Oakbrook Evangelical Free Church

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Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. `”And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ” NASB95

Introduction:

Opposites – 4:6-7

Worry = to treat roughly – a tearing apart or continual biting.

Worry comes from forgetting how valuable we are to God.

Worry comes from forgetting the difference between needs and wants

Worry comes from trying to control or fix something over which we

have no control.

Trust God to meet your basic needs.

Embrace God’s priorities – first things first.

Do not bring into your “today” tomorrow’s responsibilities.

Peace = to bring unity or harmony – a calm, quiet.

Peace comes from God.

Isaiah 11:6-10 “And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the young goat, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them. “Also the cow and the bear will graze, Their young will lie down together, And the lion will eat straw like the ox. “The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den. “They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea. “Then in that day The nations will resort to the root of Jesse, Who will stand as a signal for the peoples; And His resting place will be glorious.” NASB95

Mark 4:39 “And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.“

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” ESV

Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace ”

Peace comes from God’s presence with us and in our lives.

Peace is not something we can produce within us. It is a gift from

God. Something He gives us beyond understanding.

But there are things we can do to contribute to experiencing peace.

I. Finding Peace Through Relationships, 4:2-5

Another set of opposites:

4:2 Euodia (“Success”) and Syntyche (“Lucky”)

Notice indications of how to work toward unity

1. Paul does not take sides! And neither should we.

“I plead with E and S”

Not commanded! Gentle persuasion.

But urgent – He names, names.

Why? Because that’s the Lord’s will.

Because their conflict is affecting the church! 1:27; 2:2

2. Urgency of each taking personal responsibility “that you agree”

3. Common ground “in the Lord”

Under His authority – because that’s what the Lord wants.

Because we have much more in common.

4. These ladies need help. – Wow! How very unique!

Comrade / yokefellow

Where angels fear to tread.

Bystanders – tendency? Get out of the way. Don’t get in between.

Or, take sides! Wow! What a tragedy and miscarriage of personal responsibility! Form a posy (bunch of followers)

Everyone around has a part to play and in helping people in conflict get together. Do you know how often I’ve appealed for help and waited all to no avail. It is amazing the ineptness and unwillingness to help.

5. In the context of mutual respect.

6. Rejoice in the Lord

II. Finding Peace Through Prayer, 4:6-7

Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts (emotions) and your minds in Christ Jesus. ” NASB95 H + M = total being, personality!

Philippians 2:20 “For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. ” NASB95

Paul commended Timothy for being anxious over the welfare of the Philippians (2:20).

In Philippians 4:6 he said we should not be anxious about anything. The same Greek word (merimnate) appears in both places. The resolution of this problem probably lies in viewing anxiety as concern that may become fretful and inappropriate if taken too far. Paul’s point here was that rather than becoming distraught over a particular situation we should take it to the Lord in prayer

μεριμνάω [merimnao /mer·im·nah·o/]

μεριμνάω (μέριμνα) has the same wealth of meaning as the Eng. “to care” (“care”). It means a. “to care for someone or something,”

Paul realizes that human life is swayed by care. The exhortations not to worry presuppose that every man naturally cares for himself and his life, that he is concerned about himself, that he is always intent on something and concerned about something. This is by no means ruled out as illegitimate. Indeed, it is accepted that man is concerned about himself and that he strives after things. But the why and wherefore of his concern and striving are given a new orientation, and so, too, is his understanding of himself and his life.

This would not be so if the admonitions not to care, but to cast one’s care on God, were based on the idea that God guarantees the fulfilment of all striving. Phil. 4:6 shows, however, that in intercessory prayer, which is based on anxiety, the man who prays attains a certain aloofness from his wishes when he puts them before God μετὰ εὐχαριστίας, and he thus finds liberation from care. 1 Pt. 5:7 (cf. v. 6) also shows that to cast one’s care on God does not mean to think of Him as the One who guarantees one’s wishes, but to see in Him the One who knows what we need better than we do ourselves. These exhortations to prayer are thus designed to give freedom from care as anxiety.

There is nothing too great for God’s power,

And nothing too small for Dad’s care.

Worry is not a sin, living there is!

when we pray because we enter into the tranquility of God’s own presence.

