Advent Attitude:
Peace
Philippians 4: 4
– 7.
Introduction
I
like to think of myself as a young person.
Most of the time I still think of myself as 25 years old. But, I am going to show my age a little bit
by reminiscing about the Sears Christmas Wish Book.[1] Do you remember getting that in the mail?
When
I was a kid, the Sears Christmas Catalogue was something I always looked
forward to. It was a 300 page catalogue
with everything a child could imagine.
The clothes and boring stuff were pictured in the front of the
catalogue. The toys and games were in
the back of the catalogue. When my
brother and I could get our hands on the catalogue, we flipped it over and
started looking at it from the back.
We
would use a pen or pencil to circle the things we wanted to get from Santa
Claus. And I think we would write our
names on the items we selected so that Santa would not get confused and bring
the wrong gift to the wrong boy.
Occasionally,
we get catalogues in the mail today.
But, these catalogues are nothing compared to the 300 page Sears
Christmas Wish Book—not to mention the regular 600 page Sears Catalogue.
When
we do get catalogues in the mail, I tell our children to circle the things they
don’t want. Otherwise, every item on
every page is circled.
I
have fond memories of circling toys and games in the Sears Catalogue. It was always fun to dream about having new
toys and getting exactly what I wanted for Christmas. However, that is really not an innocent
pastime. It is a symptom of a
materialistic worldview.
For
some reason, we all believe that stuff can make us happy. If I can just get more stuff, then I will be
happy.
We
live in a culture which believes people can find satisfaction in material
things—money, property, possessions, relationships, popularity…the stuff of
this world. We think stuff can satisfy
us even though we have been disappointed over and over. There is a restlessness and dissatisfaction
that is a part of human nature.
Universal
human experience and the themes of classical literature suggest that happiness
cannot be found in material wealth.
Human beings experience restlessness and dissatisfaction with material
things. Our personal experience and
thousands of years of literature (and movies) tell us that we are still
searching for meaning and satisfaction in life.
This
search for meaning and satisfaction in life is uniquely human. Plants do not search for meaning in
life. Dogs, horses and emus do not
search for satisfaction. To be human is
to be unsatisfied with the material universe.
If
material things could satisfy, then the wealthiest people in the world would
also be the happiest (and most satisfied) people in the world. The opposite of that would also be true…the
poorest people in the world would be the least satisfied people. But, neither of these are true
statements. We all know someone who is
wealthy and not satisfied. We all know
someone who is satisfied but not wealthy.
Material
stuff cannot satisfy, because we have been created with a desire for more than
just material things. We have homing
instinct for God. This is a clue which
points us toward our true nature and destiny.
We have this homing instinct, because there is a home for us. This material world does not satisfy, because
this world is not our home.
We
were created for spiritual relationship with God…and nothing can satisfy that
longing for God. Nothing, except for God
himself.
We
were created for eternity…and nothing temporary can satisfy our longing for
eternity. Nothing, except for God
himself.
This
is what Christmas is all about. God
broke into our material world and provided the only way for us to find true
satisfaction. It does not have anything
to do with material stuff. Instead, God
provided a way for us to have an eternal relationship with God. That relationship brings us true
satisfaction, because relationship with God is the source of all Hope, Peace,
Joy and Love.
In
the Season of Advent, we will look at each of these themes. Last week we talked about Hope. Today, we will talk about Peace. In the next two weeks we will talk about Joy
and Love.
Philippians 4: 4 – 7.
The
simplest way to interpret this passage is to notice that Paul gives three
imperatives (or commands) and one indicative (a statement of fact). This leads me to believe Paul is saying
something like this…If you will do these three things, then you will experience
a Peace beyond understanding.
Philippians 4: 4… 4 Rejoice
in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Paul’s
first instruction to the churches of Philippi is to “Rejoice in the Lord.”
Paul
was a lot like you and me. There were
times when his life was really good.
Then, there were times when he experienced struggles and difficulties. Surely, if Paul is telling the Philippians to
rejoice, then he must have written this at a very good time in his life. Surprisingly, that is not the case. Paul tells us in Philippians 1 that he is
writing to them from prison. He is in
jail for preaching the Gospel and does not know if he will get out alive. He writes encouraging letters to his churches,
because he thinks this might be the only ministry he has left. He may never get to preach the Gospel again
or plant another church.
The
Philippians were also a lot like you and me.
They had their ups and downs.
Sometimes their church was growing.
Sometimes their church experienced conflict. Surely, Paul is telling them to rejoice
because everything is going so well in their church at this particular moment. Surprisingly, that is not the case
either. The Book of Philippians gives
them instructions about standing firm in the face of Roman persecution. AND, in the verses immediately preceding the
command to rejoice, Paul has tried to mediate a church conflict between two
women church leaders—Euodia and Syntyche.
The Philippians were experiencing conflict inside the church and outside
the church.
I
think it is important to note that Paul does NOT say, “Rejoice in your
circumstances.” If joy depends on the
circumstances of life, then there will be times when we will naturally express
our joy and times when we simply have no reason to rejoice.
Instead,
Paul tells the church to “Rejoice in the Lord.”
In other words, regardless of the circumstances, there is still a reason
for Christian men and women to rejoice.
Even if we find ourselves in a Roman prison…Even if we experience
conflict between two church leaders…Even if we are being persecuted by the
government for our faith in Jesus…we can still find a reason to rejoice. Our reason is the Lord.
