Peaceful Living

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 78:1-16

Psalm 78:1–16 ESV

Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God. The Ephraimites, armed with the bow, turned back on the day of battle. They did not keep God’s covenant, but refused to walk according to his law. They forgot his works and the wonders that he had shown them. In the sight of their fathers he performed wonders in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan. He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap. In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a fiery light. He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep. He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers.

Scripture Reading: Leviticus 19:17-18

Leviticus 19:17–18 ESV

“You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Sermon:

Well once again and as always good morning church, I was glad when they said to me, let us go. And Worship in the house of the Lord.

If we were to sit back and wonder and contemplate, What? What is the the thing? What is the mindset? What is the, maybe the best way to ask this would be, what is the the circumstance? That all people on Earth long for And I'd say it's peace. The, the joke you ever seen the movie Miss Congeniality, right? What, what is Contestant at the beauty pageants wish for World. Peace. We all just want peace. That's been in a lot of ways. The call we've heard in all of the Hullabaloo after what happened this week in the election.

The overarching call has been for peace, though. The sides May disagree. How we're going to get there. Peace is what we all long for. But even scripturally. Peace is important. Math. Jesus, in Matthew chapter 5 in the Beatitudes, the beginning of The Sermon on the Mount. Says blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God.

In Romans 12, Paul writing to the church in Rome. And let's just think about this. Paul writing to the church, in Rome, Rome the center of Oppression political oppression towards the Paul said in Romans 12 and so far as it relies on you, live peaceably. With all. And here, as we draw towards Well, we're starting chapter four, which is the last chapter of Philippians.

We'll, we'll be in it for a little while longer, but as we draw to the end of Philippians, we have the same call a call for peace. And in Philippians 4 2 through 7. What Paul's going to do for us? Is is show us the call for peace. But then, on top of that, Show us how we can live peaceful lives and why it's so important to our souls and to our lives to live.

Peaceful lives. The call for World Peace, that might be. I don't see that might be this side of Eternity, while man is still living in their Fallen sinful state. Before Christ comes to rule all nations, with a rod of iron World, Peace is probably never going to happen. But But, In so far as it's up to us.

Insofar, as we as Christians are called to live in a world that hates us We can still have and we should still live at peace. Philippians chapter 4 starting in verse 2.

Philippians 4:2–7 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.

These are the words of the Lord for us this morning. Let's open with the word of prayer. Our Father in Heaven. We do thank you for the peace that you give to us. Piece that surpasses all understanding. Peace that calms.

Our raging Hearts. Peace, that you give to us who were once enemies to you. You have granted us peace with you. Help us to rest in these things to see these things. Give us your eyes and ears to see and hear all that you have said and done. Open.

Your word to us that we might see. And know you may you speak to us and we be changed by your worth. It's in Jesus name that we pray. Amen. And amen. This text, it's rather very interesting. Culturally. There's stuff going on here. We get to see. Into a situation.

That is in one sense to us. A little strange. We get to see into the the inner workings of a first century. And while that part is a little different and we're sort of removed from it, it turns out Church hasn't changed much in 2000 years. We start with Paul writing to eodia and sintaki to ladies, Who are disagreeing?

And that's a problem. And so, we open with, with Paul's plea. For peace. These two women. Though, we know nothing about their character, we know nothing about their disagreement. This we know there was some sort of fight that they were having We should note. We want to be careful how we read this, don't read too much, and don't read too little into any text.

Some people think, oh, this is two ladies. They must have been gossiping. That's, that's not in this text. We don't see that here. Some people reading this text and think, oh, these two women, they're just causing Division and they need to be kicked out. That's definitely not what we see here.

These two women. Are both Believers. How do I know that? Well, they together with the rest of the fellow workers names are in the book of life?

