The Peace of God – Philippians 4:4-9
The Peace of God – Philippians 4:4-9
By Pastor Lee Hemen
January 4, 2009 AM
What advice do you remember from your parents? You know what I mean. Things like: Button your coat, wear your hat, say “please, thank-you, and you’re welcome.” All of these are great but there are deeper truths that are garnered from life as well. We learn to save for a “rainy day,” to be a little more like ants than grasshoppers, and to seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness. During this coming new year, what advice will you follow?
In a world of spiritual and physical strife we often do not find the spiritual serenity we seek. The reason is that we often depend upon ourselves instead of the wisdom and advice we find in God’s Word the Bible. In today’s passage we see several nuggets that if we take them to heart and act upon them in our lives we will find the peace of God we so desperately seek. Let’s find the calm in the midst of the storm that Paul writes about as we seek the peace of God today in our lives.
READ: Philippians 4:4-9
Paul tells the Philippians that “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.” (Philippians 4:9) What did they receive or hear from, or had seen, in Paul’s life that they could put into practice whereby they would know the peace of God? If we take a close look at the few verses before Paul’s statement we will discover how his advice can give us the peace of God in this new year. Paul says that the peace of God comes when…
I. We rejoice in God! (v. 4)
1. Rejoicing in God is not putting forward a false front! A “happy face.” Too many believers think that they rejoice in the Lord by mouthing words of praise or by appearing content in the Lord when in fact they are not at all. The word for “rejoice” means to be of good cheer. What? You mean we have to be of “good cheer” when everything is falling apart around us? Yes! Notice Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” In fact, he repeats himself: “I will say it again: Rejoice!” Is Paul stupid? NO! What Paul means is that we need to be of good cheer because no matter what occurs around us, our faith is firm in Christ! Rejoicing in God is an act of our will! Our faith is not found in putting up a good front for folks. Remember that Jesus said that we were to “rejoice and be glad” when other folks persecute us, insult us, or falsely say evil things about us! (Matthew 5:11-12) Why? Because our reward and happiness is not found in the things of this world! Our reward is found in heaven! (v. 12) Rejoicing in God is an act of our will that comes from knowing this world and the things it contains is not what we live for. You want a great new year? You want to discover the peace of God? Rejoice in God!
EXAMPLE: I wonder at believers who claim to know the Lord but live like they are waiting for the other shoe to drop. You know what I mean? It is as if they want to fool themselves and everyone else that they love God, but in their heart of hearts they are not sure God wants them to be blessed. The inner joy of God comes from the inner trust of Him as well. You cannot rejoice in what you cannot trust. How in the world can you rejoice in the Lord when you cannot trust the Lord with your life? I am reminded of the short story by O. Henry where a young woman, Johnsy, was gravely ill. She determined that when the last leaf fell off the ivy outside her window she would die. One leaf never fell. It tenaciously clung on. Slowly the young girl grew stronger and she lived. Later she discovered that the leaf, unbeknown to her, was hand-painted onto the window pane by an artist, old Mr. Bherman, who died of pneumonia from painting it on her window pane in the cold. Like Johnsy, far too often we put our trust in the stupidest things and not the Lord. Rejoice and be glad in the Lord!
Paul reminds us that the peace of God comes when…
II. We allow our Godly gentleness to be obvious! (v. 5)
1. Gentleness is not a limp-wristed wussiness! The word for gentleness refers to an appropriate and restrained response from the individual. It suggests a forgiving, non-retaliatory spirit. The inner quality of the believer’s faith in relation to their circumstances may not always be seen, but the way the Christian reacts to others will “be evident to all.” Some translations use “meekness” or “humility” instead of “gentleness.” Why? Paul knew that every Christian “will give an account of himself to God,” (Romans 14:12) and therefore we as believers are to “stop passing judgment on one another.” (Romans 14:13) Paul knew that a person who was forgiven by God through Jesus would reflect that forgiveness toward others and especially those caught in sin! But notice exactly the reason Paul says believers are to be gentle. Paul writes, “the Lord is near.” Jesus is not only near us daily but He is also near in that He could return anytime. No one knows the day or hour. (Matthew 24:36) We are to therefore “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13) This is how Christians “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” (Colossians 3:15) You want peace in your life this new year? Then dear bother or sister of God, let your gentleness be evident to all!
