Stand Firm, As You Rest in His Peace -- 9/12/10

Sunday, September 12, 2010

STAND FIRM, AS YOU REST IN HIS PEACE

Phil. 4:4-7

You will remember that we are currently looking at Phil. 4:1-9. In this section, we find a string of commands which all pertain to how we should live as followers of Jesus. Last week we looked at verses 1-3, where Paul told his beloved Philippians to stand firm in the Lord (verse 1). It seems appropriate to make this the theme of this section. “Stand firm in the Lord.” The rest of this passage tells us how we can stand firm in the Lord. In verses 2-3, he urged them to live in unity, as he dealt with a particular problem between two women who had served the Lord faithfully. Can you imagine the instability and confusion that resulted when these two well-known women in the church were at odds with one another? That is certainly a message that is applicable to us. May we stand firm in the Lord, as we strive to guard the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. May we not be content to just get along, but may we think the same thing in the Lord, as we serve with purpose for the glory of God. That attitude leads to spiritual stability.

This morning we come to verses 4-7, where we find four more exhortations/commands. At first glance, for the most part they might seem to be isolated commands chosen at random. You might think they are given in the style of the Proverbs, where the author skips from one subject to another freely. However, as we will see, there is a closer connection that we might at first realize. Over all, the theme in these verses is joy and prayer. Pray with rejoicing. Or, rejoice, as you bring everything to God in prayer. And again, such an attitude will enable us to stand firm in the Lord.

So let’s just dive right in and consider these four exhortations in verses 4-7. Let’s begin at the start of the chapter and read 4:1-7…

Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. 2. I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. 3. And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life. 4. Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6. Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

I. Rejoice in the Lord Always

______, would you mind coming up here for just a minute (motioning for this young person to come up front). What do you have planned for the rest of the day? (Give opportunity for short response). Well, there is something I want you to do while you are going about the rest of the day. I’m not just suggesting this; I am telling you to do this. Do you understand? Are you ready for it? Here it is: “Rejoice. For the rest of the day, rejoice.” That’s it. Can you handle that?

“Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I will say, Rejoice.” We look at that and want to say, “How can Paul command people to rejoice?” Surely joy isn’t an attitude that can be commanded. That is especially true when we think about the word “always.” How can Paul possibly tell them to always rejoice? That doesn’t make sense.

The key here is in the fact that Paul does not command them to rejoice. Do you see it? What does he command them to do? To rejoice in the Lord. There is a world of difference between rejoicing and rejoicing in the Lord. When we read verse 4, we tend to put the emphasis on “Rejoice.” I want to suggest that we put the emphasis on the words “in the Lord.” This is the key. Without this emphasis, rejoicing becomes dependent upon our circumstances. When we are looking at circumstances, it is impossible to rejoice always.

Let’s pause for just a moment to look at that little word “always.” What exactly does it mean? Always! That’s right -- always means always. At all times. Twenty-four seven. Without a pause. Day and night. No one who is focused on the circumstances around him can rejoice always. It is an impossibility. That is why Paul does not exhort the Philippians to rejoice. Rather, he says, “Rejoice in the Lord.”

Joy is an attitude that can’t be worked up. But praise God that the Holy Spirit is working it in. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…” (Gal. 5:23). It is the Spirit of God who produces joy within us. Then how can Paul command us to rejoice? He doesn’t command us to rejoice; he commands us to rejoice in the Lord. Put the focus on the phrase “in the Lord.” Let me fill up this command a bit: “Dear brothers and sisters, don’t try to rejoice in the circumstances around you, but rejoice in the Lord. Don’t be downhearted because of the trials you are facing, but rejoice in the Lord.” Do you see it?

True joy is found only in the Lord. You can’t find it in circumstances. Why not? Because circumstances don’t affect the person you are. They are only outward. Notice that Paul tells us to rejoice in the Lord always. Continual rejoicing can never be dependent upon changing circumstances, and circumstances will change. Count on it. But what about people? Can’t we base our joy on relationships with people? No. People change. Though we are to love one another deeply in the Lord, the truth is that even people we love will let us down. If it hasn’t happened to you, it will. Only the Lord is constant. He is our Rock. “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13:8).

