Peace, Part 2 - Dwell (2)

What we do is vitally important

This sounds like a contradiction from last week. Because it’s the internal problems that are the real ones, right?

Philippians 4:8–9 NIV

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.

Now, paul is pushing two ideas -

We have to focus our attention on what is true and good

So Paul is saying, to think about such things that are true, or noble, or right, or pure.

And this connects really well to our idea from last week. The idea that, peace STARTS with a focus on God, and always keeping that focus active throughout everything we do.

But we have lots going on in life. We have church, but we have jobs. Or families. We have things that keep us busy. We have worries. We have fears. We have hopes for the future.

We have LOTS of times that will take our attention, our focus. and paul is giving us a REALLY strong practice - keep focused on what is good in every situation.

Now, I can hear your response. And this isn’t about ‘always look on the bright side of life!’. I know you got kicked in the face, but it could be worse! You could have gotten kicked in the face twice!

This is more than that - because the first thing he says, is focus on whatever is true.

And the truth is, in every situation, there’s always more ways to see it. And we need to find the way that God sees it, and see it that way.

That person who is really annoying and negative all the time. It may be true that they’re annoying, and always negative, and hard to be around. It may be true that they need to stop.

But it may also be true that they’re struggling. It may also be true that they’re afraid, and depressed, and this is all they know how to handle. The first perspective says, ‘tell them what they’re doing is wrong, and they need to stop!’. The second perspective says, ‘come along side the person, and just listen. Be an ear and a place the person can just vent. Help them through the storm’.

One day, Jesus was hanging out with some sinners and having dinner. He was being hosted by this guy named Levi who was a tax collector. And the pharisees called Jesus on it. They said, ‘Don’t you know who you’re eating with? these are tax collectors and sinners! They’re bad people!’. And you know what? jesus doesn’t even argue them on that point. He knows it.

Jesus responds that he’s not there to hang out with the healthy - he’s there to call to the sick and bring them back.

What drove the pharisees away drew Jesus closer

and that’s the big point here. Jesus saw the same factors, but he had a different plan. He did things totally different. And we should too.

Whatever factors you see in your life, they may push you to draw a certain conclusion, to go a certain way. But look in every situation and say, ‘what’s the good path? What’s the true path? What’s the noble path? What’s the admirable path? That’s the way i’m going to focus my thoughts. That’s the way I’m going to steer myself and my character and my choices and actions.

and paul understands, he knows that can be difficult to do. He knows it’s hard. And he gives us a really, really good tool to do that.

Whatever you have heard, learned, or seen - try it out yourself

Practice! This is more than a thought exercise. It’s more than a perspective. It’s an activity.

STORY - talking at bible study this week about figuring out God’s will. He’s already given us a lot of good things in the bible that He did and He asked us to do - is it such a bad idea to just try one?

the truth is,

Real convictions result in real actions

If you heard this, and you REALLY believed it - you’d do it!

Jesus said, it’s not everyone who says ‘lord lord’ who will get into the kingdom - it’s the people who do what God says.

And Paul follows this up with a promise:

As we connect, focus and practice, we’ll stay connected to God

Paul gives us 3 really big things.

He says, first, learn to want to connect to God so much that you turn to him with everything.

Second, in every situation, try to dwell on whatever is true and good and righteous - so, try to always see things from God’s point of view, and through the lens of his plan

Third, let your thoughts and what you learn result in action by trying out whatever it is you hear

Now, I want you to hear something really important. I want you to hear what’s not in this list. What’s NOT in this list is ‘Make sure you’re perfect before God will accept you’. ‘Make sure you try hard enough so that God approves you by your effort’. Paul doesn’t say, if you want peace, make sure you earn it.

They are all invites from God

God says, ‘Look at me’, ‘Look with me at everything else’, and ‘walk with me’.

Communion

1 Corinthians 11:23–25 NIV

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night 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, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”