Top o' the evening to you. So my old Croatian supervisor still says top o' the morning or top o' the evening. I can always whistle, you know. It's alright. I was getting my wife again. She's got that drill sergeant thing going on. She already yelled once today. We are almost done with the book of Philippians. What does that mean? That we are. I know I've gone back and listened to, I think, If we're not up, no we're not up today because I haven't done John's one that he recorded on his phone yet. So we have two more classes that are not uploaded and then it will all be caught up in Current. I went back and I listened to Bob and then some of John's. I just love the multiple views of this letter that we're looking at here. We're not even going to exhaust every way to look at this letter. But the beauty that it does have, and I hope that's been coming out as we've gone over this book. So yes, we will be in the last chapter for today and next week. And then we'll be going over to Genesis. The first 11 chapters of Genesis is our plan. I'm really looking forward to that. But let's finish up Philippians before I get ahead of myself. Spoiler alert and all that. So if somebody would not mind opening us up in prayer, and we'll go ahead and start week 11 of Philippians. Gracious Heavenly Father, we come humbly before you, just so thankful for the goodness and grace that you've shown us, the mercy that you've also shown us. Lord, we ask that the power of the Holy Spirit to encourage us this evening, that you would edify us as we look to dig into your Word. I ask that you would enable Jim to instruct us well, and that we would remove any distractions that we would have within our minds, Lord. We tend to wander, especially during these times that the Lord is being preached or a prayer is being had. Lord, so we just ask that you would guard our minds and our hearts to kind of focus in tonight, Lord. We ask that you would be glorified. We ask that you would be glorified. Amen. Amen. You were bagging on me for my Raiders, and you're wearing Steeler stuff in here. Someone's like, the Raiders haven't won a playoff game since before Brady's second ring. I'm like, they're lying. I gotta look this up. I'm old. It's true. He's got the key row, so I like David Carr. And he's not Tom Brady. Anyways, yes, I don't care too much about sports anymore. I still follow it. I love baseball. I love listening to baseball. But, and that's great, we'll talk about it in a little bit. Just things that we should focus on, and again, there's nothing wrong with enjoying certain things, but you know, when you're running, you're the commissioner of 13 different, you know, leagues and stuff like that, it's probably not the best use of your time. So anyways, today we're gonna be in Philippians. As I said, we're finishing the book. So tonight we're gonna go, we ended in verse one, last class. So we're going to be doing verses 2 to 9. And just so you remember that last verse we ended on, the start of chapter 4. So then, my brothers and sisters, dear friends, whom I long to see, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my dear friends. That stand firm is admonition. And then I believe we're getting into this next address here from Paul about this particular situation. We have a few here. Do we mind starting here and reading one verse each going back and then we'll come up to the front and start again. So this side and then we'll like a typewriter. I do. Are they all gone back there? They may be gone and I'm sorry if they are but I did print some out. Is that week 11? So yeah, we're going to start the table here, one verse each. Go back to the Achilleans and we'll come back up to the front row here and go back. Two to nine. I entreat you, Gideon, and I entreat you. To agree in the Lord, yes. I ask you also, true companion, help these women who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say rejoice. known to God. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is offendable, if there is any excellence, if there is any excellence, The end result was all verses were read, I am happy. So I really hope that we do break down and look at what's being said here. Part of the reason is, when we started off, we talked about a basic hermeneutic. Remember, hermeneutic is just a method that you use to interpret scripture. And then each one, who's a student of the word, which should be every believer, we approach interpreting with a different lens, with a different intention. But as long as we're using a proper hermeneutic and staying within certain boundaries. But let's collectively work together and look through some of this. He starts off, I entreat Yodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. What does this mean? What are we looking at here? Unity. So there's something between these two saints here. There's something. Because even that verse 3, yes. I ask you also, true companion, help these women who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers whose names are in the book of life. But just that verse 2 there, I entreat Leodia