Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, 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 worthy of praise, think about these things.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.Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, 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.
12 sermons cite this verse
okay and uh you need to give that up because he's worthy he hasn't let you down yet he's not gonna In Philippians chapter 4, verse 8, the Bible tells us, 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 a good report, well, that takes out 99% of the internet right there, doesn't it? Think of that. if there is any virtue if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things wow that's a great prescription wouldn't it be great if you could put that in a pill wouldn't it be great if you could be a doctor and you put that power of that verse in a pill and you go here take this take it in the morning take it at night call me call me in a week let's see what happens you know what that phone call would be to the doctor hey doctor I don't need you anymore I put my life in the hands of God. …
… Paul is so good that all these scriptures I've read, all of them have been from Paul. Because he went from somebody who was killing Christians and had to forget his past and had to daily release people to somebody who could write something like Philippians chapter 4 verse 8. He said, and now dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Like before we go today, let me just tell you one thing. Fix your thoughts. Remember, the key to forgetting your past is fixing your focus. So now you need to fix your thoughts. Somebody say, I'm going to fix my thoughts. On what? All the haters, all the problems, all the issues. No, no, no, no, no, no. Fix your thoughts on what is true. I am a child of God. The number of days that God has called me to be, they're ordered by him. He has a plan. You got to fix your mind on what's true. You got to fix your mind on what's honorable, what's right, what's pure, what's lovely, what's admirable. Think about these things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you've learned and all you received from me. Paul said, I modeled this from you. I had a horrible past. I let God meet me in a moment. I allow God to develop me. And then I got my focus fixed on not what happens to me, but what I can do to help other people become who they are called to be and I just keep seeing Jesus and he says do these things everything you heard …
… several hours a day by algorithms that are the complete opposite of Philippians 4.8. Researchers have been studying anxiety levels in America. you know this, they've been saying this for decades. And anxiety levels skyrocketed in 2012 when social media and smartphones became ubiquitous. It's like Pastor Kyle says, if we scroll through 45 minutes of bad news, political arguments, and clips of strangers screaming at each other in the Costco parking lot, then we close the app and later we think, why do I feel so anxious? It's like eating gas station sushi, he says, every day and then wondering why your stomach feels weird. You want to change your happiness quotient. You want to change your default speed on the hedonic treadmill. Change your algorithm. Make your first thoughts every morning Jesus's thoughts. Do not open that phone until you have opened his word, right? Read his word, fill your mind. Fill your mind with his promises. And if you can't develop that as a habit, throw your phone in the bottom of the lake. …
… whatever is right whatever is pure whatever is lovely whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things that's the mind of the spirit and it's amazing how Paul is saying the anxiety in yourself to deny that means I'm not going to let that dominate my thinking but the way I deny myself is by serving somebody else this is the upside down part of the kingdom because the world tells you to get ahead you've got to store it up to get ahead you've got to be concerned about yourself but the mind of the spirit the kingdom the greatest will be the least and the least will be the the first shall be the and the last will be the those who refresh others will they themselves be some of you have an anxiety that you're trying to satisfy through self care that will never be filled. It will leave you empty, drinking salt water, and you wonder why you're parched. But the currency of the kingdom is very different. …
… every time he shows up with some dumb thought. Philippians 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's any virtue, if there's anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things. You realize you don't have to think every godless, evil, wicked, selfish, small thought that shows up in your head. And just because you think it doesn't mean you are it. Separate yourself from it and use Jesus's power to banish it. You got to replace it. It's powerful. Look, you can't stop the enemy from dropping a thought grenade into your head, but you don't have to let him get to terminal B and get a Cinnabon and put his feet up. You see what I'm saying? Your mind belongs to Jesus. You can bring your mind into obedience. You can choose to take your thoughts captive. You go, oh, this sounds like Dr. Phil. What are you telling me? Like, mind over matter. No, I'm not saying every solution to your life is mind over matter. But I am telling you as your pastor, what you allow in your mind really does matter. Okay, Yoda, well, half empty, half full. No, no, no. This isn't about glasses half empty and glasses half full. This is about, in Jesus' name, your cup is overflowing. And if you choose to ignore that fact, you get to walk around wondering about what your circumstances say about …
… Today, we're going to close out this section. Philippians chapter 4 verses 4 through 9 on anxiety in a week when people across our church received news that schools would not be starting in our counties this fall, leading to all kinds of questions and concerns and anxiety and worry about how this is going to work and how you are going to work and how this will affect the economy and our lives and our country as this pandemic continues to have so many different effects in so many different ways and into the middle of this precise moment, unlike anything any one of us has ever experienced in this world, God's word is saying to us. So I want us to read it out loud together. Again, if you're memorizing it, just close your eyes. But wherever you are, let's read this out loud. And as we do, hear it as the word of God to us right now. Philippians chapter four, verse one, we'll go through verse nine today. This is the word of God. Let's say it out loud together, wherever we are in this room and all kinds of places where we're gathered, literally around the world. Let's say it together. …
