The Pulpit Commentary — Philippians — Section 162

Cbrii,t enc?urAges ue to ~on:ie to him with al~ ou~ wants. "All things whatsoevei· ye shall nsk rn prayer, behenng, ye shall receive. (3) But to be able to pray in times of <listress and _crushing sorrow, when_ prayer is most needful and most helpful, we must leArn to pray ~. health and pro~penty; we ~ust pray in everything. Daniel, in the ]JClur of ?anger, kneel~ upon ~is ~.nees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks h{,fore his God. as M d,d ~for?'i~e. He had formed the habit of prayer. '].'hat habit 1s the result of long practice; it is deepened and strengthened by perseverance. Happy nre they who by tl1e grace and help of the Holy Spirit form that habit in early life. 4. Holy joy ,·mpl~ habitual t~nlcsgiv~ng. "I1;1 everything give thanks" is the precept of 8l: Paul. He illustrat~ _hi~ ~hm~ by his own ~xample: ~e sang praises unto God lD the dungeon at Philippi; his Epistles abound m doxologies, in thanksoivingo, He had formed the habit of giving thanks continually; it grew out of that holy joy which filled his soul. Holy joy finds its natw:al expression in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. The soul which is blessed with that highest joy which is the fruit ot the Spirit must give thanks always for all things; for such a oue knows by his own happ_v experience that God maketh all things work together for good to them that love him. Daniel gave thanks in the extremity of peril; Job, in bis deep distress: "The Lord gave, and the Lord bath taken away; blessed be the Name of the Lord." 5. Holy joy expreJJses itsel,f in prayer and, thanksgiving; prayer and thanksgiving bring peace. Peace is the fruit of the Spirit, and the Spirit is given in answer to earnest prayer. "My Father will give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him." It is the peace of God, the peace which he giveth. It is the peace of Christ, such peace as he had. "Peace I leave with you: my peace I give unto you.'' It is trustful love and childlike confidence; it implies the blessed consciousness of forgiveness and ,1cceptance with God. The heart in which that peace abideth is not troubled, neither is it afraid. For (1) the peace of God passeth all understanding; none can tell its calm blessedness but those to whom it is given. No energy of thought can comprehend it; no effort of imagination can picture it; only by our own happy experience can we tell its exceeding preciousness. And (2) it keeps the heart and thoughts. It is like a garrison of angels; it fills the heart with holy thoughts, holy memories, holy hopes; it keeps it safe from the temptations of the evil one; it leaves no room for sinful imaginations to pollute the shrine that is dedicated to God. Wicked desires cannot ent.er the heart where the peace of God keeps guard. Like all good gifts, it blesses us in Christ Jesus, in the sphere of his influence, flowing, as it does, from his grace and his atonement. LESSONS. 1. The truest, the most abiding joy is joy in the Lord. The beet of earthly joys comes from the society of those whom we dearly love. Christian_ joy spriu:?s from fellowship with Christ. Pray for grace to win Christ, to know Christ, to love Christ. 2. Love, joy, peace, are the fruit of the Spirit; pray for the .blessed experience of the working of the Spirit in the heart. "Ask, and ye shall have." Vers. 8, 9.-Ezhortation to cultivate habits of holy thOU1Jht. I. TRE IllPOBTANCE OF GOVERNING THE TBOUGBTS. 1. The thoughts are an i,nd,e:r, of tl,e character. The current of thought seem11 ever changeful, dependent on the varying circumstances of the passing l,our. It may be so within cert.a.in limits; but in truth its general direction is aetermined by the character. The thought.a run in channels worn for them by t~e oft- repeated actions which form our ha~ts, good_ or bad. If the peace ~f God rules m the heart the thoughts will be holy; 1f room 1B left for the temptations of the world, the fl~h, and the devil, they will be of the earth, earthy. 'l'he thoughts show what the character is. 2. .And, on the other l,a'l1d, the tlwugl,ta nact powerfully on the cJ.aracter. A sinful thought, brought again alld again before the mind. strengthens the natural tendency of the will to evil and_ leads ~ ~he sinful deed. T~erefore the thoughts must be disciplined and brought wto captmty to the law of ChrIBt. "Keep tLv heart with all diliaence; for out of it are the issues of life." Here is the hardest hattlt of the Christian°life; to govern the thoughts there is need of constant watchful- Dess and persevering prayer. ll. 'IBE LESSON DRAWN ouT n,:ro DETAILS. 1. " Whatsoever thi'l1gs are true." God i.s true; hi.s promises are true, so are hls most awful warnings, Christ is true; he is th6 'v11th; his go~pel is true. Holiness is true, real; "Now a,bideth faith, hope, charity. Cll, IV, 1-23.] 'l'HE EPISTLE 'l'O THE PHILIPPIANS. 163