and I entreat Sentechie, these women who have labored side by side with me, If you remember at the start of the church in Philippi, Paul's on his ministry, doing one of his mission journeys, right? And he gets to Philippi. Do you remember what happened in Philippi? Who was he speaking to in Philippi? You can cheat and go back to chapter 1, that's fine. I want us to talk about this so we're looking at what's going on here. Again, helping us to understand studying the scripture but also so we have such a familiarization that these are brothers and sisters who are being written about by brothers and sisters who we are going to be glorifying and worshiping our God forever. So this is awesome seeing these other stories as well. And it gives me encouragement because who in here hasn't had a little bump in with another brother or sister? Let me get the one liar in here. So who is Paul speaking to when he first gets to Philippi? No, I'm sorry, I messed up. See, Jim's doing it. I'm going back to the book of Acts. So disregard what I just said about going back to chapter 1. In the book of Acts is where we'll see the ministry taking place. He's preaching in the synagogues, but then there are these faithful women that he's speaking to that are following, that are serving, that are coming and teaching in my house. So if you remember in Philippi, the early church was because they were thrown in jail. They had the Judaizers, they had the other legalists, they had opposition, Paul, Luke, and his other brethren that were there, which I'm going to do some quizzing on that in a little bit. But they're thrown into jail. However, there were these women, and again, remember, that's why I did the historical background. Philippi was a mini-Rome. It was a legit Roman colony and had all the freedoms of being such a Roman state. And so women there had different privileges than they had in other parts. So the early church in Philippi, though, was heavily influenced and the growth was because of these faithful women. And again, look at the letter, though. If this took place in Corinth, Paul's going to use some very brotherly language, but it's going to be more The correcting again, you know, and you're doing something wrong, but here it's yes, you're doing something wrong, but look at the sweetness still here. He's like, you know, I entreat you, you know, to agree in the Lord. And then he asked, I ask you also true companion. We don't know who he's speaking about, but who wants to give an opinion, a sanctified guess as to who Paul might be talking to here. There are no wrong answers, only incorrect ones. Who might Paul be talking to, especially in reference to the believers in Philippi? The jailer? What did you say? Who else? Who was with Paul in prison in Philippi? I heard somebody say something that's an answer but not the answer to this question. Who said? The Holy Spirit? Yeah, somebody said Luke, right? You said Luke wasn't in prison with them, but that's the one... Correct. And in fact, the building of the church in Philippi is where the pardon acts that Luke addresses from we, it starts in Philippi and the we ends in Philippi. You know, prior to that it was they, they, they, they, he, they, we, Philippi, and then they leave Philippi, they, they, they. So that's why I say Luke. Somebody said Timothy. Who was with Paul in jail? Silas? But he says, and the rest of my, oh he says Clement here, so here's another name we have. Clement, but I don't think he's speaking about Clement because he also names Clement. Don't know exactly who Clement is. There are some early church fathers who credit that with Clement of Rome. And some other stuff, I'm not going to get into that historical, I disagree with it, but I'm not going to get into all the particulars because I don't have 100%. But there's some names of those who are laboring with Paul. Yeah, I'm going to put the jailer there because His whole family, right? And I'm sure that they weren't just sitting on that. And the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life. That's a beautiful thing. Paul is always adamant about that. My brothers and sisters, we're sharing in this Gospel promise together. We're looking forward, eagerly waiting for the Lord to return. Let's live like He would have us live now. Women, you helped labor with me early in this church here. Faithful servants, help them out. Help them reconcile this. Help them fix whatever this problem is. I don't know what the issue is. Nobody does. It's not addressed as a very overt sin, but it's also something that troubles Paul. Paul is about unity. Somebody said that, talking about unity here. So I treat them to agree in the Lord. Which we've already seen previously in this letter. Agree in the Lord. Be in one spirit. Have this same mind in you. And that's what He's telling them. And this good companion to help these women. So... Just the importance of that with the women ministering in Philippi. Because there is, and again, I'm not going to get into that there, different takes on the offices in God's church. But when it comes