“Thanks & Peace”
[Philippians
4:4-9]
November 13, 2016 Second Reformed
Church
Now that the election is over, all
we are talking about is the election.
Some numbers: There are 325 million people in the United
States. 251 million of those were eligible
to vote. Out of those, 129 million
actually voted in the Presidential election.
Some people are happy with the
election results, some are not. This
occurs to one degree or another every election because someone wins and someone
loses.
For Christians, no matter what we
may think of the President-elect, now is a time for us to give thanks and
receive peace.
Paul tells us that because of Who
Jesus is and what He has done, we always have reason to rejoice:
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I
will say, rejoice.”
Understand, Caesar Nero was reigning
at the time Paul wrote – a man who brutally persecuted Christians – a man Paul
instructed Christians to submit to and to pray for. May we do the same.
Paul is not saying that everything
that occurs should fill us with joy.
Rather, he is saying that no matter what happens, we are filled with joy
because Jesus remains our Sovereign God and King over all of Creation,
including the temporary, nation-bound President of the United States. This is true of every President – some people
don’t like President Obama. Still, Jesus
reigns forever and ever, King of kings and Lord of lords. Our salvation is secure and nothing can
change what Jesus has done for us to the glory of God. That is why – “in the Lord” – we rejoice and
we continue to rejoice.
Remember what Jesus says, “And do
not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who
can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28, ESV).
Rather, our focus and our hope
should continually be in Jesus and what He has done: rejoice, and again, I say, rejoice!
Second, Paul tells us to be
Christ-like.
“Let your reasonableness be known to
everyone.”
The word used for “reasonableness” means
we are to be humble, patient, willing to endure suffering.
This is a summary of what Paul writes
earlier in this letter:
“So if there is any encouragement in
Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection
and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love,
being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or
conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let
each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of
others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who,
though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be
grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in
the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by
becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God
has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and
under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:1-11, ESV).
By the power of God the Holy Spirit Who
lives in us, we are to strive to become more and more like Jesus and that is
most easily shown in our loving our neighbor – in putting them first and
seeking their good and their believing savingly in Jesus.
We are to strive to be a humble people, a
people that seek out the good and salvation of others, a people that put
themselves out for others – even – to being willing to die, should it be the
right thing to do.
Let us ask ourselves – not “What would
Jesus do?” – we’re not Jesus – but what can I do and in what way should I act
that shows others that we love them because of Who Jesus is and what He has
done for us?
Third, we can do these things – we can
strive to be Christ-like and rejoice always – because Jesus is at hand.
“The Lord is at hand;”
Jesus meets with us in a special way
through the preaching and reading of the Word, but Jesus is actually here with
each one who believes – always.
“And
behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b, ESV).
Jesus is physically seated at the Right
Hand of God, so how is He here and everywhere else at the same time? Jesus’ physical body stays at the Right Hand,
but His Divinity – He is the One God – is everywhere at the same time.
We will not see Jesus in the flesh until
we are brought into the Kingdom, but He is spiritually here with us now and
always.
Fourth, we are not to be anxious.
“do not be anxious about anything, 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 understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Since the Lord is with us, since we are
rejoicing about Who He is and what He has done, since we are striving to be
changed by God into the Image of His Son, we have no reason to be anxious about
anything.
Remember what Jesus says:
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious
about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body,
what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than
clothing? 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? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span
of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the
field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon
in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 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? Therefore do not be
anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall
we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly
Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his
righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
“Therefore do not be anxious about
tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is
its own trouble” (Matthew 6:25-34, ESV).
Rather than be anxious, Jesus tells us to
seek the Kingdom of God – seek out all those things God would have us do and be
– and seek His Righteousness – both to trust that it is by His Righteousness
alone that we are made right with God and to strive by the power of God in us
to become righteous – to live lives of holiness – without which, we shall not
see the Lord.
Peter writes, “Humble yourselves,
therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt
you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be
sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a
roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith,
knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your
brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while,
the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will
himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion
forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 5:6-11, ESV).
Rather than being anxious, Paul tells us
to pray with supplications – ask God for those things we want – especially
those things we know are according to His Will – with thanksgiving. We are not to neglect giving God thanks for
everything He has done and promised to do for us.
It is easier to state our need or to
complain than to give thanks.
Are we thankful for our salvation? Our lives?
The promises of God about salvation and our future with God in the
Kingdom?
I fear we have too high an opinion of
ourselves. I fear we are not a thankful
people – as we are called to be – because we believe we deserve better. As we saw last week, we who believe in Jesus
Alone for salvation have been blessed beyond comprehension.
But Paul tells us if we pray to God with
our supplications and our thanks, God will give us the peace that passes all
understanding. If we pray for those
things God has called us to pray for, those things that God has commanded and
willed for us, if we are thankful to God for His salvation and Providence in
our lives, then we will receive the peace that only God can give, because we
will be doing what God wants, asking for what God wants, giving thanks for all
God gives, and showing our satisfaction and joy in all of these.
Do you want the peace that only God can
give? Do what He says, pray for what He
wants, and give thanks for Him and what He does.
Thinking again of our President: God says we are to pray for those in
leadership above us – that they will love the Lord our God with all their heart
and soul and mind and strength and their neighbor as ourselves. We are to pray that they will submit to God
and follow God’s Will and believe in the only Savior Jesus Christ. We are to call them to be accountable – not
just to their righteous campaign promises, but to all that God has commanded
all of us to do, and we are to remind them when they go astray to turn back and
repent and to follow God, and we are to give God thanks – and to thank our
leaders when they do what is good and right and pleasing in the sight of God.
Fifth, focus on things that build
up.
“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 you have learned and
received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace
will be with you.”
How do you feel when you hear lies,
when you see disgusting things, when you see injustice, when you see evil and
things that are ugly and things that are damnable and reprehensible?
How do you feel when you hear most
news reports?
How do you feel when you hear gossip
about horrible things and how things will only get worse?
I suppose you feel sick and angry
and upset, don’t you?
Paul says we ought to be paying close
attention to the true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, anything
worthy of praise, the Gospel and the whole Word of God – think about these
things.
How do you feel when you see beautiful and
lovely things, hear the truth about God and His promises, reflect upon on the
glorious praiseworthiness of our God and Savior?
If God and the things of God are the truest,
most beautiful, loveliest – don’t you want to focus on those things and know
those things and feel the joy that you feel when you do focus on those things?
Paul tells us that if we focus on
those things and keep them before us, believing the Gospel and doing the things
that God calls us to do in His Word – seeking to do His Will – He will be with
us – the God of Peace.
As we live through volatile times
and prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving as a country, what ought we to do as Christians
– as those who believe in Jesus Alone for salvation?
Let us rejoice at all times because
of Jesus.
Let us strive to be like Jesus in
His character.
Let us know that He is here with us
always.
Let us focus on all the glorious
things around us.
Let us do all those things God has
called us to do and empowered us to do by the Holy Spirit.
Let us seek to be an ever-thankful
people, recognizing we deserve nothing and have received blessings upon
blessing.
And let us receive the God of Peace
and His peace which passes all understanding as we put His Righteousness and His
Kingdom first.
Let us pray:
Almighty God, our eyes fall from You
to the turmoil around us, and we find ourselves easily sinking beneath the
waves. Lord, we know You are the
Sovereign God over all of Creation and You are working all things together for
the good of those who love You, and we ask that God the Holy Spirit would
continually remind us and cause us to turn back to You that we would be
thankful and have Your peace. For it is
in Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment