The Gospel is Peace

Philippians 4:2-9 (ESV)
2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

The Gospel is Peace
Philippians 4:1-9

(Vs 1-2)

1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

(Vs 4-7)

(Vs 8-9)

5 Parts of Our Text Today
1. The Heart of a Pastor
2. A Longing for Unity and Reconciliation
3. The Foundation for Joy
4. Dealing with Anxiety
5. Walking in True Peace

The Heart of a Pastor

Philippians 4:1
“Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.”

A Longing for Unity and Reconciliation

Philippians 4:2-3
“I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Philippians 2:12b-16a
“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life…”

“There should be no disagreements amongst Christians,
love should reign, peace should predominate.
If there is anything contrary to such a state as that,
God grant that it may soon be brought to an end!
Brother, do all the good you can to help everybody else to do good.
Help those whose names are in the book of life…”

(TruthaccordingotheScripture.com, Spurgeon’s verse expositions of the Bible)

Reflection:
What is God asking of you as a Sower of unity where there is disunity?

In your family
Among friends
Within your work
In our church

A Spiritual Practice Application

Rejoice – Remember what Jesus has already done for you with gratitude and joy
Don’t be anxious - Name your anxiety and what it is connected to
Pray about everything - Offer and entrust your fear-worry-anxiety to the Lord (Jesus)
With thanksgiving – Give thanks for his goodness, sanctifying work, and faithfulness
Think about these things – Name what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy next to your anxiety

The Foundation of Joy

Philippians 4:4-5
“Rejoice in the Lord always; I will say it again, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;

Why should we rejoice?

You are being made complete (1:6, 9-11)
The gospel of Jesus is being preached and you are in partnership w/God (1:18, 27)
You are becoming humble as Christ demonstrated humility (2:3-4)
God is working among you to work out your salvation, you are being reconciled to Him and each other. (2:12)
You are His lights in the world, a world of darkness, His witnesses (2:15-16)
Christ is making himself known to you and you know Him (3:8)
You are a citizen of heaven. A child of God. (3:20)

“The foremost quality of a trusting disciple is gratefulness.
Gratitude arises from the lived perception, evaluation, and acceptance of all of life as grace,
as an undeserved and unearned gift from the Father’s hand. Such recognition is itself the work of grace,
and acceptance of the gift is implicitly an acknowledgement of the Giver…..
the root of joy is gratefulness, it is not joy that makes us grateful,
it is gratitude that makes us joyful.”

Reflection:
What is something you are grateful to God for?

Take a moment and give Him thanks

Dealing with Anxiety

Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Anxious “merimnaō “ (mer-i-nah-o)

To be troubled with cares, apprehensive, having exaggerated cares,
to seek or promote one’s own interests, a storm like feeling within.

Peace “eiréné” (i-ray-nay)

To be at ease with cares, safe, tranquil, serene, calmed, and fully at rest
To defer one’s interest’s to God, a secure like feeling within

What is Prayer?
Prayer is where we remember God is sovereign, providential and faithful
Prayer is our declaration of dependence on God
Prayer is our entrusting everything to God
Prayer is aligning our hearts to God’s heart
Prayer is the place where we are being made complete

“In Simple Prayer the good, the bad and the ugly are all mixed together…
it involves ordinary people bringing ordinary concerns to a loving and compassionate Father.
We do not pretend to be more holy, more pure, or more saintly than we actually are.
We do not try to conceal our conflicting and contradictory motives from God or ourselves.
And in this posture we pour out our hearts
to the God who is greater than our heart and who knows all things.”

The Biblical version of Holy Indifference is…

God, I am indifferent to my own will and desires
God, I want what you want more than what I want
God, I want to surrender my will and trust Your will
God, I relinquish and entrust my fear, worry and anxieties to your care

This is the doorway to true peace in Christ.

Philippians 4:8-9
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Reflect: What is God speaking over your anxieties?

Walking in True Peace

Isaiah 9:6
“Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace.”

John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

Philippians 4:7
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Numbers 6:24-26
May the Lord bless you and keep you;
May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and GIVE YOU PEACE.