- Sermon Notes
- Scripture
Sure Steps for Surpassing Peace
Philippians 4:1-7
Illus. Peace problems.
This morning we are going to turn to Philippians chapter 4, verses one to seven and center our study on what Paul gives as “sure steps for surpassing peace.” Specifically, Paul calls it peace that surpasses, or transcends our understanding. It is a peace that comes at times when having the opposite of peace might seem to make the most sense, but Paul points us to a peace beyond our understanding that only God can give.
Illus. Peace Defined.
If you search through the pages of Scripture, you will find nearly 400 verses associated with peace. This tells me that it is something important to our Lord.
John 14:27, Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.
The world says “no peace if there is trouble,” Jesus says “my peace comes in the midst of trouble, so do not let your hearts be troubled!”
Quote: Peace is not the absence of trouble, it’s the presence of God. – J Oswald Sanders
While many things can disrupt our peace, the Lord gives us a prescription for perfect peace. The place we will land today is on verses six and seven of chapter 4.
Philippians 4:6-7, Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
While these are the verses we will land on, it is the verses leading up to those verses we will start on because there are some actions steps we can take that play into our ability to be at peace personally.
- Let Your Standing in the Lord Shape Your Living
Philippians 4:1-3, Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, whom I long to see, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord. Indeed, true companion, I ask you also, help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement as well as the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
- As we begin chapter 4, there are some recurring themes Paul directs the attention of the church to, and we have seen some of these throughout the book of Philippians.
- First theme I want to point us to is the believers standing in the Lord. Throughout the book, Paul has used phrases like, “in the Lord,” or “in Christ.”
- The terms “in Him” or “in Christ” are used by Paul 143 times in his writings.
- In this book alone Paul details how they were “saints in Christ,” how he was “in Christ,” about the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ, about the upward call in Christ.
- He had written about running for Christ, walking in Christ, and now, standing in Christ.
- He tells them here in chapter 4, “stand firm in the Lord,” and then pleads with two church members to “live in harmony in the Lord.”
- I like the flow…“in standing firm in the Lord, live in harmony in the Lord”
- I like the flow, because the word for “stand firm” means to persevere, or to persist; to keep one’s standing.
- There are many things to stand firm in, in the Lord. Typically when I think of standing firm, my mind goes to standing firm theologically, standing firm Biblically, standing firm in Christ with all that is going on culturally.
- Here Paul encouraged to stand firm and live in harmony.
- He had mentioned this before. In chapter 1:27-30, Paul encouraged the church to stand firm in one spirit, to have one mind, striving together for the Gospel.
Philippians 2:1-2, Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
- Paul had addressed inside issues and outside issues throughout the book, now he writes about two specific people who were having an issue.
- The peace in the body was disrupted, and Paul pointed to what they needed to do.
- He calls them out by name, “I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord.”
Illus. Calling them out.
- Paul urged both of them to live in harmony. “I urge Euodia, I urge Syntyche.”
- Paul urged them to live in harmony in the Lord.
- The word “harmony” is also translated “be of the same mind” elsewhere.
- It is unclear what the specific issue was. It seems to me that it was not a theological issue, Paul was very specific to correct those types of issues or wrong beliefs in his letter. I would be surprised if it was a sin issue that was going on, Paul was also quick to correct and call out these types of issues. Rather, it seems to be a trivial issue.
- Paul urges them to harmony, then he urges his companion to help them toward harmony.
- And it is clear that the only way they would have harmony is in the Lord. They needed their standing in Him, to shape the way they were living.
Illus. Harmony.
Matthew 5:23-24, Therefore, if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
- Make Rejoicing in Him “Your Thing”
Philippians 4:4-5, Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. The Lord is near.
- This is another theme we have seen in the book. In fact, Paul uses the words for joy or rejoicing 16 times in the book.
- He started the book out that way, telling them about the prayers he offered for them with joy (1:4). He expressed his desire for their progress and joy (1:25). Also in chapter 1 that he rejoiced that Christ was being proclaimed, and state that he would rejoice going forward (1:18).
- In chapter 2, he wrote about his joy, calling them to make it complete in their unity and purpose in Christ, his joy in being poured out as a drink offering and called them to rejoice in the same way and share their joy with him.
- In chapter 3 he continued in verse 1, “rejoice in the Lord! To write is again is no trouble for me and it’s a safeguard for you.”
- Here in chapter 4, “rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, rejoice!” (Verse 4)
- Keep in mind, Paul wrote this letter from prison. He was in chains, awaiting his trial before Caesar Nero. He did not know which way things would go, he could be released, or suffer the death penalty. Paul had experienced great difficulty, beatings, imprisonment, false accusations, shipwreck, snakebites, you name it.
- There he sat and wrote about joy and rejoicing, encouraging the church to do similarly. Based on this book, rejoicing seems to be Paul’s “thing.”
- This requites just a bit of explaining. What does it mean that something is “your thing.” It is everyday language, or a colloquial expression that represents something your into, something you are particularly good at.
Illus. That’s my thing.
- The word “joy” in our English language is defined as an emotion of delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good.
