Prayer, Peace, and the Presence of God - Philippians 4:6-9

 Peace, Prayer, and the Presence of God

Philippians 4:6-9

We are nearing the end of the letter Paul wrote to the Philippians, and the admonitions he gives will reflect the themes we’ve seen in his letter. I would invite you to take 45 minutes or so, and prayerfully read through this epistle from beginning to end. You know some of the setting that we’ve been able to gleen over the past months, the imprisonment of Paul, his love for the believers in Philippi, their ministry to him despite the hardship they  were enduring along with the other churches of Macedonia. We’ve been encouraged by the faithfulness of Epaphroditus and Timothy, faithful co-workers of Paul, and an example to the church. We also got a glimpse of an internal conflict between two sisters in Philippi, women Paul knew to be believers and who he had served with and appreciated for their faithful ministry in the Lord, but who for some reason had separated from each other. No church is perfect, right? But even in this chaotic world *we can find peace as we bring our burdens to God, knowing that He will work for our good and for His glory.

       The Context as always is important, and in the midst of everything Paul is enduring, he has been emphasizing joy in the Lord. He had just said,  

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (4:4).

How can we rejoice always?  It is not an emotion or a feeling that we have, Gordon Fee says “…it is a deep down confidence that God is in control of everything for the believers good and for his own glory, and thus all is well no matter what the circumstances.” It doesn’t mean that we rejoice because of painful or difficult circumstances – but we know we can trust God in the midst of the storm. “…in the Lord…” It is because we are in Christ, a part of the new creation that we can rejoice. We belong to the King of kings, the creator of the universe knows us and we are his. And then he says, “…rejoice in the Lord always…” It is not only when things go well that we can have joy – we have a peace in times of chaos that the world cannot understand. Just for emphasis Paul repeats the exhortation: Rejoice!  Even in this chaotic world we can have joy, because the Prince of Peace has invited us to trust Him with our burdens.

In 4:5 he says, “Let your reasonableness be known to all men. The Lord is near” (4:5). First, he says what to do: “Let your reasonableness [“gentleness” fits better here] be known…” There is an interesting play on words here: later he’ll say we make our requests known to God- but here, to our fellow humans – in the church and out – because of our joy in the Lord, we let our “gentle spirit” be known to all. People need to know that we care genuinely about them. They need to understand that we really want them to know and experience God’s best.

        How and why should we live in such a way? Because “The Lord is near…”  Whether Paul is referring to the nearness of the Lord’s return (which is true), or the promise of his presence here and now (which is a fact), this statement stands as motivation to live a life that reflects God’s grace and mercy to fellow humans. That sets the context for...

*The Big Idea we’ll see in 4:6-9 is that *we can find peace as we bring our burdens to God, knowing He is with us, and that He will work for our good, and for His glory. We’ll look at that one verse at a time… 1) The Provision of Prayer (6); 2) The Promise of Peace (7); 3) The possibility of Right Thinking (8);  4) The Practice of Living Coram Deo (before the face of God) [9].

I. The Provision of Prayer (4:6):  “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God…”  

“Be anxious for nothing…”  Virtually every one of us will experience anxiety at one time or another.  That was true when Paul puts this statement in this letter 2000 years ago, and it is true today. But because we know God, we don’t need to be paralyzed by the pressures, trials, and chaos of life. Paul just said, “the Lord is at hand” (5) so why panic when we can pray? Jesus had much to say about worry in Matthew 6:25-34….

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or 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; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into  barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you of more value than they?  27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?  28 "And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: They neither toil nor spin,  29 Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  31 Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  34 Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

In Philippians 4:6 Paul says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything…” In every situation of life, this is what we need to do:  “…by prayer and supplication…” We can go to the Lord of the Universe, the God who is with us, who knows us and loves us, the all-powerful Creator.  He bids us, come. He is here, waiting patiently to hear from us. So, we are not to be anxious, we are to come in prayer, “…with thanksgiving…” I don’t think we go thanking him for trials or difficulties – but even in times of trial we can have reason to be thankful to God:  We are forgiven – we have eternal life! And so, we come,  and “…let [y]our requests be made know to God…” Still he wants us to come, trusting Him, asking, seeking. The Big Idea: We can find peace as we bring our burdens to God, knowing He is with us, and that He will work for our good, and for His glory.

II. The Promise of Peace! “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (4:7).  This is the result making our requests made known to him, of casting our cares upon Jesus…  

       “And the peace of God…”  God is the source of real peace. It is peace from Him, “…which surpasses all comprehension…” It goes beyond human wisdom, understanding or comprehension.  It is a supernatural calmness that comes from knowing God, and trusting that he is near, that he is present and working. That peace, God’s peace, “…will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”  The image is of God’s peace guarding us, watching over our hearts and our minds, in Christ.  He is our watchman, protecting us, ever vigilant. Remember the story of the little child frightened by a terrible thunderstorm.  Finally, his eyes started to grow weary and he asked, “Mommy, are you sure God never sleeps?” That’s right, he never sleeps!  “Well, I guess I’ll go to sleep then, there is no sense both of us staying awake!”

       David was reflecting on God’s care in the midst of a time of crisis in his life when he said in Psalm 3, “I lay down and sleep, I awake, for the Lord sustains me…”  He recognized that God was caring for him, even when he was most vulnerable. What are the storms that would frighten you today? Pray, give it to God, and he will guard your heart and mind! That’s the Big Idea: *We can find peace as we bring our burdens to God, knowing He is with us, and will work for our good, and for His glory.

