Hitch- hike! A Journey Through Philippians 4

Joyride- an expansion of Pastor Ben Jeffery’s study of Philippians at SoulCity Church.

This is an exploration, an expansion, a commentary on the message given by Pastor Ben Jeffery of SoulCity church based on Philippians chapter 4 titles Joyride. It is not so much a commentary on what was said, it is a personal continuation and not affiliated or sponsored with the church or pastor. Unfortunately, I have been unable to locate a recording of the sermon, so you’ll just have to take my word for what is included in this post.

The offering verse was Proverbs 11:24–25. These two verses are about giving freely and gaining, they talk about generosity leading to prosperity and refreshing.

The book of Proverbs, written by King Solomon around 900 B.C. is one of his many many writings where he compiles his knowledge and opened to us God’s views on them. Here he is focusing on physical wealth and how to nurture it in a Godly way. Sowing generously means you will surely reap a harvest of not just financial gain, but also help in times of crisis. As you live righteously, which is morally right or justifiable, others will see and be attracted to God living within you, and be encouraged and inspired to live the same way you do. This emphasis also engages you in the truth of the opposite the greedy will be ignored and found wanting during hard times. God will reward you when you realize that He owns all things and that we are stewards of His belongings. Found in the closing section of Proverbs 11, verses 24–25 continue to discuss righteousness and generosity as a path to prosperity and life. Generosity is a means of service to God, there is no limit to your generosity, we often talk about money, but how far can a kind word, or a listening ear go?

As we see all through Philippians, written by Paul the Apostle, sowing physically or spiritually always bring a reward, no matter how it looks. Philippians 4:19 is a famous verse which emphasizes that God supplies all needs, according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus, which as we have just mentioned, is everything.

Chapter 4 is the last chapter in Philippians, one of many letters written, this particular letter is from around 55- 60 AD to the Christian converts in Philippi, a Greek town he had visited on his second and third missionary journeys. Chapter 4 is the concluding statement laced with encouragement and thanksgiving. Chapter 4 speaks of the strength we are to draw from Jesus Christ in times of suffering, it begins with the end of chapter 3 as an encouragement to stand firm in the Lord and chapter 4 ends with a similar focus on the grace of Jesus.

Philippians is the 11th book of the New Testament written whilst Paul was in prison. Philippians is encouraging these new believers to live on this earth as though they were already in heaven, with a massive emphasis on growing closer to God and each other, Paul setting this example points to Jesus as the means to reach God. The letter recalls good news of an illness, encourages faith, ensures well- being and thanks for support.

My main takeaway points from Pastor Ben can be split into the three following themes. My notes from him are italicised.

Daily encouragement and advice

There is a way to live which is worry and anxiety free and the empowerment to do this is available. Worry is an indicator that you need the presence of God. Talk, chat, have everyday conversations, they are important. He guides us.

Paul mentions some women by name in verse 2–3, the people around us are very important to our walk and path in life. He asks the Philippians to help these women who have helped him. It is vital we don’t get so ‘spiritual’ that we forget the kingdom of God is made up of people, talk, chat and have everyday conversations with people, build community and family with those around you. In verse 2 the mentioned women, Euodia and Syntyche have had a disagreement, here Paul is asking the community and family they have build around them to help them back into unity and singlemindedness in Christ Jesus. Such singlemindedness is gentleness, which in verse 5 he says should be evident to all as the Lord is near. This closeness we share with God can be a physical closeness, an emotional closeness and soon we will be face to face with him. Jesus is coming back!

Paul gives us some very practical advise on what we should think about, if we think about things which are; true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy, noted in v8, our minds, hearts and words will be transformed. He implored the Philippians to think back to when he visited them in person, and in v9 to take example from him, anything they have learnt, received or heard they should put into practice and he promises, what he has experienced, that the God of peace will be with us.

V10 begins with thanks to this community of believers for their gifts and in v14, he thanked them for sharing in his troubles. Paul ends the letter from v21 by sending greetings to his family, and leaves them with a blessing in Jesus’ name.

The importance of prayer

Pray, petition and thanks. The promise of prayer is that the God of peace will be with you. Thank God for what He has been good, for the journey so far. When we pray we welcome God into us and we change us until we become people of presence, to become people of peace. Whatever you give to God He will guard.

In verse 4 Paul begins by reminding us twice to rejoice! Verse 6, a famous verse reminds us to not be anxious, take everything to God with praise and thanksgiving. When we are upset, our minds filled with worry it is hard to focus on anything else and no matter how dire the circumstance God is always bigger, By beginning our prayers with thanks and praise we put the circumstance back in it’s rightful place, compared to our God any situation is truly like comparing a grain of sand to the entire universe. The answer may not be available straight away, but the peace of God, which Paul talks about in v7 will guard your heart and mind from the weight of the worry and grief in Christ Jesus.

The hard, the harder and the hardest

Focused and intense. Finances, ministry, family. God will be happy to let some things go to guard your character, future and destiny.

Paul begins in verse 1 with an appeal for unity and steadfastness, or unwavering character, he encourages us all to stand firm in the Lord, he calls us his dear friends. V11–13 reminds us, that as Paul is in a roman prison, bitten by a snake, shipwrecked, persecuted and everything else he endured, he had learnt to be content in every circumstance for he knew, he could endure anything because his strength came from God.

In v15, he talks about how he was alone when he first began his mission, only the Philippians, even when he was elsewhere. There are countless stories in the bible of God having a plan and telling only one person, sometimes you must be alone to learn to depend on God alone. In prison, Paul was content with the gifts he was being sent by his community, his family, but what he wanted more was for these acts to be dedicated to God, he saw himself as nothing and his acts, his service as nothing if they were not worthy of being sacrificed to the Lord, seen in v17–18. He reiterates in v19 that God will meet all their needs, as He met his needs through the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.

Paul was in prison for preaching the gospel, he wanted to carry on travelling and preaching but he willingly accepted his fate of death for Jesus’ sake. He takes his example from Jesus’ own humility, He who emptied himself out on the cross for us as we work out and walk out our individual journeys of faith, with fear and trembling.

If you have never invited Jesus Christ into your life and would like too, here is a short prayer for you to say out loud. Living a Christian life, wholly for Jesus is not easy, but it is worth it.

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for dying for me on the cross and taking away all my sin. Thank you for loving me even when i rejected you. Come into my life and take first place. Help me to become who you know i am. Thank you, i know and believe because i have asked i am not eternally saved.

In your name, i have prayed. Amen.

I hope you prayed that prayer, good luck with your journey, there are plenty of resources available to you to help guide you with God, the most important of which is your bible and your prayers and talks with God. Here are some additional resources including other blogs, websites, pages, scriptures and key word searches.

No commission has been made from anything in this post, it is not sponsored in anyway. Including all links and mentions of specific people by name.

More about Proverbs 11 from Bible Ref.

Further summary and context of Proverbs 11:24 and 25 from Bible Ref.