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Life is?? Study guide - Philippians 4:8-9
(My Unusual Road of Life....)

** If you can read, learn and follow the list of (8) eight elements in this lesson - you will be well on the way to Eternal perfection through Christ teachings. **

Date:   2/11/2018 10:32:26 AM ( 6 y ago)

Life For Today Study Bible Notes

Philippians 4:8
Note on Philippians 4:8
This relates to what Paul said earlier in this letter about ungodly people minding earthly things (Philippians 3:19).

In contrast, we are supposed to keep our focus only on

(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 that are of good report,

(7) things with virtue,

(8) plus praise worthy.

The Amplified Bible ends this verse by saying
“ [fix your minds on them].”

If we would just follow the guidelines of this verse, we would be strong in faith, with little unbelief, not subject to depression, and basically just much more blessed in every respect.

Satan gains access to us through the way we think.

If all we would think was on these things, then all we could get would be the positive results that these things produce
(Romans 6-8 NKJV)
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,

* see
Note on Hebrews 11:15
Opportunity to return
(which, for Abraham, was temptation or sin) was linked to what they thought on.
You can’t be tempted with something that you don’t think upon. Control your thinking and you will control your temptation. What a powerful truth!
This verse can be turned around and say that since they weren’t mindful of the country they came out of, they weren’t tempted to go back. All of us could be mighty men and women of God if we weren’t tempted. So, we shouldn’t think on that which brings temptation.


Peter revealed that it was through seeing and hearing the ungodly people’s words and actions, day by day, that Lot vexed his righteous soul
(2 Peter 2:8).

The second thing we are told to think on in this verse is things that are honest.

The New International Version and the Message translate this as “noble.”
The dictionary defines “noble” as “having or showing qualities of high moral character.” This would exclude most television shows and movies of today.

The American Standard Version translates this Greek word as “honorable,” while the Amplified Bible translates it as “reverence...honorable and seemly (good).”

The Greek word from which “just” was translated means “equitable
(in character or act);
by implication, innocent, holy” (Strong’s Concordance).

The Greek word from which “pure” was translated means “clean, i.e. (figuratively) innocent, modest, perfect” (Strong’s Concordance).


Note 26 at Philippians 4:8:
In closing, Paul admonished the Philippian believers to reflect and meditate upon eight positive principles of thinking that would lead to victorious Christian living (Romans 8:6).

In the Greek, this sentence is constructed in the present imperative, which is a command to do something in the future that involves a continuous and repeated action.

The eight principles of thought to reflect and ponder upon are the following:

1) things that are “true,”
or honorable, truthful, and upright

2) things that are “honest,” or honorable, truthful, genuine, and not characterized by deception or fraud

3) things that are “just,” or in accordance with what is right, or right conduct; any circumstance, fact, or deed that is right

4) things that are “pure,” or free from defilement or impurity

5) things that are “lovely,” or pleasing, agreeable, and inspiring love or affection

6) a “good report,” or a saying or report that is positive and constructive, rather than negative and destructive

7) “virtue,” or moral excellence, righteousness, and goodness

8) “praise,” or what is praiseworthy; expressing one’s esteem of others and their virtues

Note 27 at Philippians 4:8: Notice Paul’s use of the word “whatsoever.”
Some Christians think this verse can only be fulfilled by thinking on “church” things or “religious” things, but Paul said “whatsoever” falls into these eight categories should be the focus of our attention.

Therefore, it is not only thinking about spiritual truths that is important; we also need to be able to discern natural truths from lies and think on those things too.

Our lives should not be compartmentalized into “spiritual” and “secular.”

Truth is truth whether we are at church or at home.
We should think and deal justly whether with our Christian brothers and sisters or with the public on our jobs. We should keep our minds stayed on the good things God has given us in the natural, such as family, health, and work, just as we should think about righteousness, justification, forgiveness, and so forth.

Focusing on the good in every area of our lives is what Paul was advocating. Failure to recognize God’s blessings in everyday living will cause us care and anxiety. Recognizing God’s hand in even the smallest things will cause peace and will keep our hearts and minds following hard after the Lord.

Philippians 4:9
Note on Philippians 4:9
Once again, Paul was using himself as a role model.
This wasn’t arrogance.
This was wisdom.
If what we are teaching isn’t working for us, then we shouldn’t be teaching it. If what we teach is working for us, then we should be encouraging others to emulate us.

Paul had just told the believers to think on the eight things he listed in Philippians 4:8.
Here he instructed them to follow him because he was doing exactly what he had instructed them to do.
He lived what he preached.
So should we.


Note 28 at Philippians 4:9: Paul listed these four things in reverse order.
First of all, the Philippians saw Paul’s life. They saw God living through Paul and Silas when the pair came to Philippi and were miraculously delivered from prison through an earthquake (Acts 16:22-31).

Next, they heard Paul’s message. He used the miraculous events to preach the Gospel and give the glory to Jesus.

Third, they received what Paul said and were born again.

Then, and only then, they learned Paul’s secret of relationship with God by faith in God’s grace.

This is a normal progression of events in a person’s receiving Christ.
If we fail to walk in the supernatural power of God so that unbelievers can see that power in our lives, then few of them will ever stop to hear what we have to say. If they do hear but don’t receive, the process stops there. If they receive, then they will learn of Christ personally in an experiential way.

Note 29 at Philippians 4:9:
It is not the hearers of God’s Word but the doers of God’s Word who are blessed.
Paul admonished the Philippians to do what they had seen him do. That was no small task. Read what the Lord did through Paul in Philippi (Acts 16).

Note 30 at Philippians 4:9: Not only were the Philippian believers to think upon whatsoever was true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report (Philippians 4:8), but they were also to “put into practice” the things they had learned.

The Living Bible renders this verse as “Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.”

In this verse, the Greek word “PRASSO” was translated “do,” and means “to ‘practice’” (Strong’s Concordance).

It is a present imperative (see note 26 at
Philippians 4:8), meaning this is “a command to keep on doing an action as one’s general habit or lifestyle”
(The Discovery Bible, Moody Press).

Life For Today Study Bible Notes
Andrew Wommack's Living Commentary.

 

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