When
we read the Bible, we discover some very important things about God. I can think of at least two things the Bible
tells us about God which give us reason to rejoice. First, God makes promises to his people. Second, God keeps his promises. I said it last week when I was preaching
about Hope, and it is worth repeating today.
A promise is only as dependable as the one who makes the promise. God made the promise to forgive our sins and
give us eternal life with him. God’s
promises do not depend on the circumstances around us. God’s promises depend on God’s dependability
to keep his own promises. Therefore, we
have a reason to rejoice…even when the world seems to be falling apart around
us. Rejoice in the Lord and not in your
circumstances.
Philippians 4: 5… 5 Let
your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Paul’s
second instruction is for Christians to be gentle. But, notice that he tells us that our
gentleness is to be evident to all. All
what? More than likely, he is telling us
to demonstrate gentleness to all people…in every relationship—both inside the
church and outside the church.
Christians are to be known for our gentleness toward other Christians
and toward non-Christians.
We
can define gentleness in a negative way by saying gentle people are people who
are not harsh or abrasive in relationships with others. Or, we can define it positively by saying
gentle people are people who put the needs of others first.
Basically,
Paul is encouraging us to be like Jesus.
Christians are not to be harsh, abrasive or judgmental toward
sinners. Christians are to look out for
the needs of others. Sometimes, we have
to make a choice between our needs and the needs of others...to choose others
over ourselves.
Then,
Paul adds an interesting reminder that “The Lord is near.”
We
could take this in one of two different ways.
Either, Paul is saying the Lord is close by our side…Or, he is saying
that the Lord’s return is drawing closer in time. If Paul means that the Lord is close by our
side, then he is probably reminding us that God is watching…So, be careful how
you treat other people. If Paul means
that the Lord’s return is drawing closer in time, then he is probably telling
us to live with the future in mind…if we have to sacrifice our own needs on
behalf of others, that sacrifice pales in comparison to all the blessings and
comfort we will receive in Heaven… Be
gentle, because the Lord is near.
Philippians 4: 6… 6 Do
not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Paul’s
final instruction actually contains two or more commands. The first command is a negative command—“Do
not be anxious.” The second command is a
positive command—“Present your prayers, petitions and requests to God.”
It
is interesting that Paul makes such a close association between anxiety and
prayer. Perhaps he is setting them up as
opposites, as if to say people who worry don’t pray and people who pray don’t
worry.
I
suppose the difference between being anxious and being prayerful comes down to
who you believe is in control. If I
believe I am in control, then I will feel the weight of the future on my
shoulders. If I believe God is in
control, then I can place the future in God’s hands and trust God for the
outcome.
Or,
perhaps Paul is telling us that prayer is the remedy for worry… In this case, Paul is telling us to stop thinking
the future depends on us. Do everything
you can do to take care of your needs and the needs of others around you. Then, trust God with what you cannot
control. As we mature as Christians, we
will begin to discover that God is ultimately in control of all our
circumstances. God can handle the future
and will always do a better job with the future than we can do on our own.
Philippians 4: 7… 7 And
the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus.
The
last thing Paul tells us in this Scripture is the one thing which materialism
cannot provide—Peace. When we go chasing
after money, property, possessions, relationships, popularity…the stuff of this
world, we will find ourselves wholly unsatisfied. The things of this world are not
fulfilling…they cannot satisfy.
However,
when we rejoice in the Lord, demonstrate a life of gentleness, and trust God
with the future, we find what is truly fulfilling. We discover the Peace of God, which transcends
all understanding.
Technically,
Paul called this Peace a Peace that “rises above knowledge.” Again, there is some ambiguity in Paul’s
choice of words (just like when he said “the Lord is near”). It might mean that the Peace of God is better
than knowledge (or understanding). Or,
it might mean that the Peace of God cannot be fully understood by our human
minds. Then again, Paul might want us to
interpret this in both ways.
The
person who learns how to trust God with the future will demonstrate that trust
by rejoicing in the Lord (not in circumstances); by demonstrating a gentle
lifestyle (knowing that God’s future is far better than what we might forfeit
on earth); by praying about everything (because ultimately the future is in
God’s hands and not mine). The result
will be a life of Peace that is better than knowledge (even better than knowing
what the future holds) and Peace which cannot be fully understood.
It
is important to note what Paul did NOT say.
Paul did not say that if you will trust God with the future, God will
take away all your problems and your trials.
No.
Paul
wrote these words from prison. Paul
didn’t think he would get out alive. God
had not taken away Paul’s difficult circumstances. Instead, God gave Paul a Peace that
transcends understanding to cope with his trials.
Paul
wrote these words to a church experiencing internal conflict and external
persecutions. God did not take away
their difficult circumstances. Instead,
God promised them a Peace that transcends understanding to cope with their
trials.
This
is the true meaning of Peace. Peace is
not the absence of conflict or an easy life.
Peace is the strength to face all the difficulties of life. This strength can only come from the Presence
of God in your life…by trusting God with the future.
Peace
is not something we can obtain by our own ability. Peace is a gift of God…A gift that God gave
us on the first Christmas. God sent his
Only Son, Jesus. And the Gospel of
Matthew reminds us of the words spoken by the Prophet Isaiah…
22 All this
took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:23 “The virgin
will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him
Immanuel” —which means, “God with us.” (Matthew 1: 22 – 23, cf. Isaiah 7:
14)
This
is the only way to find Peace. It is God
with us.
1 comment:
Seeking PEACE brother
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