JOY & PEACE?

Philippians 4: Verses 4 through 9

(King James Version)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 

9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Those THINGS, which we have Learned!

Those THINGS, which we have Received!

Those THINGS, which we have Heard!

DO THEM - PRACTICE THEM!

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

We allow our Christian lives to become Frail and Infirmed Spiritually, because we choose to follow our own desires and not that of Christ. Paul nailed it solid when he wrote to the Church in Philippi, he knew where Christian Joy flows from. He spoke the TRUTH when he stated that “the peace of God ~ shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ”.

God’s peace and God’s joy can ONLY FLOW from the inside out! Those things that you have learned Spiritually, those things that you have received Spiritually, and those Truths that you have heard – DO. Paul coached us here, he is basically saying, come on folks, take these Spiritual blessings and DO God’s will with them. Practice what you SAY you believe. Share that which you have an abundance of – CHRIST!

As a Church - do we both collectively and individually Speak Jesus? Teach Jesus? Live Jesus? Share Jesus?

If we don’t – if our practice is not consistent – neither will our Joy or our Peace! Oh, we can put on a good front for Sunday Mornings – but it is not sustainable! For without total and complete surrender to Christ’s Lordship, we can’t live in His will and know His Joy!

In verse 5, Paul said “Let your moderation be known unto all men”. The New King James interpretation of verse 5 says “Let your gentleness be known to all men”. That gentleness can only flow from the Spirit from within. That Spirit from within can only flow to the outside when we yield to HIM. Upon yielding to Him, we are to share with all men, how can it be known if it is not shared or spoken?

Then – finally Verse 8, where in our life times we have heard so many messages launch from. TRUTH, HONESTY, JUST, PURETY, LOVELY & GOOD REPORT, THINGS OF VIRTUE – THESE THINGS WE MUST THINK ON.

In Matthew 5 – Christ taught us what Christian Attitudes should be. In Galatians 5, Paul warned us of the unclean heart, and then showed us what the Fruit of the Spirit should be. Here in Philippians 4, Paul tells us what the results of walking in the Spirit should manifest in us; and how we should discipline our minds and hearts to seek Spiritual Joy and Peace in our lives.

I know we can all quote John 14:6; Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

I am sure we can also quote Romans 10:17; So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

Now we must take the quotes we hold in our hearts and live them every day, practice them every day and share them whenever Christ opens the door!

If you want to fill your heart with Joy, if you want to know the Peace of God, then practice what you have been taught. Paul said Faith comes through hearing the word of God. Christ said He is the only way to God. So then; for our neighbors and coworkers to come to Faith in Christ for salvation. They must hear the word of God, they must see Christ in you, recognize their loss and inability to get to God on their own and turn to Jesus. They must SEE and HEAR Jesus in You, and that can’t happen until you yield to Christ, only then can you claim His Joy and Peace.

A wonderful Christian Saint and Scholar that I loved and admired once told me, “Christianity is not a feeling that we hold inside, it’s a way of life and the only reality for those that believe". He also said, "Christ isn’t just a man to study – He is The Truth and Factual center of all that is!” My goodness Grand-Dad how the Church has changed! We hear and speak our Blessed Jesus on Sunday, and wing it with the world all the rest of the week. Is it any wonder that God has turned us to our own hearts desires and lusts of the flesh?