to the role of women, and we joke, again, for a long time people thought that I'm just this huge, I said thought, they may still think it, this huge, misogynistic, chauvinist of the house, you know, overbearing patriarch. And then they find out she also doesn't drive. You don't let your wife drive. I'm like, oh my goodness, no. Please go fix it. Oh, now you're telling her what to do. No, I didn't. I'm just gonna shut up now, but there is this overbearing, and then there's, on the other extreme, this misinterpretation and just abusing the roles that God has given. OK, I bring that up because these women are serving, and we can get into the whole idea of deacons. I'm not going to, like I said, get into that, where I agree with the pastoral letters and the qualifications. But they're obviously, especially in that term, women who are serving. And Paul is constantly thanking and entreating them to others about their service to the Lord. They're serving. They're diakonin. So, just something to think about there. An unknown issue, but I love that there are many that have labored with Paul. Just on that, I just want to, again, going back to the historical, who else? We've got the four names that were with Paul in Philippi, but what are some other names in the early church that we're familiar with? You can cheat and use some of the disciples, that's fine. I just want us to see in the early church, in God and Christ's early church, the laborers, and these are brothers and sisters of ours, so what are some other names? Barnabas? John Mark, what's significant about that? There were teams going out. There were teams going out? Was it always teams? Anybody remember that? Again, this is just to add some education to us, because he's talking about fellow workers here. Alright, because that's a very good point that I wanted to hit on. It's Paul and Silas here planting the church in Philippi. Well, I say here, but he's writing in prison now. It's Paul and Silas that go to Philippi, but wasn't it Paul and Barnabas before that? So does anybody remember what happened? There was a falling out? Do you remember what it was about? Alright, don't know exactly, John Mark did something to cause Paul to say he is not consistent and we need consistent people for this Lord's work here. Barnabas, say again? He left him? And here's Barnabas like, no, here's a fellow laborer, I'm taking him in. So, again, something that we mean in our, could have been prideful, we don't know, but now it's Paul and Silas and then Barnabas and John Mark. So again, the Lord will use what he uses in ways we don't see. Lydia. She's the one who had the fancy garments. Yes. That's why I love the historical understanding of Philippi. Where else is that going to happen at? Doesn't say she took him to her husband's house. Again, don't know her situation, but it's hers. And she's a businesswoman. Because of her freedom in this Roman state. So, God's providence is beautiful in the early working of the church. Who's some others? What'd you say? Titus? You can cheat and look at the table of contents and give me some of those names. There's lots of names. He wrote a couple of books there. That's the one I was hoping we'd get to, so Jim will just throw it up there. Because this is entreating Yodia and Sintike and their problems. And I'm going to pronounce it a hundred different ways because I don't know how to pronounce her name. Sintike. Sintike. It's a cool looking name though. Who? Epaphroditus? Some other names already in the church? I was trying to get to Peter here because do you remember the incident with Peter and Paul? Do you know where we read about that? If you read Galatians, Paul will address that because he's addressing the entire church in the region of Galatia about this adding to the gospel. And it even says, I had to bust out our brother Peter because he was going contrary to this. So again though, there obviously was Some issues between brothers, but they fix it because then later you read in Peter's letter Where he's telling you listen to Paul you need to read Paul's letters and treat them as scripture So there is animosity here one. We don't read about it anymore after that incident, and it's just a brief I had to you know call a brother to repentance on this and driving on Yep So I'm sure that even Paul, we read about it and we see him and his humility, but he's not above needing sanctification with that heavy grit sandpaper sometimes. There has to be something. He was a very big Pharisee and to see his whole world come crashing down, that's why I believe that the conversion that he had was needed for that heart. But then we see the great things going on here. And these are just some of his fellow co-workers. And again, like I said, Clement, you can read different historians. I recommend historians. And just on that, we will constantly tell you, yes, you have a favorite theologian of the day. Read somebody from 50 years ago. Read somebody from 100 years ago. Read somebody from 500 years ago. Read somebody from the 1st century. That's a little bit more