1 Philippians 4:2-9 8 th March 2015 am Hill and Arcadia If you are anything like me; so much time is spent preoccupied with worry. A single matter can consume me for days. A single worry can hold me captive leaving me ineffective and unproductive. I find that worrying is an unwelcome and nagging persistent intrusion and disruption into normal living; even affecting my ability to sleep. Psychologists tell us, of all the unpleasant emotions; anxiety probably ranks as the most common all humans experience at times. Even though science and technology have reduced many of life s dangers, our present age is still described as the age of anxiety. I so easily find myself ripped up inside and pulled in so many directions about so many different things. Do you find that? That in an instant your demeanour and outlook can change with news of financial shortages or conflict from unexpected quarters or concern over the future of your family? Being anxious is my weakness. When I hear Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice, I want to rejoice in the Lord. When I hear do not be anxious about anything, I do not want to be anxious about all the things that rob me of the peace of God. But how do I, how do you live out these commands to rejoice and not be anxious when the all to frequent feelings of tensions and despair are regularly being set off by unexpected difficult people, hard circumstances and daunting future prospects? To find the way forward I want to dig deeper than just suggesting a superficial four or five point formula on how to live a joyful and peaceful life. A closer look at our passage today exposes an all pervading reality without which joy and peace will remain a pipe dream completely out of reach. I found a poem that gives expression to what may be a big part of the problem Said the robin to the sparrow: I should really like to know Why these anxious human beings Rush about and worry so. Said the sparrow to the robin: Friend, I think that it must be That they have no Heavenly Father, Such that cares for you and me. Rejoicing and not being anxious must in the first instance flow from
2 1 Knowing that you are in safe and good hands Would you feel at ease leaving your child in the care of a drunkard or pedophile? Never ever! We parents scrutinize any potential child minder. We do that so that we can have confidence convinced our child is in safe and good hands. Paul urges the Philippians to 4:4 rejoice in the Lord. It is significant that the command is not just rejoice. There is instead a sphere of existence and operation that you the believer function in. Your life as a believer is in the Lord. In Phil 1:14 the brothers having become confident in the Lord, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. In Phil 2:19 Paul hopes in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to them soon. In 2:24 he trusts in the Lord that he shortly will come also. He urges them in 2:29 to receive Epaphroditus in the Lord Here lies the key to a life of joy and peace even in times of unexpected hardship. You and I can more and more experience this life of joy and peace as we grow in our knowledge and trust of God. We so desperately need to be absolutely convinced that our lives are really in good hands. Jesus helps us in the matter of worry in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6. It is, He says, a waste of time and energy to worry, for amongst other things v27 who of you can add a single hour to his life... Throughout His message he repeatedly refers to the wisdom of a life lived under God; speaking of Him as their Heavenly Father. Matthew 6:26 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 not of more value than they? Matthew 6:30 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? Matthew 6:32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. You are being ripped apart by so many worries about all sorts of things; 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. The king rules over those in the sphere of his kingdom or we could say that those in the king s kingdom operate and live by submitting to the king.
3 We can more and more experience this life of joy and peace as we grow in our knowledge and trust of God by 1.1 Submit to the God who reconciles Euodia and Syntyche are members of the church in Philippi. They are true believers Philippians 4:3 who have labored side by side with me (Paul) in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. In spite of them having labored in the gospel and having their names in the book of life; a wedge has come between the 2 ladies driving them apart. They were fighting with each other. Paul pleads with them to v2 agree in the Lord. Euodia and Syntyche agree in the Lord; you as individuals have been reconciled to the king of the kingdom through the redeeming work of His Son. Your debt of sin has been cancelled. Your big debt of guilt toward God has been settled; so now settle the smaller outstanding debt toward each other. It is a fact of life that any conflict will rob you of joy in the Lord and will produce high levels of anxiety. You are in the good hands of God who reconciles fallen sinners to Himself. Your context and sphere of operation is one of undeserved forgiveness. Resolve the conflict. Forgive others as you have been forgiven. If you are in the Lord take the initiative, swallow your pride and be reconciled with your enemies. Sort it out today. Christ will be honored and exalted; and you will find joy being restored and anxiety levels dropping. 1.2 Submit to the God who is among us The Lord is near. It is true that we can expect Jesus to return at any time. We ought to be living as those who are ready expecting Him to appear; ushering in the next chapter of his plan. But the Lord is near, as used here, is that he is present. The Scripture affirms 1John 4:4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. God is not afar off or remote from your life and circumstances. One of the amazing attributes of God is that He is everywhere present. With the added bless of the personal presence of Christ by His Spirit in the life of every believer. Intimacy with God in the daily experience of life enables godly living. Rejoice in the Lord (x2); letting your reasonableness be known to everyone; whereas scratchiness or unreasonableness in the flesh will rob you of joy and peace.
4 Abrasive Christian people are the most miserable of people I know; living as if God where a million miles away. They ought instead to submit to the God who is among us. 1.3 Submit to the God who cares By holding on to our worries we feed anxiety and crush any joy we have had. I have found myself rehearsing conversations over and over again; imagining the worst case scenario; being kept from sleep and growing ulcers. We need to let it go. Philippians 4:6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Give your deteriorating state of health to God; give your need to God anything relationship tensions, financial woes, political fears; children s education 1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Unload the heavy burdens in the right place. Give them to God by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving This is not thanksgiving for pain or loss or difficulty but thanksgiving as one who is in the Lord; enjoying every blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1) chosen before the foundation of the earth predestined for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ redemption through his blood forgiveness of our trespasses obtained an inheritance The Lord who invites broken and hurting people Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. You are in the good hands of God who cares for you and loves you. Tell him of your problems and leave it there. Don t take it back. Be wise in knowing your limitations of responsibility. Anxiety comes from me thinking it all depends on me. Remember that God gives your responsibility but not sovereignty. When you unload in humble submission praying and interceding with thanksgiving God promises to Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. The promise is real and true. When you let it go; God protects your heart and minds in Christ Jesus. Jesus reassured his disciples of their safety in John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
5 Submit to the God who cares. 1.4 Submit to the God who is beautiful The heart and the mind are the two instruments in us directly involved in the struggle with joy and anxiety. Worries stir contagious negative thoughts around in the mind; sapping all joy and raising tensions in your heart. This mind and heart activity dampens your spirit robbing you of joy and contentment. Rubbish in will throw rubbish out. Your mind cannot be left unattended 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. What (or better) who is ultimately is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and worthy of praise? God is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and worthy of praise. It is true that there are lesser created things that reflect the beauty of God; it is true that God has revealed and spoken about much of His beauty permeating the world we live in but he is the source and object of ultimate beauty. Psalms 27:4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. The counsel Paul gives in v8 to think about good things is not merely as an antidote to remedy destructive thinking robbing you or joy and peace. It is true that it will be helpful to fill your mind with whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and worthy of praise. Unbelievers can get involved in positive thinking. We believers are in the Lord and must not stop short of filling our minds with the source and ultimate beauty of the most excellent God. The more you know God and the more you fill your mind with Him and the reflection and revelation of his beauty around you in the world from his word in the examples of godly people like Paul the more you will experience the God of peach with you (v9). Submit to the God who is beautiful.
6 Conclusion Safe and good hands make all the difference. You know that is the case on the cricket field. Our world cup cricket squad has some men with safe and good hands Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers or Amla. They don t ever drop the ball. God never drops the ball. This morning would be a good opportunity to confirm you are in the Lord. Will you resolve to seek first the kingdom of God doing so looking to Jesus as the author and perfecter of your faith? Resolve to submit to Him who holds you safely in His good hands.