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.”
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Peter 1:4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
1 Peter 1:5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. NKJV
II. United in the work of the Gospel.
Read Philippians 4:2-3
Euodia (YOU-oh-dee-ah) and Syntyche (Sin-tah-chee) were two women who were causing some dis-unity in the church so, instead of Paul choosing sides, he told them to be like-minded.
We are not told what the problem with these two women was, we are simply told how to handle it.
There are real-life issues that happen in relationships in the church, and we can’t simply sweep things under the proverbial carpet.
During a disagreement, if both sides become like-minded, die to themselves, serve the Lord, and seek the Lord’s wisdom, then love can cover a multitude of sins and offenses.
1 Peter 4:8 above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." NKJV
After mentioning that these women had a disagreement, Paul then moves on to talk about their faithful service as they labored in the work of the Gospel with him.
This demonstrates how even good servants of Christ disagree.
Re-read Philippians 4:3
Notice that Paul calls the reader of this verse a true companion.
Several commentators differ on who this true companion was, some of the opinions say it was either Timothy, Silas, or even the husbands of the two women who had disagreed.
No matter who the true companion was in Philippians 4:3, Paul hoped that this person could help these women reconcile and become like-minded, die to themselves, and serve the Lord.
Paul was saying, “Remember who you are as citizens of heaven. Remember what Jesus has to make this reality in your lives.
If your minds are filled with those promises from Jesus, there would be no room for that kind of pettiness.”
Regent University has a paper on relationships that speaks about the contention between Paul and Barnabas over Mark in Acts 15
“Barnabas and Paul separated over the role Mark should play when they decided to return to the places where they had preached the gospel during Paul’s first Missionary Journey.
Barnabas wanted to take Mark on the journey, but Paul was convinced this was not a good idea because Mark had abandoned them during their first journey.
During the cultivation stage of the relationship, Paul as protégé would have most likely deferred to the senior mentor Barnabas.
At the separation stage, Paul as an experienced mentee is no longer looking to Barnabas the mentor for guidance but views the mentor as a peer with whom he can dispute.”
Both men served the Lord and furthered the Gospel even though they separated because of a disagreement.
But, by the end of his life, Paul called for John Mark to come to him and said he was useful for the ministry. Mark grew up during those times and Paul recognized how the Lord used him.
Notice, with Clement also. Paul seems to contrast Euodia (YOU-oh-dee-ah) and Syntyche (Sin-tah-chee) with Clement.
Guzik asked the question, “If you had to have your whole life summed up in one sentence, would you like it to be summed up like Clement or those other two women?” (David Guzik)
Then Paul mentions, “the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.”
In Revelation 20 we are introduced to the “Book of Life” which shows the names of those who have received eternal life by Faith in Christ. If you are saved, your name is in the Book of life
III. Our witness to others.
Read Philippians 4:4-5
Here, Paul again mentions the main theme of the letter to the Philippian church, to rejoice always.
Despite the circumstances Paul faced while writing this letter, joy was the main theme of the letter to the Philippians.
Having an unhealthy, ungodly, or unproductive mindset can adversely affect every part of our lives, including the way we view the Lord and our walk with Him.
We tend to view our problems as too big at times because we have a distorted perspective about the true identity of Jesus.
The trials of this life will fade away as we think about our loving, powerful Lord, who loves us and gave Himself for us.
The word always in vs. 4 means no exceptions, no matter how painful things might be, we are to rejoice!
Warren Wiersbe asked, “What was the secret of this joy? The secret is found in another word that is often repeated in Philippians: It is the word mind.
Paul used a total of sixteen references to the mind.
In other words, the secret of Christian joy is found in the way the believer thinks—his attitude. After all, outlook determines the outcome.”
We have learned many times before that happiness usually depends on happenings, but joy is based on a relationship with Jesus regardless of our circumstances.
There is an old hymn that says to trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus.
C. H. Spurgeon, “What a gracious God we serve, who makes delight to be a duty, and who commands us to rejoice!
“Should we not at once be obedient to such a command as this? It is intended that we should be happy.” (C. H. Spurgeon)
Then in vs. 5, Paul seems to bring up a Christian’s example again with the statement, “Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.”
The word gentleness in Greek means, patience, softness, the patient mind, modesty, forbearance, or the forbearing spirit.
R. Kent Hughes said, “A rejoicing spirit is a gentle spirit and a healing balm to the church and the world.” (Hughes)
Christians need more than just knowing about this truth as a theological fact, we need to have a living relationship with Jesus.
Gentleness and peace in our lives, reveal Jesus to a lost and hurting world!
Then notice, “the Lord is at hand”.
Some commentators say this refers to the fact that Jesus’ return is near, while others say it is speaking about His proximity that Jesus is near to His children!
Jesus is ever-present to His Saints.
A.W. Tozer said, “Jesus is never merely spatially here or there because He carries us here and there in His heart.”
The Lord is at hand, could point to the fact that when we live with the awareness of Jesus’ soon return, it makes it easier to rejoice in the Lord and to show gentleness to others.
