The Peace of God - Philippians 4:2-9

Introduction

Read Philippians 4:2-9

Philippians 4:2–9 (ESV)

I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Conflict.

there is a time when every church and every relationship has to face conflict because, in spite of how much we might agree, there’s always going to be differences of opinions. neither might be right or wrong, they’re just different. How are we going to handle things when there are differences of opinions?

that’s the situation with Euodia and syntyche

they’re not disputing over anything major there are times in which something might be worth splitting over. Paul did tell the church to watch out for the dogs and evil doers who mutilated the gospel. If someone is teaching a false gospel, it is for their benefit to correct them and bring them back to the truth. If a church as a while begins to teach a false gospel or promote false practices, it would be time to leave and find another church.

but there are times when conflict arises from differences of opinions and there seems to be a lack of peace even though we might not know why.

how do we seek the peace of God in these situations?

Requires a Reminder of Purpose (vv. 2-3)

Philippians 4:2–3 (ESV)

I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

1. Remember we are One Body in Christ

First, Paul exhorts Euodia and Syntyche to maintain unity by agreeing in the Lord. He wants to remind them that because they are in Christ, they should be one in purpose with each other.

These are sisters who have served with Paul for the sake of the Gospel as well as with the church at Philippi and they all have their salvation in Christ (Their names are in the book of life). We are family and we are called to love one another and maintain unity with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

2. Other church brothers and sisters need to help resolve any conflict

However, he knows that when two people are embroiled in disagreement and conflict, it is hard to thinking clearly about how we should respond.

So Paul asks his fellow companion as well as others at the church to help these sisters resolve their conflict, and they do so by reminding them of the reason for which we are here.

It can be hard to truly think through an issue when we are so filled with anxiety and/or anger over an issue we might disagree with. So we need someone who is willing to step in and remind us of the reason for which we are here.

This does not mean there are not important issues for which to split ways over. There are serious doctrinal and practical issues that we must stand firm on.

But when it comes to personal issues of preference where there is not really a right and wrong side to the issue, we need to be reminded to consider the needs and interests of others so we can lift up the Gospel and show the greatness of Christ. Brothers and sisters, we are called to help remind each other that we are here and a part of this body of believers for the sake of Christ, not to fulfill our own individual preferences.

We have been brought into the church by the Good news of Christ and we are called to live to proclaim the good news of Christ, which means to lay aside my own interests for the sake of others.

Requires a New Attitude (v. 4)

Philippians 4:4 (ESV)

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

We need to be reminded of our purpose. We also need to have a new attitude if we want to receive the peace of God.

We have to ask ourselves, what is the reason for the conflict we experience?

James 4:1–3 (ESV)

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

Our conflict, whether it is with someone else, or if the conflict is within ourselves, comes from wrong desires that are warring within us.

We want to be right, we want to win the argument, we want our preferences for the style of music or the color of the carpet or paint on the walls, and we begin to fight because we do not have what we want.

Paul tells us to have a new attitude that stops focusing on what we want and don’t have and to start focusing on what we do have in Christ.

Brothers and sisters, if our names are in the Lamb’s book of life, then even if we don’t get anything else, our lives should be marked by rejoicing, and it will help us to let everything else go. This doesn’t mean that we won’t have an opinion on the things I like and hope for, but it is hard to argue for my way when I stop to simply rejoice in who Christ is and what He has done for me.

When I realize that I have been given more than I ever deserve, then I cannot help but rejoice in the grace of God and in the person and work of Christ. I may still have my preferences and its great if things go the way I prefer, but if they don’t, I can still have peace, because I know I have the greatest thing in the world, which is the presence of Christ Himself!

Requires a New Spirit (v. 5)

Philippians 4:5 (ESV)

Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;

Next, as we are reminded of our purpose in the Gospel and we adopt an attitude of rejoicing in the Lord because of what He has done for us, we should demonstrate a new spirit within us.

Paul tells these sisters as well as the rest of the church to let their reasonableness or gentleness be known.

We are commanded to respond with gentleness and respect to those who are hostile to us. But if we are to be gentle and reasonable with those who reject us and persecute us, our gentleness needs to begin with those in the household of faith.

If we cannot be gentle with those who are our brothers and sisters in Christ, then we certainly won’t be gentle and reasonable with those outside the household of faith.

How do we develop gentleness?

We again, look to the Cross. We look at how Christ has treated us.

Romans 5:8 (ESV)

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

If Jesus loves you and me like that, how can we not demonstrate that same love to those around us, beginning with our fellow believers.

My gentleness should be shown to others because of the Gentleness of my Savior towards me and my rebellion against Him.

Listen, my rebellion against Christ, the harm I have committed against Him is greater than anything anyone else can do to me.

His love and gentleness to me towards my rebellion is why I can seek the interests of others above my own. It’s also why I can endure hostility and persecution, because I know that Christ has endured more than I ever will.

