Philippians 4

God With Us

Question from last sermon:

How valuable it Knowing Christ to you?

Have you thought about that Question?

Has that question lead you to make any changes in your life?

- I truly hope that you have thought about this question, and I pray that it has lead you to make changes in your life.

- Changes like: not hanging out with people that you know you shouldn’t, not listening to music that contradicts the word of God, maybe not spending so much time on life suckers (social media, tv shows, video games)

- The sermon tonight is one that is very personal to me and it is something that you will only understand and be able to have if knowing Christ is more important than everything else in your life.

Philippians 4:4–9 ESV

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 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. 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.

What does it mean to rejoice?

Have you ever had a time in your life that you rejoiced?

Story of catching a drum with Parker

- 13 or 14 years old and went to emerald isle to surf fish.

- We were searching for a “Red Drum”!

- Your would know it’s a Red Drum by the way it would take your bait and run hard.

- I hooked into Moby Dick himself.

- Fought that fish, Parker spotted him in the breakers, so with everything I had I pulled back on that rod so much that I fell straight back landing on my back still pulling the rod.

- I looked up to see Parker waist deep in the breakers bear hugging (to me) the biggest fish I’d ever seen.

Let me tell you we rejoiced with our whole bodies!!

Source of Your Joy

Philippians 4:4 ESV

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

Paul is not only encouraging us to rejoice, but he is defining to us the source of our Joy.

My fishing story would be a lot different if that fish would have got away, catching the fish and holding it in my hands was the source of my joy.

Students, your joy is different when you know of Jesus and when you deeply know Jesus.

Product of Your Joy

Philippians 4:6–7 ESV

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

When I was really battling anxiety and depression this verse was a staple for me, but there would be times when I would pray, and pray and still battle.

But the Lord revealed to me His true healing powers when I stopped praying negatively and prayed prayers of thanksgiving and praise from the Joy that was His spirit in me.

And the words of Paul in verse 7 become ever more clear, as how a man sitting in a Roman prison can write about such things as a peace covering Him.

Your Joy becomes Your Strength

The understanding of Paul going through anxiety and depression and the life of a prisoner, and how he wrote about things such as Joy and peace become ever more clear when you read the famous Philippians 4:13

Philippians 4:13 ESV

13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

The true Joy of knowing God was Paul’s Joy, It covered him in peace, and it was his strength.

Conclusion

Do you see evidence in your life (such as Paul did) of truly knowing Jesus?