Walking In The Peace Of God

Introduction,

Everyone seeks the feeling of peace of mind. Who doesn’t want peace?

Many try to find peace by traveling to places close to nature, with an ardent hope that the aura of tranquility would usher to them a mood of calmness and peace of mind.

Still, others enroll in courses on self-meditation that promise to teach techniques to provide them with inner peace and wellness.

Some seek professional psychiatric help.

Sadly, when overcome with anxiety, many suffer panic attacks and resort to prescribed anti-depressant medications that lead to an even more damaging effect on their mental health. They become dependent and addicted to drug usage which is detrimental to their emotional and mental well being.

Everyone experiences worry or anxiety from time to time for different reasons. It is not a mental disease.

We are exposed to the spasm of anxiety every day and every hour. Just look at the daily news.

o We hear of terrorism

o Worldwide protests and rebellion

o Wars and rumors of wars

o Earthquakes and disastrous calamities

As Christians, these catastrophic events only remind us that we are living in the end times.

o Wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, calamities, and famines shall happen but the end will not come right away. There are just signs of the end times. (Luke 21:9)

o But as Christians, we are confident to meet Jesus when he comes. (1 John 4:17)

17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.

o We have the confidence to face the judgment because we have the Peace of God. (John 14:27)

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.

Isn’t it wonderful that we have a loving God?

o Paul reminds us of the wonderful Peace that God has given us in chapter 4 of his letter to the Philippians.

o He exhorts us to Walk in the Peace of God.

The key verse is found in v 7:

7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I will focus my message on the following points:

1. The peace of God motivates us to REJOICE (v. 4)

2. The peace of God eliminates ANXIETY in our lives (v 6-7)

3. The peace of God promotes CONTENTMENT (v 11-12)

Main Points.

I - The peace of God motivates us to REJOICE. (v4)

Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.

It is amazing to know that Paul wrote this epistle while in prison in Rome. He is suffering incarceration yet he encourages us to rejoice.

1) Rejoice Always (not only on certain times)

o Like a babe in the Christian faith, and still struggling to get free from the cares of the world and burdens in my life, I did not truly experience this “rejoicing” that Paul was talking about. I reckoned that it was easy for him to claim this emotion of “rejoicing" because he is an apostle.

o Until much later, after learning more knowledge of God through His Holy Word.

o I learned that we should rejoice not only when we receive His blessings, but also when:

i) we have trials. James 1:2-

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, [a] when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

ii) In our Sufferings – Romans 5:3-4

3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,

iii) In Insults – 1 Peter 4:12-14

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange was happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of God and His glory rests upon you.

b) Yet let us not to be insensitive

i) to the harsh realities in life such as those with serious illness (they often complain of their pain)

ii) or those having financial difficulty

iii) but not to let these harsh realities blind them to the radiant joy that is found in the Lord.

2) We Rejoice In the Lord

a) Happiness in the world is temporary

i) Addiction to drugs or substances