difficult, but you start seeing what's taking place. They weren't meeting like this, but they were hungry for, you know, what does this mean? What does it say? How do we defend this? And again, these are just fellow workers whose names are in the Book of Life. If he's talking about the reference to the Lamb's Book of Life, something in the Old Testament, the Book of Life, either way he's talking about these, what he considers saints, brothers and sisters in the Lord. All right, and then we get to some rejoicing though. And again, if this was something taking place in Corinth, there'd be a whole chapter dedicated to that. Instead it's a, I'm writing to you to please agree in the Lord, you, my faithful co-worker, help them, and you, and all of my other fellow workers. This is sisters that we wanna see reconciled. All right, so that goes to that walking together as well. And then Paul goes into his awesome Paul-like closings. The letters, the big openings, the big closings. That's why I say I love... I forget who it was now. Somebody asking, John, what's this scribble on your name? He signs his name, you know, Slave of the Lord Jesus Christ, the acronym. So you look at all these little letters, and they alternate lowercase and uppercase. Oh, that was Michelle. That's who was asking about it. What's this under your name? But he signs that, and it's kind of like, you know, Paul would always give his letter. You can tell mostly just from reading the letter who wrote it. You know, where it's definitive, this is me saying this, but other times it's the claim that they have, and that's just a little signature I like on his. But Paul says that, rejoice. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say rejoice. That's what we should be. He has given him this encouraging admonition. Rejoice in the Lord. Rejoice. I say again, or hear me, hear me well. Rejoice in the Lord. And then he goes into this beautiful encouragement, and I'm hoping to again spend some time on some application for that. But he tells, let everyone see your gentleness. I'm reading in my net here, so if it's a little bit different, I do apologize. Let me flip over there. The ESV, let your reasonableness be known to everyone. I think another translation, let your gentle heart be known, your gentleness, your gentle spirit. Somebody else have something different? Gentleness. But let everyone see your gentleness. The Lord is near. Alright. Let's stop on that again. This gentleness. The reasonableness as it says. What are we looking at here? Rejoice in the Lord. Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is near. Is he just randomly throwing these expressions out there? Maybe. Does he mean the Lord is near us in the time of His return, since Paul is constantly talking about His return? Be eager as we're waiting for His return? Or is he talking about the Lord is near, we are in our Lord, we are together, His Spirit is with us, a comforter. Is he talking about that kind of near? Or is it both? There's no right or wrong answers, only no answers. I say both. Thank you Zoe. I don't know why you always sound so masculine in my classes here though. I like the word, like, the Lord is near, the Lord is with them. But just because to rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice, let your gentleness, and then the other thing is to remember that people are looking at you. Yes. And so, even to see how you handle conflict. That's a good thing. People are watching. They don't have to agree necessarily, but to approach it in a way like you were saying and continue the way they feel about each other, their affection for each other. Because like she said, they're being watched closely as to how they handle things. And especially if these are two of the women that were there at the beginning, definitely eyes are on them. And yes, the opposition is always all. That's why when Christ says that, they will know you are mine by your love for each other. And the world does love to see that. Oh, look at these Christians over here acting like these fools over here. And we, I say we because it's a collective thing, bring shame and dishonor over and over again to the world. Thankfully, we can approach the throne of grace and have that repentance, which is again what Paul is telling them here, to reconcile though, and then rejoice in the Lord. Let everyone see your gentleness. Yes, the Lord is near. I believe it could be both because they are often told He's coming. We're eagerly waiting for His return to make all things new. And then yes, he goes into this, do not be anxious about anything. Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition or prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, tell your request to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. So be not anxious. And then through prayer and supplication, we can fully rely on God. And I love that though. The peace of God. It's overpowering. It's going to overshadow all of that. Alright. This is what I want us to hit though. What is... I get anxious. Sometimes you're anxious in a positive way, which is not bad. It could be bad, but when you're returning home after a long trip or something like that, right? And you kind of get that anxious anxiety. I hope so. I get the anxiety. I'm like, man, I guess I'm going home. No? Okay, good. What are some of the things that we're anxious over? Who stole mine? Decisions. Family. Decisions. There's lots of things alright. We can be anxious over little things. I'm about to have a surgery. I trust this doctor who's done a thousand surgeries but I could be that one that doesn't work out on here so let me fret and worry about that. What does that anxiety do to us though? Are you effective when you're over anxious? And it's where I even argue that positive anxiety, that good anxiousness, but are we elevating whatever we're anxious over above what we should. So that's again just a caution. Because yes, I remember many a trip could not wait to get home so you get that anxious. Awaiting, I know that my child's going to be born here in the next little bit. So there's that anxiety that's taking place. One for yay and the other for hurry up and be done with it. So which one are you? We know it's not the. But what does this keep us from though? Through prayer and supplication, thanksgiving. You're worrying about this right here, which I'm not saying that that's not something to worry about, obviously, especially in a lot of the uncertainties we have. But what are you saying when your anxiety over this is preventing you from... But in everything, in every situation, through prayer and supplication, You worry about it and you're not putting your faith, right? Because it says that the grace of God will overshadow this. Right? It will overpower all this. But what was that middle part again? So, don't be anxious. The power of God will overshadow that and give you peace. Right? But it's the prayer, the thanksgiving, the supplication. Right? We're worrying about decisions. Yes. And sometimes, I love that. We don't cast lots, literally, but we will figure it out. If this, by this date, then that means God wants this, and I'm going to follow that. Okay, you just threw your dice. I get it. I'm not saying whether that's good or bad. We've done that sometimes. Flip a coin for dinner. Oh, no. You know, the taboo. No, it's just it was an easy decision maker. But in our decisions, we should, through prayer. That's the thing about prayer, etc. If we're focusing on this, this one gets jammed. Especially working with all the knuckleheads. And then I get into the, but this, but this. Especially when somebody is trying to help you. Have you been there? You're stressing over something. And somebody comes like, hey brother, check this out though. Look what God's promise says here. No, but I want to be sad over this. And I want to, you know, this is not going to work. I can say that because that's me. What Brian Oakley has called the male poochie lip. Walk around with the poochie lip. Yes, I trust God, but I also know that He doesn't have to, that He is the Sovereign and whatever is according to His will. So that might mean that I'm worrying about these things, but it doesn't mean that I should worry about them. If I'm in all situations, through prayer and petition and supplication with thanksgiving, telling my request to the Lord, the God of peace that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds. If you are focusing on the Sovereign, it's easier to forget about these other anxieties. That is difficult. Again, I love Brian Nolfen, that's why I He reminded me so much of John, and they had the same attitude. You know, oh, that's, yes, okay, well, let's pray about this. Oh, well, are you going to church? Hey, guy I've never met before, I'm going to call you out on the sin you have right here. You realize that's sin, right, brother? You call yourself a brother, you realize that's sin. Let's pray about this. Wow, that's co-workers in the ministry, though. That's how you do that. That's not foreign to the Bible. It's foreign to us, especially in America. That's not foreign to the Bible. Brother, you're wrong. But here's how you can be encouraged. Look at this. Don't be anxious about anything, but in every situation, through prayer, supplication, thanksgiving to the Lord, make your requests known. It doesn't say your requests are going to be answered. Make your requests known, and the God of peace that surpasses all understanding will guard your mind. This is difficult to be anxious if you are focusing on walking with the Lord. And kind of going on, Paul doesn't stop there. He talks about what you think about really doesn't affect your anxiety. And finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, anything excellent, or anything crazy, where they think about those things, and then he goes further into behavior. Yep, practices. And that focus still goes back to the one who provides this peace. Again, that's what it is, yes. I have a problem that needs a solution, and especially men, we have plan A, B, and C, especially in our lives. I've got this plan. Yes, I trust God, but I have