EXAMPLE: Godly gentleness is measured with inner strength. It is not found in acquiescing our faith or by being spiritual wimps. When Jesus related we were to turn the other cheek, He did not mean we were to take abuse or a beating in order to find God’s peace. In godly gentleness there is found great strength because it comes from God Himself. It is a certainty of what you believe and in whom you trust. It is kind of like pears. If you pick pears while they are green they are hard, tasteless, and not worth eating. However, if you allow them to stay on the tree and ripen, they are wonderfully sweet and well worth eating. So is the life of the person who allows God to ripen them in Him. Gentleness is often learned and comes from an inner strength that can only be ripened by developing on the vine of God. Want the peace of God? Allow your gentleness to be obvious.
Paul continues his advice by writing that the peace of God comes when…
III. We are not anxious about anything! (v. 6-7)
1. The distractions of this world can take away a believer’s inner joy! The idea here is not just one of worry but also includes that of being overly concerned with things. A person can selfishly worry so much about getting things that they lose their peace with God! The getting in life is not what life is about. Jesus was very blunt when He reminded His listeners to “not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21) Then He finishes His counsel with: “do not worry about your life… Is not life more important?” (Matthew 6:25) “Pagans,” the unbelieving perverts of the world, Jesus said, “run after all these things,” instead the Christian is to “seek first His kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:32-33) Paul writes that it is by the believer’s “prayer and petition, with thanksgiving” that we are to present our “requests to God.” You want peace in the coming new year? Stop worrying about the things of life and present your prayers and petitions to God with true thanksgiving! Then “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus!” Trust God and do not be anxious about anything!
EXAMPLE: Go to any cemetery and look at the gravestones there. How many were poor or rich? Good looking or ugly? Fat or thin? Tall or short? They are all the same now: Six feet under! Even the headstone or casket does not matter when you are covered with the dirt of the world! Everything you acquire you will leave behind on the trash heap of the world! Be satisfied with what God provides. Why then are we anxious? Perhaps it is because we are not in control of our lives and we know it. Hannah Whitall Smith wrote, “It is not hard, you find, to trust the management of the universe, and of all the outward creation, to the Lord. Can your case then be so much more complex and difficult than these, that you need to be anxious or troubled about His management of you?” If you desire the peace of God, do not be anxious about anything, trust God in the coming year!
Finally, Paul tells us that the peace of God comes when…
IV. We focus on what matters most in life! (v. 8)
1. Good advice is only good if you follow it! Paul concludes this section by stating six qualities of a godly lifestyle that are “excellent or praiseworthy”. He writes that if the Christian wants to enjoy the peace of God, he should set his mind on “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable.” These are the things that a Christian should think about and use in their walk with God. The truth of God, the dignity of God, the holiness of God, the grace of God, and whatever is worthy of God, these are the things in our lives we are to focus on. As Clarke writes in his commentary that the believer should “Esteem them highly, recommend them heartily, and practice them fervently.” This is why the writer of Proverbs advises: “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” (Proverbs 3:3-4) If more Christians focused their lives on these things, God’s church would be more effective and our lives in Him would find a peace that would transcend all understanding! Focus on what matters in life!
EXAMPLE: They say that the reason so many State Troopers are hit by drunk drivers when standing beside pulled over vehicles is because the DUI focuses so much on the Trooper they get fixated on them and end up stirring into them. Kind of like a moth drawn to a light. You know what, that can be true of our lives as well. We can get so fixated on things that do not matter in life that we charge headlong into trouble. Paul writes that the Christian is to fixate on “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable.” The peace of God comes when we focus on what matters most in life.
Conclusion:
When we rejoice in God, cast our concerns on Him, allow God to worry for us, and focus on the important things of life, we are following what we “have learned or received or heard from” Paul. Now, are you going to do this in the coming year or not?----This article is copyrighted © 2008 by Lee Hemen and if you reprint it, reproduce it, or want to use it in any way, you must do so in its entirety or get the written permission of its author.
