The Peace of God
Pastor Dean Jurgen
October 12, 2008

Philippians 4:1-9

We are a restless people… impatient when the traffic slows us down… dissatisfied when there’s nothing good to watch on TV… agitated when the waitress isn’t right there when we want her… annoyed when we count the 16 items the person in front of us has in the express checkout line…stomach sick when the Dow Jones Industrial Average drops again…fidgety when the church service goes too long!

We are a restless people.  It seems to be a given in our culture.  We could learn some lessons from our plain neighbors, the Amish.  They aren’t as restless about the slow traffic, for they take every day, all day at a slower pace.  They aren’t anxious about the Dow Jones Industrial Average or whether Obama or McCain are ahead in the polls.  And their church services go on all morning and continue with a meal all afternoon.  They show us a peace that is harder for those of us in our culture to find.

The passage from Philippians is written for those of us who are restless and need to find some peace.  The apostle Paul knew something about restlessness.  It seems that following Jesus made him somewhat restless, for he lived his life always on the go… always with something to do… some new mission.  His life was always in danger… he had few possessions… no regular income… plenty of conflict with people outside the church and within the church.  And he writes this letter from prison.

Yet, Paul was at peace.

Let’s consider what Philippians 4:1-9 can teach us about finding peace in our restless world.

First, what is this peace that we seek?  Peace as the Bible speaks of it is always peace in the midst of trouble.  Picture the disciples in the boat… frantic and panicking because of the storm swamping the boat… and there is Jesus, sleeping… at peace in the storm.

John 16:33

Peace is not the absence of trouble, but the calm assurance that you are in the hands of God… and no matter what happens, that’s the best place to be.  Peace is knowing that sometimes God calms the storm, and sometimes he calms me as the storm rages.  Peace doesn’t come to us from our restless world, but is a gift of God… to those of us living in a restless world.

How can we get this peace?  Look with me at Philippians 4.  We can see at least six good ideas in this passage about how we can find the peace of God in our lives.  Surely at least one of them will help you.

(1) We can get peace by seeking to be in good relationship with people.  (vss 2,3)

Understand that Paul is in prison when he writes this letter.  But his love for them is such that he intercedes for two of his friends, fellow workers there who are apparently at odds with one another.   Their names are Euodia and Syntche.   Unfortunately we know nothing else about them.

They seem highly esteemed by Paul and that tells us a great deal about them.  He encourages them “to be of the same mind in the Lord.”
Unity comes about between diverse people with different personalities in the church as they share a common allegiance to the same Leader - Jesus.  Not only does Paul appeal to them to get along, to be reconciled to one another, he calls on someone whom he calls his loyal companion to intercede between them as well.  The word here in Greek is “syzygus,” which some take as the proper name of this person, that is, Paul’s saying, “Syzygus, your name means “to help,” so live up to it by helping make these two dear ones friends again.”

Is there some broken relationship in your life that needs mending?  When you do, you follow the Lord from restlessness to peace.

(2) We can have peace by learning to do what it says in verse 4: rejoice in the Lord always!  And then, because Paul knew that those who received this letter would wonder if he was in his right mind saying something like that, he added: “Again, I say, rejoice!”  Paul wasn’t denying the sad side of life when he called them to rejoice in the Lord always.  We don’t deny the dark side of life when we live with Jesus as the Light of the world.  But we don’t have to walk around with a silly grin all the time.  And, be clear about this: we don’t rejoice in the circumstances always.  We rejoice in the Lord always.  A song of praise in our hearts goes a long way to bringing us peace.  As someone once said, what I have in the Lord is greater than what I have in the world.

Is there room for more rejoicing in the Lord always in your life?  When you do, you follow the Lord from restlessness to peace.

(3) We can know the peace of God by being gentle and kindhearted with other people.  (v. 5a)

Gentleness is a Christ-like consideration for others.  Before saying a harsh word to someone, we could help ourselves as well as them by waiting a moment and reconsidering our words.   Is there opportunity for you to show gentleness toward someone with whom it might not be easy to be gentle?  When you do, you follow the Lord from restlessness to peace.

(4) We can know the peace of God by remembering the Lord’s nearness.  (v. 5b)

It is unclear whether Paul means the second coming of the Lord, or if he is talking about the everyday nearness of the Lord in our lives.  I think he very well could mean both.  If each day we would look at our lives from the perspective of eternity, wouldn’t we find more of the peace of God?  Taking the long look helps us to put today’s problems in perspective, and we can see what is truly important.

Can you cultivate a sense of the Lord’s nearness each day?  When you do, you follow the Lord from restlessness to peace.

(5) We can have peace by praying instead of worrying.  (v. 6)

When we’re restless with worry, we’re forgetting who is God: it’s not me.  I can’t make everything work out just the way I’d like it to.  I can’t control every situation.  I can’t be perfect.  But relying on God rather than worrying is a better way for our hearts to have peace.  Are you more and more able to turn your cares into prayers?  When you do, you follow the Lord from restlessness to peace.

(6) We have peace if we think the right thoughts, the best thoughts.  (v. 8)

We become what we put our minds on.  If we focus our minds on those things that upset us and pull us down, we will be upset and pulled down.  If we fill our minds with degrading thoughts about others and about ourselves, we should not be surprised when we do not have peace in our lives.  If we put our minds to things above, we will be lifted above and find peace.  Are you setting your mind on those higher thoughts that are true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing and commendable?  When you do, you follow the Lord from restlessness to peace.  Six practical approaches to finding the peace of God in the midst of every day living.

And the result of
1. building positive relationships with people
2. rejoicing in the Lord always
3. being gentle with other people
4. remembering the Lord’s nearness
5. praying instead of worrying
6. thinking the right thoughts

…is verse 7: “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

God’s kind of peace passes understanding because it baffles those who don’t know the Lord.  How could Jesus be at peace in the midst of the storm?  How can Jesus’ people be at peace in the midst of the storm?

It is the kind of peace that our Moravian ancestors had when they were crossing the Atlantic and a great storm arose.  John Wesley, who would become the founder of the Methodist Church, was on board that ship and had two   experiences during that storm that changed his life forever.  First, he panicked.  He feared for his life.  Second, he marveled.  He saw the Germans, as he referred to them, calmly singing Psalms and hymns in the midst of the storm.  These Germans… these Moravians… had the peace that passes understanding.

It passes understanding… it is not logical and explainable… except by the person who commits all their cares to God and is restless about them no more.  And it is this peace that, according to verse 7, guards our hearts and minds.

The Greek word for guard suggests that God’s peace is like a guard at a fortress, keeping out those things that are opposed to us… those things that are harmful.  God’s peace enables us to rest safely inside the fortress while there might be a battle outside.

For God himself, as it says in Psalm 46,  is our refuge, our fortress and strength, an ever present help in times of trouble… therefore we will not fear… therefore, we will be at peace.  Or as Jesus said, “Let not  your hearts be troubled.  Do not be restless and anxious and upset.  Believe in God.  Believe also in me.”

Do you want this peace?

It’s yours if you commit your way to the Lord and practice the things that make for peace… like the six things in this passage.
Lititz Moravian Congregation | 8 Church Square | Lititz, PA 17543 | 717 626-8515 | Admin