Bible Study Series: The Book of Philippians
Bible Study Philippians 4.8-9: Food for Thought!
By Fraser Gordon
Good morning Saints, continuing on in our studies in the Book of Philippians, we're in chapter 4 and today I want to look at verses 8 and 9. To sum up what we looked at last time, Paul was saying be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds through Christ Jesus. So peace will guard your heart and your mind. When we get to verse 8, Paul starts to talk about what we put into our mind to keep it safe. What we think and the thoughts that come are really important to us in our Christian life.
As a man thinks in his heart
Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.
This is a summing up of all the truth that Paul has just put before us. Finally, he says, what we put in is actually really important. In 2004 there was a man by the name of Morgan Spurlock and he tried to eat every meal; breakfast, lunch and dinner at McDonald's. In the end he had to stop because he got so sick. He ate McDonalds solidly for 30 days and had to accept if they asked him to supersize up. During that time he experienced headaches, depression, mood swings, loss of libido, and his liver, the doctors said, was turning to fat. He felt lethargic and craved the food showing addiction like symptoms. In the end they had to stop him.
In the physical, what we put into our bodies makes a massive difference on how we feel and function. It is the same with what we put into the mind. Proverbs 23.7 says, As a man thinks in his heart so is he. It's not just about the heart, it's also about the mind. In Isaiah 1.18 it says; Here, come now let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow, though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. God is calling mankind to reason together, and what is it we are to reason together about? About our condition first of all, though your sins are like scarlet. Take an intellectual look at the state of your own life. We are to reason together with the Lord about our condition, but also about His provision to meet the condition of our sin in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, they shall be white as snow. God doesn’t bypass your mind but asks you to reason with Him over your condition. Yes it is a matter of the heart, but it is also a matter of the mind, they both go together.
Other scriptures that mention the mind are in Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. And of course Matthew 22:37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment.
The forehead
I was reminded of the high priest's crown. The forehead in scripture is always portrayed in the imagery of a man's thoughts, the way he reasons, how he intellectually thinks about things. Exodus 28 describes the garments of the high priest and as part of his garments he wore a crown on his forehead inscribed with the words, ‘Holiness to the Lord’ (vs 36-38). The High priest stood before God representing the people with a crown on his forehead declaring, ‘Holiness to the Lord’. Man's thinking and his reasoning had to be directed toward the Lord God, he had to be holy and pure in his thought life.
I was also reminded of Leviticus 13. There are different forms of leprosy and each one was treated differently by the priest. We see one example of leprosy on the forehead in vs 42-46. If there was leprosy on the forehead, he had to shout, “unclean, unclean”, and live alone outside the camp. Leprosy is a picture of sin, so this man's sin was his thinking and reasoning which had broken out on the forehead. He was considered unclean and unworthy to live among the congregation, cast outside the camp.
The forehead is also mentioned in Revelation 17.5, and upon her forehead was written, mystery Babylon, the great mother of harlots and abominations of the earth. In Ezekiel 9 God commands the man with the inkpot to go throughout the nation and put a mark on the foreheads of all those that sigh and cry over the condition of the state of Israel. These people were thinking of the Lord and the people, and they were concerned about the condition of the nation of Israel. They sighed and cried unto the Lord over the sin that was found in the nation, and God said “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it." Those who didn’t have a mark on their foreheads were destroyed. We get the same imagery in Revelation 13, When the Antichrist rules during the tribulation period, he will cause all to receive a mark either on their right hand or on their forehead. It is interesting that just as the high priest had a band around his head that said Holiness to the Lord, the Antichrist will also force mankind to receive a mark either on the right hand or on the forehead. Leviticus said that when leprosy was on the forehead the man was unclean, so these people in their reasoning will serve the Antichrist and they will receive their mark on the forehead or the hand. So how we reason matters.
A debased mind
Romans 1.18 says, For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power, and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.
God has made it clear, through everything He has created, that there is a God, and that nothing has happened by accident, but there is a divine, intelligent design behind everything which reveals who God is. Then Paul carries on about how men receive this in their thinking, vs 21 because although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were they thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Again, the thought-life and the heart-life go together. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man – and birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonour their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature, rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men, committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind to do those things which are not fitting.
So they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. The end result, when man rejects God, is that He gives them over to a debased mind. If their thoughts are futile, God goes a step further when they reject Him, they are given over to do those things which are not fitting, and their mind is called in scripture, a debased mind. So what we put in, and what we do with truth, matters. If we reject God, and reject the truth that's already been revealed, there is a giving over to the futility of a wicked heart and wicked thoughts, and a debased mind. So Paul makes a statement that what we put into our mind really matters.
