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Peace is often seen as something external and dependent on the alignment of circumstances.
All we have to do is look through history to see a long record of peace agreements.
The problem is that these peace agreements are usually broken eventually.
Biblically speaking, peace is not something that we gain through the absence of conflict.
Peace is a state of inner calm that flows out of our faith in Christ.
Let’s look at a Biblical example of true peace.
2 Kings 6:8-17
The king of Syria is at war with Israel.
God keeps revealing his strategies and plans to Elisha who warns the Israelite king.
The king of Syria decides to take Elisha out.
His armies surround the city.
From a human understanding of peace, there is no reason to have any here.
Elisha has a Biblical understanding of peace.
He is calm and assured, not because his circumstances are perfect but because He knows that God is in control!
If our eyes could be opened as Elisha’s servants were, we would see that God has even the most dire of circumstances well in hand.
God knows what He is doing.
Peace comes when we place our trust in the Lord alone.
Tonight we are going to look at what is probably the most well-known passage on peace.
Go with me to Philippians 4:6-7.
Philippians 4:6-7
What this passage has for us is two commands and an outcome.
When we follow the commands, we get the outcome.
Fail to follow the commands, and we don’t get the outcome.
Here is the first command.
Stop Being Anxious
Anxious - μεριμνάω (merimnaō) be anxious; care for.
to worry (be concerned) v. — to be concerned with.
Finite verb, present, active, imperative, second person, plural.
Anxious - μεριμνάω (merimnaō)
Nothing = not one thing.
The idea here is this “do not be anxious about even 1 thing.”
This is not talking about blissful ignorance that ignores problems.
There are things we should be concerned about.
However, it is what we do with that concern that matters.
The anxiety Paul has in view here is an obsessive and constant worrying over something.
Paul used this same word translated anxious in 2:20 when he commended Timothy’s being anxious for the welfare of the Philippians.
Philippians 2:20
“Care” is the same word that is translated “anxious” in our passage.
Where does this leave us?
It is good to be concerned about the welfare of others.
In fact, we are practically commanded to in 1 Corinthians 12:25.
1 Corinthians 12:25
We are to care for one another, be concerned for one another.
This could be the welfare of our children, a situation at work, an issue with a spouse.
It is okay to be concerned for those things.
It is not okay is to allow worry to consume our lives.
It is not okay to allow concern for others or circumstances to derail our Spiritual growth or service for Christ.
We see a picture of this in Luke 10:41.
Luke 10:41
This is the difference!
An anxiety that leads us to take action is okay.
I may be anxious about a test, so I study for it.
That’s good!
I may be anxious about some bad decisions my child has made, so I talk to them about it.
That’s good!
An anxiety that paralyzes us and makes us ineffective for Christ is not okay.
I’m anxious about the test so I eat a tub of ice cream.
Not good.
I’m anxious about a bad decision my child made, so I stay up all night worried about it.
Not good.
That’s the contrast.
Anxiety that leads to action or that causes paralysis.
Have we felt that difference in our lives?
Peace is impossible when we are consumed by worry.
The key there is consumed.
If something is consuming all our thought space, we are essentially enslaved to that thing.
What is supposed to consume our minds?
The things of Christ!
That’s the first command.
Stop being anxious.
Command #2…
Pray About Everything
But = contrast.
Instead of being anxious, give God your requests.
In everything.
Every circumstance and situation that we get into as believers should be covered with prayer.
This word “prayer” speaks of a petition.
This is speaking of prayer in general.
“Supplication” is the idea of specific requests that we make to God.
This is asking God for specific needs to be met.
“Requests” is used here to encompass everything we bring to the Lord.
All of this is to be done with thanksgiving.
That is our attitude.
We thank God for the opportunity and privilege to lay our requests at His feet.
1 Peter 5:7 says
1 Peter 5:7
“Be made known” is the imperative here.
We are commanded to let our requests be made known to God!
Doesn’t he already know them?
Yes.
Yes He does.
So why do we tell Him?
Because it unburdens our heart.
We cast our cares on Him.
These are our two options, worry about everything, or give it to the Lord in prayer.
Peace comes when we give our problems away.
That’s what we are doing in prayer.
The situations and circumstances may not change, but our attitude does.
When we trust the Lord with our trials and troubles, He will carry them.
What is on your heart that you need to give to the Lord?
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