Again, we hear the echo of what Paul told us in Philippians 2:2-4

Philippians 2:2–4 (ESV)

complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Even there, Paul is telling us to be gentle and humble with one another.

We are able to do this because of what Christ has done for us on the Cross!

Requires Constant Prayer of Thanksgiving (vv. 6-7)

Philippians 4:6–7 (ESV)

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Next, Paul tells us that Peace comes from God when we give our worries and anxieties over to Him in prayer and thanksgiving.

Again, conflict arises because we are worried about not having our way or getting what we think we need or deserve.

If we have been reminded of the Gospel and that everything that we have is by the grace of God, then we know we can give our worries and anxieties over to God. We don’t have to try to fight for our way and for what we need.

This can apply to even when conflict arises within our own souls as to how are the bills going to get paid this month or how are certain needs going to get met.

Pray

Paul tells us to present our requests to God by prayer and supplication. Because of Christ, we have the ability to approach the throne of grace with confidence.

However, that is not our default response, because we want to try and solve our problems on our own.

Now, there are times in which we know what God has already commanded us to do. We are called to work and to budget and to plan, if we are worried about finances. We are called to speak up and let our opinions be known if the church is making a decision on something. Prayer does not negate our call to at least do what we know God wants us to do.

But even as I live in obedience to what God has called me to do, I need to trust Him to provide for my needs and desires. I don’t have to fight and scheme to get what I think I need or want.

Prayer is a sign of trust in God. It is saying, I cannot do this on my own so I am coming to you, Lord, because I know you have the power to calm my worries and to solve this situation according to your great wisdom and mercy.

For Eutyche and Syntyche, they were fighting for their own interests and it was creating a rift and division in the church. But instead of fighting, Paul is calling them to take their worries and their desires to the Lord in prayer.

Pray with Thanksgiving

Next, Paul tells them to pray with thanksgiving. He doesn’t say wait until God answers your prayer and then thank Him.

We present our requests and our worries to God as we are thanking Him for answering the prayers.

Does this mean that if we pray with thanksgiving then God will answer our prayers exactly as we want Him to?

No.

In fact, both Euodia and Syntyche could both pray for their own desires to be met, but we know that they have opposing desires so both cannot be answered the way they want.

So what is Paul saying here.

He is telling us that when we are concerned and worried about something, to present our cares and worries to God knowing that He will resolve the situation for His glory and for our good. He will give us the best answer and sometimes the best answer is no.

Sometimes our kids will ask to get a coke or some cheese sticks from Sonic. Sometimes, we will be gracious and say yes, knowing that they haven’t had much junk food for the day. But other times, we will say no because we know that that is not healthy for them. It doesn’t mean that we don’t care for them. On the contrary, because we do care for them, we don’t always say yes to everything they want.

We can pray and present our requests with thanksgiving because we know that God cares for us and will give us the best answer according to His Omniscient Wisdom which sees and knows all things.

And when we remember that God is working for our good, we know that no matter the answer or if I get exactly what I think I want, I know He is going to give to me exactly what I need. And this knowledge and trust in the goodness of God’s character will lead to a peace that will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. We can let go of what I think I need or want and trust that God will work for exactly what I need.

Requires Setting Our Minds on Christ (vv. 8-9)

Philippians 4:8–9 (ESV)

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Paul ends his talk on receiving the Peace of God by encouraging us to set our minds on the right thing.

Many times, our conflict comes from focusing on the things that hinder our relationship with God and others. We focus on the things that will satisfy our earthly and selfish desires instead of thinking on the things that truly bring honor and glory to God.

Whenever we become overwhelmed with worry and conflict, we need to stop and reorient our thinking. We need to take our thoughts captive and preach to ourselves.

Scripture over and over tells us to be lead and control the thoughts and desires of our hearts.

Proverbs 4:23 (ESV)

Keep your heart with all vigilance,

for from it flow the springs of life.

Romans 12:2 (ESV)

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Ephesians 4:22–23 (ESV)

to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,

2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV)

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

We often get in trouble and conflict ensues, both within us individually and within the fellowship because we have quit leading our hearts to focus on what is true and allowed them to lead us to focus on our own selfish desires.

We need to constantly practice what the Psalmist did to preach to himself and to remind himself of what is true about God:

Psalm 42:5 (ESV)

Why are you cast down, O my soul,

and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,

my salvation

Paul is telling us here to take our thoughts captive and to remind ourselves of what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy.

In short, Paul is telling us to turn our minds back to Christ. He is telling us to remind ourselves of who He is, what He has done, and how we now belong to Him. We can let go of the conflict within ourselves and with others because of what Christ has done for us.

Conclusion

We don’t have to win every argument or get everything our hearts crave because Christ has given us the greatest thing our hearts could ever want, which is Himself.

So as we continue to grow in our love and knowledge of Christ, it should change how we interact with others and even how we respond to the worry and lack of peace that comes up within our own hearts. Reminding ourselves that we have Christ will give us a peace that the conflict of this world, and even the conflict within our hearts, cannot steal from us.