Passage: Philippians 4:8-9

The Big Idea

There’s an argument going on inside every believer: flesh versus Spirit, man’s wisdom versus God’s, natural ability versus grace. Jesus ends the argument with His trump card: Himself. Paul’s list of things to meditate on, whatever is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy, is a portrait of Jesus. The mind is the rudder of the ship of our lives, and we steer it by taking every thought captive to Christ. This isn’t a requirement for His love; it’s an invitation into it. Work hard, serve others, and keep returning to explore and adore Jesus.

The Argument Inside

John Calvin wrote: “Nothing is more opposed to the spiritual wisdom of God than the wisdom of the flesh, and nothing more opposed to His grace than man’s natural ability.”

There’s an argument going on, but it doesn’t have to continue. We can settle it.

The argument is inside us: flesh versus Spirit, man’s wisdom versus God’s, natural ability versus grace, who we are without the Holy Spirit versus who we are surrendered to Him.

What does Jesus have for us? Victory! He can end the debate.

We’re going to choose a side, draw a line in the sand and learn how to keep the flesh from taking over.

You know that voice. “No one will ever find out.” “I’ll stop in time.” “I just need a little for myself.” “This isn’t fair to me.” “What’s wrong with a little on the side?”

You know that voice. I know it too. My flesh is corrupt. And I love the freedom that comes from admitting it, because Jesus loved me anyway. He died to take away my sin, and He alone is my victory.

“Why didn’t Jesus just take my flesh away so I wouldn’t have to struggle?”

That would require dying. The flesh is part of what we inherited from Adam.
Its pull will be with us until our hearts stop beating.

But Jesus offers something better:

new life now, through the Holy Spirit;
so your flesh doesn’t have to die physically for you to experience His new, forgiven, victorious life.

Your body doesn’t have to die, but your allegiance to the flesh does:

your dependence on it;
your trust in it;
your siding with it;
your doing its will.

That’s what dies.

Whenever you want to do what’s right and honor God, that desire comes from the Holy Spirit. It proves He’s with you and fighting for you. He put that desire there.

So the argument is between the flesh and the Holy Spirit. And we’re going to learn how to surrender to the Spirit. Then the argument is over.

It all happens in the mind. That’s where the battle rages. But Jesus gives us His answer, the trump card that beats every other argument: Himself.

Meditate on These Things (4:8-9)

Paul tells us to fix our minds on whatever is true, noble, just, pure, lovely and of good report, anything excellent and praiseworthy. Meditate on these things. And whatever they learned, received, heard and saw in Paul, they should put into practice, and the God of peace will be with them (Philippians 4:8-9).

Paul gives a list of things to meditate on.
Your life is shaped by what you invest your heart in. That’s what meditation is: letting your heart explore and adore something.
We can meditate on anything and invest our love and worship anywhere.
Paul says to explore and adore what honors God.

And every item on the list describes Jesus:

True. What’s truer than God’s Word, or God’s love for you? The world is full of lies, and our flesh can’t sort them out. So in love, God gave us something always true: the Bible. What Jesus says.
Noble. Honest, honorable, worthy of respect. What Jesus is.
Just. Right, righteous. What Jesus does.
Pure. Like clear water. Jesus had no sin.
Lovely. Pleasing, acceptable. Jesus is the One who pleases God. Hide yourself in Him, and plead only Him.
Of good report. Well spoken of, with a good reputation. Run your thoughts by Jesus.
Virtue. Moral excellence. Jesus.
Praiseworthy. Deserving praise. Only Jesus truly deserves it.

Meditate on these things. Let your mind explore and adore Jesus every moment of every day.

The Mind Is the Rudder

This isn’t just a mental exercise. It involves your whole person: body, mind and spirit. But the mind is where it starts. When the mind works right, everything else follows.

Paul urges us, by the mercies of God, to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, our reasonable worship. Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so you can discern God’s good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:1-2).

Your life is a ship. Your mind is the rudder.
It takes time for a big ship to turn, but the rudder can turn it all the way around.
To honor God with your life, let Him govern your mind.
Invest your thinking in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Try it, and see if it doesn’t change your life.

It’s a Fight

It’s a battle. Paul says that though we live in the flesh, we don’t wage war according to the flesh. Our weapons aren’t worldly but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds (old ways of thinking, the way we grew up thinking and living). We cast down arguments and every proud thing raised against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-6).

