June 18, 2006
"Finding Peace In A Troubled World"
God's Not Finished With You Yet—Part 9
Philippians 4:1-9
Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends! I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
—Philippians 4:1-5
Truths:
- Good people who stubbornly seek their way will cause division in the church.
- Rejoicing is to be the character of the Christian's life.
- To be gentle is to be courteous, kind, exercise restraint, practice reticence in speech (knowing words can wound) and to be available and responsive to others' needs.
How do I conquer worry and experience peace?
1. Peace involves right praying.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
—Philippians 4:6-7
Three aspects to right praying:
- Adoration
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
—Psalm 46:10
- Supplication
I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.
—Romans 15:30
- Appreciation
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
—Colossians 3:16-17
"Peace does not mean the absence of trials on the outside, but it does mean a quiet confidence on the inside."
—Warren Wiersbe
The result: The peace of God stands guard over the heart (feelings) and the mind (thinking).
2. Peace involves right thinking.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
—Philippians 4:8
We are what we think!
You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.
—Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
—2 Corinthians 10:5
When we believe a lie, Satan takes control!
Question: Do you want to have the peace of mind, or do you want to experience conflict?
"As Christians, what we think must always have the shape of the cross about it."
—Maxie Dunnam
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus... but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant... he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
—Philippians 2:5, 7-8 (ESV)
3. Peace involves right living.
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
—Philippians 4:9
Doing what is right will bring peace and rest. When my people do that, they will stay calm and trust in the Lord forever.
—Isaiah 32:17 (NIRV)
Lifework
Worry is the greatest thief of joy. The peace of God is the greatest joy builder. God's peace guards you. God's peace guides you. With that kind of protection, why worry?
"Finding Peace in a Troubled World"
Personal and Small Group Study
Getting Started
- Who in your family is the peace-maker? How do they go about making peace?
- Are you a peace-lover or a peace-maker? Can you remember a time you pressed your own way and afterward were sorry your did?
Digging Deeper: Read Philippians 4:1-9
- Euodia and Syntyche are women who worked alongside the Apostle Paul, contending for the cause of the gospel. What attitude of these women are now harming the church?
- Why doesn't Paul just settle the argument between these two women? Why does Paul ask others in the church to come alongside them and help them get along?
- What would people look like if they were marked by the qualities in verses 4-6? What is it about prayer that can give a person peace in the midst of anxious situations?
- How does the way a person thinks (verse 8) relate to Paul's peace objective in verses 2-3, 7 and 9? Is verse 8 merely about positive thinking? What other verses in Philippians relate to the way we are to think?
- What things have the Philippians seen in Paul that they can put into practice? What things are they seeing right now in Paul that they can put into practice?
- How do these verses fit in with the overall theme of the Book of Philippians?
Applying It To My Life
- Where do you need the peace of God to stand guard in your life?
- What are you complaining about that you need to be rejoicing about?
- What are the key lessons you have learned from Paul in the Book of Philippians? Write down at least one from each chapter.