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Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s Word on Bibleline, everywhere, every time. Here God’s truth on Bibleline. Welcome to Bibleline with Dr. Ralph Yankee Arnold, pastor of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida. Clearly declaring the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the radio and the internet. Your regular prayers and monthly support make it possible for Bibleline to continue on the air. You can reach us toll-free at 1-800-576-3771. Online donations may be made by clicking on the donations link on the BibleLineMinistries.org homepage. We pray that you will enjoy our commitment to the clear gospel of Jesus Christ and that today’s first part of this two-part message will be a blessing to you and your family.

your Bible and turn to the book of Philippians. The book of Philippians I want us to look at the last chapter, chapter 4. This is the conclusion of the matter of all the things that the Apostle Paul has been talking to them about in the first three chapters. And he talks to them in those three chapters about why they should be serving the Lord. For me to live is Christ, Christ living through us. I’ve often wondered why He seems to have waited until the last chapter to say one of the problems that was existing in the church.

There was a couple of ladies that were not getting the long. And so, might have been more than that, but at least two ladies. And in the book, he talks about having this mind which was in Christ, learning to think together and see if everybody had the mind of Christ, then they ought to get along with each other. But lo and behold, as you and I know, not everyone does. So in the first four verses of chapter four, And it deals with the unity that God’s children ought to have for one another.

In view of everything that He said in the first three chapters, we should strive for unity of the same mind. And you’ll notice that when He says in verse 2, I B.C. Eodius and B.C. Shintis. He says that they be of the, and there’s those two words, same mind. than the last three words says in the Lord. Because see, if everybody did what they did and thought the way that he should think, people should be on the same page, be of the same mind.

But there’s always, whenever we’re doing what God wants us to do, people don’t always see things the same way. It just doesn’t work that away. We have different viewpoints. And whether we want to or not, we approach the scriptures, one another with preconceived ideas. But we don’t even sometimes see it. We’re not aware of it. So notice there in verse one where he says, therefore my brethren, dearly beloved, long for, my joy and crown. Now we know that in the book of 1 Thessalonians in chapter two, verse 19 where it says, ye are my joy and crown of rejoicing.

It’s the people that he had won the Christ. There are people here that he has won the Christ. And so he wants them to get along. So the reason for teaching the book of Philippians, because he is in jail, and that’s why they call this a prison epistle, it was for the purpose of trying to get the people there to have harmony, to strive together, to love one another. And of all the people that he’s talking about, look where he is.

And yet look at his attitude. Seemed like everything is going wrong for Paul. And yet he’s the one that’s writing a letter of encouragement. And look at all the things that people have done to Paul. That’s why he’s in jail. And yet he’s telling them, love one another. Pray for one another, encourage one another. And so these two people there, as you see in verse two, he says, I beseech you two ladies that you be of the same mind and the Lord.

And I entreat the also true yoke fellow, which we believe could be Onesimus, but he says, help those women which labored with me also. And that was the man named in verse 25 of chapter 2, Epaphroodius. And so he was nigh unto death because of his service. And the Bible tells us there that he was sick and nigh unto death because he was making up for some of the service that other people could have done. You see what he says in verse 30 of chapter 2, because for the work of Christ, he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life to supply, get this, your lack of service toward me.

So you see, they should have been serving, they should have been doing something, but they weren’t doing it. And it means more people, somebody else had to do more work. And so Paul says, he was nigh unto death because of his service for the Lord, because of your lack of service. So it’s a rebuke. And at the same time he’s saying, that maybe wouldn’t have been that away if y’all could have got along. Think of how much could be accomplished in the work of the Lord if all of God’s people were unified.

It would be wonderful. And so he says here in verse 3 of chapter 4, help those women which labored with me and the gospel. So never, Epaphroodius was to get there, and he was supposed to help encourage those ladies and to try to do some healing, to do some help. He says, with Clement also and with other my fellow laborers whose names are in the book of life. And was they know the Lord? And so these ladies, they may know the Lord, but see, not everybody is on the same page.

Not everybody has the same mind. Not everybody is working together as they should. And so he says, when you get there, help them. Paul knew even though he was in prison that there were people that, well, weren’t getting along but they should have and he was trying to give to him a soft rebuke, every but a soft rebuke. It’s more like he was trying to win them instead of chasing them away. He was speaking with some sympathy and it should have been the other way around.

should have been writing a letter to Paul. And what I like is what he says in verse 4. In verse 4 he says, Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say, Rejoice. In other words, in spite of whatever has happened, whatever has gone on, do you know that one of these days we’re going to change these old vile bodies? See that’s mentioned down here in verse 21 of chapter 3. We’re going to lose these old vile bodies. We won’t have this old sinful nature.