These two women. Both care earnestly and are working in the church for Gospel Proclamation success. How do we know that Paul calls them? He says, help these women who have labored side by side with me. These two people worked with Paul helped, Paul were vital in the church plans, and the growth of the church that Paul planted in caesarea Philippi these two women were believers who cared earnestly about God and what he had called them to And yet.

They can't seem to agree.

But the plea for peace isn't. To ignore the problem. Paul doesn't say, I entreat you Odie and I entreat syntakee. To just get over it.

I entreat you Odie and I entreat syntaki. Agree to disagree. It's not what he says. I intrigue Yodi and I entreat synteki to agree in the Lord. What does this mean? Two thoughts here. I think are both helpful one.

Paul is begging these. Ladies to see That what they have in common is so much more important and bigger than what they disagree on. For what they have in common. Is that they are both in Christ. Christ is the head of both of them? They have both been saved redeemed and called by the same Jesus.

At least you can agree on that. Any conflict, any difficulty, any problem that starts in the church? You have at least that We are. Both Christians, we are both called here.

We can at least agree on that but I think there's more

What Paul is calling them to Is to come to an understanding. And agree. On whatever they're disagreeing. Put in the work. Put in the time. And figure it out. But what if they both think? They're right. Well, they both need to be humble. They both need to be in Christ and they both need to figure this out.

This isn't conflict resolution by conflict. Ignoring, this is conflict resolution by resolving the problem. Agree in the Lord. But they are not called to do it by themselves. Instead True Companion, who whomever this is, if you read through this, in the Greek, it's a little difficult to know. And this is sort of a problem.

Sometimes we see as we read, the Bible people's names and what they're called to do often line up, right? Abraham was the father of many Abraham means. Father of many. Either there was someone who was Paul's True Companion or there was a gentleman by the name of sissygus which means True Companion, who Paul was calling to help.

Either way, these two ladies are called to resolve their problems with help.

And the way we get there, Is we look to what's most important? This is why Paul focuses on this. Laboring side by side, their names are in the Book of Life. They can agree if they can get to. The plea for peace is not one to just close our eyes and ignore the problems.

It's to find resolution to work with one another To have peace. And as Paul writes to these two, It's as if while he's writing, he realizes What we need to hear and understand is the peace. He's begging for eodi and Syndeki to have is the peace that we all need.

So he then goes from sort of one small, local conflict. These two fighting to a much bigger picture. So the call is for all of us to have peace but then he begins to show the character of Peace.

The character of peace is one of rejoicing. Philippians chapter 4, verse 4, rejoice, in the Lord always, again, I will say Rejoice. It's pretty clever and catchy. Someone should write a song about that probably. The call here Rejoice. Always. Always is an inclusive word. That means always All the time.

When it's difficult when you're fighting when Yodi, instinctity can't agree on each other. As this true companion of Paul is trying to help these people work out their difficulties. When there's a little Strife in tension in the church, when things are going great in the church Rejoice in the Lord, the character of peace is one of rejoicing And this I believe is a two-way street in this, the more peace you have, the more you will rejoice in the Lord and the more you find yourself rejoicing in the Lord, the more peace you will have.

So, as you live in the Peaceable times that God has allowed you to live in, Rejoice in the Lord.

What does this look like?

Maybe about six months ago. The four of us, Desiree Jayden Willow and I were driving around in the car.

And he's got a little bit emotional, why? I think God has blessed me. Sorry everyone. I think God's blessed me with the best family.

It was just a piece. And my heart began to think how grateful I was to the Lord that he has blessed meet us.

So, the piece I experience, fueled my rejoicing But on the flip side of this, the more we rejoice in the Lord, the more we praise him, the more we see what things he has given us to be at peace with. The call for peace and the call to Rejoice are mutual you do one with the other and they each inform themselves.

So you want to know how to have peace rejoice in the Lord? And as you experience the peace, that God gives you rejoice in the Lord, all the more Rejoice in the lord. Always such a nice phrase. Paul says it twice. Again, I will say Rejoice. The first part of the character of peace is it is a character of rejoicing, the second is, it's a character of gentleness is what I would argue here.

