• Philippians 4:4-7
o Always be joyful in the Lord! I’ll say it again: be joyful!
o Let everyone know how considerate you are. The Lord is near.
o Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks.
o Then God’s peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus.
• So, have you found peace yet?
• Have you found the peace of God yet?
• We’ve been talking about the Secret of Peace—the peace of God Himself
• We’ve covered the first two steps
o Stand firm
? In the midst of it all
? When the attacks come
? Stand firm
? Know who you are in the Lord
? Know who’s you are in the Lord
? And stand firm
o Unity and agreement
? Put our differences aside
? When we’re working
• In the Lord
? Our focus is on the big picture
? And we’re consumed with that
? And so, we don’t have time to be divisive
? We don’t have time for my agenda
? Because it’s all about His agenda
? I can share my opinion
? But when the decision is made
? I get on board and move on
? What difference is it going to make in 5 years
? The difference for a soul is eternal
? And that’s more important
? Paint will fade
? Carpet will run
? Chairs will fall apart
? But the Kingdom of God will never be destroyed
? It’s time that we become fellow yokesmen
? Come alongside each other
? Support each other
? Love on each other
? Encourage one another
? Help when we see a need
• In Paul’s letter we then have this switch back to business for the church
• It’s back to joy
• Always be joyful
• The third step to the secret of peace and the peace of God Himself is Rejoicing in the Lord
• One of the most consistent and nagging questions we encounter in our life is the question…”Why?”
o Almost no other question has us bothered,
o Frustrated
o Angry
o Or even frightened than the question of
? Why?
o You remember when we were children
o One of the first questions that come out of our mouths as soon as we gained the power of speech
? Why?
? Daddy, why is the sky blue?
? Mommy, why is the grass green
? Why do I have to eat these peas
? Why do I have to eat liver
? Why do I have to clean up my room
? Why do I have to go to bed
? Why do people hate each other
? Mommy, why are you and daddy always fighting
o We generally put most of these questions on our parents
o And they tried to answer our questions the best they could
o Before saying
? I don’t know
o Or the best answer a parent could every come up with
? Because I said so
o I used to think that answer was so unfair
o I thought that you should always explain to me, as a child, what the reasons were
o But then one day I had my own children and understood
? Because I said so
? Was a terrific answer to your children
o After being hit with a dozen questions after I asked them to do something
o Or to stop something
o I understood why that was a sufficient answer
o I’m sure I used to drive my mother crazy with asking the question,
? Why?
o Never my father,
o He gave you that look and you knew it was
? Because I said so
o But mom would do her best to give an answer
? Right or wrong
? It would satisfy my curiosity
? At least for that moment
o But when we became adults,
o Even though we gained more knowledge in many things
o We still struggle with that one question
? Why?
o The only difference, is our questions became more complex,
o More complicated,
o More frustrating
? Why doesn’t somebody do something about this?
? Why are these taxes so high?
? Why aren’t I getting paid as much as this person?
? Why don’t we get along?
? Why don’t we ever talk anymore?
? Why don’t you love me anymore?
? Why is it we don’t love each other anymore?
o Now, unlike when we were kids
o We can’t come to our parents to get all the answers
o And we’re more hard pressed to get them
o We even come before the gates of heaven to demand answers from the Lord
? God, if you’re so powerful, why did you let my mother die?
? Why is there so much pain
? Why does the evil prosper, while the righteous suffer?
? Why do people get cancer?
? Why, why, why?
o And the answers are slow in coming
o Now, I believe the day will come when God will answer all our questions
o The question is, why can’t we get the answers now?
• In studying the text for this message, I myself was pressed to ask the question, “Why?”
o This text goes against everything we’ve been taught on how to handle life
o Why am I supposed to rejoice when we have no money in the bank?
o Why am I supposed to gentle when there’s co-workers after my scalp, and a boss who’s acting like a jerk?
o Why do I have to be thankful when bills are past due, and they’re threatening to cut off the utilities?
o And why do I have to be peaceful when the car won’t act right?
o While I was pondering these questions, and so many more
o The Lord led me to consider where Paul was when he wrote this letter
o What his dilemma was
• When Paul wrote this letter, the church at Philippi was flourishing
o It was a bright witness in the land
o The church was doing so well
o And made Paul so happy
o He called it his
? Hoy and crown
o In fact, the theme of this entire book is
? Joy
o The interesting thing about this letter was that Paul was in prison when he wrote it
o Imprisoned and possibly facing execution
o Yet, with possibly the end of his life drawing near
o All Paul could think of in this letter was joy
o I won’t be able to give you the answers to the question, “Why?”
o The Lord didn’t reveal that to me.
o What He did reveal to me was how and why you can be joyful,
o Regardless of the circumstances
• Paul tells us to rejoice in the Lord always
o He thought so much of this
o He repeated himself in the same breath
o This means to rejoice in him regardless of our circumstances
o Whether good or bad
o Why, Paul?
o Why do I need to rejoice all the time,
o Especially when it looks like my world is falling apart?
o Why do I have to rejoice about?
o I’ll give you three reasons why you should rejoice.
