Peace
The Fruit of the Spirit • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Philippians 4:4-9
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, 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. 9 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.
NIV
Intro:
Paul was imprisoned when this letter was written, but there is disagreement as to where. Some think he was in Caesarea, others Ephesus; yet he must undoubtedly have been in Rome. In 1:13 (see note there) he mentions the praetorium, a Roman body of troops assigned to the emperor in Rome (see also 4:22). It is also clear that, in the trial facing Paul, his life was at stake, indicating that the trial was before Caesar in Rome (1:20).
Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Ryrie Study Bible: New International Version, Expanded ed. (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1994), 1821.
What do we think of when we hear the word peace? Do we think of no more war? Do we think of no more fighting? Maybe we think of the 60’s when everyone sang about peace. Is it John Lenon singing “imagine. The lyrics go like this;
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us, only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today
[Verse 2]
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
You
[Verse 3]
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world
[Chorus]
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Paul is chained to a Roman soldier day and night.
Yet he tells the Philipians to rejoice. Not just once but twice.
Have you ever been around someone who has a peace about them?
That peace comes from the joy which comes from love.
It is contagious.
5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. .
How can we have gentleness when the world; our worlds are in turmoil.
Israel and Hamas
Ukraine
Republican Democrat
Trump Biden
I have a friend that tried goading me into an argument during Trump's presidency. I had to finally tell him that because I am a believer no matter who is president or in charge, that we serve a God who created the universe; and that he is still in control. No matter who is in control or in charge; they all will answer to God one day.
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
What does it mean to be anxious about things?
I get anxious if I am running late; just ask my wife.
If I have to take a test or go to the DMV, or stand up and talk in front of people.
But if I pray and give it to God I have a sense of peace come over me.
Look at Peter when he was in prison Acts 12:6
Acts 12:6
The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.
NIV
Acts 16:25 Paul and Silas were in prison.
Acts 16:25
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
NIV
Charles Spurgeon said about verse 7 “Oh, that God might teach us how to avoid the evil that is here forbidden, and to live with that holy carelessness which is the very beauty of the Christian life—when all our care is cast on God, and we can joy and rejoice in his providential care of us.
Spurgeon, The Spurgeon Study Bible: Notes (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1601.
8 Finally, brothers, 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.
Paul says whatever is:
True
Noble
Right
Pure
Lovely
Admirable
Excellent
praiseworthy
We are to do what? Think about these things.
2 Cor 10:5
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
NIV
Job 31:1
"I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.
NIV
Conclusion:
9 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.
NIV
“Peace with God” is the result of faith in Christ (Rom. 5:1); “the peace of God” and the presence of “the God of peace” will come when the believer practices right thinking, right praying, and right living. Worry is tension between the mind and heart. The peace of God will guard (garrison) our hearts and minds if we but meet the conditions He gives.
Warren Wiersbe