… in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there's any excellence, if there's anything worthy of praise, think about these things. How can you not be anxious about anything? Here's how you think about what is true. It's the same exact word that Paul uses in Ephesians chapter six, verse 14. put on truth some people say you have to check your mind at the door to become a Christian to have faith and that is the farthest thing from the truth faith in Jesus revolves around and requires thinking all the time about what is true worldliness involves not thinking just go along with what the world says about money and sex and ambition and a million other things Christianity says, no, think about what's true. Do you see the spiritual battle that is taking place between your ears every day? Your mind is a battleground. And there are spiritual forces of evil who want to have their way in it, that want you to believe all kinds of lies about yourself, about your circumstances, about others, about the world, and ultimately about God himself. …
… comes by prayer. Peace comes by the practice of prayer. The Bible also tells us that peace comes by the practice of patterns. Watch for the pattern here. Philippians 4.8. 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 keep going whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen of me put it into practice and the god of peace will be with you do you see a pattern here There is power in our patterns. Our patterns will either accentuate the presence of God, or they will diminish our awareness of it. It's not that God's presence comes and goes. He's always with us. He will never leave us or forsake us. It's just my awareness of his presence is affected by my patterns. How many of you would agree that you've had a time when you came to church or you joined online, and when it was over, you just had a peace about your situation? Raise your hand. I want to see. Wow. Okay. Put it in the chat. …
… develop godly thoughts. Philippians 4.8, put that up there. Philippians 4.8. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, that word noble means honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there's any virtue and if there's anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things. that's what you got to do meditate on the right things all of these things pure true and and honest and just and pure and lovely and good report and virtuous there's anything worthy of being praised meditate on those things the word meditate means it's a word that means to re-chew to regurgitate to re-ponder it re-think about it it's a word used that reflects how a cow has two stomachs when you first eat it goes in the first stomach then it leaves the first stomach and goes into the second stomach because it's trying to pour every piece of juice out every nutrient out that it can and that's what we got to do is we have to replace our thinking with biblical thinking. …
… Let me read it again out of the New Revised Standard Version. Philippians chapter 4, verse 4 through 9. and I'm gonna dance around and I want you to get some new insights that you didn't even get last week Philippians 4 verses 4 through 9 out of the new revised standard version is coming up on your screen reads like this rejoice in the Lord always again I will say rejoice let your gentleness be known to who everyone why the Lord is near read it with me come on do not worry about anything but in everything come on by prayer and supplication with what 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 in Christ Jesus come on let's keep reading verse 8 finally beloved whatever is true whatever is honorable whatever is just whatever is pure whatever is pleasing whatever is commendable if there is any excellence if there is anything worthy of praise think about these things verse 9 keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me and the god of peace will be with you now if you want a recipe for joy if you want a recipe for celebration in your life incorporating this in your life you need these verses but you just don't need the text you need the context Paul is in jail writing to the first church he planted on on European soil the …
… So notice what he says in chapter 4 verse 8. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. Not on the thing that is the barrier to your accomplishment. Not on the thing that is hindering you from becoming or doing what you want to do. He says, focus and fasten, let your mind settle on the things that are good. Now, listen to Paul as he sort of talks about the things that are good here. In chapter 1, verse 18, listen to what he says. And all through here, this is what he's doing. Here he is in prison, he says, What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed and in this I rejoice yes and I will rejoice He said for example there were some men there who were happy that Paul was in prison They were glad that this man was in prison Even though they were preaching the gospel He said some of them are preaching out of strife and out of envy He says that doesn't bother me If Christ is being proclaimed and people are being saved I'm going to rejoice even if their attitude and their motivation is wrong Look if you will likewise in verse 21 of this chapter Paul says knowing that he could lose his life …
… YOUR HEART. NOW WHY DOES THAT CHANGE YOU? WELL, LISTEN TO PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER FOUR, VERSES EIGHT AND NINE. DON'T TURN TO IT, JUST LISTEN TO IT. 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, IF THERE BE ANY PRAISE, THINK ON THESE THINGS. AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE FOUND IN THE WORD OF GOD. THAT'S A DESCRIPTION OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. AND THEN PAUL SAYS, THOSE THINGS WHICH HE HAD BOTH LEARNED AND RECEIVED AND HEARD AND SEEN IN ME DO, AND THE GOD OF PEACE SHALL BE WITH YOU. GOD SAYS, LISTEN, FILL YOUR MIND WITH that which is right. I have told you many, many times from this pulpit that the gracious and good and wise God has made us where we can't think two thoughts at one time. And if you're thinking what you ought to think, you cannot be thinking what you ought not to think. And what you ought to think is the Word of God and you must hide God's Word in your heart. …