• First, because of what he has done.
o If you can’t think of anything to rejoice about
o Perhaps you should reflect on what the Lord has brought you through
o And where he’s taken you from
o Think of where you were a year ago
o 5 years ago
o 10 years ago
o A month ago
o A week ago
o Yesterday
o Remember that angry person
o That depressed person
o That person filled with anxiety
o That person filled with sin
o That person wrestling with that sinful habit
o That person who was punching walls because of anger
o That person who couldn’t hold down a job
o That person who had horrible thoughts
o That person who could think anything positive
o Now think about where you are today in the Lord
o Think about where the Lord has brought you today
o The habits that you have kicked
o The thoughts that you have changed
o Your life that has changed
o That attitude that you’ve changed
o The freedom that you experience
o The power that flows through you
o The healing that He’s given you
o The protection that He’s provided for you
o The pit that He lifted you out of
o The shackles that have fallen off of you
o Oh, I’ve not finished my journey
o But I’m standing here this morning
o Telling you that I rejoice in the midst of my trials
o Because He brought me through back there
o And I know He’ll bring me through today
o It’s like one preacher once said
? If you knew the sin in my life
? You wouldn’t listen to me
? If I knew the sin in your life
? I wouldn’t talk to you
o He’s taken away your sins once and for all
o Cleaned you up
o And make you a son or daughter
o That alone should be a reason to shout this morning
o But if you need something more
o Scripture tells us
? I’m His child
? I’m Christ’s friend
? I’m justified
? I’m united with the Lord
? I’m bought with a price and I belong to God
? I’m a member of Christ’s body
? I’m a saint this morning
? I’ve been adopted as God’s child
? I have access to God through the Holy Spirit
? I am complete in Christ
? I’m free forever from condemnation
? I’m assured that all things work together for good
? I’m free from any charge against me
? I cannot be separated from the love of God
? I’m established
? I’m anointed
? I’m sealed by God
? I’m hidden with Christ in God
? I’m confident that the good work God has begun in me will be perfected
? I’m a citizen of heaven
? I have not be given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and sound mind
? I can find grace and mercy in time of need
? I’m born of God and Satan can’t touch me
? God has use of me
? Oh, you may not have use of me
? But God does and He trumps you
o If that’s not enough to get you rejoicing this morning then you need to get a heart check up.
o You need to make an appointment with the Spiritual cardiologist this morning
? Jesus Christ
• Two, because of what He’s doing right now
o Regardless of whether you realize it or not
o God has given you innumerous blessings
o And right now He’s preparing you for much more
o Every day, God is drawing you closer
o Making you more like Jesus Christ
o He’s not through with you yet
o As you walk
? In the Lord
o As you focus
? In the Lord
o As you move
? In the Lord
o We have to remember
? His compassion is never limited. It is new every morning. His faithfulness is great. My soul can say, ‘the Lord is my lot in life. That is why I find hope in him.’ Lamentations 3:22-24
o He’s working on you right now
o There’s blessings just around the corner
o There’s blessings that you don’t know anything about
o There’s blessings taking place in your life at this very moment
o Oh, give Him a shout of praise for the victory that is coming
o The blessings that are here at this moment
• Third, we should not only rejoice for what He’s done
• What He’s doing
• But third, what he will do
o Philippians 1:6 tells us that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus
o If you think that God had done enough for you
o You haven’t seen anything yet!!!
