Introduction:
A Challenging “To Do” List.
Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing.
Philippians 4:4-9 NLT
4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Examine the Scriptures:
A Challenging “To Do” list.
Philippians 4:4-9 NLT
4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!
Many translations say:
Rejoice in the Lord always
Other verses to consider:
Philippians 2:18 NLT
18 Yes, you should rejoice,
Philippians 3:1 NLT
Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 5:16 NLT
16 Always be joyful.
Psalm 32:11 NLT
11 So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him!
Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!
Ephesians 5:18-20 NLT
18 … be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Scripture tells us to rejoice in the Lord always.
Paul is not saying “be happy”.
There are many circumstances in which we cannot be happy, but we can always rejoice in the Lord and delight in Him.
- Rejoicing in the Lord is an act of faith.
Do you need a reason to rejoice? Consider the following.
*Start by knowing that you are loved, chosen, and holy. (Colossians 3:12)
Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Colossians 1:13 NLT
13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,
John 14:1-3 NLT
14:1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.
What verses do you want to add?
Reflect on the following translations of Philippians 4:5a
5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. NLT
5 Let your gentleness show in your treatment of all people. CEB
Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. ESV
Let everyone see that you are gentle and kind. ERV
Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. NASB
Let your moderation be known unto all men. KJV
Let your gentleness be known to all men. NKJV
Let everyone know how considerate you are. NOG
Let everyone see that you are unselfish and considerate in all you do. TLB
Let your gracious attitude be known to all people. ISV
Show a gentle attitude toward everyone. GNT
Let your patient mind be known unto all men. GNV
Let your considerate spirit be known to all men. LSB
Be kind and patient in a way that everyone can see. EASY
Let your modesty be known to all men. DRA
What did you hear?
Matthew 5:43-44 NLT
43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!
Philippians 2:3 NLT
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.
- Let everyone see that you are gentle and kind.
Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
Live with an active sense of purpose, love, and readiness.
Matthew 24:42 NLT
42 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.
Leave justice in God’s hands.
Romans 12:19 NLT
Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD.
- Be ready for the coming of the Lord.
6 Don’t worry about anything;
Don’t be anxious about anything
Scripture tells us not to worry or be anxious about anything.
We can care and be genuinely concerned, but we should not worry or be anxious.
Worry indicates a lack of trust in God’s wisdom, sovereignty or power.
- Don’t worry about anything.
instead, pray about everything.
Tell God what you need,
and thank him for all he has done.
- Pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.
Romans 12:12 NLT
12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT
17 Never stop praying.
1 Peter 5:7 NLT
7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.
- The peace of God surpasses all understanding.
John 14:27 NLT
strong>27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
Colossians 3:15 NLT
15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Isaiah 26:3 NLT
3 You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Colossians 3:2 NLT
2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
- Think about the things of heaven.
9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing.
Focus on what you know to do.
Do not focus on the things you don’t understand.
Don’t focus on the hypothetical.
- Do what you know you should be doing.
Then the God of peace will be with you.
