Peace

As we move forward, we need to do so without fighting or complaining

Philippians 4:4-9

This passage contains a list of admonitions given by Paul to the Philippians.

He starts with the command to stand fast (v. 1).

Then in verse 4 he continues his list.

The Preparation for peace vv. 4-5

Philippians 4:4–5 NKJV

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

The more I thought about verses 4 and 5 the more it seemed to me that these things are necessary in order to have peace.

If you are rejoicing in all that God allows into your life…you will be prepared to have peace no matter what you face.

If you are reasonable, moderate, or gentle to all men remembering that the Lord is at hand, you will be prepared to have peace.

But how do we rejoice in everything?

What if something “really” bad happens?

I think we all know Romans 8:28 “And we know that all…” (Quote it).

Have you ever stopped to think why this is true?

God is good, and God is consistent, He doesn’t change.

Since He is both good and consistent He cannot allow anything into our lives that is not both good and for our good!

Just because we can’t see the good now doesn’t mean it isn’t there.

Job lost everything and couldn’t see how it could work for good.

However, not only did he receive more than he lost; he is an example for generations to follow.

The same thing goes for Joseph and Daniel and many others. God will never allow pain without it being good.

How do you let your reasonableness or gentleness be known to all men?

This is talking about a lifestyle!

Can you be a truly gentle person without peace?

Can you be at peace and not be gentle?

Paul gives the motivation for this gentleness or reasonableness, the Lord is at hand.

Why does that matter?

Because we as believers are to always live our lives to where we will not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

In preparation for peace be gentle to all men, to me a gentle person is a calm person and this calmness opens the door for peace.

Rejoice and be gentle, be reasonable.

These things are tested in trials, in hard times.

The Pursuit of peace v. 6

Philippians 4:6 NKJV

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Verse 6 to me is the pursuit of peace because it is in avoiding these things that we pursue peace.

Paul says, don’t be anxious about anything!

Literally he is saying “don’t even be worried about 1 little thing!”

This is a command and it is possible!

Paul says, “Don’t do it”.

But he doesn’t leave us with nothing.

He doesn’t say don’t and then leave it at that.

He says “but.”

There are times when I really love that little word.

Paul says not to be anxious for anything but, in contrast to being anxious, in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

But what about death?

In everything!

What about disease?

In everything!

What about rebellion?

In everything!

What about the little things like not being able to find my glasses or car keys?

In everything!

EVERYTHING!

Big small and in between all things are in God’s hands, He can handle it!

Prayer = the believers worshipful attitude of the mind.

Supplication (petition) = prayer as an expression of need.

You are to do these things with thanksgiving as you make your requests known to God.

This is pursuing peace!

You are avoiding worry and anxiety and instead taking things to God in prayer.

That is actively pursuing peace.

So often I think we imagine peace as something that just happens or comes over us.

Peace is something that requires action on our part before it becomes a reality in our lives.

If trials come, and we don’t pray, we are choosing to not have peace.

If we don’t take our problems and trials to the Lord what are we really expressing in our hearts?

A lack of faith and trust in the Lord.

When we have a relationship, tell everything, same with God.

The Presence of peace vv. 7-9

Philippians 4:7–9 NKJV

7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Once you take everything to God in prayer, then His peace can have a place in your life.

The peace that He gives is one that passes understanding.

So we go to the Lord in prayer and He takes our burdens and gives us peace.

That doesn’t really seem like a fair trade does it?

But that is what God does!

Then this peace that He has given us keeps our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Now why would God include the keeping of our hearts and minds in His promise of peace?

Because a lack of peace will always affect our hearts and minds.

It makes us unable to do verses 8 and 9.

Right after he says peace will guard your hearts and minds he mentions what we think about and what we do.

Why?

Because when we are at peace, then we can think and act correctly.

The peace of God guards our hearts and minds from destructive things.

Paul tells us to think on things that are true, as opposed to what is not true; He says things that are honest, as opposed to thinking about lies. Ect.

And then is verse 9 Paul addresses our behavior.

Paul admonishes the Philippian believers (and us) to follow his example.

Paul was confident in who he was following and so he was confident in our following him.

The last thing Paul says is that when we do these things, the God of peace will be with us.

It is a vicious cycle.

If we aren’t thinking and acting right then we have no peace, and if we have no peace we won’t be thinking and acting right.

And that is why Paul started this list of things with the admonition for us to stand fast, to rejoice, to be gentle and to pray; he wanted us to get out of a cycle of no peace, and truly experience the peace of God.

So what is the connection between prayer and peace?

First we prepare by standing fast, rejoicing, and showing gentleness.

Then we pursue peace with our prayer, and finally when we have prayed and given it to God we have peace.

This peace then enables us to think and act in a way that pleases, honors, and glorifies God.

Without prayer we cannot have peace!

Why?

Prayer is an acknowledgement of our own inability, our dependence on God’s strength.

When we completely depend on Him…we have peace!

So, to have peace, spend time giving your problems to God through prayer.