This thinking lesson calls for obedience.
We don’t like that. We like being our own boss and feeling in control.
But God offers salvation on His terms, not ours.
When a rescue boat pulls you out of the sea, you don’t get to direct the rescue or ask for a vacation stop on the way home.

What does obedience look like?

Paul showed us: Jesus, being in the form of God, didn’t cling to equality with God, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, and humbled Himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:6-8).

Jesus is the picture of obedience. He laid down His life.
He trusted God. He surrendered.

Alan Redpath warned that apart from a mighty revival, the church fights a losing battle when it resists the enemy on fleshly levels. He said this isn’t settled at denominational headquarters or in church courts. It begins with individual believers, here and now, so the tide of the Holy Spirit’s power can flow again.

A practical example

Someone says something bad about you. The fleshly response is to attack back and defend yourself.

But the spiritual response uses truth: “What they said may or may not be true, but it’s not a hundredth as bad as I’d look if everyone knew everything about me.” And then you respond with grace and love.

Think Jesus.

That’s how we obey: we act like Jesus by asking Jesus to strengthen us to act like Jesus.

Thoughts of lust, anger, fear, greed, bitterness and evil are all part of “every thought” that must be brought captive to Christ.

Should you let Jesus be Lord of your thoughts?

Someone might object: “I don’t want my thoughts captive to anyone, even Jesus. I want them free.” But that misses two things:

You belong to someone no matter what. Ultimately, we serve either Jesus or the enemy.
If you’re a Christian, you were bought by Jesus. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. You aren’t your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

This mind “takeover” isn’t optional for a believer. Think Jesus.

Make It Daily

We need to make meditation a regular, daily part of life:

Open the Bible.
Read a passage.
Connect it to Jesus.
Believe His promises.
Worship and thank Him.

“But what about when I can’t think about Jesus? I’m at work, focused on a task. I understand I should think about Him, but I have work to do!”

My friends, I’ve wrestled with this for years. Here’s the answer:

Jesus loves you. He isn’t holding this over you as a condition for His love. He loved you first! This is an invitation to dive into His love and experience it.

He always takes care of the “abiding” part of our relationship while we’re busy.
He knows you need to work and think.
He simply asks that you come back to Him often to abide again.
He sustains you while you work.

Think of it this way: do you stop being married when you go to work? Of course not! Your heart can love your spouse deeply while you change diapers or write a report. Sometimes absence even makes the heart grow fonder.

This isn’t unrealistic. It’s the most practical way to live. Work hard. Care for your family. Pour out your life for others.

And then retreat each day to your quiet place. Draw near to Jesus and let your mind explore and adore Him through His Word.

Winning the Argument

The real argument is this: we don’t feel it’s all that necessary to invest time in our relationship with Jesus.

Let me win that argument right now. What do you have going on that’s more important or more wonderful than Jesus and His love for you? He created you, gave you life and forgave all your sins.

Jesus is your life. Your purpose is to honor and glorify God. Anything else is wasted.

You can do this at work or while serving others. You don’t need to quit your job. Just abide in Christ. Stay close to Him, and you’ll naturally follow Him and love others the way you should.

That’s the victorious Christian life, and it’s available to every one of us every day.

Grace Takeaway

The flesh will keep arguing, but you don’t have to keep listening. Jesus is the true, noble, just, pure and lovely One. When your mind explores and adores Him, the argument ends. Since you were raised with Christ, seek the things above, where He is seated. Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:1-3). Think Jesus.

For Discussion

How would you define pride? What does it look like? What are people proud of?
Is it wrong to be proud of your accomplishments? Do you struggle with pride?
Go through these questions honestly:
1. Am I upset when friends don’t pat me on the back?
2. Do I feel hurt if I’m not thanked for work I’ve done?
3. Do I turn against people who criticize me?
4. Do I say or think I’m better than others?
5. Do I criticize others out of jealousy, envy or pride?
6. Do I think I’m always right and others are always wrong?
7. Am I very critical, putting myself on a pedestal?
Read Hebrews 3:1. What does it mean to “consider” Jesus? What happens to your pride when you really consider Him?
Why do you think we neglect considering Jesus?

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