Come with me for just a moment to I Pet. 1. Let’s read I Pet. 1:3-9…

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7. That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8. Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9. Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Notice in verses 5-6 that we greatly rejoice in the salvation that comes from the Lord. That is true, even though for a season we have sorrow because of various trials. We know that Jesus is coming back for us, but we don’t know when. Though we can’t see Him now, we love Him. Yes, even though we can’t see Him with these physical eyes, because we trust Him, we rejoice with inexpressible and glory-filled joy! Praise God!

Paul isn’t commanding rejoicing as much as he is commanding us to set our eyes on the Lord. When we do that, joy will flow. Why is that so? How can we look at God and what He has done through His Son and the Spirit He has sent to dwell in us and not rejoice? How can we recognize that our citizenship is in heaven, from whence we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, and not rejoice?

Brothers and sisters, this is how we stand firm in the Lord. We rejoice in Him. We don’t try to find happiness in outward circumstances and human relationships, but we look to the Lord Himself, who is the wellspring of all our joy. We can stand firm in the Lord because ours is an unwavering joy. When we take our eyes off the Lord, we lose that sense of joy.

In the days of Nehemiah, after the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem had been completed, the people of Judah gathered as one man in the streets of Jerusalem. There they listened to the reading of God’s law and heard the leaders explain its meaning. As the people listened, they wept. No doubt, they were convicted by many of the things they heard. But then Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites said to the people, “This day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Neh. 8:10). There’s great stability in the saint who is continually rejoicing in the Lord.

Remember who it was that penned the words of Phil. 4:4. Paul was facing severe trial, a trial that might end in his death. He was well aware of his past sins. He was writing to believers who were also being tested. Nevertheless, Paul was rejoicing in the Lord. His focus was not on his circumstances, but upon the Lord Himself. Though he might be sentenced to death, he could say, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). Though he was not free to move about and though he had little, he had learned to be content in all circumstances, because his Lord never changed. He was rejoicing in the Lord, and now he urges his brothers and sisters to do the same. When our focus is on those words “in the Lord,” then “Rejoice” becomes a glorious invitation, rather than a necessary command.

II. Let Your Moderation Be Known unto All Men

Then Paul says, “Let your moderation be known unto all men” (verse 5). “Moderation” is a word that we don’t use much any more, at least not in the sense that it is used here. This is the translation of a word that has been rendered in a wide variety of ways down through the years: meekness, courtesy, clemency, softness, gentleness, patience, patient mind, etc. It is a word that is difficult to get hold of. It has shades of meekness and humility, as well as forbearance. Some have thought that “fairness” best catches the idea of it. The Amplified Bible translates it in this verse as “unselfishness, consideration, forbearing spirit.” This is one of the qualifications for an elder in the church (adjectival form), being translated “gentle” in the King James (in both I Tim. 3:3 and Titus 3:2). Perhaps we might even use the word “graciousness” to get at its meaning. This is an attitude that does not demand its own way. It doesn’t fight for its rights.

Notice that we are to let this attitude be seen by all men. In verses 2-3 Paul spoke of unity in the church, but now he widens the circle to include all people. We are to treat all people we encounter with this kind of forbearance and graciousness. Yes, we are to be gentle and kind to all.

Notice the connection here. This too is an integral part of standing firm in the Lord. Our spiritual stability is seen in the way we treat other people. If we are constantly unnerved by others, it’s a good sign that we aren’t standing firm in the Lord. Look at the Lord Jesus. He was unshaken by the actions and attitudes even of those who were constantly tempting Him and trying to destroy Him. His gentleness and kindness to all was remarkable.