The truth about God and the truth about man
At the beginning of Philippians 4.8 Paul says, Finally, brethren, whatever things are true. The Christian is to meditate on everything that is true. God's word is true so we should meditate on the truth in God's word. Jesus said He was the way, the truth, and the life. Pilate asked the question, “What is truth?” And for me, truth is a person. It is the Lord Jesus Christ. He says, I am the truth. But what is He the truth about? Well the first thing He is, is the truth about who God is, His character, and His essence. The Lord Jesus Christ lived to reveal the Father. Jesus said to Phillip, He who has seen Me has seen the Father. You see Jesus is the full manifestation, in His life, His actions, and in His words of what the Father is like. “If you have seen me, the miracles I do, and if you have heard the words I said, then you have seen the Father.” Jesus is the truth about who God is. First and foremost, He came to reveal the Father and the second thing is that He is the truth about man.
Jesus is the second Adam, born without sin, conceived of the virgin Mary. Born into this world living His whole life as a man. He shows us what God intended right from the beginning when He created mankind. That we would live and relate to our creator in a dependent attitude. The Lord Jesus Christ showed Himself to this world as a man was intended to be. Even though He was uninhabited by sin, He still had a free will and free choice. He chose to become dependent on the Father for all things, and in so doing, He allowed the Father to live through Him and show Himself to a broken world.
So Jesus is not only the truth about God, He is also the truth about man. The way the Lord Jesus Christ related to the Father is the example of how we are to function as born-again believers. Completely dependent on the Father for all things as we walk through this world. He is the truth.
When God is silent
This passage encourages us to meditate on things that are true. The scriptures we looked at last time were Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Php 4.6-7. That is a wonderful truth but sometimes we will go through times when God is silent. There are times when we experience the peace of God which surpasses all understanding. But there are also times in our Christian life when God allows us to go through things where we do not experience the peace of God. God may seem silent. What do we do then? Psalm 77 helped me, and I know it will help you too. What do we do with the truth? How do we meditate on the truth when God is silent?
Psalm 77.1-9 Psa 77:1 I cried out to God with my voice… And He gave ear to me. 2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing; My soul refused to be comforted. 3 I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah 4 You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. 5 I have considered the days of old, The years of ancient times. 6 I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, And my spirit makes diligent search. 7 Will the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favorable no more? 8 Has His mercy ceased forever? Has His promise failed forevermore? 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? Selah
The writer, Asaph, is really struggling with whatever he's going through. He's trying to remember God, but he has no peace or joy. Will the Lord cast off forever? Will He be favorable no more? Has His mercy ceased forever? There are times when God is silent.
I love this passage because he goes on to show us what we need to do when we go through difficult times. What do we do with the truth that has already been revealed in God's word? In verse 10 Asaph carries on, And I said, "This is my anguish; But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High." 11 I will remember the works of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. 12 I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of Your deeds. 13 Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; Who is so great a God as our God? 14 You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your strength among the peoples. 15 You have with Your arm redeemed Your people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
Asaph doesn't experience the peace of God. God is silent, but he decides that he will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High. He starts to remember the truth of God, the way that God acted in his works toward His people in the past. He says, I will remember Your wonders of old. The Old Testament is full of examples of how God dealt with the people of Israel, how He was faithful. Yes, they had to go through hard times, but He was still faithful to bring them through. I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds. Asaph is going to consider, ponder, and meditate upon the truth that God is faithful, even though he is not experiencing it. That is what we are to do when God is silent and we don't experience His mercy. We are to remember the years of His right hand, of His works in our own life, and His mercy and grace toward us, and we are to meditate on those things. Just as it was true of Asaph, it is also true for us. God's word is true, the way He has dealt with us in the past is true, and His grace toward us is true.
Words of faith
Another example of things that are true, would be the 12 spies in Numbers 13.25-14.12. Remember the difference between the 10 spies who brought back a bad report, and the 2, Joshua and Caleb, who brought a good report. The 10 gave a bad report about the cities, they said they were fortified, and the descendants of Anak were there, in other words, there were giants in the land. “It's too hard for us, we can't do it”. But Joshua and Caleb remembered God's promise and they stood on the truth; that God was as good as His word. They were prepared to go forward and trust God because He had given them the land. When they uttered these words of faith, the congregation wanted to stone them. In Numbers 14.22-23 God records his response to the 10 who had rejected God's truth because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it. Unbelief always focuses on the negative, not the truth.
Joshua and Caleb, put their feet on the truth of God's word, “He has told us and He has promised us a land flowing with milk and honey, let's go forth, we are able to take this land, if God is with us”. Those were their words of faith. But the words of unbelief, always, focus on the negative. “The cities are fortified. There are giants in the land”, the 10 focused on the negative. They didn't trust in the truth of God's word.
