Text: Phil 4:4-7
Facebook live: Rejoice in Jesus!
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.
Last year the word came in a group text message to me and a few friends early on a 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? How will I be affected?
I checked online and saw more details about what had happened in Israel with the Hamas attack, but the full picture was only starting to emerge. I was saddened by the thought of this being the answer, in some way, to the conflict between these ancient peoples.
Once again, innocent life lost and a war between people continues.
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 23 years ago 4 planes slipped through that protection to inflict great damage and loss of life upon our Nation.
Whether, New York, Israel, Gaza or Ukraine, our sense of safety, and distance from those wishing us harm, came crashing down.
Paul begins our lesson for today:
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice.
When tragedy comes we often ask:
“Why Lord… Why the hate… Why the anger … Why the suffering?”
“Why death?”
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 – and the opposite of the sin we face, 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.
But no matter the 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 way we often respond in this life in the flesh.
So here Paul, points to the work of God in you and in 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 simply supply our needs, or thanking him for all he has already blessed us with.
And by this work of the Spirit 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 our understanding. It calms anxiety, brings comfort in trial, and gives us the ability to rest in him and have as it were, 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 he speaks in his letter to the Colossians about the result of being in Christ, and living this New Life that we have been given by faith in Jesus.
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 both receive and give.
Rejoice in the Lord always!
As a pastor, I at times find trials and suffering at my door rather than joy.
The phone beeped and the text came in, “Mom’s in the hospital. She took a fall last night.”
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.
I’ve seen also, in those times, the calming peace of the Lord at work.
It doesn’t mean that the anxious times won’t come, but the calming comfort of God in prayer, brings peace, allowing us to rest in him and cast our cares upon him, where his peace becomes ours, 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 – we pray to put on Godly ears - with the intention of obeying.
That is our 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 by his Spirit.
And the Lord’s Peace is ultimately why we rejoice. Because God has reconciled himself to us through the blood of Jesus.
Advent gives us a time to wait, ponder, and rest.
Not in a temporal rest that we need, because the time before Christmas can be hectic and chaotic. But, in the rest of Peace knowing Christ, and the forgiveness of sins he has won, that gives us a peace that passes understanding.
Finally, Paul talks about our provisions in Christ and how he rejoiced in the Lord no matter the circumstance that he faced.
And in verse 13 which is often taken out of context and used inappropriately. He writes:
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.
So, this Advent allow contentment and peace to rest with you. Cast your cares on Jesus and let his peace bring comfort when and where it is needed.
So, Rejoice in Jesus! No matter the need, trial, or struggles that we face, through the Lord’s work and provision, and by his Holy Spirit:
We can rest in Jesus and rest in his peace!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
It doesn’t mean that the anxious times won’t come, but the calming comfort of God in prayer, brings peace, allowing us to rest in him and cast our cares upon him, where his peace becomes ours, 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 – we pray to put on Godly ears - with the intention of obeying.
That is our 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 by his Spirit.
And the Lord’s Peace is ultimately why we rejoice. Because God has reconciled himself to us through the blood of Jesus.
Advent gives us a time to wait, ponder, and rest.
Not in a temporal rest that we need, because the time before Christmas can be hectic and chaotic. But, in the rest of Peace knowing Christ, and the forgiveness of sins he has won, that gives us a peace that passes understanding.
Finally, Paul talks about our provisions in Christ and how he rejoiced in the Lord no matter the circumstance that he faced.
And in verse 13 which is often taken out of context and used inappropriately. He writes:
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.
So, this Advent allow contentment and peace to rest with you. Cast your cares on Jesus and let his peace bring comfort when and where it is needed.
So, Rejoice in Jesus! No matter the need, trial, or struggles that we face, through the Lord’s work and provision, and by his Holy Spirit:
We can rest in Jesus and rest in his peace!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
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