Peace Of God

Peace of God

Philippians 4:1-7

Good morning.

“Peace on earth” is a phrase we always hear around Christmas, but as we look at our world, many ask, “Where is the peace?”

Because in our chaotic world “peace on earth” seems elusive.

This morning, I would like to begin with a Bible verse which is a prophecy from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, normally associated with Christ during Christmas, as well.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. NKJV

• Wonderful.

The Hebrew word wonderful used in Isaiah 9 is part of the name of Messiah and it means to wonder, marvel, or an extraordinary hard-to-understand thing.

This Messiah, who is God in the flesh, is too wonderful, and way too awesome for any person to fully comprehend!

• Mighty God.

Messiah is the God of all creation and glory, the LORD who reigns in heaven, the One who is worthy of worship and praise.

• Everlasting Father.

David Guzik says, “He is the Creator Himself. It does not mean that Jesus Himself is the Person of the Father in the Trinity.”

However, the Everlasting Father in Isaiah means Jesus is the Father of eternity.

• Prince of Peace.

Before salvation, we were enemies of God and restless in this world trying to find peace.

The Messiah is the Prince of Peace who provides peace, not only between God and man, but He offers us a peace that passes all human understanding and will last forever.

Please open your Bibles to Philippians 4, as we continue in our verse-by-verse study of Paul’s Epistle to the Church at Philippi.

Last week, Paul instructed his readers to follow his example and note others who follow it, since our citizenship is in heaven.

A Christian’s main focus and energy should be knowing Jesus and making Him known to others. One of the main ways we can make Jesus known is by our example to others.

Then Paul described people who are enemies of the cross.

Some say Paul was directly speaking about the Judaizers.

Other commentators say the people Paul was addressing people who were using grace as a license to sin, and indulge the flesh.

Since Christians are citizens of Heaven, we should have eager anticipation of Christ's return and be excited for the life we will have in heaven with Him.

vs. 21, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body.

Once we have correct thinking and realize who we are in Christ, then we should represent Him to a lost and hurting world.

In today’s passage, Paul encourages his readers to remain in the faith as he instructs Christians on how to have God’s peace.

I. Stand fast.

Read Philippians 4:1

Paul starts Philippians 4 with the word, “therefore”.

This connects what Paul said, just before this in Philippians 3, about the promise of resurrection and our new glorified bodies.

Since we are citizens of heaven, and the Lord promised He will transform our lowly bodies and conform us to His glorious body, therefore, stand fast or remain in the Lord.

According to the dictionary: To stand fast is a verb that means to remain in the same position or to refuse to abandon one’s opinion or belief. (i.e., “keeping the faith”).

Keeping the faith means to continue to believe in, trust, or support someone or something when it is difficult to do. Notice that Paul refers to these believers as my joy and crown.

The word for the crown that Paul used for these believers refers to the crown given to an athlete who had won the race.

1 Corinthians 9:24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

1 Corinthians 9:25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. NKJV

A Stephanos Crown was a crown of achievement, the crown a king would receive was called a diadema corona.

The Apostle John said in Revelation 6:2 And I looked and behold a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

Jesus is the King of kings, and the Philippian Christians were Paul’s trophy because of their example of serving Christ as they remained in the Lord.

We stand fast for Jesus by having a cooperative relationship.

Someone said, “God is in control, but He doesn’t expect you to lean on a shovel and pray for a hole in the ground to appear.”