A dirty world
We live in a very dirty world. They say we have between about 12,000, to 60,000, thoughts a day. Now that's a big margin. When my wife asks me, “What are you thinking?”I often reply, “I'm not thinking about anything”. If you are like me you’re probably in this margin of 12,000 thoughts a day. There's just not much going on up there. But if you have an incredibly active brain you are probably nearer the 60,000 thoughts a day. That's a lot of thoughts coming in, and out.
Our minds are constantly bombarded with information and thoughts. We're influenced by TV, movies, the news, and those around us. If you ever watch the news, it's never good. As we walk through this world, we are going to get dirty feet and minds. Our minds need cleansing with the truth of God's word, with those things that are true. Jesus did this very same thing with Peter in John 13 when he wanted to wash Peter’s feet. Peter said, You shall never wash my feet! Jesus said to him, if I do not wash you, you have no part with me. This is what the word of God does, it cleanses our mind, and washes our feet. When Peter understood, he responded to Jesus, “yes, wash everything”.
Jesus was right, we are going to walk through this world, and we are going to get dirty from the things that influence us. He said to Peter, if I do not wash you, you have no part with me. Today we need the washing of the truth of God's word. Christ is the truth, the Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Truth in John 16, and God's word is truth in John 17. Just as Peter needed washing, we also need the washing of the word to cleanse our minds to that which is true.
Quite a list
Php 4.8 …whatever things are noble, the word noble means things that are worthy of respect. Whatever things are just, This means whatever is right or righteous, we are to meditate on those things. Whatever things are pure, meaning morally clean. We had a little example of this just recently when we did some mountain biking in the South Island. There was a really cool movie theatre in Wanaka, so we thought let's go see a movie. We picked one that we thought might be okay but as soon as we got in we realised that it was like eating garbage or rotten food. The movie theatre was one of these old style places with an intermission and a freshly baked biscuit at halftime. We were so thankful for the intermission because we took our biscuit and walked out. We went down to the lakefront and had a look at God's creation and detoxed from what we had just been bombarded with. The movie was certainly not pure or morally clean. It was sick and was influencing us. We need to be careful what comes into our minds because it affects us just like rotten food affects our body. So rotten thoughts and sometimes movies are no good for you. It's like eating garbage.
Next, Philippians says whatever things are lovely. The word lovely means acceptable and pleasing, things that are lovely to look at, things that are good. I remember when our kids were young, and kids being kids, they were fighting in the back of the car. We'd had enough of it so turned around and said to them, “you look out that window and you look out the other window. Stop arguing and fighting with each other.” One of them piped up after looking out the window for a bit and said, “there's nothing to look at out here”. The other one said, “you should have a look out my side, there's so much to look at. Look at that, it's amazing!” Kids, you've gotta love them. We have to meditate on those things that are lovely, acceptable and pleasing.
Next it says whatever things are of good report. Don't major on the negative, referring back to the 12 spies. Meditate on that which is of a good report. It really is amazing to hear ourselves sometimes, and others too, talking about the negative. Meditate on a good report. Look for the positives and the things that are praiseworthy. If there is any virtue, virtue means moral goodness and excellence. The true meaning of virtue is anything that God's life can produce. Moral goodness can only be produced by the life of God. And If there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things. True, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtue, and praiseworthy. That’s quite a list, let these dominate our mind.
We have thousands of thoughts going in and out every day. Imagine your mind like an old medieval city that has a gate at the entrance way. At the gate there stands a guard or a sentry and he allows in or refuses entry to all those that want to come in. Now take stock for a couple of hours today of the thoughts that are coming in and out of your mind. You'll be amazed how much garbage there is. We are all the same. Now imagine if we had a guard or a sentry over our mind. Because this is actually what we need. We need the Lord Jesus Christ to be a guard and a sentry over the thoughts that come in and go out. This is the importance of the Word of God and the Spirit of God standing there, allowing in those thoughts that should be allowed in and not those thoughts that aren't. If you want to know what to think about, this verse in Philippians is where you start. The list in this passage will protect you in your Christian walk. So just as we have food for the body, we also have food for the mind.
Do these things
Php 4:9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Learned is the reasoning of your mind. Your eyes, your ears and your thinking are all involved. The Philippian church had witnessed this in Paul which means we can learn from those who are faithful. Learn off the spiritual giants around us. Watch the way they walk. These do, act on it as well and the God of peace will be with you. What goes into our mind affects us greatly.
Father, we thank you for your word and that your word is truth. We thank you that Jesus is the truth. We ask Father that just as Paul has instructed us, you would garrison around our mind and our heart and enable us to protect our mind and filter what is coming in and going out. Lord, we thank you for your word. Make it real in our experience. In Jesus' name. Amen.