Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, from Phil. 4. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- The verses of our text are well known among Christians and oft repeated. The final verse is known as “The Votum,” and is used to close sermons. It is a promise that what has been spoken in the sermon is the apostolic message of Holy Scripture. It is this Word of God, and this Word alone which brings true peace and joy to our hearts and minds.
- The first verse is used by many Christians as a daily reminder of God’s will – that we rejoice always. Of course, virtually all human beings seek joy – and there are many things that bring us joy, some of them not good but evil. So context is everything – and it is certain that Paul encourages us to find our “JOY IN GOD’S BLESSINGS,” to “rejoice in the Lord.”
- If we know what God has done for us in Christ Jesus, what is now real and true in regard to our forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life, it is hard not to be joyful. However, we still live in a fallen and dangerous world of sin, and there is much evil that intrudes into our peace and joy.
- That we might know how to remain joyful and at peace in the Lord even in difficult and trying circumstances – great troubles and tribulations, the apostle reminds us that God’s love also extends to every aspect of our life and being. If we know and believe these things we will find a peace and joy from God that “surpasses human understanding” and that is impervious to the fears that the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh try to drag us into.
- This is the blessing that God wills for us to have. And so the apostle reminds us that:
I. God Is Near At Hand To Provide Us With All That We Need And Desire – And Therefore We Need Not Be Anxious
Text: “The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Statement: We are not to be calm and without anxiety because we can take care of ourselves, or because we are stronger than all the evil and trouble in the world, or because others will take care of us – parents, government, the police. No, all earthly helps can fail – and we are but puny and finite human beings; there is much peril out in the world. Rather, what relieves anxiety is knowing that God is at hand – He is with us always, even to the end of the age. Further, we know His love and His good will toward us. We know His power – that He is working all things together for our good. Finally, He has given us many promises in regard to prayer – “ask and it shall be given you, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you.”
Application: These promises apply to “everything” – and when we pray we pray with “thanksgiving,” we are asserting faith and confidence that God is faithful and will take care of everything in the most optimal way for us! When we say “amen” we are asserting “it is true, yes, yes, it shall be so.” That is what the word amen means! This confidence of faith and trust in God, based in His own Word, is what alleviates our fears and heals our anxieties, so that we may have “JOY IN GOD’S BLESSINGS.” But there is more:
II. We Have Peace With God And His Peace Guards Our Hearts And Minds
Text: “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Statement: Note that the peace of God is “in Christ Jesus.” God’s Word assures us: “therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Being justified and having peace with God brings peace to our hearts and minds – a peace that is beyond sentience or reason; it “surpasses understanding.” We know that lack of peace of mind can destroy reason and common sense – and can bring mental confusion and even mental illness. Fear and anxiety can bring terror and irrationality to hearts and minds. This is a real concern – for it happens to people with greater frequency than we might want to acknowledge.
Application: To “guard” us from this God assures us of His peace with us in Christ Jesus – that all sin and guilt and punishment have been put away from us. This assurance helps us to grasp that God is love, and therefore everything that comes to us must ultimately serve our good and welfare. We grasp this peace and assurance by faith – and as we do so our joy and peace in the Lord are strengthened and increased. This is God’s will for us – just as we want this same kind of confidence, peace, and comfort for our children. If we know God’s blessings – and trust and rely upon them, then we will have “JOY IN GOD’S BLESSINGS.” And there is good fruit that flows from this – and a good witness to God’s gracious love in Christ, for:
III. As We Rejoice In The Lord, And Have His Peace Guarding Our Hearts And Minds, We Are Able To Show Reasonableness To Others
Text: “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.”
Statement: I know that we struggle to present ourselves as being “reasonable” to unbelievers. They have already pretty much concluded that we are ridiculous to have faith and trust in God’s Word. They view themselves as being the ultra-rationale ones. However, if we have peace and joy in our hearts and minds, we can still be kind and compassionate toward others – and the message of Holy Scripture is in fact far more rationale and sensible than unbelief. The fact that our “reasonableness” does not convince others does not mean that it is unreasonable! And nor does our inability to convince those who do not want to believe mean that we shouldn’t be reasonable!
Application: And such reasonableness bears witness to what unbelievers from time to time have to acknowledge as the insanity of this world, the insanity of sin and impenitence and ignorance of God. Again, the fact that they cannot admit this – that they refuse to admit this in the face of our reasonableness, does not change what is real and true. So there is benefit to having peace and joy in the Lord – not only to our own being and state of mind, but also in our witness to others of the wonders of God’s love and His great gift of salvation in Christ Jesus.
Conclusion: So these verses are good to remember and to keep in mind, and the blessings and promises are good to act upon. It is God’s will that we rejoice, that our hearts and minds be guarded in His peace, and that we remain reasonable at all times and show that reasonableness in our interactions with others. All of this comes from having “JOY IN GOD’S BLESSINGS.” May He grant it to us all in great abundance. Amen.
Votum: Our peace with God is in our Lord Jesus Christ – our great Lord and Savior! And by faith in Him – “the peace of God which surpasses all human understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting.” Amen.