- Biblically is applied differently. The definition carries similarities, “joy” here is a Greek word, “chara.” As defined it means joy, or gladness.
- While it carries a similar definition, the availability and application of joy in the life of a believer is not situational or based on circumstances.
- This means that you can have joy as a theme, despite what you are seeing. In the Bible, it is interesting to look at how joy is described and things that bring joy.
Illus. Joy.
2 Corinthians 6:10, Our hearts ache, but we always have joy.
- This is what Paul’s example points us to!
- Paul was looking around, seeing his chains, not knowing the way things would work out for him physically, but he could trust in the Lord and his faith was firmly in Him.
Proverbs 15:15, A cheerful heart has a continual feast.
- Perhaps today there is not much you can look around and rejoice about in the world, perhaps you follow the peace index, and when the numbers look good, you rejoice, when they are down, you frown.
Philippians 4:4-5, Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. The Lord is near.
- Rejoice in the Lord, let your gentle spirit be known.
- “Gentle spirit” is also translated, “reasonableness, patience, or moderation.”
- Rejoicing can also be your thing because the Lord is near. This can mean His presence, that He is near to us, but could also be referring to His return that the Bible promises us.
- Be Anxious for Nothing
Philippians 4:6, Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
- Verse 6 kicks off with the phrase, “be anxious for nothing.”
- The second word in the sentence, “anxious,” is worth our consideration, so that we can understand exactly what Paul is encouraging us to not be in our lives.
- The Greek work here is meremnao. It is here translated “anxious,” and commonly translated into our English words worried, worry, or concern. To be anxious, troubled with cares or worry. It is used 19 times in the New Testament.
- The roots of this word are interesting as well. It comes from two root words together. The first means to tear, separate, or divide. The second, means the mind.
- Merizo (to divide, separate, cut into pieces), naus the mind…
- Interestingly, the same word used here by Paul, imploring us to not to be anxious, is the same word Jesus used regarding worry in Matthew 6:25-34.
Matthew 6:25-34
- There are five times Jesus uses the phrase “you of little faith,” and in every case it had to do with worry, clothing, or life span (Matt. 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8; Luke 12:28).
- Jesus said, “do not worry.” Paul says plainly, “be anxious for nothing.”
- We are given these words by Jesus and Paul, because they knew that we would need to do with anxiety and worry when we come up against them.
Illus. Research.
Philippians 4:6, Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
- While we are to be anxious for nothing, we are given the proper place we are to go with everything.
- In place of worry and anxiety, we are to put prayer and petition.
- One picture of this in the Bible is of casting.
1 Peter 5:7, Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
- Cast all your anxiety on Him. The picture is to throw upon or place those things upon Him. Things that cause anxiety come, but, the Bible tells us where those things need to go. In other words, don’t carry your cares, cast your cares!
Illus. A professional.
- So, we are to be anxious about “nothing,” but we begin casting, therefore making the proper subject of prayer and petition, “everything.”
- Prayer and petition are two similar, but distinct words. Prayer is our opportunity to communicate with God, petition is asking God specifically for something, for Him to do something.
- So, we are encouraged to pray, petition, and make our requests known to God.
- These are the first things we are to do with anxiety, prayer and petition, however, they often become the last things we do.
- In our prayer, we are implored to do so with thanksgiving.
- So easy it is to find what is wrong, but thankfulness redirects us away from what is wrong, to the One who is right.
- Accept God’s Peace When It Surpasses Your Understanding
Philippians 4:7, And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
- Peace depicts a freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, obsession. It speaks of security, safety, prosperity.
- We understand peace with God (the peace that assures our soul of salvation made possible by and through the finished work of Jesus Christ, given when one believes in Him as Lord, Romans 5:1), and here, the peace of God.
- The peace of God is what is spoke about here, it is a peace given that we simply cannot comprehend.
- It is the peace that comes from the One we know works all things together for good (Romans 8:28). It is not self-generated, outside of circumstance, it comes from God alone.
- And it is that peace that makes no sense given the circumstance, but for some reason, there is a peace.
- This peace is different than the world’s peace. It is the peace Jesus promised to His disciples, and to all who would follow Him.
John 14:27, Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.
- Jesus said My peace I give to you…Not as the world gives. The world says “no peace if there is trouble,” Jesus says “my peace comes in the midst of trouble, so do not let your hearts be troubled!”
- We need to pursue the proper source for peace, because trying to find it through any other source or solution will leave us empty, and ultimately lacking peace.
- The source of our peace is the Lord. And Jesus Himself has left His peace. Not as the world gives, which is the absence of trouble, but He gives peace, completeness and wholeness in the midst of trouble.
- And this peace of God given, in addition to it’s being beyond comprehension, is a peace that will guard your heart and mind.
- The word guard depicts military action. It is on guard over your heart and mind.
- That word “guard” is a military term that means to surround or protect. The picture for the church at Philippi would be of Roman guards who maintained watch, protecting and guarding the city from any outside attack.
- God’s peace is like soldiers surrounding the hearts (the control center of our emotions), and our minds (our thoughts). His peace then, acts as a shield.
Illus. Turn your eyes.
Illus. Walk with Him.
Philippians 4:1-7