Text: Phil 4:4-13
Facebook live: Give praise to the Lord in all things!
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.
The word came in a group text message to me and a few friends early Saturday afternoon. It simply read:
Terrorists again. Scary world!
Well, I had heard nothing at that time, but you start thinking.
Attack? Where? Who? How bad? Am I to be affected?
I checked online and saw more details about what had happened in Israel but the full picture was only starting to emerge. I was saddened by the thought of this being the answer to conflict between peoples.
Once again, innocent life lost.
I was relieved that it wasn’t in the States. But should I be? We all know that our safety is only as good as those who protect us, and 22 years ago 4 planes slipped through that protection to inflict great damage and loss of life upon our Nation.
Our sense of safety and distance from those wishing us harm us came crashing down.
Paul begins our lesson for today:
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice.
As I began to work on the sermon this week in the midst of the sadness and suffering that so many are feeling - all I felt was sorrow and grief.
“Why Lord… Why the hate… Why the anger … Why the suffering?”
“Why death?”
As we touched on the last few weeks, Paul, is writing from a prison in Rome. He knows suffering and could easily focus on that, as one bound in chains and sin. But he directs his thoughts and the thoughts of his hearers to that which is antithetical - or opposed to sin. The Lord Jesus.
5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
Reasonableness?
As sinners in the flesh, we want to see evil and those responsible for that evil punished. And whatever conflict or wrong we face in this life; Paul says:
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Well … I must confess. I don’t always do this first.
My sinful flesh wants to do that which the flesh does, and sin is the leading proponent of life in the flesh.
So here Paul points to the work of God in you and me by the Holy Spirit, allowing us to rest in him rather than being anxious, calling us to prayer in all circumstances, whether asking God to supply our needs, or thanking him for all he has blessed us with.
And by this we guard our hearts in God’s word and gifts rather than falling victim to the temptations of the devil.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
God’s Peace is beyond all understanding. It calms anxiety, brings comfort in trial, and give us the ability to rest in him and have a reasonable response.
Paul in the Letter to the Ephesians calls us to put on the armor of God.
Put on the belt of truth,
Put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Put on shoes for your feet, which is readiness given by the gospel of peace.
And the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
Put on the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
And to this he also speaks in the letter to the Colossians about the result of being in Christ, and living this New Life that we have been given by faith in Christ.
12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Col 3:12-13
Forgiveness.
It’s ours to receive and to give.
Rejoice in the Lord always!
As a pastor, I at times find trials and suffering at my door rather than joy.
Calls to the hospital or care facilities late at night when sickness and death await, are times where those in need crave peace and comfort and I’ve seen the calming peace of God at work.
It doesn’t mean that the anxious times won’t come, but the calming comfort of God in prayer brings peace and a good outcome allowing us to rest in him and cast our cares upon him where his peace surpasses all understanding.
8 [So], 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.
And we have learned, received, and heard these things in Paul’s writings in all his epistles for our benefit. So, hearing – put on Godly ears - with the intention of obeying. That is the next step.
Not that we won’t stumble and fall but that we can get up, repent, and make a way where we might think there is no way because our loving God in Christ Jesus is there to lead, and guide us into his peace.
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.
The word came in a group text message to me and a few friends early Saturday afternoon. It simply read:
Terrorists again. Scary world!
Well, I had heard nothing at that time, but you start thinking.
Attack? Where? Who? How bad? Am I to be affected?
I checked online and saw more details about what had happened in Israel but the full picture was only starting to emerge. I was saddened by the thought of this being the answer to conflict between peoples.
Once again, innocent life lost.
I was relieved that it wasn’t in the States. But should I be? We all know that our safety is only as good as those who protect us, and 22 years ago 4 planes slipped through that protection to inflict great damage and loss of life upon our Nation.
Our sense of safety and distance from those wishing us harm us came crashing down.
Paul begins our lesson for today:
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice.
As I began to work on the sermon this week in the midst of the sadness and suffering that so many are feeling - all I felt was sorrow and grief.
“Why Lord… Why the hate… Why the anger … Why the suffering?”
“Why death?”
As we touched on the last few weeks, Paul, is writing from a prison in Rome. He knows suffering and could easily focus on that, as one bound in chains and sin. But he directs his thoughts and the thoughts of his hearers to that which is antithetical - or opposed to sin. The Lord Jesus.
5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
Reasonableness?
As sinners in the flesh, we want to see evil and those responsible for that evil punished. And whatever conflict or wrong we face in this life; Paul says:
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Well … I must confess. I don’t always do this first.
My sinful flesh wants to do that which the flesh does, and sin is the leading proponent of life in the flesh.
So here Paul points to the work of God in you and me by the Holy Spirit, allowing us to rest in him rather than being anxious, calling us to prayer in all circumstances, whether asking God to supply our needs, or thanking him for all he has blessed us with.
And by this we guard our hearts in God’s word and gifts rather than falling victim to the temptations of the devil.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
God’s Peace is beyond all understanding. It calms anxiety, brings comfort in trial, and give us the ability to rest in him and have a reasonable response.
Paul in the Letter to the Ephesians calls us to put on the armor of God.
Put on the belt of truth,
Put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Put on shoes for your feet, which is readiness given by the gospel of peace.
And the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
Put on the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
And to this he also speaks in the letter to the Colossians about the result of being in Christ, and living this New Life that we have been given by faith in Christ.
12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Col 3:12-13
Forgiveness.
It’s ours to receive and to give.
Rejoice in the Lord always!
As a pastor, I at times find trials and suffering at my door rather than joy.
Calls to the hospital or care facilities late at night when sickness and death await, are times where those in need crave peace and comfort and I’ve seen the calming peace of God at work.
It doesn’t mean that the anxious times won’t come, but the calming comfort of God in prayer brings peace and a good outcome allowing us to rest in him and cast our cares upon him where his peace surpasses all understanding.
8 [So], 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.
And we have learned, received, and heard these things in Paul’s writings in all his epistles for our benefit. So, hearing – put on Godly ears - with the intention of obeying. That is the next step.
Not that we won’t stumble and fall but that we can get up, repent, and make a way where we might think there is no way because our loving God in Christ Jesus is there to lead, and guide us into his peace.
And Peace is ultimately why we rejoice. Because God has reconciled himself to us through the blood of Jesus.
Finally, friends, Paul talks about our provisions in Christ and how he rejoiced in the Lord no matter the circumstance that he faced. Now the final line of our epistle today in verse 13 is often taken out of context and used in an inappropriate way.
Finally, friends, Paul talks about our provisions in Christ and how he rejoiced in the Lord no matter the circumstance that he faced. Now the final line of our epistle today in verse 13 is often taken out of context and used in an inappropriate way.
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
This can be seen as a call to that which we desire, as I have seen it used in wrong ways by well-intended Christians.
But read in context, Paul is simply grateful and thankful.
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
Give praise to the Lord in all things!
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
This can be seen as a call to that which we desire, as I have seen it used in wrong ways by well-intended Christians.
But read in context, Paul is simply grateful and thankful.
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
Give praise to the Lord in all things!
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
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