The Peace Of God

Phil 4:6-9 The Peace of God 26Feb12 2081

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.

When Jesus comforts His disciples prior to His arrest, this is what He said:

• John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

• John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Peace is something we all need. Whether you are educated or not, rich or poor, young or old, a believer or not, we have moments of stress and anxiety.

• If you are poor, you are concerned about having nothing to eat. If you are rich, you are afraid of being robbed.

• The healthy is worried about getting sick; the sick worries about dying too early.

• If peace is a universal need and God has an answer for it.

The Word of God tells us these 3 things:

(1) Peace is a GIFT from God; it comes from God.

• From the words of Jesus and Phil 4, peace comes from God. Two times when peace is mentioned - verse 7 and verse 9 – both made reference to the God who gives it.

(2) Peace is God’s will for us; God does not want us to live in fear or worry.

• Do not be anxious about anything.

• Jesus said in Matt 6:25ff. - DO NOT WORRY about what we eat or drink, or wear. Look at the birds of the air – your heavenly Father feeds them.

(3) God gives us peace in the midst of troubles.

• Can there be peace in a calm, safe and stable environment, where every need is met? Of course.

• If you are lying by the beach in Mauritius, sipping a cup of ice-cool orange juice watching seagulls flying above the crystal sea, in an oasis of peace and tranquillity – surely you have a sense of peace. This we understand, you don’t need to explain. It’s natural.

But the peace that God gives goes beyond this - it “transcends all understanding”. We don’t understand because it does not come from the surrounding.

• It is not the result of the environment we are in or the people we are with. It comes from God; it is a peace that we experience even in the midst of all the problems.

• Only God can give us such a peace. It comes from Him.

• Jesus says “Peace I leave with you; MY PEACE I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

• It is our portion today. We can claim it. It’s meant for us. We want HIS PEACE!

How can we experience it? Paul highlighted TWO practical things we can do:

(1) PRAY AND ENTRUST TO GOD – don’t carry your burdens ALONE

Jesus says in Matt 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

• It is not God’s intention for us to handle life on our own.

• Paul says do not be anxious about ANYTHING - not even ONE. And then he adds, BUT in EVERYTHING – present your requests to God.

• No distinction about BIG or SMALL, IMPORTANT or TRIVIAL. Everything needs to be present to God. As long as you are disturbed by it, tell it to God. Off-load it to God.

• Don’t carry it alone. That will be the surest way of losing your peace.

The description is not even a division of labour - God does a little, and I do a little. He will take care of this, and I’ll take care of that.

• It is ALL to Him and nothing upon me. All to Jesus I surrender. He is LORD, I’m just a steward.

• This is actually giving God His due honour. He is the boss. I magnify the Lord when I entrust my life issues to Him.

It is a CHOICE we make. We CAST our cares on Him when we PRAY.