IV. Authentic prayer provides the peace of God.
Read Philippians 4:6-7
We have heard this before, but it is worth repeating, that fear is an enemy of faith in Christ.
Notice Paul said to be anxious for nothing, as a command, not a suggestion. This statement literally reads, “Stop worrying about anything”.
Jesus said in Matthew 6:25, “I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” NKJV
As Paul was awaiting his execution, this was the command he gave his readers, to “Be anxious for nothing”.
From a human perspective, everything had gone wrong with Paul’s life and his goals.
First Paul was a Hebrew of Hebrews even persecuting the Church but then the Lord got ahold of Paul and radically changed his whole life.
Later as Paul was planting churches and preaching the Gospel, there were many times the Lord changed his plans as well.
Acts 16:4 as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.
Acts 16:5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
Acts 16:6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. NKJV
Paul remained pliable to the leading from the Holy Spirit. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.
If you were having the most important test of your life happen today, wouldn’t you want the answers ahead of time?
Well, Paul gave his readers the answer.
Paul remained open to the Lord’s plans, and here while in prison, he tells his readers to stop worrying about anything.
Richard Cimino said, “What is there to be anxious about when the one who is near in time and proximity is the one who is so powerful that He is going to bring all things into His subjection?
He is so powerful that He can transform our lowly bodies into bodies like His glorious body?
We need to bring the BIG TRUTH about who Jesus is and what Jesus is done into those small moments — small spaces where we can be anxious.”
But Paul didn’t just pull a Bob Newhart and yell, “Stop it!”, instead, he told these Christians how to stop worrying.
Paul says instead of worrying about anything, we should pray about everything and then we will have God’s peace!
As we pray may we always keep at the forefront of our minds, to whom it is we are speaking to, when we pray.
When we pray, we are addressing the Creator God of the universe, and nothing is too difficult for our God.
Jeremiah 32:17 'Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You. NKJV
When we are in close relationship and fellowship with the Lord we rest and enjoy Him because we know He is able and will accomplish things in His time and in His way, which are best
When we realize how big and mighty and merciful the Lord is, we can easily trust Him in all our situations, even with our family, knowing He Loves them more than we could ever.
So, if prayer is speaking to the Lord, what is supplication?
According to Strong’s concordance: Supplication is seeking, asking, entreating, entreaty.
A couple of weeks ago, we spoke about the acrostic ACTS, in order to teach us the order of prayer.
• Adoration. (ACTS)
The first element of prayer should be praise and adoration.
No matter what is happening in life, remember, the Lord is worthy to be praised so, before we blurt out our wants, needs, and desires, we should praise the Lord in prayer.
• Confession.
Prayer should include confession, as we remember who the Lord is when we come to Him in prayer. To confess means to agree with the Lord.
• Thanksgiving
When we pray, we should always be thankful, remembering the grace and mercy God has shown toward us.
• Supplication
Finally, after Adoration, confession, and thanksgiving, prayer includes supplication or petition, as we bring our requests for the needs of ourselves and others to the Lord.
Prayer and supplication are similar but distinct. Prayer is a word that can mean all of our communication with God, but supplication directly asks God to do something.
James 4:2 You do not have because you do not ask.
James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. NKJV
Many prayers go unanswered because we do not ask the Lord for the thing, and then sometimes, we ask out of selfishness instead of asking according to His will.
Let your requests be made known. The Lord already knows what we need before we ask, but sometimes He waits until we ask so we know Who it is that supplies all of our needs.
It is difficult to stay anxious when we pray about everything, and we are thankful for what the Lord supplies.
Prayer is not about changing God’s mind. It is about lining our will up to His will. Lord Your will be done here on Earth.
Re-read Philippians 4:7
• Once we are saved by Grace, we have peace with God.
Before salvation, we were enemies of God because we were born natural sinners; but in Christ, we have peace with Him.
!But notice the peace of God is different than peace with God!!!
The peace of God is the peace that God Himself has, and He will give to us when we trust Him and stop worrying.
A person must be saved by God’s grace first because no one can experience God’s peace until they first receive God’s grace.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. NKJV
This is a peace that transcends all understanding and guards our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.
Paul gave a perfect metaphor for the Philippians because every day they saw the Roman garrison and here he says, God’s peace will garrison (guard) your hearts.
We receive perfect peace and abundant life when we change our perspective and see things the way the Lord sees them. Authentic Prayer gives us eternal vision and changes our hearts.
Those in the world are running around thinking things are falling apart, but God is simply allowing things to fall into place.
Remember we learned that Faith is trusting in what God has said, and once we really trust Him, we will experience peace!
Faith causes us to take God at His Word which will shape us and motivate our response to the different situations we face in life.
Isaiah 26:3 You (God) will keep him in perfect peace; whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. NKJV
Jesus came to bring the Gospel which means Good News and He is the only source of true peace. Jesus came to save lost sinners and that is Good News.
Jesus over and over again showed compassion for sinners in need of a Savior.
Jesus is the Savior so, we are offered peace with God because Jesus willingly gave His life to give us the gift of Salvation.
