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Sermon: Ruminate – Part 2
Part 1
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by
Chris Cumming
As you recall from Part 1 of this sermon, the purpose of this message is
to encourage all of us to contemplate, meditate, ponder, reflect upon
and ruminate the Word of God.
Let us begin today’s sermon by reviewing the recap of what we learned in
Proverbs 4.
Let us now recap what we have learned in this Part 1 of the sermon,
Ruminate from Proverbs 4:
--Hear instruction.
--Get knowledge and understanding of things divine and spiritual.
--Do not neglect doctrine.
--Receive the Words of God with affection. Retain and practice them.
--Get wisdom. Never go off the path into vain jangling-1 Timothy 1:6.
--Be continually meditating on Wisdom [Christ].
This is especially true as you go through end time events.
--Never decline from God's way.
--Wisdom is your guardian and companion and will continue as your
protector.
--Continually get knowledge of Christ.
--Be willing to give up all things for Christ.
--The definition of spiritual nakedness is "want of righteousness" which
is only possible in Christ
--In the process of Knowledge, Understanding and Wisdom, wisdom is
action or the invoking of the knowledge and understanding.
--Christ is knowledge. Christ is the understanding. Christ is the
wisdom.
--Put wisdom in the highest position of your heart, soul and mind.
--Christ is exalted and we exalt Him even more each time we invoke the
Spirit of God.
--The more we ruminate the more we become like Christ.
--Make haste to keep the commandments and words of God. You will not
stumble.
--Seize Godly instruction STRONGLY.
--Keep spiritual reason in clear view.
--Avoid the ways, beliefs, doctrines and even the company of people
contrary to truth and the Salvation Process.
--Constantly contemplate Proverbs 4:18 and shine more and more unto the
return of Christ.
--Commit the words and instructions of God to writing, reading and to
sight.
--Increase your time in meditation.
--The words of God are the means of spiritual life and bringing you to
eternal life.
--Guard your heart with all diligence.
--Direct all actions to a right end.
--Learn and follow the examples of the saints gone before you; Christ
being the prime example.
--Ponder the path of your feet. Be not easily moved to right or left.
--Do not take even one step toward a known evil.
--Ruminate the Word of God.
Now we are going to immerse ourselves into another key scripture on
ruminating.
Turn over to Philippians 4 and verse 1. This is another great passage
that leads up to a definitive verse about what we should be
contemplating and pondering.
Philippians 4:1-8
1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and
crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind
in the Lord.
3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which
laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my
fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are
honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if
there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Verse 8 here is a definitive ruminating verse. We will immerse
ourselves into this one shortly. Right now I want to look at some key
phrases in the first seven verses.
Verse 1:
"Stand fast in the Lord."
In the service of the Lord, and
in the strength which he imparts. ~Barnes Notes
The John Gill says, "the Arabic version renders it, "so stand in the
faith of the Lord"; both in the grace faith, and in the doctrine of it,
and in the profession of both." ~John
Gill
Note: A huge part of standing
fast in the Lord is to stand fast in His Word. Ponder it.
Verse 2:
"Be of the same mind in the Lord."
Note: virtually all the
commentaries say the same thing. To have the same mind in the Lord,
each being, "must embrace the same truths and profess and maintain the
same principle the church did."
Verse 3:
"Whose names are in the book of life."
Note: We know that the, "Book
of Life" is the Word of God and the only way to have your name written
in that book is to be immersed in that Book. Indeed, the Word of God is
the mind of Jesus Christ, the being we are being conformed to [2
Corinthians 3:18].
Verse 5:
"The Lord is at hand."
Note: the first thing you will
see in commentaries on this phrase is urgency about the impending return
of Christ. I, not infrequently, ask the question, "What would you do if
you were informed that Christ were returning to Earth in 30 days?"
Invariably the answers are:
A] Pray more
B] Study more
C] Meditate more.
All three speak to getting immersed in the Word of God. Notice a verse
or two from the Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge which are linked to
Philippians 4:5 and this phrase:
Revelation 22:7
Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the
prophecy of this book.
2 Peter 3:12-18
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein
the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall
melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a
new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent
that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as
our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him
hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in
which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are
unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto
their own destruction.
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware
lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from
your own stedfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Clearly speaking to our pondering and meditating on the Word of God.
Verse 7:
"And the peace of God."
