Promoting Prayer Chap 4:2-23

1. Promoting Prayer Chap 4:2-23 Presentation 10

2. The Structure of the Book Opening and introduction 1:1-2 Paul and the Philippian Church 1:3-26 Exhortation and Examples 1:27-2:30 Warnings 3:1-4:1 Encouragement Gratitude and Final Greetings 4: 2-23 Promoting prayer 4:2-9 Contentment and Fellowship 4:10-23 Presentation 10

3. Introduction We might think that by the time Paul has reached this stage in the epistle, he is simply drawing things to a conclusion, and pulling the loose ends together. But this is far from the case! Instead he begins to apply some of the important doctrinal teaching he has unpacked. It is important to remember that Christian doctrine/teaching and Christian practice/behaviour must never be divorced from each other. Why? Because the one flows from the other. What is significant and of particular interest here is that Paul applies this teaching within the context of the prayer life of the church! Presentation 10

4. Hindrances to Prayer v1-3 Paul begins by identifying a major hindrance to answered prayer. There was division within the church fellowship. Note Paul's tender appeal to two church members, Euodia and Synteche, as he tells them to bury their differences. It is important to see how the doctrine of Ch.2 is applied? The awesome self-emptying of Jesus provides the pattern that should touch our lives. Paul urges these two women to humble themselves, to die to the difference of opinion that was harming their relationship and impoverishing their spiritual lives. He exhorts them to allow the divine parabola to shape their behaviour. If they did so it would result in their being reconciled to one another. Presentation 10

5. Hindrances to Prayer v1-3 These women had at one time had rendered valuable service to the work of the gospel [v3] but their broken relationship was now affecting the whole church. The blessing of God, which the fellowship could have been experiencing was being withheld. Surely the church at Philippi was discouraged. God was not pouring out the blessing they asked for. Why? Read Ps 133v1, "Where the brethren dwell together in unity...God bestows his blessing". But the tragedy was that as a result of the quarrel between these two women there was no unity in the Philippian church. Their dispute not only marred their own spiritual lives - it constructed a barrier to blessing. It arrested the development of the church. Presentation 10

6. D. L. Moody the famous evangelist, while preaching in England, became aware of a hindrance to the blessing of God. He appealed to his audience that if there was any hindrance among the people of God that might be holding back God's blessing that they deal with it immediately. During the singing of the next hymn an office bearer left his seat and crossed to the other side of the church and held out his hand to a fellow Christian, as an act of reconciliation. That night the Spirit of God broke through in blessing, and many were brought to faith in Christ. That situation has repeated itself in many lands that have experienced a significant spiritual revival. That is what happens when we let the cross of Christ touch our lives. We need to die to the obstinacy and pride that prevents us saying, "Sorry forgive me". Cf .Jesus’ teaching in Matt. 5:23-25… Presentation 10

7. The Environment of Prayer v4-5 Paul then describes the environment in which prayer thrives in v4, as one of ‘rejoicing’. The source of our joy rests, not in circumstances that can change but, in our indissoluble relationship with Jesus. No combination of circumstances can alter that. It is unassailable, unshakeable, eternally secure. No one can rip the coat of Christ’s righteousness from the back of the Christian or steal away God’s love cf. Rom.8.38-39... But also contributing to this environment of prayer is the word translated "gentleness" in v5. It has sometimes been translated as "sweet-reasonableness" or “submission“. It is used in 2 Tim. 2.24 where Paul writes, “the servant of the Lord must not strive”. We do not need to force issues and steamroller them through if our confidence is in God! Presentation 10

8. The Practice of Prayer v6-7 Paul next tells his hearers “not to be anxious about anything." He is not advocating irresponsibility or carelessness but warning against distracting and anxious thoughts over legitimate daily concerns. Cf Matt. 7:9-12... No storm of life should be allowed to disturb our hearts and our peace. Now this is only possible when we take our anxieties to God our caring all-powerful heavenly Father in prayer. Billy Bray was a tin miner and lay preacher who lived in England in 18thC. He was constantly faced with what to others seemed to be insurmountable obstacles. Billy’s poise stood out in sharp contrast to those panicking around him, to whom he would say, “I think I’ll just go and have a word with Father”. Presentation 10

