Philippians 4 - The "TNRPLA" Test!
Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity
4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! 2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Paul closes his letter to the Philippians like a coach in a locker pumping up is his players. Paul considers the Philippians his joy and his crown. They have a special place in his heart. When he says they are "his crown", he is referring to the crown we will receive in heaven as a reward for our faithfulness.
Paul used the ancient Greek word for crown that described the crown given to an athlete who had won the race. It was a crown of achievement (a stephanos); not the crown that was given to a king (a diadema). The Philippians, as they stand fast in the Lord, were Paul’s trophy.
Paul mentions two pretty obscure people, Eudoia and Syntyche, and enjoins them to be of the same mind.
What was the issue between them?
Apparently these two women were the source of some sort of quarrel in the church. Instead of taking sides or trying to solve their problem, Paul simply told them to be of the same mind in the Lord. To be of the same mind in the Lord: Whatever the dispute was about, Euodia and Syntyche had forgotten that they have a greater common ground in Jesus Christ. They forgot that everything else was less important than that common ground. - Guzik
Paul reminds us that a lot of the issues we face in the church relationally can be overcome with our faith in and our focus on Jesus. When are eyes are fixed on Jesus, our petty squabbles seem to be just that ... petty! We don't have to agree on everything, but to be of the same mind we have to have the same mind of Christ.
Paul mentions the concept the "book of life"! It is talked about quite a bit in the book of Revelation. The book of life contains the names of all those who have believed in Jesus and are headed for heaven one day. The consequences of not being in the book of life is not good.
"And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:15
Final Exhortations
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Verses 4-7 are a definite are worthy of memorization. These are some of the greatest verses in the New Testament. They apply to almost every situation we find ourselves in life. Paul starts by telling them to "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" This Greek word is written in the "imperative tense", so it could be looked at as a command. Or, he might have said, "Choose joy!"
As we have said before, "joy" is a huge theme in the book of Philippians, even in suffering. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, when we live by this same Spirit. Then, Paul shows one of the most amazing benefits of prayer. Most everyone experiences anxiety from time to time. Sometimes it is debilitating. 31% percent experience debilitating anxiety at sometime in their life. Many experience panic attacks. I have experienced a few of them. They are not fun.
But Paul's antidote to anxiety is prayer. Paul admonishes us to go to pray in all of our situations. He tells us to present our worries to God with, "Prayer, petition and thanksgiving."
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 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.
Paul's final instructions to the Philippians has to do with their thought lives. Paul said in Romans 12 that the only way to true transformation is the "renewing of our minds". Paul also tells us to have the "mind of Christ". 1 Corinthians 2:16
Paul's litmus test for our thought life is a list of several adjectives. It is a "must memory verse". As you memorize it, use the acronym TNRPLA. (True, Noble, Right, Pure, Lovely and Admirable). If we used this acronym to determine what we put into our minds our lives would look a lot different.
Unfortunately there is not much out in our current culture that meets the TNRPLA test. You will have to be intentional to find things to put in your mind that meets this criteria. You can start with the bible. As we are rooted and trained in the scriptures we are steep in the truth that "sets us free"! Note that the primary way the devil tempted Jesus in the garden was to plant lies in his head. I.e. "Did God really say ..." When we use TNRPLA on a regular basis, our brain gets trained to only want to be fed with what is TNRPLA.
"Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Though Emerson was not a Christian, what he is saying is true and reflected in Philippians 4:8
What is your thought life like? If someone spent a day and could read your mind, what would they conclude at the end of the day?
If you use TNRPLA as your guide to a healthy thought life, your character will change.
Thanks for Their Gifts
10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
As we mentioned back in chapter 1, Paul's letter to the Philippians was a thank you letter for their generosity toward his ministry. Paul then gives the "secret of contentment". We live in a culture of "more, more, more." Bigger cars, homes, toys, and even body parts. People want more and more, but it does not give in any a guarantee of contentment. Often people who have the most possessions are the most discontent people.
Paul "learned how to be content". That's right we need to learn to be content. Paul had times where he has plenty, and times where he was in need. But his secret to being content was found in Jesus. In most of the most quoted verses in the bible Paul says,
"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13
This is one of the most important verses you can memorize. It doesn't say Jesus can help you once in a while. No, it says you can do ALL THINGS through the strength that only Jesus can bring.
We all have limits to what we can handle. But when you have Jesus in your life, you can do more than you can ask or imagine. In fact, if you are only relying on human strength, you are not doing anything of everlasting value.
This is why Jesus says in John 15:5, "Apart from me you can do nothing", which is the opposite of Philippians 4:13.
Where do you need the contentment that only Jesus can bring? Where do you need a strength beyond what you can muster up that only Jesus can give you?
The life Jesus came to give us is the abundant life. The life you've always wanted. When Philippians 4:13 is your motto for life, you will make a difference that will last for eternity!
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