Notice the commentary here:
And the peace of God - The peace which
God gives. The peace here particularly referred to is that which is felt
when we have no anxious care about the supply of our needs, and when we
go confidently and commit everything into the hands of God. “Thou wilt
keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee;” Isaiah 26:3.
~Barnes Notes
Quoted verse:
Isaiah 26:3
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee:
because he trusteth in thee.
Note: Since the Word of God is
the mind of God, the most efficient way of keeping our mind on the mind
of God is to be immersed in the Word of God and ruminating on that Word.
Another commentary I referenced [Adam
Clarke] stated that this peace of God came from, "harmonizing
of all passions and appetites which is produced by the Holy Spirit [in
us]." Surely the primary work of the Holy Spirit in us is to
put us into pondering the Word of God and putting into our mind the
true, pure and virtuous things in this life.
Now verse 8…
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are
honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if
there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
The verse can be broken down in to ten phrases as follows;
1] Finally, brethren
2] whatsoever things are true
3] whatsoever things are honest
4] whatsoever things are just
5] whatsoever things are pure
6] whatsoever things are lovely
7] whatsoever things are of good report
8] if there be any virtue
9] if there be any praise
10] think on these things
Let us ruminate through these.
1] Finally, brethren
Finally, brethren - The object of the
apostle is to recommend holiness and righteousness to them in every
point of view; and to show that the Gospel of Christ requires all its
professors to have the mind that was in Christ, and to walk as he
himself also walked. That they were not to attend to one branch of
righteousness or virtue only, but to everything by which they might
bring honor to God, good to their fellow creatures, and credit to
themselves. ~Adam Clarke
Finally, brethren, - To close all with
respect to the duties of Christianity incumbent on the professors of it.
~John Gill
2] whatsoever things are true
Whatsoever things are true - All that is
agreeable to unchangeable and eternal truth. Whether that which is to be
learned from the nature and state of created things, or that which comes
immediately from God by revelation. ~Adam
Clarke
Whatsoever things are true - In this
exhortation the apostle assumes that there were certain things admitted
to be true, and pure, and good, in the world, which had not been
directly revealed, or which were commonly regarded as such by the people
of the world, and his object is to show them that such things ought to
be exhibited by the Christian. Everything that was honest and just
toward God and toward people was to be practiced by them, and they were
in all things to be examples of the highest kind of morality. They were
not to exhibit partial virtues; not to perform one set of duties to the
neglect or exclusion of others; not to be faithful in their duties to
God, and to neglect their duty to people, not to be punctual in their
religious rites, and neglectful of the comment laws of morality; but
they were to do everything that could be regarded as the fair subject of
commendation, and that was implied in the highest moral character. The
word true refers here to everything that was the reverse of falsehood.
They were to be true to their engagements; true to their promises; true
in their statements; and true in their friendships. They were to
maintain the truth about God; about eternity; about the judgment; and
about every man’s character. ~Barnes
Notes
3] whatsoever things are honest
Whatsoever things are honest - σεμνὰ
semna. Properly, venerable [Commanding
respect], reverend; then honorable, reputable. As applied to
people, it commonly means grave, dignified, worthy of veneration or
regard. In the New Testament it is rendered “grave” in 1Timothy 3:8, 1
Timothy 3:11, and Titus 2:2, the only places where the word occurs
except this; and the noun (σεμνότης semnotēs) is rendered “honesty”
in 1 Timothy 2:2, and “gravity” in 1 Timothy 3:4, and Titus2:7. It
occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. The word, therefore, does not
express precisely what the word “honest” does with us, as confined to
dealings or business transactions, but rather has reference to what was
regarded as worthy of reputation or honor; what there was in the customs
of society, in the respect due to age and rank, and in the contact of
the world, that deserved respect or esteem. It includes indeed what is
right in the transaction of business, but it embraces also much more,
and means that the Christian is to show respect to all the venerable and
proper customs of society, when they did not violate conscience or
interfere with the law of God. ~Barnes
Notes
Whatsoever things are honest - Whatever
is grave, decent, and venerable. Whatever becomes you as men, as
citizens, and as Christians. ~Adam Clarke
4] whatsoever things are just
Whatsoever things are just - The things
which are right between man and man. A Christian should be just in all
his dealings. His religion does not exempt him from the strict laws
which bind people to the exercise of this virtue, and there is no way by
which a professor of religion can do more injury perhaps than by
injustice and dishonesty in his dealings. It is to be remembered that
the people of the world, in estimating a person’s character, affix much
more importance to the virtues of justice and honesty than they do to
regularity in observing the ordinances of religion; and therefore if a
Christian would make an impression on his fellow-men favorable to
religion, it is indispensable that he manifest uncorrupted integrity in
his dealings. ~Barnes Notes
Whatsoever things are just - Whatsoever
is agreeable to justice and righteousness. All that ye owe to God, to
your neighbor, and to yourselves. ~Adam
Clarke
5] whatsoever things are pure
Whatsoever things are pure - Chaste - in
thought, in feeling, and in the conversation between the sexes.
