Philippians: "Peace of God" Philippians 4:2-9
Notes
Transcript
Today we are in our 9th sermon in the series in the book of Philippians
Philippians 4:2–9 (ESV)
2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 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.
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.
6 years ago… Calvary Chapel closing
V7“Peace of God, which surpasses all understanding.”
1. The Peace of God
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.
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.
Paul begins verse 6...
(V6a) “do not be anxious about about anything”
(Spirit’s message to Paul) [Paul facing anxiety]
2 reasons why Paul could be facing anxiety.
Paul in prison (could die)
Church in Philippi is facing disunity (V2 “I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.”
2:16b “I did not run in vain or labor in vain”
(V6a) “do not be anxious about about anything”
All of us can relate to felling anxious…
We all are faced with different level’s of anxiety. (As the Pastor I know...)
People in our church family are going through valleys with their health or family members sicknesses.
Others are going through difficulties with relationships
Others going through financial troubles.
And some going through battle’s with addictions.
These are the personal level’s of struggles that are going on.
This is not talking about the anxieties we face when we see our nation in utter disarray. (wars and rumors of wars)
We can say that we are living in a time when anxiety and depression dominates the world that we live in…
parallelized with fear...
What do we do… if we want peace...
V6 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything”
The Peace of God
Pray about everything
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.
Philippians 4:6–7 (NLT)
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
When we pray to God our thoughts and emotions come into alignment with the will of the Father.
Paul says pray about everything…
Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.
His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
There are 2 keys Paul gives when we pray.
Philippians 4:6b (NLT)
6 Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Tell God what we need
(James 4:2 says we have not because we ask not)
2. Thank God for all he has done
V4 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”
Celebrate the good things God has done.
Remember it was God’s goodness that led you to repentance.
Remember it was God who loved you so much that he sent His son to die for you even when you were in a state of rebellion against Him. (still yet sinners..)
So,
yes it is good to tell God what we need,
but we cannot forget the good things God has done for us. Amen!
When we have a lifestyle of prayer… (DNA as Citizens of Heaven)
we will experience God’s peace which suppresses all understanding .
When we pray,
we will begin to think differently.
The Peace of God
Pray about everything
Fix your thoughts on the Kingdom
Philippians 4:8 (ESV)
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.
Philippians 4:8 (NLT)
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Fixing our thoughts on the Kingdom of God, (true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, worthy of praise)
it will bring peace in your life.
Paul communicates that when we pray,
God’s peace will surround us and guard our hearts and minds.
This is important to understand because how many know the mind is a battlefield?
That’s why Paul says in 2 Corinthians to
“take captive every thought to the obedience of Christ”
Jesus’ perspective on our thoughts…
adultery
hate
(What we think about usually brings about action)
This is why prayer is such vital part to having peace in our hearts,
because it affects us walking in the way of peace.
Because when we pray,
our thoughts come into alignment with the will of the Father.
And when our thoughts come into alignment,
our actions also come into alignment with the will of the Father.
Thus,
to think and walk in obedience to things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, worthy of praise,
all begin with prayer.
The Peace of God
Pray about everything
Fix your thoughts on the Kingdom
Practice the ways of the Kingdom
Philippians 4:8–9 (ESV)
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.
Kid example… guilty... no peace…
Practice the ways of the Kingdom leads to peace
pastor lied so much…
Everything the church in Philippi has learned, heard, and seen from Paul demonstrates a lifestyle as a citizen of Heaven.
Paul articulates to the church to meditate and think about things of the Kingdom of God and practice the ways of the Kingdom of God.
Thoughts produce actions,
and for Paul he wants the church’s thoughts to be on things that are excellent which will lead to a lifestyle of excellence.
Paul has already unpacked the high call the church has as citizens of heaven.
And when that call is walked out in our lives as believers,
we will be filled with God’s peace in our lives.
The Peace of God
Pray about everything
Fix your thoughts on the Kingdom
Practice the ways of the Kingdom
Close with story of the farmers hired hand…
(I can sleep through any storm)
Jesus in the storm...
(Jesus slept)
[disciples called to Jesus]
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
At the Lord’s Table… (Open to..)
We Unify
We Examine
We Remember
We Proclaim