o Oh, when I thought about this
o I thought about those Israelites walking around Jericho
o They heard the report of the city
o They knew the walls were large
o They knew they were small
o They knew there was no logical way
o I’m sure there were some in the group that said,
? Hold on
? I hope this Joshua knows what he’s doing
o Maybe some were asking
? Why God
? Why can’t we just go around
o But then they heard the plan
? What walk around the walls
? Are you kidding me
? Do you know how hot it gets during the day
? And do you know how awful these kids are
? You mean I have to keep them quiet during this worship service
? Do you have an extra ipad for them to play on
? Is there going to be wifi
o Now, there isn’t any of that recorded in the Word
o What’s recorded is that they went out to Jericho each day
o They walked around the walls each day expecting the plan to work
o Expecting God to come through
o Expecting that what God told them would happen was going to happen
o They were sure that on that 7th day
o After that 7th circle
o When they gave a shout of praise
o The walls were going to come tumbling down
o Because God hadn’t brought them this far to let them down now
o He brought them across the Red Sea
o He brought them through the wilderness
o He provided for the past 40 years
o He made so that even their shoes didn’t wear out
o He gave them bread and meat to eat
o When they were thirsty
o He gave them drink
o When they needed shade
o He was the cloud by day
o When they needed warmth
o He was the fire by night
o When they needed victory over their enemy
o He was the banner that was in Moses’ arms
o When they needed to walk across on dry ground
o He stopped the flow of the Jordan River
o If He did all that
o He’s going to come through
o I haven’t seen it yet
o I haven’t experienced the blessing yet
o I haven’t seen the miracle yet
o But with each step I’m believing
o Because He said it
o I believe it
o And that settles it for me
o I know that these walls are coming down
o I just have to walk
o I just have to walk
o I just have to rejoice and walk
o I just have to rejoice and walk
o I just have to rejoice and walk
• Besides my joy is not based on the walls
• My joy is not based on outside circumstances
o Happiness is based on outside conditions
o Happiness is an emotion
o Anybody can be happy
o Lottery winners are happy
o Happiness is also temporary
o But joy is an attitude
o No matter what Paul went through
o He was always joyful
o Because wherever he went
o God was with him
o It’s the same for us as well
o God is with us
o He’s living inside of us
o We just talked about it
o And because of that fact
o We have all the reason to be joyful
o So rejoice church
o Let me say it again, rejoice
• The fourth step to peace is a strong gentleness/moderation
o Moderation (epieikes) is a difficult word to translate into English
o It is translated by others as
? Forbearance
? Reasonableness
? Consideration
? Agreeableness
? Courtesy
? Patience
? And softness
o Think about this for a moment
o We don’t hear about this very much today
o Only because this action is often associated with being weak
o Or being a doormat
o Or even being a sissy
o So, why do we need to be gentle?
o When we’re gentle
o And we deal with unbelievers in a gentle way
o We’re representing the character of Christ
o The last thing we must do is
? Criticize
? Condemn
? Censor
? Neglect
? Or ignore someone
o We must reach out to the world with the gospel and
o Treat them with a loving gentleness
o We must be gentle
o Having absolutely nothing to do with harshness
o Too many of us are harsh
o We’re critical
o Neglectful and withdrawn
o Too many of us are wrapped in the cloak of religion
o Having nothing to do with reaching out to the lost
o The desperate need of the hour is for us to reach out with the gospel
o In a spirit of love and gentleness
o The reason is because the Lord is near
o He is ready to come
o His coming is near
o Don’t you want Him to treat you with gentleness
o Just think of the woman who was caught in the act of adultery
o The Lord could have followed the letter of the law
o Yet He didn’t
o He showed Strong Gentleness
o He forgave her
o Accepted her
o Not her sin
o But accepted her
o Oh, how we should do the same
o Strong gentleness
o Strong gentleness to others, just as the gentleness was shown to us
o Be kind to each other, sympathetic, forgiving each other as God has forgiven you through Christ. Ephesians 4:32
• After Resurrection Sunday we’ll wrap up this section
• But think about and apply what we’ve learned and talked about so far
• Remember that we’re answering the question of how to maintain peace?
o Once we have made peace with God
o The peace of God floods our lives
o How do we maintain it?
o How do we keep the peace of God ruling and reigning within our souls?
o How do we keep a consciousness of God’s very own presence within us?
o An awareness that the “God of peace” lives within our very being?
o We have gone over four of the steps
o Stand firm
o Unity and agreement
o Rejoicing in the Lord
o And strong gentleness
• Look, I know that it’s hard to have peace in our world today
• I know that we all have to go out and participate in the “rat race.”
• But we need to keep in mind that the rat race is for rats
• We’re not rats, we’re eagles
• Eagles who can soar above the turmoil with God’s peace
• If you’re in turmoil this morning
• There is a way to have peace
• And it starts with a relationship with Jesus Christ
o If you don’t know Jesus, you really don’t have anything to rejoice about
o Your life is infested with worry and unrest
o I want to encourage you to experience God’s peace today
o He’s patiently waiting
o Standing at the door of your heart so you can let him in
o Jesus restore the joy that you gave Satan
o He can give you the rest that you need today
o He can give you the peace that passes all understanding
• The choice is yours
• The rat race
• Or peace
• What will you choose
• Let’s stand