this awesome plan right here. Hang on, let me lay it out for you. I've got four pages and a map, but we're not focusing on the right thing. And yes, so closing off his letter there, it says, finally, brothers and sisters, As Kyle just said, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things. And then as he said, what you have learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things and the God of peace will be with you. That goes back to imitate me as I'm imitating Christ. Imitate those who have walked away with this gospel truth and see how they're living out that life. They're practicing these truths. Of course we see some of that, even looking at the John Mark situation. But there was reconciliation, there was, as you said, call him back to me. There's this love for God and his people and working through that. And we think we have some problems here trying to figure out certain scheduling. This is the early church, this is persecution. This is coming out of a whole history of, especially for the believing Jews, a whole history of this is how it's always been. And then the citizens there in these different areas, that's not their lifestyle. They're very pagan, polytheistic and such, so this is different to them. But just to see this unity Paul is always calling for. This unity, this walking together. This God of peace. How is the God of peace going to be with you? Well, focusing on Him through prayer in every situation. And then thinking on these things. So that's what we're going to finish our time with, looking at these things. It says dwell on these things, or think on these things. On whatever is true. What does that mean to dwell on whatever is true? What are we going to dwell on that is true? The Word. How do you know that the Word is true? It sounds like some circular reasoning there to me. Is that circular reasoning? It's circular reasoning that I absolutely agree with though, because everything is circular reasoning. If there's anything excellent, and if you still haven't got it, if there's anything worthy of praise, what would you immediately go to? What is worthy of praise? I love how Paul does stuff. And you are right, and it is teaching though. How Paul does things. And again, this letter, it's not a correcting letter like Corinth. It is similar to some of his other letters where it's encouraging, but this is a more endearing and love-felt letter. Obviously, Paul has love for the brethren. We see that in all his letters. He prays for them in all his letters. But this one in particular, and I don't know what it is, but just reading from the start of it, the prison, the jailer, the family, the women helping there, and the way that they were able to do more in this Roman state, Paul has an obvious affection specifically for these brethren in Philippi. But yeah, this is a beautiful book. And then, yeah, so who's the one worthy of praise? So if nothing else, that's why I'm asking these questions. Who's true? This answer. The answer to this is the answer to the first one. Who's worthy of praise? So then, what's true? The one who's worthy of praise. What's to be honored? The one worthy of praise. Who's just? Who's commendable? Who's most excellent? who is worthy to be praised. Focus, and he's already told you, pray. In every situation, with supplication, thanksgiving, and your prayer request won't be answered, is not what it says. It says that the peace of the Lord will be with you and guard you. And it doesn't mean it's easy. And then focus. And of course, walking in those ways. Dude, is that a shark on your shirt? He said, no, it's crumbs. I know, man. We almost got in a lot of trouble on Wednesday. Open up that water bottle. We would have both been sunk. Yeah, in the end of the practice, these things are exemplified by those who follow Christ. We talked about that a little bit last week. What does that mean for us? How do we live this out? In this situation it's perfect. There's brethren who have something. Walk beside them. Help them think on Christ together. And for you guys, rejoice. Here's encouragement for you. Don't be anxious about anything. The Lord is near. He's with us now and He is coming. Paul is very clear on his excitement over this. Whether I go be with him or he comes and reclaims. He's awesome about that. Think on these things that are always, if they're not pointing you to the one who's worthy of praise, you're thinking about the wrong things. What she said in the previous chapter, your mind is stuck on these worldly things still. You're holding on to the world and you should be focusing on where your citizenship is and the one who is the ruler there. And just hammered it home again. The God of peace will be with you. I think of that one passage where he talks about being transformed by the renewal of your mind. I think that kind of ties in as well. When we're thinking about, well, thoughts, what we're focusing our thoughts on, studying the words that we have. In order to be transformed, like saying goodbye, you have to start there with some knowledge and then put it