By Pastor Lee Hemen
January 4, 2009 AM
What advice do you remember from your parents? You know what I mean. Things like: Button your coat, wear your hat, say “please, thank-you, and you’re welcome.” All of these are great but there are deeper truths that are garnered from life as well. We learn to save for a “rainy day,” to be a little more like ants than grasshoppers, and to seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness. During this coming new year, what advice will you follow?
In a world of spiritual and physical strife we often do not find the spiritual serenity we seek. The reason is that we often depend upon ourselves instead of the wisdom and advice we find in God’s Word the Bible. In today’s passage we see several nuggets that if we take them to heart and act upon them in our lives we will find the peace of God we so desperately seek. Let’s find the calm in the midst of the storm that Paul writes about as we seek the peace of God today in our lives.
READ: Philippians 4:4-9
Paul tells the Philippians that “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.” (Philippians 4:9) What did they receive or hear from, or had seen, in Paul’s life that they could put into practice whereby they would know the peace of God? If we take a close look at the few verses before Paul’s statement we will discover how his advice can give us the peace of God in this new year. Paul says that the peace of God comes when…
I. We rejoice in God! (v. 4)
1. Rejoicing in God is not putting forward a false front! A “happy face.” Too many believers think that they rejoice in the Lord by mouthing words of praise or by appearing content in the Lord when in fact they are not at all. The word for “rejoice” means to be of good cheer. What? You mean we have to be of “good cheer” when everything is falling apart around us? Yes! Notice Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” In fact, he repeats himself: “I will say it again: Rejoice!” Is Paul stupid? NO! What Paul means is that we need to be of good cheer because no matter what occurs around us, our faith is firm in Christ! Rejoicing in God is an act of our will! Our faith is not found in putting up a good front for folks. Remember that Jesus said that we were to “rejoice and be glad” when other folks persecute us, insult us, or falsely say evil things about us! (Matthew 5:11-12) Why? Because our reward and happiness is not found in the things of this world! Our reward is found in heaven! (v. 12) Rejoicing in God is an act of our will that comes from knowing this world and the things it contains is not what we live for. You want a great new year? You want to discover the peace of God? Rejoice in God!
EXAMPLE: I wonder at believers who claim to know the Lord but live like they are waiting for the other shoe to drop. You know what I mean? It is as if they want to fool themselves and everyone else that they love God, but in their heart of hearts they are not sure God wants them to be blessed. The inner joy of God comes from the inner trust of Him as well. You cannot rejoice in what you cannot trust. How in the world can you rejoice in the Lord when you cannot trust the Lord with your life? I am reminded of the short story by O. Henry where a young woman, Johnsy, was gravely ill. She determined that when the last leaf fell off the ivy outside her window she would die. One leaf never fell. It tenaciously clung on. Slowly the young girl grew stronger and she lived. Later she discovered that the leaf, unbeknown to her, was hand-painted onto the window pane by an artist, old Mr. Bherman, who died of pneumonia from painting it on her window pane in the cold. Like Johnsy, far too often we put our trust in the stupidest things and not the Lord. Rejoice and be glad in the Lord!
Paul reminds us that the peace of God comes when…
II. We allow our Godly gentleness to be obvious! (v. 5)
1. Gentleness is not a limp-wristed wussiness! The word for gentleness refers to an appropriate and restrained response from the individual. It suggests a forgiving, non-retaliatory spirit. The inner quality of the believer’s faith in relation to their circumstances may not always be seen, but the way the Christian reacts to others will “be evident to all.” Some translations use “meekness” or “humility” instead of “gentleness.” Why? Paul knew that every Christian “will give an account of himself to God,” (Romans 14:12) and therefore we as believers are to “stop passing judgment on one another.” (Romans 14:13) Paul knew that a person who was forgiven by God through Jesus would reflect that forgiveness toward others and especially those caught in sin! But notice exactly the reason Paul says believers are to be gentle. Paul writes, “the Lord is near.” Jesus is not only near us daily but He is also near in that He could return anytime. No one knows the day or hour. (Matthew 24:36) We are to therefore “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13) This is how Christians “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” (Colossians 3:15) You want peace in your life this new year? Then dear bother or sister of God, let your gentleness be evident to all!