So you look forward, you look to where you’re going and realize that we should be rejoicing in the Lord. And sometimes it’s difficult to rejoice when things are not happy and there’s no then the unity is not there. You want unity in a marriage, you want unity in the church, you would love to have unity in our country. Would you say right now with all the Democrats and Republicans and the Independents that we’re all in unity? You know sometimes the only thing it causes people to come together for a common purpose if you had a common enemy.

What if all of a sudden we were attacked by Russia? I bet you you would forget about Republican and Democrat and Independent and everybody would work together to try to save their lives and to save our whole country. But now what I want you to see in verse 5 and 6 and 7 it talks about the peace of God. And I believe there’s a little bit here about the peace of God because of things without. You see there in verse 5 where he says, let your moderation be known unto all men.

That’s somebody else watching you. That’s you watching them. And then down in verse 8 down to verse 9 it’s talking about the peace of God within you. So you’re to have the peace of God that passes all understanding. That means passing human understanding. So look there in verse 5. Let your gentleness, your moderation, be known unto all men because you are known and read of everybody. People read you. They see who you are and what you’re like. Did you know that you reveal yourself more when you’re under pressure than at any other time.

Because when you’re under pressure, people see how strong you are, whether or not do you fall apart. Or are you rock solid? Do you whine? Pahn and moan and groan? Or are you a steady individual? Because, see, as he says in the book of Corinthian, 2 Corinthians, you are a red and known of all men. You are a living epistle because how you live, what you say, what you do, you’re being read by people. So he says, you’re known and you’re a living person.

read by other people. Don’t you want them to see how much you love the Lord? Don’t you want them to see how much unity there is among God’s people? Wouldn’t that be wonderful? So he says, and you ought to handle on the Lineness in your Bible. And the reason is because the Lord is at hand. He’s right there with you. He’s always with you. You’re not alone. You have not been forsaken. The most wonderful thing that you and I can never have is the presence of the Lord.

Who said that? Paul in prison and he made a wonderful statement, the Lord is at hand. And I’ve mentioned this before, but when he makes a statement up there in chapter 3 about verse 14, I press toward the mark for the the price of the high calling. I mean, I run toward this mark. I run. And then down there in verse 16, he says, let us walk. And then here in verse 5, he says, the Lord is at hand.

It’s where you stand. So whether you run or whether you walk or whether you stand, the Lord is right there with you all the time. Well, if we could only remember that. But now notice what he says concerning the peace ofARP and how to have the peace of God that people see. You see there in verse 5 let your moderation or your gentleness be known unto all men, it’s because you are gentle toward people. You don’t want to be mean and ugly and unkind to other people because they know that when you’re like that you’re not right because they know that that’s not the the side of maturity.

That’s a sign of an undisciplined mind. It means that you’re maybe not as close to the Lord as you ought to be. And yet one of the most easiest thing for us to do is to lose our cool to get upset. And yet this is why Paul is writing this so that you learn how to think. So he says this in verse 6, when he says, be careful for nothing means don’t be anxious for anything. Don’t worry. Don’t worry about things.

Why? The Lord’s at hand, as you go through life every day, you have somebody right there with you every moment that can do something about any situation. So what’s your problem? What’s your problem? Do you have a problem too big that God can’t handle? What would it be? Could you write it down? And so he says, be careful or anxious for nothing but this is what he said. But in everything, not just the big things, everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.

What do you want? What do you want? What do you after? Let your request being made known unto God. Why do that? Because you see, God is at hand. It means he sees, he knows, he’s walking with you, and he’ll never forsake you. And all you got to do is talk to him. Talk to the one that can do something about everything. And then you trust him. Just trust him. You don’t have to see God. You don’t have to know how he’s going to do it.

You just believe that he will. And he’ll keep his word. And that’s why he says in verse seven. And the peace of God. You see, you have the peace with God when you trust it Christ is your savior. and you were an enemy of God. You came short and you were an enemy of God because of your sins. Well, Christ came into the world, took your sins, paid for them, so that you and I could be reconciled to God because of the work Christ did.

So I have been reconciled to God. I have peace with God. sins have been paid for, I have been declared justified, righteous by God Himself. So now we’re talking about the peace of God, having the peace of God in your own soul, and that people can see your peace, because they can tell whenever you’re under pressure, they know the problems of life, but everybody has got their little magnifying glass and they’re always scrutinizing everybody else. Now they’re very seldom ever scrutinized themselves, but they like to pick everybody else apart.

