Whatever Is . . .
This is Living: Philippians
Pastor Todd Blansit
New Life Church
September 22, 2024

We are responsible for the kind of thoughts we have. Our thoughts, or habits of thought, are something that we develop and feed.

We live in a world full of wrong thinking.

Paul uses the word logizomai, which is a word that expresses intense and studious gazing upon these things, not merely a passing glance.

What Paul is calling for here is the disciplined, intentional directing of our thoughts toward positive things. positive things about God, about the world, about one another, about ourselves.

It is not enough to just say that I can't control my thought life. In Jesus, we have been given all that we need for life and Godliness, and He has promised to supply all we need.

Paul is not teaching the power of positive thinking. He is teaching the power of Biblical thinking.

Truth forms the basis for all the other qualities listed. If something is not true, then it can’t be noble, right, or pure.
Truth is the pillar of a believer's life. It’s truth that originates from God.

There’s a direct connection between peace and what we allow our minds to focus on.

Verse 9: Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Learning….This refers to the instruction we receive—whether through Scripture, sermons, Bible studies, or personal discipleship. It's about gaining knowledge and understanding of God’s will.

Receiving…This goes deeper than just learning. It means that the message of the Gospel was personally received into our lives. They embraced the truth and internalized it. For us, receiving the Word means accepting it as authoritative and allowing it to shape our values and priorities.

Paul redefines worship here. It’s not just about religious rituals or ceremonies but involves offering our entire lives in obedience to God. Worship is a lifestyle, not just something we do on Sundays.