Preaching From Philippians # 12

(1) As Americans, we are used to watching Clint Eastwood ride into town on a horse, and in one hour clean up the meanest town in the west. We wonder why the United States military can’t do the same in one hour!

(2) Americans see other nations are having wars on their streets, but we have never experienced that here in America. We have grown up thinking that this is something that happens to others, but NOT TO US!

But when 911 came, we saw the enemy attack our homeland. We saw the devastation on our streets.

That is when we took the fight to the terrorists in Afghanistan and then in Iraq, and then we became aware of the price for peace. Week after week, we are learning the price of peace is great.

As we look at the topic of PEACE in our text, we are not talking about NATIONAL PEACE we are talking about INDIVIDUAL PEACE. The Lord Jesus said, in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Notice, the Lord Jesus said, “…My peace I give unto you…”

Illus: Thomas Holdcroft said, “There may be those on earth who dress better or eat better, but those who enjoy the peace of God sleep better.”

If God wants to give us HIS PEACE, then why is it that many Christians do not have it? There is a SCRIPTURAL PATTERN for us to follow, and if we do not follow that pattern we will never experience the PEACE OF GOD.

I. BEFORE WE CAN HAVE PEACE, WE HAVE TO HAVE PEACE WITH OTHERS

In the previous message Paul talked to us about those who were the “Enemies of the Cross.” Verse 1 is a transitional verse between what has been said, and what is about to be said. Paul is going to show us how we can have peace.

Look at Philippians 4:1-2, we read, “Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.”

Let’s not forget that Paul is in prison and he desires to come to them but cannot because of his confinement.

We can see the love he has for these people in verse 1, as he talks about them. They are not the “Enemies of the cross” that he had been talking about. We read, “Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.”

It is important that we point out that, as Paul begins this passage on the PEACE OF GOD, he is talking to Christians. Sinners do not have the PEACE OF GOD, they are at war with God. Every day they are joining hands with Satan to oppose God. They can not have the PEACE OF GOD!

Paul wanted these Christians to know that he loved them and he expressed that love to them over and over again in different ways. But because he loved them, he was also concerned about what he knew was taking place in the church. Look at verse 2, we read, “I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.”

Notice, he is referring to two women in the church, Euodias and Syntyche, who were causing some serious problems in the church.

We do not know what their differences were, but there was something that they disagreed on, and since they could not have it their way, they were quarreling and robbing the church of the peace of God. Paul’s prayer was that they “…be of the same mind in the Lord.”

Paul is showing us the problem, but he is also showing us the solution. The church can experience the PEACE OF GOD only when all the members are controlled by the MIND OF CHRIST.

We see a good example of what happens when the church is controlled by the mind of Christ on the day of Pentecost. Look at Acts 2:1 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with ONE ACCORD IN ONE PLACE.” Notice, they were all in ONE PLACE in ONE ACCORD.

When a church is this way, God can do some wonderful things in it. Look at what He did in Acts 2:2-4, “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”