But I know that we should. In verse 7, and the peace of God which passes all understanding, that’s all human understanding, shall keep, that word keep means, and guard your hearts and minds. See, it’s not just the way you think, it’s talking about the way you feel, your heart and your mind. So it’s not just how you think about something mentally, but how you feel about it, your emotions about it. So God says, He can guard your mind when you have the peace of God, when you pray to the Lord.

Therefore, you can have, as He says here, the peace of God. Now look what He says down in verse 8, here you have the peace of God from things within, because it’s talking about having nothing to do with the circumstances out there, out there or with the people out there, but it has an awful lot to do with the things on the inside of you. Can you produce peace within yourself? Can you exalt yourself in the sense that you encourage yourself like David did?

The Bible says he encouraged himself. Do you talk to yourself? So when you begin to answer yourself that might be in trouble, but it says finally brethren, What’s over things are true, what’s over things are honest, what’s over things are just, what’s over things are pure, what’s so ever things are lovely, and what’s over things are of a good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, and you ought to on the line is think on these things, because peace of mine depends on what you’re thinking about.

So if you think on the problems and everything that seems to fall apart, you’re going to fall apart because you think about those things and it makes a difference on how you think and how you feel. And so he says, think on these things. Now look in verse 9, those things which you have both learned and received and heard and seen in me and there’s the biggest word in the Bible, do. you, and the God of peace shall be with you.”

So you can have the peace of God, but a lot of times people don’t have peace. They don’t have peace from without, and they don’t have peace within. And yet Paul is writing because there’s people that are not getting along. They have problems, and they need to learn how to think, learn who they’re living for. Look what he says here. In verse 10 through the rest of this, you’ll see that he’s talking about the results, the results of a peace of mind.

He’s going to show you the application of a peace of mind. When you think right, you can live right. It doesn’t mean everything goes right, but look what Paul went through in order to reveal his peace of mind, because people watch Paul and he says, you know of my doctrine, you know of my behavior, you know of my life. He was read by everybody. But look what he says in verse 10, but I rejoice in the Lord greatly. And that word greatly goes all the way up there to the word in verse four, where it says rejoice in the Lord always.

And again, I say rejoice, then in verse 10, but I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at the last. Your care of me hath flourished again. You see, take your Bible and just look there in Philippians in chapter one. And look in verse six. Now, there is a possibility of a double understanding of this verse. One is that we know that Christ can do the job that He came to do until Christ comes back in the air for us, which He will.

But in verse 6 He says, being confident of this very thing that He which hath begun a good work in you, and that good work that was begun in them may not be just referring about salvation, But at the beginning, they were supporting the missionary, the Apostle Paul. And then because something happens in their church, and they stop their giving, they stop flourishing, they stop giving, and Paul says, I have learned that in whatsoever state that I’m in, whether you give or whether you don’t, I’m gonna continue doing what I’m supposed to do.

And so as he mentions as here in verse six, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform until the day of Jesus Christ. In other words, he believed that there is a good possibility yet you have now flourished again. So go back there to the book of Philippians in chapter 4. So he says that now at the last, you’re care of me. You care of me because evidently something happened. Whether or not they turned on Paul, there’s this unity in the church, problems, it always takes its toll.

But he makes his statement. He says, wherein you were also careful, you wanted to, but you lacked opportunity for whatever reason it doesn’t say. Maybe because they just had hard time, they didn’t have money. They didn’t have whatever it was. But he says, I’m not saying this just so that I get something. Because he made the statement, I say what I say because I want fruit to abound to your account. You see, there’s a lot of people, they may not be able to go to the foreign fields, you know, to go to Bible school and become a missionary or whatever.

But they work hard and they make money and to make that money took their time and that time took part of their life. So they’re giving their life when they give their funds in order to help somebody get to the foreign fields. Or when they give to the radio broadcast, or they give to the youth ministry. They’re giving part of their life so that fruit might abound to their account. scriptural, and this is what Paul was talking about. See there in verse 17, not because I desire a gift, but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

Did you know that all of our life is about this issue? That whenever we get to heaven, there will be souls there because somebody had fruit. And why were they able to go and to do? Because somebody supported, somebody helped, somebody gave. Not everybody can just pack up and leave and go and whatever. And yet some people it will become such a burden to them that they will. And so wouldn’t it be wonderful if God’s people, the church, was able to help a lot of missionaries go to the foreign fields?

