edify and build up instead of themes that tear down or discourage. Through every circumstance he faced before finally dying as a martyr for Jesus Christ, Paul learned to be content and trust God in everything.