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Philippians 4:9, The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Every coach wants their athletes to excel, to win. They pour their heart into training their team with lots of practice, encouragement, correction, and discipline. No one becomes a great athlete without structured discipline. Caitlan Clark works hard to be the best basketball player she can be. She takes 300 shots daily along with dribbling drills, strength training, and plyometric exercises so she can quickly change direction on the court. The Philippians spiritual coach, the apostle Paul, has laid out lots of spiritual practices in this last chapter for these believers to incorporate in their lives – stand firm, resolve conflict, rejoice at all times, pray about everything with thanksgiving, control your thoughts with true and good and right thinking.
Now Paul is giving his last exhortation. He wants them to develop habits that will glorify Christ and nurture godliness. In this one verse you have the practices needed to become a healthy, growing, godly believer. Paul encourages believers to discipline themselves toward godliness by practicing the things he has taught them. Jerry Bridges defines godliness as “devotion to God which results in a life that is pleasing to God.”
In verse 9 Paul is saying, “Listen, you’ve heard, you’ve learned, I’ve taught you, I’ve demonstrated what the Christian life looks like, now you must practice these things.” One speaker said, “Too many believers go through the Word but the Word never seems to go through them. They get in the Word but the Word doesn’t get in them.” Jesus said in John 13:17, “If you know these things, happy are you if you do them.” And James 1:21 warns, “Be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” Paul then gives the command, “Practice these things.” Success demands practice, practice, practice. That’s what every successful athlete, pianist, or spelling bee champion must do. And that’s what every healthy, growing believer must do. First Timothy 4:7 says godliness comes through discipline. Every Christian needs spiritual disciplines, and Paul is giving us the path to a disciplined, growing, godly life. Let’s follow Paul’s directions.
GOD HAS A BODY OF TRUTH FOR US TO LEARN AND APPLY
“The things you have learned….” What things, Paul? What things does God want you to learn? Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:14, “Continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of…from childhood you’ve known the sacred writings which gives you the wisdom the leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” Then he unfolds the purpose of God’s Word in vs 16, “All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching (everything God wants you to know – God’s classroom), reproving (showing you where you’re wrong – God’s courtroom), correcting (how to repent and change – God’s rehab), and training us in righteousness (developing habits that nurture godliness – God’s gymnasium).”
“The things you have learned” includes the whole Bible. What do you learn from these 66 books of God’s Word, from Genesis to Revelation? Start with the Godhead, three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one essence, one true and living God, infinite, eternal, and unchanging. You learn about how God sovereignly chose, saves, and keeps His people in Christ through justification, sanctification, and glorification. You learn from Genesis to Revelation 8 major truths (adapted from Answers in Genesis with one additional truth): Creation in six literal days; Corruption – the fall, how the human race became cursed with sin and total depraved; Catastrophe – the global flood; Confusion – the tower of Babel; Covenant, God’s promise to Abraham of land, a seed, and blessing, taking you all the way through the law, the writings, and the prophets up to Christ, His incarnation and perfect life and God’s way of redeeming His people; and finally the Consummation, beginning with the rapture, the tribulation period, the Millenium and the heavenly Jerusalem when God will be with His people forever. There you have the 30,000-feet view of the things God wants you to know.
Then you zoom in on the life of Christ and the spread of the gospel in Acts. Romans teaches about sin, salvation, sanctification, sovereignty, and service. Ephesians breaks up into Sit (chs 1-3), Walk (chs. 4-6), and Stand (ch. 6), or wealth, walk, and warfare. Paul’s teaching is always doctrine, then duty, principles, then practice. Learn it and apply it. Did Paul teach them all this? A lot of it. “The things you have learned…practice these things.” If you don’t remember all “these things,” no worries, you’ve got the rest of your life to learn them.
All Scripture is given not just to fill your brain but to change your life. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says the gospel is not something you add to your life; the gospel controls your whole life. You’re not a husband, father, worker, citizen, church attender, and oh yes, a Christian too. No, you’re a Christian husband, Christian father, Christian worker, Christian citizen, and a Christian church attender if you are a true born-again believer.
GOD GIVES YOU THE PROCESS FOR GRASPING THESE THINGS
Paul would certainly agree that the only way God’s people can grasp the things of God is by the illumination of the Spirit. First Corinthians 2:12 is speaking of the ministry of the Spirit in the hearts of believers: “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God.” The natural man doesn’t receive the things of the Spirit, the Spirit-inspired Word of God. He thinks they’re foolishness. But if you are saved, God has given you a built-in receiver, the Holy Spirit, to grasp His truth.
