Hey everyone I’m Pastor Gary Hoban and welcome to Refinery Life Australia.
This year our goal is to release a new video / Podcast every Monday Wednesday and Friday.
To begin the new year we are starting on Wednesdays with a 5 part series from Philippians 4 about the pathway to success.
Today we are going to start with Some Personal Advice.
Philippians 4:9 (ESV)
9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Introduction
We have all heard the saying. “Advice is cheap” and generally this is true.
But of all the advise we receive, we don’t expect someone to say to us, “You should be just like me”.
That however is the advice that Paul gave to the Philippians, Paul described what the elements of living that should mark the Christians life.
Then he ended by saying that they should do the things they had seen him do.
It might have been strange advice but it was still good advice.
This advice provides a model
Paul presents himself as the model to follow.
Each of us model our lives on someone else, how many times have we been able to see a child doing exactly the same things as their parents?
It has been said that we are the average of the five people we hang around the most.
So what are the things Paul says we should model after him?
Things we have learned.
Among the things that people had learned from Paul were the teachings of Jesus.
An instructor was needed to teach Christian living, so Paul supplied this instruction.
2. Things we have received.
The new Christians at Philippi also received a body of Christian belief, or doctrine, from Paul.
Many times Paul defended what he called “his gospel,” which was the gospel of God’s grace.
We have also received the doctrine of Christ which is grace.
Pauls letter normally contained both a doctrinal and a practical part.
These two parts are outlined by the terms “learn” and “receive”.
Instruction in the doctrine of grace and Christian living are two things we should all model.
3. Things we have heard and seen.
The characteristics we have observed.
I know a pastor that if they don’t get an exit row or an upgrade on a plane they get angry with the airline staff.
Now imagine if those same staff went to the pastor’s church to see how someone who gets so irate could preach Christ.
People can be easily turned away by what they observe in a Christian.
Motivation is provided in this advice
Paul said that the “God of peace will be with you”.
If we model our lives on the things we have learned, received, heard, and seen, we will know that the God of peace is part of our lives.
This isn’t just a theory, its a fact. Paul could tell everyone stories of when the God of peace was with him.
Paul passed on this piece of advice, which grew from personal experience.
If we follow this advice we will become stronger Christians.
Until next time
Stay in the Blessings
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Gary Hoban
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Refinery Life Church Australia