into practice. Do you realize how blessed we are to have all the letters here? Just imagine the brothers and sisters in the first century church getting that letter from one of the apostles, one of the brethren. It doesn't even have to be one here, but just getting a letter from one of them. But you're not privy to the letters that are going out everywhere else. Eventually, more and more would get these letters. I saw that letter. Oh, is that the letter? But initially, they don't have that. We have. So you just went to another book. Hey, Paul's theme. Paul's teaching here. from the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit is echoed here. They didn't have that. We are very, very blessed to have a completed letter. A completed canon of the letters to help us see these doctrines. So that's just something to be thankful for. Also how the Old Testament really reforms all in this way that in every scenario that Israel, from a worldly standpoint, had reason to create this. Whether that's in Egypt, or whether that's with, what's that guy, Artaxerxes and Haman. Haman to one of the armies of Assyria surrounding them. And the whole time, God's message is consistent the whole time. And he shows up every time. So Paul's coming from a rich history of God always coming through for his people and always being faithful. And so for us, we come from that same history. And yet, although we are anxious, which it's so easy to be, we forget God's faithfulness. And Paul's calling them to think about it, because the Word of God informs that whole list. And you go back to our history. It's all inside. That's why it's encouraging and discouraging going through the book of Judges. They've got it figured out. Yes. No. God, what are you doing? Okay, that didn't work out. That's alright. God's faithful. God is just. God is raising up. And yes, you guys got it. Yes. No, no, no. What are you doing? Rinse and repeat. That's also Jim. Yeah, hopefully we're making an example, a good example for those that we are influencing. I still encourage, I see all the young ones here, and especially since I'm going through some of the studies that I'm having to do, seeing more intentional how the early churches were teaching, about teaching, and making sure that the people of God understood what needed to be understood. And that's the difficult part. Anybody have anything else to add to this? Any more comments? And next week we'll finish up chapter 4. Whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is holy, whatever is commitable. If there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about those things. I know your point is going back to the worthy of praise, which is supposed to be thinking on God who is worthy of praise. I've also used this scripture for, I'm not, like I've not done this perfectly at all, but things that I listen to and watch, Because I'm like, uh, you know, I really want to watch that because everyone's watching that. That'd be so fun to watch and I'd really enjoy that. But man, this is really not something that's honorable. Or this is not something that's, you know, I would be proud to show the father, like, hey, look what I'm watching. It's, yeah, like, have a good one. And cross off the ones that it's not and go, OK, maybe, I use this pure, pure, lovely, this is the net. Whatever is worthy of respect, true, just, pure, lovely, commendable, something excellent or praiseworthy. Of course, that is our treasure. Our treasure in Christ. That is where we should find everything. But it goes again to there are some enjoyments we have here. By the way, John, I have two of my four stories. I couldn't find the other ones, but I will send them to you. I get weird looks. Sometimes I find enjoyment out of watching mixed martial arts competitions and other martial arts competitions. You call yourself a Christian, you're watching these two guys beat each other up. I've struggled internally before with, is it all this stuff, is it something I should be watching? Well, I'm watching the sport and I'm hoping that they're not really grudgingly hating each other because I also watch boxing and Tyson threatening to bite people's ears off. Never mind, he did bite an ear off. But the point is, the threatening. I think he told somebody, I'll eat your children and your children's children at one point. But it's a lot of showman stuff. So I have got that from people. And again, if I'm convicted of that and I still watch it, absolutely I'm in sin. And if anybody were to know some situation like that, you should call a brother or sister on that. But other times, like we joked about the football. Is it wrong to enjoy sport? Is it wrong to enjoy the athleticism involved? The Raiders maybe? Disregard what we talked about earlier, brother. So he's writing to the church, and he says, the peace of God will keep all of you, and then he finishes off with, the God of peace will be with all of you. That's a beautiful conviction, I like that. But he's writing, we tend to take these letters and make them singular views, but he's really talking about a