Paul breaks “these things” into four responses. First, you learned these things. The noun disciple comes from that word. Every believer is a learner, a disciple. When you come to Christ you come under His authority, the authority of His Word. You listen and learn. You take notes and think about them. You meditate on what God is saying to you in the Bible. The church is a discipleship or learning center, not just a feel-good therapy center.
You received these things. You don’t just let the teaching roll off like water off a duck’s back. Too many church attenders come, sit, and leave without embracing the truth they’ve heard. They leave a puddle of teaching behind or as MacArthur said somewhere, “They dump it all out in the parking lot as they get in their cars.” No, you receive or embrace them. Paul was so pleased with the Thessalonians and how they embraced God’s Word.
1 Thessalonians 2:13, For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.
They heard and saw these things in Paul. They saw Paul live out what he taught. He had a life worth emulating. They saw him living out genuine faith in Christ. They saw him handling the trials, rejoicing in prison, bringing the Philippian jailor to Christ. The jailor was probably in the congregation when they read this letter from Paul. They saw the evidence of grace and Christ’s strength in his life. He’s going to tell us in verse 13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” This is spiritual leadership. Paul was a leader who was a learner and coaching learners to become leaders. This is exactly what Hebrews 13:7 says.
Hebrews 13:7, Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.
GOD WANTS YOU TO PRACTICE THESE THINGS
You can learn and receive and hear and see, but this next step is absolutely crucial – PRACTICE THESE THINGS! This is that great little word prasso. Some people have an encyclopedic knowledge of the Bible, but it hasn’t touched their lives. They get in the Word but the Word doesn’t get in them. They aren’t applying it. Listen again to James 1:21, “Be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” First Timothy 4:7 says godliness comes through discipline. Too many professing Christians are loafing along rather than putting the pedal to the medal. Second Peter 1:3-4 says, “With all God’s divine power and magnificent promises given to us, we are to apply all diligence, adding to your faith virtue, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and sacrificial love.” Don’t “coast” into these things but apply all diligence! You’re on it! You’re building your house on the rock, not the sand. Jerry Bridges wrote, “Godliness is a two-fold pursuit: God-centeredness and God-likeness.” This summer some of our ladies are reading Bridge’s book The Fruitful Life, taken from his book The Practice of Godliness. A reviewer on Amazon wrote, “Great book for those looking to dive deep into the fruit of the Spirit.”
What holds you back from fruitful growth? Fruitful growth is a beautiful thing. When you plant seeds in your garden, you are delighted to see them grow. And so with your spiritual growth – it is a delightful thing. First, you must have a heart for God, a love for Christ, an understanding of how to grow and change to become more like Christ. Let me give some reasons why you may fail to grow and change (adapted from Jay Adam’s book Insight and Creativity in Christian Counseling).
Lack discipline. Many Christians think there’s something mystical about growing and becoming more spiritual, like there’s a zap from heaven to change us. But Paul says, “No, you discipline yourself for godliness.” That word discipline in 1 Timothy 4:7 is the source of our word gymnasium. It means to exercise vigorously. Godliness comes through disciplined living. Just like good athletes, you determine to read, study, pray, and follow God’s Word. You don’t depend on your feelings. You determine to do it and then do it! Proverbs 2 gives a great picture of structured godly living. Notice the active verbs.
Proverbs 2:1-5, My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you, 2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; 3 For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; 4 If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will discern the fear of the LORD And discover the knowledge of God.
Lack application. When you bring home a can of paint to paint your garage, the paint doesn’t jump out of the can and coat the wall for you. James 1:25 ff. commands us to be doers of the Word, not just hearers. Some people never knew they were supposed to actually apply the Word to their lives. They think listening is enough. No, you must dip your life into the Word of God through reading and meditating and then apply those truths to your life. Ask what God is teaching you in the verses and how they apply to your life? Philippians 2:3-5 is an excellent place to start. “Don’t merely look after your own interests but also for the interests of others. In humility, esteem others as more important than yourself. Have this attitude in your which was also in Christ.” A little later Paul says, “Do everything without grumbling or complaining.” We can all apply that.
Lack commitment to obedience. Samuel told Saul, “To obey is better than sacrifice.” John Calvin wrote, “Nothing is more acceptable to God than obedience.” The difference between the guy who built on the sand vs the one who built on the rock is very simple – the rock guy obeyed.