9. The Practice of Prayer v6-7 To tell a person not to be anxious is a counsel of despair unless combined with the encouragement to pray to a God who knows our need. Paul was being taken by sea as a prisoner to Rome. A great storm arose terrifying all on board. God appeared to Paul in a vision and told him they would all be kept safe. Paul was utterly at peace as he communicated that message to the others with the words, “I believe God”. Acts 27v25. Clearly, Paul knew what he was talking about when he wrote “be anxious for nothing” Phil.4v6. When we truly commit our anxieties to God we will experience “the peace of God which passes all understanding keeping the heart and mind in Christ Jesus”. Note that the reason we are to be anxious for nothing is that in every difficult and dangerous situation we are able to come to God in prayer. Presentation 10

10. The Practice of Prayer v6-7 But surely the most important thing to realise from these verses is that before even our prayers are answered, we are answered. That is an extremely important distinction to make. The gift of ‘peace’ is the first and greatest answer to prayer, and it comes when we have truly committed everything to God and are utterly reconciled to his will and to the outcome of the situation whether good or bad. Now we need some realism here. To some prayers God answers "yes", to some "no“, to others "not yet" or, "not in the way you think". But whatever the answer, peace is still possible because it comes through the submission of the heart to the ‘good and acceptable and perfect will of God’. Presentation 10

11. The Practice of Prayer v6-7 Here then is an amazing paradox for the Christian to grapple with. Peace is more significant than specific answers to prayer. Let me try to illustrate what I mean from the life of Job. Remember the questionings of that poor man's tortured heart. Why had God put him through so much suffering?..... God did not answer his questions. Even at the close of the book Job is not given the reason for his suffering. But God answered his heart, Job experienced remarkable peace as God revealed himself to him. And that was enough! Presentation 10

12. The Practice of Prayer v6-7 Take this thinking a stage further. Suppose you experience some personal tragedy or distress. You are devastated and begin to cry out to God, "Why, why, why?". And suppose it was all explained to you. Suppose the question "why?" is answered. Would your heart be comforted? No! What your heart needs is not explanations but a Presence which will comfort and heal your pain. It is you that needs answering and not your questions! God is our peace and not the answers he gives to our prayers. This peace which God gives is to be allowed to rule in our hearts cf. Col 3.15... That is to say it is to take control in conflict or pressure situations. So often we do not allow peace to rule, and do the calming job which God intends it to do. Presentation 10

13. The Accompaniments of Prayer v 8-9 There is a connection between v8-9 and all that Paul has said about the peace of God. These verses describe the accompaniments of prayer. The answer to our prayer is the peace of God which sets us free from fretful anxiety. But God often gives more than we ask for. Our lives are transformed as our thinking is altered. Instead of anxious thoughts, which are often the product of wrong thinking, we are to develop right thinking. When our minds are filled by the sort of thinking mentioned in v8ff our outward behaviour and attitude will also be affected. These thoughts, “whatever is true, noble, right, pure...” are uplifting and deliver us from dwelling on the shameful and dishonourable. Presentation 10

14. The Accompaniments of Prayer v 8-9 Think of your mind as a picture galleries and you have the choice of what sort of pictures you will hang for your imagination to view. You are in control of your thought life. Are you troubled by impure thoughts? Don’t give them hanging space! Are you troubled by jealous thoughts? Are you troubled by blasphemous thoughts? Don’t give them hanging space! It should be the daily practice of the Christian to control his thinking in this way. Instead take out from the gallery storage area thoughts that are lovely and of good report etc. Think back to Pauls exhortation in 2v5... Paul has in view the development of the ‘mind of Christ’ which embraced selfless humiliation. Now a mind inhabited by such gracious thinking will exercise a tremendous influence upon our outward behaviour. Presentation 10

15. The Accompaniments of Prayer v 8-9 Paul was not speaking from some theological ivory tower. Paul has been sharing his own experience and so in v9 he encourages his readers to make it a part of theirs as well. One writer comments: "The peace of God which comes through prayer is paralleled by that of the God of peace coming through a wholehearted commitment to a certain way of life." Or put it another way, the peace of God becomes ours only when faith operates in our lives and we commit our lives to the God of peace. When we begin to recognise that ‘anxiety’ is nothing less than an admission that we believe that God is incapable of looking after his children. Do you feel that you are caught up in one of the violent storms of life? Anxiety is a natural response. But not for the child of God who has been equipped to face the violent storm, says with the apostle Paul, “I believe God”! And like Job we are prepared to trust God in the dark. It is then that we begin to experience the remarkable peace of God. Presentation 10