III. Finding Peace Through Discipline Thinking, 4:8

Philippians 4:8 “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.” ESV

Phil 2:6-11 “Have this mind in you”

Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” ESV

John Madden, 6 ft 4 “ 240 lbs

Flying across the country had a panic attack. At a stop ½ through his journey he got off the plane and has never flown again.

General anxiety – tenseness and worry about many things

Recurring panic, apprehension or anxiety attacks

Phobias – excessive, recurring fears

Specific anxiety –

Obsessive – Compulsive: recurrent intrusive thoughts, images or impulses such as doubting or dominated by very narrow focus of thinking that result in repetitive behaviors.

Can have clear physical impacts: nervousness, tension, fatigue, heart palpitations, sweating, sleeplessness, etc.

Worry keeps you from appreciating what you do have.
Take control of what you can, let go of what you can’t.

Can’t control circumstances.

Can’t control people’s actions or reactions.

But you choose what you allow your mind to focus on .

Obsessive / compulsive! What do you obsess about?

Acrostic – THRPLG

• True = valid, honest, reliable

• Honorable = worthy of respect

• Right = just

• Pure = moral excellence

• Lovely = agreeable, pleasing

• Good repute = admirable, positive, good, excellent

“True” (alethe) means valid, honest, and reliable (cf. Rom. 3:4).

“Honorable” or “noble” (semna) means worthy of respect (cf. Prov. 8:6; 1 Tim. 3:8, 11; Titus 2:2).

“Right” (dikaia) refers to what is just and upright.

“pure” = moral excellence!

“Lovely” (prosphile) means what is amiable, agreeable, or pleasing.

“admirable” = everyone views this as positive or good, this word could refer to a Beethoven symphony, as well as to the work of Mother Teresa among the poor of Calcutta; the former is lovely and enjoyable, the latter is admirable as well as moral.”161

“Of good repute” or “admirable” (euphema) refers to what is praiseworthy because it measures up to the highest standards (excellence). Paul listed these virtues as contemporary moral philosophers of his day taught, namely by reciting catalogues of virtues and vices.

Think on such things = The conditional clause structure at the end of this sentence is a rhetorical device. It places the responsibility on the reader to make his or her own mind regarding what is excellent and praiseworthy.

Cognitive – Behavioral model

IV. Finding Peace Through Actions, 4:9

Peace is a daily decision you make, not just an
emotion you feel.

Principles:

1. Paul’s encouragement to help two people who were having a disagreement should be followed by us as well. Too often we take sides in a dispute between people and the schism becomes even worse. What we should do is attempt through prayer, support, and encouragement to bring differing sides of a dispute together. Blessed are the peacemakers!

2. Life has a way of stealing our joy. Yet Jesus never changes, nor does his love for us. Therefore, we ought to rejoice in God and life, even if things are difficult. He has said that he will never leave us or forsake us. In light of this we can always be joyful. Take the command to rejoice seriously!

3. If we truly want the peace of God, let us pray and bring all our burdens, requests, and needs to him. Set up a time for daily prayer. Do it as an expression of your continual desire to know God deeply and experience His very own peace. And, when you come to Him in prayer, be thankful. Thankfulness is central to the Christian faith and love for God.

4. Find and focus on something that is positive and beneficial

Ask God to help you find things in people and elements in your culture which are beneficial and can be described according to the virtues in Phil 4:8. Give thanks to God for them and let others—even non-Christians—know of your feelings about the worth of those things. Applaud truth, purity, justice, etc. whenever and wherever you see it. Such an attitude brings a positive approach to sharing the gospel with others.

5. Do something to put this into practice!

Broken and Beautiful

There’s a businessman, There’s a widowed wife
There’s a smiling face with a shattered life
There’s a teenage girl with a choice to make
It’s crowded here in church today
And the preacher says as the sermon ends
Please close your eyes and bow your heads
Is there anyone in need of prayer
Jesus wants to meet you here
‘Cause we all fall short, We all have sinned
But when you let, God’s grace break in
But tears ran down, As hope rushed in
He closed his eyes, Raised his hands
Worshiping the God who can, Bring him back to life again
‘Cause there’s nothing more beautiful to God
Than when his sons and daughters come Broken
Alleluia, Alleluia
Come as you are, (Come as you are)
Surrender your heart, Broken and beautiful