Look for just a moment at I Peter 5. Notice I Pet. 5:10, “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” In those last phrases there is a beautiful picture of standing firm in the Lord. Consider the context of verse 10. In verse 6 we have humility: “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God.” In verse 7 we are exhorted to cast all our cares on the Lord, because He cares for us. Then in the next two verses are instructions about resisting the devil. Think especially about humility and casting our cares on the Lord. As we commit our cause to the Lord, then we are able to deal graciously and gently with others.

Come back to Phil. 4:5, “Let your moderation be known unto all men; the Lord is at hand.” It is not perfectly clear whether Paul is linking “The Lord is at hand” with what he has just said or what he is going to say. The verse divisions are for convenience, but they are not authoritative. However, if Paul is linking it to how we treat others, there is certainly a logical connection. Some translations render it, “The Lord is near,” and that is very literal. However, it seems most likely that Paul is referring to the return of our Lord Jesus, rather than the fact that He is near through the indwelling Spirit. While His nearness through the Spirit is a reality, it is the Lord’s soon return that is the motivating factor for the way we treat others. Paul’s thinking is something like this: “Be kind, gentle, and considerate of others, because it won’t be long until the Lord returns. You won’t have to put up with this ill treatment much longer. Remember that you are not your own, but you belong to the One who will soon return for you.”

III. Don’t Worry

Now verse 6, "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." We often boil this command down to, “Don’t worry.” I suppose we will just skip over this hurriedly, since none of us ever have a problem with worry. On second thought, maybe we should deal with it, just in case this problem might sneak up on one or two of us some time in the future.

“Be careful for nothing,” or “Take care for nothing.” Please join me for a little survey of this word that is translated “Be careful,” or “Take care.” It is used 19 times in the New Testament, but then the noun form is used another 6. So out of the total usage of 25 times, 17 times it is unquestionably used in a negative sense. Most of these are found in Matt. 6 and Luke 12, where Jesus tells us, “Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat or drink, etc.” It is used four times in I Cor. 7, where Paul is urging people to consider remaining single instead of getting married, because the married person has to care for his spouse and is not able to care for the things of the Lord. So while caring for a spouse is not a bad thing, it is basically used in a negative sense here. This is also the word Jesus used when He gently rebuked Martha, the sister of Mary: “Martha, Martha, you are careful and troubled about many things…” (Luke 10:41). There are only four instances where the word is used positively. As we read earlier, we are to cast our care on the Lord (I Pet. 5:7). The members of the body of Christ are to care for one another (I Cor. 12:25). Added to all Paul’s trials was his care for all the churches (II Cor. 11:28). And back in Phil. 2:20, Paul says that Timothy is the only one “who will naturally care for your state.”

It is obvious that the word here in Phil. 4:6 is used in a negative sense. It is used in the same way that Jesus used it in Matt. 6. When Paul tells the Philippians not to take care for anything, that “anything” covers a lot of ground. “Don’t worry” is a good translation because it makes it clear that Paul is thinking in the negative sense. He certainly isn’t contradicting what he said in I Cor. 12:25, when he tells believers to care for one another. This is an unnecessary care. We don’t need to take care for what we will eat and drink, because he who seeks first the kingdom of God and His righteousness will be provided with those things. These are the cares of the world. Jesus said that the pagans take care for those things, but as His children, we don’t have to.

Do you have a tendency to worry about anything? Maybe we could name a few of those things. (Give opportunity: family, finances, disasters, future, what others think of us, etc.). If given a little time, we could make a pretty long list, couldn’t we? It seems that there is no end of things to worry about. When Paul tells us not to worry about anything, he certainly covers a lot of ground.

There are many things we could say about worry? Let’s take a minute to read what Jesus said in Matt. 6:25-34…

²⁵ “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
²⁸ “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; ²⁹ and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
³¹ “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

So here is the question: How does a person stop worrying? Maybe we can conquer worry by determination. When you get up tomorrow, just determine that you are not going to worry this day. If you’re not careful, you can worry about worrying. A common coping mechanism is busyness. If I can just stay busy enough, I won’t have time to think about the things that cause me to worry. We soon discover that the mind is an amazing instrument. It is capable of worrying while doing almost anything else. We could go on and on, but all such strategies are futile. We find the answer in the next command of this passage.