III. The Possibility of Right Thinking (8). “Finally, brethren…”  In the context I think Paul is continuing the idea from the previous verses, and giving God’s alternative to anxiety. He has been emphasizing that even in this chaotic world we can have joy, because the Prince of Peace is near, and He has invited us to trust Him with our burdens. Why worry when we can pray? Now he gives us a 2nd step on the path toward peace, with the phrase: “From now on brothers and sisters” this is what you need to do… 

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

In the original version of my sermon, I listed these words one at a time, providing definitions and examples of each word. That’s ok, it has some value. But Paul didn’t do that, right? He gave this almost poetic series of terms for emphasis, to complete his teaching about right thinking: Don’t worry, pray! Fill your mind with the truth, God’s good, holy, beautiful, excellent, praiseworthy truth! 

       He has said the same thing in different ways elsewhere, he told the Colossians, for example, “Let the Word of Christ dwell richly within you…” It’s an invitation to be like the righteous man of Psalm 1 whose “delight is in the Law of the Lord, and on His Law he meditates day and night.” (Ps 1:1-2). Let’s not complicate what Paul is saying here: Rather than being handcuffed by anxiety we need to first, give our burdens and anxieties to the Lord, and secondly, we need to allow God’s truth to mold and transform our thinking. Wrong thinking is too easy, it is the default setting of fallen humanity. We too easily focus on the “what ifs” of life… We all have things we wish we could take back or do differently. We have other things that worry us – what if that happens? It is too easy to allow temptations to creep in, sinful thoughts, hidden, we think, in the shadows of our minds. Paul is calling on us to be intentional, proactive – to fill our minds with God’s truth – that is the path to peace.

He says, “…think on these things…” Jesus said in John 8:31-32  "If you continue in My word, then you are truly my disciples;  32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."!  Paul here uses a series of complementary terms to express the eternal, positive, truth of God which is able to transform our minds.  Rom 12:2 says “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” Right thinking will lead to right living. Paul gives this beautiful series of admonitions… 

“…whatever things are true…”  All truth is God’s truth. Jesus in John’s Gospel said “I am the way, the truth, and the life…” Remember later in that Gospel Jesus has a dialog with Pilate: John 18:36-38,   

“Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm."  37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."  38 Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?"

 Jesus himself is the truth – God, who spoke in times past through the prophets, has spoken in the Son.  Satan is a liar – we are to think on the truth… “Your Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you…” (Psalm 119:11). Proverbs 2:1-6  says, 

“My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you,  2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding;  3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding,  4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures;  5 Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God.  6 For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding…” His Word is truth.

.  “…if there is any virtue or anything praiseworthy…”  The key to confident, godly living is right, godly thinking. Solomon said “Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life…” (Prov 4:23). What we think, the things that we meditate on, dream about, fill our minds with, what we think - will determine how we live. Think about this: the God who is has spoken! GOD has given us truth: His beautiful, holy, praiseworthy truth! Why worry, when we can pray, and think on think on these things…  *We can find peace as we bring our burdens to God, knowing He is with us, and will work for our good, and for His glory.

IV. The Practice of Living Corum Deo (Latin, “before God"): Practice the truth (v. 9). 

“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me - practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

We are to be doers of the Word, and not hearers only. Here, Paul says, “practice these things…” Make them a part of your daily life. Listen, without a conscious effort to protect our minds we will be desensitized and demoralized. How can we do that?  Time in the Word is not something that we can take or leave!  The Creator of the universe has spoken! As Paul said to the Colossians, we need to “let the Word of Christ dwell richly within us”!

We are to practice, “The things that you have learned and received…” This is contrary to the idea of just deciding what God must be like, and what we “think” God would want us to do. God IS, and He has revealed Himself to us. This implies more than learning facts about God.  The word “learned” is associated with the word for “disciple.” “Received” implies hearing with faith, embracing these things as true. “…[the things you have] heard and seen in me…” Paul did not teach by saying, “do as I say, not as I do…” He lived it. He showed his churches what it meant to live by faith, what authentic Christianity looked like. Be thankful for examples – fellow pilgrims!

“And the God of Peace will be with you.” This forms an impressive bracket with v.7, “The peace of God…” God is the “peace giver.” The promise of God’s presence is a theme that should comfort us, it should give us peace.  It is a promise for believers repeated throughout the Bible. The one true God is the source, the Author, of true peace. For a Jew like Paul “shalom” connoted more than the absence of conflict – it implied a quality of life, the abundant life of blessing in the presence of the Lord himself. This God is “near,” He promises to be with us. A.W. Tozer said,

When we sing, “Nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,” we are not thinking of the nearness of place, but of the nearness of relationship. It is for increasing degrees of awareness that we pray, for a more perfect consciousness of the divine Presence.

His presence is a promise, and should embolden us as we carry out God’s mission in the world, Jesus said, “I am with you always” (Mt 28:18-20). It should give us assurance that He will supply our every need, even in times of hardship, He said, “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Heb 13:5). It should encourage us to pray when we face times of trial and testing knowing that we are not alone, He is with us in the trial (see Acts 18:9,10). Be anxious for nothing. We need to allow God’s truth to mold and transform our thinking. If we recognize God’s presence and allow His truth to transform our thinking we’ll know His peace and be empowered to live differently.

What is God saying to me in this passage? We can find peace as we bring our burdens to God, knowing He is with us, and will work for our good, and for His glory. 

What would God have me to do in response to this passage? 

1) The greatest of good, true, noble, just, pure and praiseworthy things that we can think on, is the Gospel.  We had a problem – we all, by birth and by choice are sinners.  God did for us, in Christ, what we could not do for ourselves. Give Thanks!

2) This merciful God is with us, He is near. Let’s live our life Corum Deo, before the face of God. Let your manner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ. 

3) Life will be hard at times, but we can whisper in the quietness of our heart and He hears us! When we pray we express faith, we entrust ourself to Him.  AMEN.