I don't often do this. Philippians, 4:4 the ESV says, let your reasonableness be known to everyone. I think I think. I'm not a Greek scholar, but I've read a lot and I've studied a bit I I think gentleness is a better translation of the Greek word that's going on here.

To defend the ESV translators reasonableness. What we're not talking about here is like our ability to think through and reason things. But it's sort of this. When we say this person's gentle, they're not abrasive, they're not difficult. Gentleness is the same sort of thought, but I think there's more of an active component to it that, I, I prefer.

So, The two characters here are rejoicing and then too gentleness. Let your gentleness. Be known be seen.

Even applauded. By everyone. The best way to have peace. It's to live peaceably. Which is gently. Not demanding your own way. But be gentle with one another. Not screaming from the rooftops that your way is the right way, and it's my way or the highway. Be gentle. Towards one another.

This is a Biblical principle. We see it in so many different places Paul talks about. I call it the principle of the weaker brother. That suppose you're in a place and you're convinced that something's not a sin. But there's there's someone else who their conscience is tender, they find these things difficult Paul says just because you don't think it's a sin, don't do it because you're caring for Your brother.

Be gentle. Don't be forcible, don't demand your own way. Be gentle with one another. For the Lord is at hand. The character of peace is a character that rejoices in the Lord and is gentle with one another. Be kind.

Be a gentle, man.

Gracious towards one another. And not just one another but to everyone. Again this is a Biblical principle. We could go back to The Sermon on the Mount. A lot of the things Paul is talking about here, find their root in the teaching of Jesus, on The Sermon, on the Mount.

This idea of gentleness. It's the same as when Jesus says. Tells us to turn the other cheek that. If someone demands you carry, you go with them one. Mile you go with them, too. And if they demand your tunic, your cloak you give them your tunic as well. Be gentle with one another, this is the character of Peace.

The more we will rejoice and be gentle. The more peace we will have in our lives. That's our character. But then how do we live this out Paul then teaches us the way of Peace. Again here, I believe there are two steps as well.

Verse 6, the first step. Do not be anxious. About anything. The first step. To peaceful living. With the world around us. Is peaceful living. In our own Hearts. Don't be anxious about anything. For which one of you by worrying and stressing about what tomorrow will bring can add even one hour to your life.

Instead. Look to the birds of the air. Don't worry, they don't stress and yet, God provides for them all the time. Stress will make you sick. Stress will crush your soul. And leave you with no peace. And then if you yourself have no peace in your own soul, how will you live at peace with the world around you?

How will you live peaceably with all?

So, the first step in the way of peace is, Do not be anxious. About anything.

But Paul you don't know the struggles. I'm facing Paul's facing worse ones. Imagine. Someone. Falsely accused of their crime is sitting on death row. And their execution date is coming up soon. And they tell you, And don't be anxious about anything. It'll be okay.

Your problems are going to look very small compared to theirs.

That's Paul's position. He's in Roman jail. Chain to a Roman Centurion. Struggling. Thinking that Timothy, the person he loves is going to have to leave soon to go be with the Philippian church. He's watched epaphroditus almost die coming to bring him this gift. This gift that. While that is a blessing.

Also. How come none of the other churches are doing this? And then as a pastor I'm sure Paul started thinking like, where did I go wrong? Why aren't these other churches degenerous and gracious? Well while he's enjoying the Philippian church, I know Paul's mind is going to his other churches as well and wondering, how can I work in?

There's this anxiety of what can I teach? How can I do this? How can I help them? Even while he himself is in prison, And yet Paul does not feel this anxiety and he here writes to the Philippian Church. Do not be anxious about anything. So, the first way of peace is Stop worrying and stressing.

The second step in the way of Peace. Is to pray. And really the way Paul presents. This is these are Your two options. You can be anxious don't do that or you can pray do that.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving, Let your requests be made known to God. This is not just prayer for the sake of prayer. This is thankful rejoicing prayer. Do you want to have peace in your life in your own heart and then peace with the world around you?

