Finding Peace in a World in Conflict

Philippians 4:2–9 NIV

I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 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.

Introduction: Whether you are a believer in Jesus or not, Whether you come from a different religious background or no religious background, it seems to me that a universal longing humans have is to be at peace. We want inner peace, we generally want to be at peace with others. How does Paul tell us a distinctly Christian perspective on how we can find peace in our lives?

Our desire for peace often comes from the recognition that...

15 - We live in a world in conflict.

Two primary sources for conflict in Philippians. - persecution and internal conflict “Euodia and Syntyche.”

Examples of Conflict

Disagreements

Different Value systems

Different Cultural approaches

Selfishness - Protecting my, or our own interests.

So in this world in conflict, how do we find peace?

16 - Gospel Living Leads to Peace.

Some general thoughts if we take the whole of the message of Philippians seriously.

Rejoice in the Lord - We do not have to find Joy in our circumstances, but we can always be Joyful about Jesus and his good news. “Our Only Comfort in Life and in Death.”

See Conflict as an opportunity (Conflict in itself is not bad, its how we deal with it that can be destructive) - Paul saw his imprisonment as an opportunity for the Gospel to Spread.

One of those Opportunites is for us To serve like Jesus Served us. Jesus entered our world of conflict in order to bring peace. And so, for Paul it is an opportunity to shine the light of Jesus into our world.

Learn from others - Paul gave us three great examples of people living the Gospel like this, himself, Timothy, and Epaphroditus. Find people who you know live out the Gospel in conflict and learn from them. Trying to live in conflict alone does not lead to peace.

Always remember who you are…Paul’s conflict with the circumcision party never ended, was never resolved, yet this did not take away his joy, because he knew his status before God would not change - Grace.

Remember the End Game - Jesus will come and restore all things, and so we can continue to work towards peace even if we do not fully arrive till Christ comes again. Keep at it.

With these general principles of living the Gospel, Paul promises Peace with...

17 - Peace with others

Two prominent women in the Philippian Church - Euodia & Synteche.

These are women who struggled along with Paul in the Gospel, possibly persecuted in some way with him for their work in helping to spread the Gospel whatever that work may have been.

They are fellow workers “Those who participate in the same activity as oneself” - Usually used for leaders in the Church, “Women started the church in Philippi in Acts with Lydia.

They are somehow in conflict with each other and it is effecting the Church.

Paul’s instructions.

“Have the same attitude as Christ” - 2:1-5 - Paul does is not saying they have to agree on everything, but their attitudes in the disagreement should be the same.

Paul is impartial - not taking sides

Paul affirms who they are - Does not tear them down, but affirms their leadership, honors them both, and recognizes they are sisters in Christ (book of life)

He encourages a third party to arbitrate “Yokefellow” (Another Leader, maybe Timothy, Clement, Epaphroditus, Lydia)- , Again no triangulation.

Let your gentleness be know - Accountability and to be proven as the true way when Jesus comes back. - Truth and Grace

Gentleness means - “Lenience” - mercifulness or tolerance of slight deviations from moral or legal rectitude.

We do not know the result - Good/Kingdom Win, Bad/Last Beatitude

Peace with God is connected with our ability to bring peace with others.

18 - Peace with God

In a world in conflict the number 1 by-product is Anxiety. A lot of people are dealing with anxiety today

One can not help but feel anxious in the midst of many conflicts. And the worst thing one can usually say to an anxious person is, “Do not be anxious about anything.” How?

The Philippians have reasons for anxiety - persecution and the quarrel between two prominent members in their church.

19 - Anchor Diagram.

20 - Peace in this world

The Danger in our world is to become cynical and Jaded.

Circumcision Party, Judaism - Allowed in Roman Empire, but Christianity not. Often in history, the Persecuted become the Persecutors when they have a chance.

Paul’s encouragement to focus on what is good, beautiful, excellent, etc. and to gentleness. Is a helpful perspective.

Sin is a distorting of the God’s good world, but God still made it good, and he will restore it to the fullness of good.

So we can always see the beauty that God has placed in this world.

We recognize sure that corruption, but Paul encourages us not to get stuck on that, to look at the beauty in the world as well.

Yes, he is in prison, but what good, excellence, can he find in his captors.

Yes, Philippians are being persecuted, but their persecutors are people made in the image of God, what nuggets of God’s goodness can they find in them.

Yes, all culture is tainted by sin, but culture in itself is good, so what truth, beauty, goodness can we find in the culture we live in?

All Truth is God’s truth, all beauty is God’s beauty, all goodness is God’s goodness.

Ultimately of course this all must correspond with the Gospel and the Bible - Whatever you see in me imitate, but we are not called to throw the baby out with the bath water - “The World is all bad.” We are called to love the world.

What Christian Themes or Non-Christian themes in a movie.

Debates online or with people in person - What good values is this person fighting for?

21 - Where do you need peace?

Do you need peace with someone else in the church? I encourage you to have the same mind of Christ and work towards repairing that relationship. You may need some support, a sounding board if you will to equip you to do that.

Do you need peace with the World? For you is the world going to hell in a hand basket? I challenge you to begin looking for the good that God has placed in our world.

Do you need peace with God? I invite you to start a relationship with God, and if you have one to open the lines of communication and lift all of your concerns to him.

Conclusion:

We all want more peace in our life, and our world does not make that easy. The implications and result of living the Gospel is peace, true peace. It does not always happen over night, but it is there available to us. It involves Trusting God for it, it involves living out the Gospel, and it involves finding our Joy, not in our circumstances, but in Christ alone.

Reference the Reformed Confessions: The Reformed Confessions are statements of faith written to clarify the Gospel at times when the Church was in crisis. Heidelberg Catechism: Q&A 1, 86, 88, 90, 116, 117, 129 Belgic Confession: Articles 17, 23 Canons of Dort: Head I, Article 12-13; Head V, Articles 9-10 Belhar Confession: Articles 2-4