Path to Peace

A Path to Peace

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

12:20 PM

Paul who is in prison at this time is winding down his letter to the church at Philippi. One of his Prison Epistles or (Captivity Letters) along with Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon. He has accomplished a lot in this little four chapter book.

Paul and Silas founded the Church at Philippi according to Acts 16:12-40. In fact it was in here that Paul and Silas were arrested and put in prison and about midnight as they sang and prayed the Lord came and delivered them in a mighty way. Archeological discoveries in this area have found the jail that housed Paul and Silas and it can still be viewed. The letter to the Philippian Church is a thank you note for the money and other items they sent Paul in prison.

In this book he encourages them to stand firm in their persecution, he exhorts them to unity a number of times especially in the beginning of this chapter where it seems that some were in conflict

He wants to commend Timothy and Epaphroditus to the church

And other things.

In our passage reading tonight we find Paul is giving some commands and advice on how to avoid worry and anxiety.

He starts with Joy in verse 4 - Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.

Now I don't know which version for sure you are reading along with, but there is no asterisk next to the word always. It is an imperative to a life of joy.

Now I want you to notice the source and object of this joy. It's not just taking a Pollyanna attitude it is taking a Christ attitude -

Rejoice "IN THE LORD"

If your joy in in money - when the source of money dries up or the stock market crashes - your joy goes with it.

If your joy is in things - when those things break, are lost, or stolen your joy goes with it.

But if you put your joy in Christ it will stand whatever comes your way.

Tim Keller says - "The opposite of joy is not sadness, it's hopelessness."

Paul then moves into his antidote for anxiety. - I have been thinking about this for a long time and I feel that this is probably the most powerful passage to combat anxiety.

Now I want to define what I mean by anxiety. The anxiety I am talking about it an anxiety that comes from worry, fretting, and stewing.

I know of some anxiety that comes from a chemical or hormonal imbalance, or thyroid problems or some other health issue. This is not the type of anxiety I am talking about tonight.

If you are not sure what category you fall into, talk to me after church or get with me and we can discuss it further.

The anxiety that Paul is talking about robs you of your joy because you are too worried about the things of life. A lack of trust in God.

Look at verse 5 - the KJV - says "Let your moderation be known unto all men…"

This verse has for about a year or two bugged me. I would quote it in my mind and try to live by it. Any chance I got I would let people know I don't go to the movies they are too expensive, usually a waste of time, promote philosophies that are unbiblical, etc. I don't drink alcoholic beverages because they are mind altering, they are a waste of money. And many other forms of moderation I practice in my life.

But as I began to study this verse in context and in the Greek language - I see where I have been looking at it so wrong.

Paul is telling us to let everyone know how we do everything in moderation - the Greek word used there is the same word translated "forbearance or gentleness."

Now moderation is definitely a fruit of the Spirit - we are to be temperate or self-controlled, and as Bro. Buckler pointed out during our revival, the Apostle Paul says, "Everything is lawful but not everything is needful" there are things that are ok but I won't be put under bondage to them, I won't let them rule me.

But Paul is telling us to let everyone see our gentle spirit. Do you have a gentle spirit? Now he is talking not to people who are used to the American way, but to people who lived in a time where they could at any time have their door busted in by the local guards to cart them off to prison for being Christian. Be gentle, let everyone know that no matter what they do to you you will be gentle.

What a thought.

Paul goes on and says why - "The Lord is at hand." This no doubt means that God is always nearby, but I think it also refers to the fact that Jesus will be coming soon, and we don't want anything to hold us back. We don't want anything on our conscience.

Verse 6 Paul gets to the nitty gritty - "Be Careful for nothing" or as most will translate it - "Be anxious for nothing"

We have here a command - Don't be anxious don't worry - what is worry? Larry Burkett defined worry as : Taking on a responsibility that belongs to someone else.

