“Be obedient even when you do not know where obedience may lead you.”
Sinclair Ferguson
Passage
6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, 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 anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
9The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:6–9 (NASB95)
"Closeup of black umbrella in rain" by shixart1985 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Background
Quote- Sinclair Buchanan Ferguson (born 21 February 1948) is a Scottish theologian known in Reformed Christian circles for his teaching, writing, and editorial work. He has been Chancellor's Professor of Systematic Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary since 2017, commuting from Scotland, where he was an assistant minister at St. Peter's Free Church of Scotland, Dundee. He is currently a preaching associate at Trinity Church, Aberdeen.
Passage- The book of Philippians is a Prison Epistle (letter written while in prison). Paul wrote it about 62 A.D. as he anticipated his release from prison. They key personalities are the Apostle Paul, Timothy, Epaphroditus, Euodia, and Syntyche. It was written to show his appreciation and love to the Philippians in a thank-you letter for their continued help and support, and also to encourage their growth.
Chapter 4, Paul again mentions joy in Christ as he encourages believers to rejoice in the Lord. It is important for the believer to be well grounded in prayer and thanksgiving. To offer praise and to give God thanks for the many provisions they are blessed with, “my God shall supply all your needs” (4:19).
Lesson Notes
Opening Statement
When we pray and ask God for things are we always sure HE is listening? Will He pay any attention to us? Is there something more we could do, give more, or abstain from that would sway His decision to help or not? Is it even about what He’s going to do or is it about our response to what He’s already done?
Ask: What does verse six of Today’s Passage tell us to do?
Point: To pray.
Ask: Are there descriptive words in verse six that relates to how to pray?
Point: Yes. Anxious, Supplication, and Thanksgiving
Please take a moment to review the definitions of these three words
Ask: What does it mean to pray without being anxious in a spirit of supplication and thanksgiving?
Point: Without worry how or if God is going to answer the prayer as we wish but acknowledging God is in charge and it’s up to Him how He
nswers but we’ll be grateful whatever comes of our prayers.
Ask: Is it easy or hard to pray this way? Why/Why not?
Point: This is a discussion question relating to how Paul instructs us to pray.
Ask: Is it worth it to pray this way?
Point: Yes, but how do we know? Please re-read verse seven of Today’s Passage.
7And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 (NASB95)
Ask: Why do our hearts and minds need guarding in “Christ Jesus?”
Point: Please read the following:
1Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
3For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
5Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
6For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience,
7and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.
8But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.
9Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,
10and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—
11a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
Colossians 3:1–11 (NASB95)
Ask: That is the passage from last week’s lesson. Does it answer the question why our hearts and minds need guarding “in Christ Jesus?”
Point: Yes and it lists a number of things to guard our hearts and minds from but the reason is in verse 10 where it explains we have “…put on the new self…” meaning we have been given a clean slate, a second chance “…renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him.”
Ask: Who “created him” from that passage?
Point: Jesus created our new self, gave us the second chance through His sacrifice on the cross to wash us clean of our sins.
Ask: The Colossians passage from last week gives us things to avoid. Do we have anything from Today’s Passage that we should do, and why?
Point: Please re-read verses 8 & 9 from Today’s Passage:
8Finally, 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 anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
9The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:8–9 (NASB95)
Ask: Those are a lot of generalities. Do we have something or somewhere we can go to get more specifics on what to do to have “ ..the God of peace will be with you?”
Point: Yes. Personal study in the Bible to discern the path God has for each individual.
Closing Statement
Today’s Passage instructs us to pray for what we want. Then it tells us how to pray, and why we want to pray that way. Then, it tells us some things to do so that the peace of God comes down upon us. What does it not tell us? That God will give us what we pray for. “But I’m in the middle of the storms of Life. I need Him to give me what I’ve asked for.” No. What we need in the middle of the storm is to do as the disciples did in the boat, have faith in the one who can calm the storm and do what He tells us to do. This quarter is about peace in the storm, not answers to the storm. That peace comes from one place, Jesus Christ.
Questions for the Week
Question 1 Review the scripture from the four Advent lessons that began this year (Matthew 14:22-36 at the end of this lesson.)
Advent 2022 Lesson 1 Pray for Guidance
Advent 2022 Lesson 2 Jesus is the Way
Advent 2022 Lesson 3 Come to Faith
Advent 2022 Lesson 4 Perfectly Whole
Question 2 Take note of what Peter asks of Jesus in verse 28 and take inventory of how the things you pray about relate to this if we viewed Peter’s words as a prayer.
Question 3 What does Jesus do in verse 29 and how does that relate to your life right now?
Question 4 Examine Peter’s reaction to Christ’s command in verse 29. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance concerning how Peter’s reaction could be mirrored in your own life regarding the things you pray to God about?
Question 5 Contemplate why Peter began to sink in verse 30 and what you might be able to do differently in your own life to keep from “sinking in the storms” that surround you.
Definitions
anxious
angk-shuhs
adjective
Full of mental distress or uneasiness because of fear of danger or misfortune; greatly worried; apprehensive: Her parents were anxious about her poor health.
Earnestly desirous; eager (usually followed by an infinitive or for):anxious to please; anxious for our happiness.
Attended with or showing solicitude or uneasiness: anxious forebodings.
Supplicate
suhp-li-keyt
verb (used without object), sup·pli·cat·ed, sup·pli·cat·ing.
To pray humbly; make humble and earnest entreaty or petition.
verb (used with object), sup·pli·cat·ed, sup·pli·cat·ing.
To pray humbly to; entreat or petition humbly.
To seek or ask for by humble entreaty.
Thanksgiving
thangks-giv-ing
noun
The act of giving thanks; grateful acknowledgment of benefits or favors, especially to God.
An expression of thanks, especially to God.
A public celebration in acknowledgment of divine favor or kindness.
A day set apart for giving thanks to God.
Matthew 14:22-36 from Advent 2022
22Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away.
23After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.
24But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary.
25And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea.
26When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear.
27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
28Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
29And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
30But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
32When they got into the boat, the wind stopped.
33And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!”
34When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.
35And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent word into all that surrounding district and brought to Him all who were sick;
36and they implored Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were cured.
Matthew 14:22–36 (NASB95)