The Path to Peace

Series on Philippians

IX Exhortations to Steadfastness, Unity, Prayer and Proper Thought

C Joy, Prayer, Peace, Text: 4:4-7

Title: The Path to Peace

Introduction

This passage could easily be lifted out of context. What it says is applicable to most of us all of the time. Yet Paul has been writing about unity in this church throughout this letter. These exhortations are intended to incite unity. I have noticed that unhappy people don’t get along with others. Many people are unhappy because they are looking for joy in the wrong places.The daughter of Billionaire Aristotle Onassis, Christina, once said money cannot bring happiness and our family is the best illustration of that. Sad words indeed. In Jesus’ last words to his disciples before his crucifixion joy is a major theme.These things I have spoken to you that my joy might remain in you and that your joy might be full. Now you have sorrow but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice and your joy no man can take from you. Thus Paul says in verse 4, Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

I Rejoice

When we come to the table of the Lord, the first thing that should characterize us is rejoicing. We rejoice that God loved us while we were his enemies. We were sinners without hope and without God in this world and now we are his beloved children. We just celebrated Veteran’s Day. It used to be called Armistice day because it commemorated the end of the First World War. We rejoice in every victory whether it is war or disease, or just a simple answer to prayer in our family or our business. There are happy moments at births, and weddings and even at funerals, but there is only one real reason to rejoice in this sinful fallen world and we are reminded of it this day by the Lord’s supper. Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Listen to the praise of heaven. They are not saying we won the war, or we got the job, or we recovered from disease. Our joy is the joy of Revelation 5:9-14 And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

II Respect

Paul says in verse 5, Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. There is a story about Robert E. Lee, commanding general of the confederate army that surrendered to the Union at Appomatox Courthouse. He knew how to rejoice even in defeat, and be a gentle warrior. A short time after the civil war he was worshipping in a church in Richmond VA. The people were going forward by rows to receive communion. Then a black man rose from his seat and went forward. Nobody budged. Then they saw the majestic figure of the commander of the confederacy rise from his seat and move forward. Gently kneeling beside the black man he took communion with him. Rejoice in the Lord and let your gentleness be evident to all. Paul says be gentle, kind, loving because the Lord is near. No one knows the day or the hour of Jesus final return, but he already told us that where two or three are gathered in His name he is with them. He is spiritually present with us in the table of the lord. So let each of us like General Lee find the union in communion.

III Rely

The Apostle concludes with the exhortation in verses 6 and 7, Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Don’t be anxious but rely on the Lord. There is a kind of prayer that does not relieve anxiety because it is uninformed. It relies more on the duty of the person praying than on God. I remember a congregant of mine in Lansdale who had many back surgeries. Some well meaning neighbors who were charismatic Christians decided that they were going to pray for her to be healed. When it didn’t work she told me that they said her faith was not strong enough. That is not the kind of prayer that eliminates anxiety. The peace that Paul promises here is found in the realization that God is sovereign. That is why Paul can say “in everything pray.” It depends on knowing who God is and what he has done for us as we are reminded in the Lord’s table. Our focus is not on trying to change God’s plan, or alter our circumstances. These may occur, but they are not the focus. The focus is on Christ and what he has done for us, and that can be with us in every situation. As Paul says in Romans 8:32 If God did not spare his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also freely give us all things.