But look what he says down here in verse 11. He says, not that I speak in respect of what, for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, there would to be content. Content means I’m at peace with it. You see, whole chapter is about how to have peace. And sometimes we’re at peace if everything goes well. What Paul is saying is not everything went well. There were times when I didn’t have enough. He says, I have learned. Now this is the application of how to think.

It doesn’t mean just because you think right, you’re not going to have things go wrong. But you’ll know how to have peace in the missed of everything that goes wrong with what he says here. In verse 12, I know both how to be a based and I know how to abound. In other words, when I don’t have anything, I know how to be content. I know how to have peace of mind. And when I abound, I don’t get the big head.

I know how to have peace. Everywhere and in all things, it didn’t matter where he went, what he had, what he didn’t have. He’s the same person. Some people can do great if everything is smooth. Do you know that one way to keep from rocking the boat is to keep both hands on the yours. Keep busy and you don’t have time to rock the boat. You usually rock the boat when you’re not trying to get the boat to go anywhere.

You stand up and anything and boom. Have you ever tried to stand up in a canoe? But you see, when you learn to work together with people and you’re busy doing the right thing, you don’t have trouble or time to rock the boat. And a lot of people that’s all they do is rock the boat because they’re not busy. They’re not doing what they’re supposed to be doing. They got too much time under him. Have you ever heard this statement on idle mine?

On idle mine is what? Devil’s workshop. Why? He’s working. And he works on you. So he makes the statement, I know both how to abase and how to abound everywhere in all things. I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need, but I can learn how to be content in all of that. Still have peace of mind. Because you learned how to think. Because you understand life, you know that God is with me and he says rejoice in everything.

You see when you’re hungry, rejoice. When you got more than you need, rejoice. Just keep on rejoicing. In other words, God likes people who rejoice because that’s their way of bragging on God. God means more to me than a full stomach. He means more to me than good clothes. God means more to me than a nice house and a nice car. God means more to me. Because if he could take all that away, the Lord is at hand. I still got him.

And it makes so much sense. But Paul said, I had to learn. I have learned, see there in verse 11, for I have learned those are lessons. Those are hard lessons, but you have to learn them. Notice what he says here in verse 13. This verse is why he could have peace of mine. You want to have peace of mine. See, all of this is about finding peace for the soul. Finding peace for the soul. The unity and the peace of God, because of what’s going on without, the peace of God, what’s going on on the inside, the peace of God regardless of where you are, what’s going on, learning to be content.

And so he says, I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. Strengthen me when I have it, strengthen me when I don’t have it. Strengthen me when you give and strengthen with me when you don’t. You just learn how to have peace. I can do all things through Christ which strengthen with me and all these situations. These are lessons that you learn. So he says in verse 14, not what’s standing you have well done. That you did communicate with my afflictions you gave to me when I had need.

Now ye Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me. He’s not talking about cell phones and iPads and all that, you know, and the telephone, the television. He’s telling me, you didn’t give. You didn’t support my ministry. He says, as concerning, giving and receiving, but ye only. When I first came to mess with the only, you’re the only one that helped me. But he started churches and a lot of them.

He says, but see, Paul is bragging when he can brag. And so he made the statement here in verse 16, for even in Thessalonica, he sent once and again unto my necessity. Did you know that a lot of this is the purpose of this book? Because there’s people who have forgotten a lot of things. You’ve been listening to Bibleline, a teaching ministry of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida with Dr. Ralph Arnold. We pray that you were blessed by today’s message.

Part two of this teaching will conclude with tomorrow’s broadcast. If you have enjoyed our commitment to the clear gospel of Jesus Christ, You can reach Bibleline and pledge your support to keep us on the air in your area by dialing toll free, 1-800-576-3771. That’s 1-800-576-3771. To listen to today’s message again or to obtain a free download of any of our Bibleline programs, just go to our homepage at BibleLineMinistries.org and click on the Radio Broadcast link. If you are in the area, we welcome you to visit us.

The address for Calvary Community Church is 4811 George Road, Tampa, Florida, 33634. Our Sunday morning services begin at 1030 and at 6 o’clock on Sunday evening. Live broadcast of our services may be seen by clicking on the Calvary Community Church link at BibleLineMinistries.org. Thanks for joining us on Bibleline and now a closing thought from Pastor Arnold. Friend, one day it will happen. The trumpet will sound and we will be changed. Caught up to meet the Lord in the air.

So live today and every day, believing that the Lord is coming soon and just keep looking up.