IV. Make Your Requests Known to God = Pray!

Verse 6 again, "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Sometimes the bottom line of this verse is stated simply: “Don’t worry about anything; pray about everything.” That’s a simple thought, but it doesn’t miss the mark by much, if at all. Don’t worry about anything; pray about everything. Notice the “but.” Brothers and sisters, we do have an alternative to worry, and that alternative is prayer. Instead of turning it over in our minds dozens and hundreds of times, we can turn it over to the God who made us, knows us, and cares for us.

According to what we read in Matthew 6, the cure for worry is faith, because “your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” (6:32). When we realize that our God is sovereign and all-knowing and that He cares for us far more than for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, then we have no reason to worry. But faith is exercised and enhanced by prayer. We are tempted to worry, but when we turn away from our own schemes and resources and turn to God in prayer, we are soon reminded that we have nothing to worry about.

Now let’s look more closely at the positive exhortation of verse 6. “But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know unto God.” First we are confronted with the words “in everything.” Sometimes Christians debate over what things should be the subjects of prayer. It usually ends up with a question such as this: “When I have a flat, do I need to stop and ask God if I should change the flat?” I’m not sure such discussions bear much fruit. The “in everything” in this verse must be set in its proper context, which is, “Don’t worry about anything.” In that context we can say this: “If it’s big enough to worry about, then it’s big enough to pray over.” Paul isn’t concerned here about whether to pray or not to pray before changing the wheel on your chariot; he is concerned about combating worry with earnest prayer. When you are tempted to worry, pray. Instead of worrying, make your requests known unto God. Don’t talk to yourself; talk to God.

Paul says two things about how we are to let our requests be known to God. First, “by prayer and supplication.” The term “supplication” may not be familiar to all of you. The NIV reads, “By prayer and petition.” The first word, that translated “prayer,” is used over 115 times in the New Testament (together with the verbal form; so translated by the KJV in all but one instance -- Rom. 1:10). It is the general New Testament term for prayer. The second word, “supplications,” is similar in meaning. As a matter of fact, of its 17 New Testament occurrences, the KJV translates 12 of them as “prayer.” Of the five times it is not translated “prayer,” it is used in close connection with this other word “prayer,” just as here in Phil. 4:6. So what is the difference in these two words? While the first word speaks of prayer in general, the second more often refers to specific requests. When you come to the Lord in prayer, you might offer several petitions or requests in that one prayer. The Amplified Bible brings out this distinction: “But in everything by prayer and petition (definite requests)…”

So don’t worry about it, but make it a matter of prayer. When we think of prayer, we immediately think of God. Why? Because He is the one with whom we commune when we pray. Prayer is not some kind of magic formula for getting what we want. Prayer is communion with the living God. So when we are tempted to worry, we are exhorted to immediately turn to God. If we are worrying about material needs, we turn to the One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills. If we are worried about relationships with others, we cry out to the God to made them and us. If we are worried about the future, we go to Him who knows the end from the beginning. If we are worried about an absolute impossibility we cannot fix, we turn to Him with whom nothing is impossible. In prayer, the focus is on God.

Not only do we find great comfort in the God who is our all in all, but we can also bring specific petitions to Him; we can supplicate Him. When Paul speaks of supplication or petition, it goes right along with, “Let your requests be made known unto God.” The word there translated “request” is another word that speaks of specific petitions. While the first step in combating worry is turning to God, that does not mean that we are not to ask the Lord for anything specific. We are well aware that there are times when we don’t know what to ask, but there are many times we do know what to ask. How do we know? We know because God has revealed His will in His Word. As we turn to God in prayer, we open ourselves to the truth that God has put in us through His Word. When we turn to Him, we are asking Him to remind us of that truth. As we wait before Him and the Spirit of God works in us through the Word, we are able to present our specific requests to God.

