Experiencing the Peace of God

Introduction

This morning we light the last of the four Advent candles. Tomorrow night at our Carol & Candles Service we will light the Christ—or Messiah—candle.

Our candle this morning is the candle for the Angels or for Peace.

Last week, the angels had a message for the shepherds. In the multitude of heavenly hosts were praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on how his favor rests.”

The angels said they brought peace to all of mankind! But what is this peace? What does it look like?

Peace

In the Greek the word is “eirēnē” which carries several ideas. It has the idea of “tranquility.” The idea of freedom from worry, and harmony.

What better way to celebrate the coming of the Messiah than to find freedom from worry, and harmony.

One of the greatest gifts of the Messiah was peace. Peace from God and Peace with God. If you have your Bibles, I want to encourage you to turn with me to Philippians chapter 4, and we’ll begin reading in verse 4.

Philippians 4:4-

Philippians 4:4–9 NIV84

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 everything, 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, 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.

In our passage, Paul is quickly coming to the close of his letter—a letter that we will actually begin looking at next week when we return to our study of “Acts & the Pauline Epistles.” But for today, I want us to focus on one word— “peace” —

If we are going to experience the kind of peace in our lives that the angels presented on the night Jesus came into the world we must understand that it all begins with God!

When we come to verse 4 the first thing we see is that we are coming to a series of commands. These commands will lead us to discovering the peace of God.

Rejoice in the Lord

Perhaps you have heard the saying, “Don’t worry, be happy!” Well, the command to rejoice in the Lord is not like that saying.

To tell someone to stop worrying and become happy fails to understand the role that circumstances play in our lives.

The command to “Rejoice in the Lord always” helps us to change our focus. We stop focusing on the circumstances around us—the circumstances that bog us down, and we rejoice in what the Lord is doing in us; through us; and around us!

Now we are told twice in verse 4 to rejoice, so let me give you a key to studying the Scriptures. Any time you see a command repeated it is important!

So we are to rejoice in the Lord. Now notice when we are to rejoice—Always!

Show your gentleness.

The next command is for us to allow everyone around us see our gentle spirit! This gentleness has the idea of a nonretaliatory spirit. Now notice the reason we can be gentle with those around us—because the Lord is near!

Don’t be anxious

Oh how I would love to be able to tell people—stop being anxious! They are going to turn and look at me, and ask but how do I do that? My answer— STOP IT!

But that is not Paul’s answer. Paul says the way we stop worrying—the way we stop being anxious is to begin praying about everything. As we pray we petition God almighty to help us.

Another aspect that helps stop our worrying is to develop an attitude of gratitude. To become thankful to God as we present our request.

Paul says when we do this, the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds and keep them focused on Jesus Christ.

It’s about focus!

So let me ask you a question. As you go through your day, what do you focus on? You see we are to focus our minds, and sometimes that is the most difficult thing in the world to do. So what are we to focus on?

True

The opposite of dishonest.

Noble

Dignified and worthy of respect.

Right

Focus on those things that conform to God’s standards.

Pure

Wholesome, or free from moral impurity.

Lovely

The only place this Greek word is used in the New Testament, and it means to promote peace rather than chase after conflict.

Admirable

That which promotes the positive and constructive rather than the negative and destructive.

These six characteristics are all bundled together and called Excellent and Praiseworthy yet this is what we are to focus our minds on—focus!

Excellent

Finally, Paul closes this section with two thoughts. First—follow after Paul, and put what they had learned, received, heard, or seen in Paul they were to do those things!

And finally trust that God’s peace will be with you.

So What?

This morning I want to ask you two questions.

First question: Are you filled with worry or with peace? Today, right now are you filled with worry? Is life flooding past you so quickly that it feels like it’s out of control? Are you so filled with worry that you cannot enjoy the life that Jesus has given you?

If your answer to the first question is yes—Yes worry is bogging me down. Then let me ask you the second question: What are you focused on? Perhaps you need refocus your life and thoughts on what True, Noble, Right, Pure, Lovely, and Admirable—those things that are considered Excellent and worthy of Praise!

So that first Christmas Morning when the Shepherds heard the angels declared glory to God, that is so great that it brought peace to all of mankind upon whom God chose to place His favor.

Today focus on those things that are excellent and praiseworthy and those two things (.)