Then I see a positive alternative for the negative imperative - I like that word but - instead -

Paul is saying I have something to help you

Then he gives us the principle of prayer as the antidote for anxiety

In everything - again no asterisk simply everything in all situations By Prayer - The standard term for prayer to God in worship Supplication - requests or things you need and he repeats this "Let your requests be made known unto God" With thanksgiving - Thanksgiving is confident praying because it is based on the knowledge that God has heard our prayers in the past, and is hearing us pray right now. Let your requests be made known unto God

Dr. Nadine Brown tells, "One of my important childhood memories centers around a time of God's provision. One Saturday morning my mother had gone shopping to pick up a few items at the dime store and then get the groceries. After an hour or so my father called us children in from the yard. He told us that mother had telephoned in tears. While she was shopping she had laid her purse down when paying for some socks, and someone had stolen it!

The police came and checked the area, but the purse and her grocery money were gone. With four children to feed on a teaching salary, the loss was a major one.

My father gathered us around the couch to pray. He thanked God for his provision for us and reminded him that we always honored him by tithing. Then we all prayed that somehow the purse would be returned if that was in His will.

A short time later my mother drove up, and Dad went out to meet her. When he opened the passenger side door, Mom's purse fell out onto the driveway. The money was still inside!

What a time of rejoicing we had!

The only explanation my mother could give was an incident that occurred as she drove away from the dime store. She noticed that the man driving in the lane next to her kept watching her. When they stopped at a traffic light, he sat starring at her. She was weeping and so turned away to avoid his gaze. Perhaps he had stolen the purse and God had convicted him. Possibly in remorse, he dropped it in the open passenger window while her head was turned. Regardless of how God answered that prayer, it was a lesson in trust that I have never forgotten." Brown, Nadine. (1990) How to Have Kids with Character pp 91-92. Wheaton, IL. Tyndale House Publishers

Jesus talks about prayer, that you go to your closet to pray - sometimes I think this is to block out distractions and the world, but sometimes I think it is for privacy - you can tell God anything, any need, you can talk to God about people that are bothering you, things that are causing you to worry, things that are frustrating you. This is time to just let it out.

Paul then goes on and says - NO HE PROMISES

If you do this look at verse 7 - "And the peace of God that passeth all understanding - that is an amazing peace - shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus"

Weust points out that: "The words "shall keep," are from a military word, "shall mount guard." God's peace, like a sentinel, mounts guard and patrols before the heart's door, keeping worry out. "

Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament - Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament – Volume 2.

Think of that guards all around your heart to keep worry and anxiety out - doesn't that sound like a wonderful thing - a peace that you can't explain.

Helen Keller wrote, "If we trust, if we relinquish our will and yield to the Divine will, then we find that we are afloat on a buoyant sea of peace and under us are the everlasting arms."

Bible Illustrations - Bible Illustrations – Illustrations of Bible Truths.

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Two painters were asked to paint a picture illustrating peace. The first painted a beautiful evening scene in the foreground of which was a lake, its surface absolutely calm and unruffled. Trees surrounded it, meadows stretched away to the distant cattle gently browsing; a little cottage, the setting sun—all spoke of perfect rest. The second painter drew a wild, stormy scene. Heavy black clouds hung overhead; in the center of the picture an immense waterfall poured forth huge volumes of water covered with foam. One could almost hear its unceasing roar, yet perhaps the first thing to strike the eye was a small bird, perched in a cleft of a huge rock, absolutely sheltered from all danger, pouring forth its sweet notes of joy. It is the second painter who could describe the peace that passeth all understanding which is the Lord Jesus Christ, the wisdom of God in the heart of the redeemed. One can only have peace with himself if he has peace with God.

Bible Illustrations - Bible Illustrations – Illustrations of Bible Truths.

The songwriter said, "So let the storms rage high, the dark clouds rise they won't worry me for I'm sheltered in the arms of God."

This little principle can save you many many hours of worrying, fretting, and stewing.

Be like that little bird -