EXAMPLE: Godly gentleness is measured with inner strength. It is not found in acquiescing our faith or by being spiritual wimps. When Jesus related we were to turn the other cheek, He did not mean we were to take abuse or a beating in order to find God’s peace. In godly gentleness there is found great strength because it comes from God Himself. It is a certainty of what you believe and in whom you trust. It is kind of like pears. If you pick pears while they are green they are hard, tasteless, and not worth eating. However, if you allow them to stay on the tree and ripen, they are wonderfully sweet and well worth eating. So is the life of the person who allows God to ripen them in Him. Gentleness is often learned and comes from an inner strength that can only be ripened by developing on the vine of God. Want the peace of God? Allow your gentleness to be obvious.
Paul continues his advice by writing that the peace of God comes when…
III. We are not anxious about anything! (v. 6-7)
1. The distractions of this world can take away a believer’s inner joy! The idea here is not just one of worry but also includes that of being overly concerned with things. A person can selfishly worry so much about getting things that they lose their peace with God! The getting in life is not what life is about. Jesus was very blunt when He reminded His listeners to “not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21) Then He finishes His counsel with: “do not worry about your life… Is not life more important?” (Matthew 6:25) “Pagans,” the unbelieving perverts of the world, Jesus said, “run after all these things,” instead the Christian is to “seek first His kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:32-33) Paul writes that it is by the believer’s “prayer and petition, with thanksgiving” that we are to present our “requests to God.” You want peace in the coming new year? Stop worrying about the things of life and present your prayers and petitions to God with true thanksgiving! Then “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus!” Trust God and do not be anxious about anything!
EXAMPLE: Go to any cemetery and look at the gravestones there. How many were poor or rich? Good looking or ugly? Fat or thin? Tall or short? They are all the same now: Six feet under! Even the headstone or casket does not matter when you are covered with the dirt of the world! Everything you acquire you will leave behind on the trash heap of the world! Be satisfied with what God provides. Why then are we anxious? Perhaps it is because we are not in control of our lives and we know it. Hannah Whitall Smith wrote, “It is not hard, you find, to trust the management of the universe, and of all the outward creation, to the Lord. Can your case then be so much more complex and difficult than these, that you need to be anxious or troubled about His management of you?” If you desire the peace of God, do not be anxious about anything, trust God in the coming year!
Finally, Paul tells us that the peace of God comes when…
IV. We focus on what matters most in life! (v. 8)
1. Good advice is only good if you follow it! Paul concludes this section by stating six qualities of a godly lifestyle that are “excellent or praiseworthy”. He writes that if the Christian wants to enjoy the peace of God, he should set his mind on “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable.” These are the things that a Christian should think about and use in their walk with God. The truth of God, the dignity of God, the holiness of God, the grace of God, and whatever is worthy of God, these are the things in our lives we are to focus on. As Clarke writes in his commentary that the believer should “Esteem them highly, recommend them heartily, and practice them fervently.” This is why the writer of Proverbs advises: “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” (Proverbs 3:3-4) If more Christians focused their lives on these things, God’s church would be more effective and our lives in Him would find a peace that would transcend all understanding! Focus on what matters in life!
EXAMPLE: They say that the reason so many State Troopers are hit by drunk drivers when standing beside pulled over vehicles is because the DUI focuses so much on the Trooper they get fixated on them and end up stirring into them. Kind of like a moth drawn to a light. You know what, that can be true of our lives as well. We can get so fixated on things that do not matter in life that we charge headlong into trouble. Paul writes that the Christian is to fixate on “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable.” The peace of God comes when we focus on what matters most in life.
Conclusion:
When we rejoice in God, cast our concerns on Him, allow God to worry for us, and focus on the important things of life, we are following what we “have learned or received or heard from” Paul. Now, are you going to do this in the coming year or not?----This article is copyrighted © 2008 by Lee Hemen and if you reprint it, reproduce it, or want to use it in any way, you must do so in its entirety or get the written permission of its author.
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