Here is Paul's command. Pray.

Pray about it. Thank God. For all of the blessings, he's given you.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving, We have to look at what this is actually saying. In everything. By prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving. Are you saying Paul that I should have Thanksgiving for everything? Yes.

Really everything.

My trials, my troubles. In prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving. Let your requests be made known before, God. Is part of why when we I come up and do pastoral prayer. I start the prayer with Thanksgiving and gratitude if you can't be thankful for your situations. It's understandable. Sometimes, our situations are difficult.

You can at least find thankfulness in your heart, that this situation has driven you to God, because that's what you need. And so we can thank God that we are able to approach him because we have a great high priest in Jesus Christ. There should always be Thanksgiving in our hearts as we make our requests known before God, this is the way of Peace.

And this is then his Paul's argumentation. He starts pleading The plea for peace, eodi and sanctity. Agree, get along, figure it out. My faithful and True Companion. Work with these help them to get along because ultimately, we are all all of our names are written in the Lambs, in the book of life, we are saved by the blood of Jesus.

We have labor for the gospel, don't let this disagreement. Come in contact with this. I plea have peace. What does that peace? Look like, it looks like rejoicing And gentleness. How do we get there? Rejoice. Don't be anxious. And, Pray. But then, we get The ultimate value of peace.

What is this game for us?

Everything.

Verse 7. We're going to walk through this slowly.

Paul's been making this argument. You two need to get along. Rejoice in the Lord. Be gentle with one another. Don't be anxious, pray. And the payoff of all of this is You will experience the very Of God.

It's a lot of peace. And he will grant it to you. Peace here. Paul is calling on. Not just like, when we think of peace, He's looking back in his context to the Old Testament view of Peace. We would call it. Shalom. And it doesn't just mean peace. Ultimately, it also means rest.

When we would, When they would wish each other Shalom it was a a piece that included rest from all of their toils and troubles Warfare. And there would be, there would be peace in the land AKA no war because there'd be peace in the hearts AKA rest. Or lack of strife because there was peace in their bodies AKA rest because there was peace everywhere. There was Shalom. And Paul here says When these two figure how to get along, when you rejoice in the Lord, when you you're gentle with one another. And that is evident to all people when your anxiety ceases and your prayer increases.

You will experience the peace of God. So much. So Paul says that it will not make sense and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding

I think sometimes we don't think through what this actually means and the peace of God, which passes understanding what Paul is saying here is, you will have peace in times when peace makes no sense.

When Sorrows like see Billow's role, You'll have peace.

When the trials and Troubles of Life seem to overwhelm and Destroy you. You will have peace. It won't make sense. Maybe not even to you. But you will have it. The value of peace is that it is. First of all, the surpassing worth of the value of the peace of God. The second part of this, it is. The value of peace, is that even when peace doesn't make sense, you will have it. It is the one sure investment that no matter what the stock market does, peace will be there. You will have peace. And finally,

This piece. Will guard your hearts and Minds.

The world is seeking to shake us. Have peace.

I said last week, it turns out By the way. I was right last week. I said I know who's going to win the election. Whoever God wants to, they did. So, I have peace. If it had gone the other way, I could still stand up here with boldness and say, I have peace

It'll be okay. God is still in control. For my heart and my mind are guarded by the peace of God. You will be unshakable. This is what peaceful living is all about. These two women. Are called to agree in the Lord. Why? Because there's a battle for their hearts and minds and peace is what will protect them. Because there's a battle for the heart and mind of the church that these two labor in and the peace of God will protect the church. These two, women need to figure out how to live at peace. Why? Because there is will be a long history 2, 000 years of the church from the time. Paul wrote this to now that we need to hear that peace with one another and peace in our hearts is what will protect us.

So live at peace.

Let's pray.