~Barnes Notes
Whatsoever things are pure - Whatsoever
is chaste. In reference to the state of the mind, and to the acts of the
body. ~Adam Clarke
Whatsoever things are pure -
or "chaste", in words and deeds, in opposition to all filthiness and
foolish talking, to obscene words and actions. The Vulgate Latin and
Arabic versions render it, "whatsoever things are holy"; which are
agreeable to the holy nature, law, and will of God, and which tend to
promote holiness of heart and life: ~John
Gill
Note: Clearly referencing
“sanctification” or purpose in all things and our adhering to those
sanctifications.
6] whatsoever things are lovely
Whatsoever things are lovely - The word
used here means properly what is dear to anyone; then what is pleasing.
Here it means what is amiable - such a temper of mind that one can love
it; or such as to be agreeable to others. A Christian should not be
sour, crabby, or irritable in his temper - for nothing almost tends so
much to injure the cause of religion as a temper always chafed; a brow
morose and stern; an eye that is severe and unkind, and a disposition to
find fault with everything. And yet it is to be regretted that there are
many persons who make no pretensions to piety, who far surpass many
professors of religion in the virtue here commended. A sour and crabby
temper in a professor of religion will undo all the good that he
attempts to do. ~Barnes Notes
Whatsoever things are lovely - Whatsoever
is amiable on its own account and on account of its usefulness to
others, whether in your conduct or conversation.
~Adam Clarke
7] whatsoever things are of good
report
Whatsoever things are of good report -
That is, whatsoever is truly reputable in the world at large. There are
actions which all people agree in commending, and which in all ages and
countries are regarded as virtues. courtesy, urbanity, kindness, respect
for parents, purity between brothers and sisters, are among those
virtues, and the Christian should be a pattern and an example in them
all. His usefulness depends much more on the cultivation of these
virtues than is commonly supposed.
~Barnes Notes
Whatsoever things are of good report -
Whatsoever things the public agree to acknowledge as useful and
profitable to men; such as charitable institutions of every kind, in
which genuine Christians should ever take the lead.
~Adam Clarke
8] if there be any virtue
If there be any virtue - If there is
anything truly virtuous. Paul did not suppose that he had given a full
catalogue of the virtues which he would have cultivated. He, therefore,
adds, that if there was anything else that had the nature of true virtue
in it, they should be careful to cultivate that also. The Christian
should be a pattern and an example of every virtue.
~Barnes Notes
If there be any virtue - If they be
calculated to promote the general good of mankind, and are thus
praiseworthy. ~Adam Clarke
9] if there be any praise
And if there be any praise - Anything
worthy of praise, or that ought to be praised.
~Barnes Notes
10] think on these things
Think on these things - Let them be the
object of your careful attention and study, so as to practice them.
Think what they are; think on the obligation to observe them; think on
the influence which they would have on the world around you.
~Barnes Notes
Think on these things - Esteem them
highly, recommend them heartily, and practice them fervently.
~Adam Clarke
Think on these things - meditate upon
them, revolve them in your minds, seriously consider them, and reason
with yourselves about them, in order to put them into practice.
~John Gill
Note: This last phrase gives
us the title of this sermon, “Ruminate.” We are to ruminate on all
these things and fully understand their meaning.
This Part 2 of this sermon has been an immersion into Philippians 4 and
verses 1 through 8 which has, along with Part 1 of this sermon, given us
knowledge and understanding into the concept of ruminating, pondering
and meditating on the Word of God. But why? Why should we ruminate?
The answer is in verse 9.
Philippians 4:9
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and
seen in me, do [wisdom]: and
the God of peace shall be with you.
Now there are two verses that go right along with this one:
Philippians 4:7 ...a
verse we discussed above
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:23
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole
spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
Now get out there and ruminate.
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