Now we come to the second factor in how we make our requests known to God -- “with thanksgiving.” Wow! Think about that. You are tempted to worry, but you know that the answer is to turn to God in prayer, where you can bring to Him your specific requests. But now we are told to bring those requests with thanksgiving. Not only are we told to pray, but in addition we are to pray with an attitude of thanksgiving. Doesn’t I Thes. 5:16-18 go along beautifully with these verses in Phil. 4:4-6? 1 Thes. 5:16-18, "Rejoice evermore. 17. Pray without ceasing. 18. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

Let’s be honest. Too often we come to God with desperation rather than coming with thanksgiving. I don’t mean that we are desperate for Him; we are desperate for a solution. “O God, please help me. If you don’t do something, I’m in big trouble.” No, we are to come with thanksgiving. But how can we do that? We can start by taking a moment to look back. We were lost, but now we see. We were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ (I Pet. 1:18-19). We have been raised from the dead and are now citizens of heaven. Now when we turn to the One who has done all that for us, how can we possibly pray without an attitude of thanksgiving. After you look back, then look forward. To whom are you praying? To Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think (Eph. 3:20) for His glory. No wonder we are told to bring our requests with thanksgiving!

Conclusion

Now look at the promise found in verse 7, “And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.” While it is right and proper to say this peace from God is the result of praying instead of worrying, it is likely that Paul meant to connect this peace with verses 4-5 as well. This peace comes out of the attitude that he has been describing throughout this passage.

Since we were reconciled to God through Christ, we now have peace with God (see Rom. 5:1). Since every believer shares the common life of Christ and has the same Father, we who are in Christ are at peace with one another. And now, as we rejoice in Him and trust Him, we are blessed with an inner peace that is indescribable and beyond our understanding. This is the peace that is a part of the fruit of the Spirit. It is a peace that is founded upon God’s grace and was merited by Jesus’ death and resurrection. As Jesus put it, this is a peace that He gives and it is not like what the world calls “peace” (John 14:27). One author paints this beautiful picture: “Peace is the smile of God reflected in the soul of the believer. It is the heart’s calm after Calvary’s storm. It is the firm conviction that he who spared not his own Son will surely also, along with him, freely give us all things (Rom. 8:32)” (Hendriksen, p. 196).

So stand firm in the Lord. If we want to stand firm in Him, then we must pursue unity with our brothers and sisters. We are to rejoice in the Lord. As we rejoice in Him, we treat others with graciousness and kindness. And when we are tempted to worry, we combat that temptation with prayer and supplication. With an attitude of thanksgiving, we present our petitions to God. Then we rest in His glorious promise: “And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

So you get up tomorrow morning, and immediately the Lord reminds you of Phil. 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always…” Yes, rejoice in the Lord. As you think about what your Lord has done for you, you do indeed rejoice om the Lord. What a way to start today. As you are walking from the car into your place of employment, you are confronted by someone who obviously got up on the wrong side of the bed. Though there is a sudden urge to repay evil for evil, the joy of the Lord is your strength and you hardly notice, as you repay words of grumbling with, “This is the day the Lord has made; let’s rejoice and be glad in it.” Just before quitting time, you get a phone call. Your daughter has been in a serious car accident and her condition is unknown. It’s your first real temptation to worry, but why worry, when you can pray? “Father, you have always been faithful. You who made heaven and earth and all that is in them are the one who rescued me from sin and death. Surely nothing is too hard for you. I trust you with my precious daughter…” And you continue to pray with an attitude of thanksgiving. As you are driving home, there is the temptation to be anxious, to fret and worry, but suddenly you are aware of the Lord’s promise: “And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.” You find yourself resting in the Lord and His peace.

Does that sound like a fairy tale? That is the life God has designed for His children. Do we fail? Yes, we do. Do we give up on living this life? Never, for greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. Read these verses. Memorize them. Make them your meditation. Then more and more find yourself living out these attitudes.