body of believers, how this should be related to everyone, because the sphere that they find themselves, they're to be rejoicing in the sphere of the Lord. It's just a beautiful letter. I mean, if we turn our attention to God, the way we're pointing it, to Christ, not only in the things of the church, but like in our domestic squabbles, like when we're arguing, well, y'all don't argue, and I and I argue with one another. If we would both turn our attention to God, and by the way, men, don't ask him to pray at that moment. It does not work well. You're just using a scripture. Yeah, I have. I need to heat up over it. Like I said, let's pray. We're going to do a whole retreat about it. Yeah, we're going to pray. It's like, between me and you. Yeah. The Lord decided to do it. But it's this idea of, in everything, you just make it known. God, you're really close. our attention to God collectively, that makes us value each other in Christ. Like, it's the hardest thing to do. You're sitting with somebody, and somebody, another brother or sister comes up to you and says, did you pray for them? And you're like, oh yeah, I did pray. And praying for them is prayer, right? Taking our attention off of lust, and putting our attention on what really belongs on God. And that's not easy. It's just not. But I like the way that Paul does it here. You know, peace of God will keep you, and the God of peace will be with you. And that's beautiful. And then he says, it's all over the letter, starting out with his commending them for what he's heard and how they're continuing in faith. Be in one mind, be in one spirit. This is the spirit and mind you should have. Here's Christ, your example. Imitate those of us who are following Christ and that's your example. I really love it because there is a, today it's easy to get caught up in, for many things, a cult of personality. We like that. I even like the, it's a joke account, but the celebrity pastor. He's almost as good as the church curmungeon, who's actually my favorite. I love the church curmudgeon. But this celebrity idea, or follow... No, we're following Christ. And again, as I said the last time though, yes, if you want to follow godly men and women in your life, as long as they are following Christ, ultimately you're not following them, you're following their example of Christ. And that's what we should be looking for. That's what we should be living. I'm just getting more and more convicted of the... The young ones, again, if you haven't noticed, we're getting a lot of children in here. And we're encouraged by it, but we also understand that that is a task to teach them the things of God and to pray for them in addition to everything else. But we're all walking through this together here, so let's make sure that we're all being that good example. I say I love it. I haven't got my smile from him yet. But we're cool it appears. I thought he wasn't going to forgive me for not opening the water for him but he seems to have forgiven me. And I love his shark shirt so. Anything else? Anybody else? Do you like the letter to the Saints in Philippi? Somebody said no. It's like when the guys at work told me, hey, Jim's a contrarian. Watch, ask him. I refuse to answer. Nothing else? Well, I appreciate it. Next week, as I said, will be the finishing week for Philippians. And then we're going to go into the first 11 chapters of Genesis and park there for a little bit. It's going to be good. We're still going to have the BFFs. Probably going to change for next month. I need to find out again from the ladies. But you'll know well ahead of time. Huh? Did change it because the women's got push back? I'm going to forget. I'll ask you. We've got a new digital brain I'll check with. Awesome. Does somebody want to close this in prayer? I'll do it. Wow, thank you back there. Thank you God that we get to meet, that we get to open Your Word and hear from You and discuss it with each other so that we can have knowledge and understanding and also application so that we can walk out the faith which You've delivered to Your saints. And God, I thank You for the brothers and sisters here. I just ask that as soon as you hear the word from Philippians, we'll pour forth for my wife, God, so that we might glorify you and be transformed more and more into the image of Jesus as individuals and as a body. In Jesus' name. Amen. You all are awesome. Thank you so much. 14th is? Did I change that on the big calendar? Oh, Jimmy. We apologize. We got caught up on Sunday and forgot to present you so we'll do it this... We meant to present you on Sunday and family and stuff, so I'm just apologizing for that. I was like, then I was like, oh, I forgot something. All right, so I apologize Wednesday, and then we'll take care of it there, though. Those your boots, bro? You got boots like that? John? Yes. God bless you, bro. I really want to get into the covenants. I was talking after Genesis 11, getting into the covenants. Oh, get your key? Alright, I'll hit you up when you get back there, bro. I'll be right back. Oh, did he? Yeah.