Matthew 7:24, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Lack perseverance. We follow our feelings. When trials come, people offend us, we drift away, get spiritually lazy, let the Bible on the shelf and go back to living like a pagan. Perseverance means to go through severe times. So many people think Jesus is going to make life easy for them and when the trials and storms comes, they wonder if Jesus is even real. They wonder if God hears their prayers. Following feelings is one of our biggest mistakes. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:26-27, “Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” Paul wasn’t following his feelings; he was following his Savior.
Lack a heart for change. Psalm 119:10 says, “With my whole heart I have sought you; let me not wander from your commandment.” If we aren’t motivated by God’s grace to please Him by applying His Word and actually changing, we’re not going to see spiritual growth. We sing, “Change my heart O God, make it ever true.” Do you have a heart for change to become more like Christ?
Lack biblical goals. Paul’s motivation in Philippians 3:8 was above all to know Christ, to please Christ. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:9 he makes it his goal to be pleasing to God. Be God centered, not self-centered. Our goals can easily be selfish. If only God would change my circumstances or the people in my life, I’d be able to live pleasing to Him. We need to be growing and changing for God’s glory, not just to feel better. God isn’t our Cosmic Feel-Good Therapist.
There are many more reasons we fail to change and grow, but these are some reasons why our spiritual growth may be stunted. If any of these hit home, ask God to help you change your thinking and doing.
Paul says in Philippians 4:9 we should practice these things. Practice includes developing godly habits. Read your Bible until it becomes a habit. Set aside every Sunday to meet with God’s people. Talk with your Heavenly Father as you go through your day. MacArthur notes physicians have a medical practice – you expect them to know what they’re doing. Usually they don’t come into your room with an anatomy book and look for answers while you’re lying right there. Lawyers practice law. The better they know the law, the better they can defend you. Christians practice godliness. That comes as we develop habits of godliness.
Jay Adams wrote, “There is no easier path to godliness than the prayerful study and obedient practice of the Word of God. It is by willing, prayerful and persistent obedience to the requirements of the Scriptures that godly patterns are developed and come to be part of us.”
Develop habits of godliness. Habits require structure and structure brings freedom as you practice the right things over and over. Have you ever learned to water ski? You go from trying to get those skis together with the rope between. Then as the boat pulls you up, you pull back on the rope and down you go. Oops. Then the boat driver yells, “Let the boat pull you up!” You try again and again, falling at times, but finally you get up. Then wave comes your way and down you go. More practice and finally you are skiing from one side of the boat to the other, even jumping the wake of the boat. Before you know it you’re dropping one ski and there you go, slalom skiing. Now you don’t even want two skis. You find one ski is more fun. How did it happen? You practiced, you persevered, you didn’t quit, you listened to your coach. You did it over and over until it was as easy as shifting a four-speed transmission.
This is how you grow in God’s Word. Develop structure, discipline, and practice into your life. Depend on God’s grace as you keep the cross of Christ in your mind and heart. Continue in these things and you find yourself growing like you never dreamt you would.
GOD GIVES YOU A WONDERFUL PROMISE
Look at this beautiful promise for God’s people who take Christ seriously and practice His Word. In verse 7 Paul says the peace of God, the peace that has its source in God will keep, protect, and guard you. Now he goes even further. The God of peace Himself will be with you! Paul is preparing these beloved believers for whatever trials will come. He says the God of peace will be right there with you. God gives us His peace, but then adds, I’m giving myself to you. I’m reminded of Moses, who told God at one point in Exodus 33, “I’m glad you’re giving us this promised land but if you don’t go with us, I’m not going.”
God promises His personal presence in strength, stability, confidence, and assurance as we commit ourselves to practicing these things Paul teaches us and lived out for us. Paul says you’re not on your own. Regardless of what you’re going through, the God of peace will go with you, escort you, accompany you, never leave or forsake you, even though you go through the valley of the shadow of death, He’ll be with you! All the way through this valley of trials and tribulations up to the end, God’s highly trained and faithful sheep dogs Goodness and Mercy will follow you and keep you safe along the way. Psalm 23, “Surely goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life, and then you will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!”
SO WHAT?
Do you have the peace of God in your heart through prayer and thanksgiving? Do you have the God of that peace with you through your growing, changing, and applying God’s Word to your life? Do you have a heart that is trusting in Christ? Do you need to ask God for forgiveness for not taking His word seriously, learning it, reading it, praying over it, applying it to your life? Do you honestly have a heart for God, a heart that loves God and wants to please Him because of all He has done for you through His Son, the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ? John 1:12, But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.