Philippians 4:4-7 – “Rejoice in the Lord”

Sermon by Casey Zimmerman for Christ The Redeemer Church Manhattan KS, 17 Jan 2016

 

Tale of two cities- Sydney dies in the place of Charles……. in the name of love for Lucy who is married to Charles. Sydney gives his life for Charles so that Charles can go live his life with his family…. Charles owes Sydney his life Charles should be motivated to live his life differently and if Sydney had left a death note of hey Charles do this or that Charles would absolutely have to listen or he is a real jerk! I hope to show how when Paul says Rejoice Always and be reasonable and pray we are absurd not to…….

V4- Always- at all times

-         “in the Lord” our rejoicing is in the Lord no matter what!

 

When things are not going our way we can still rejoice:

 

-Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

(James 1:2-4 ESV)

          o We can only be complete when we are “trained”- Running hurts it is not fun result is you are in shape and can run faster- A trial produces steadfastness so we can grow and take on life better or “run faster”

 

- Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

(Romans 5:3-5 ESV)

o God Loves US!!!!! The trials he lets us go through produce who we are is Christ.

 

o Trials make us closer to God and depend on Him which ultimately glorifies HIM.

- But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

(2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV)

          o Dependance on God to work things out is glorifying to Him we have to trust that he will work it out!

- And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

(Romans 8:28 ESV)

 

When things ARE going our way do not forget to rejoice!

 

- Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

(James 1:16-17 ESV)

o When things are going our way it is not our own doing so rejoice!

 

- I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

(Philippians 4:12-13 ESV)

          o We can only do fruitful work in Christ

- I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

(John 15:5 ESV)

 

Whether good or bad rejoice that we are going to heaven!!!!!

 

-The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

(Luke 10:17-20 ESV)

 

-For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

(Romans 8:18 ESV)

 

V5

NKJV- Gentleness ESV- Reasonableness KJV- Moderation NASB- Gentle Spirit

 

epeikas- fair, mild, gentle

 

Paul is saying to have a reputation of epeikas (fair mild gentle)

 

Jesus is our perfect example of what this looks like

- Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

(Matthew 11:29 ESV)

 

-we should imitate Christ and his gentleness or mildness

whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

(1 John 2:6 ESV)

 

-We are commanded to not be angry

 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.

(Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV)

be slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

(James 1:19-20 ESV)

 

-Not only should we act this way because of command and of imitating Christ it is practical as well!

A soft answer turns away wrath,but a harsh word stirs up anger.      (Proverbs 15:1 ESV)

 

LORD is at hand- near in place or position/ near as of time

 

He is near you- “would you want to be doing that when Jesus comes back? or if Jesus was here would you want to do that?” the truth is he is here live like it!!!

Also he is near you and only he can help you rejoice and be reasonable!

(John 15:5 / Philippians 4:13)

 

Near in time- JESUS IS COMING BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.

(1 Peter 4:7 ESV)

 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

(1 Thessalonians 5:2 ESV)

 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

(Matthew 24:44 ESV)

 

Christ is coming back live like it!!!!

we need to rejoice and be reasonable

 

we need to be “awake and ready” for his return!

 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”)

(Revelation 16:15 ESV)

o If you knew a thief was coming you would not go to sleep at night

 

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.

(Romans 13:11 ESV)

          o Today we are closer to Christ’s return than yesterday REJOICE!! and be ready!!

 

V6

NKJV- be anxious for nothing- nobody, no one, no thing

          o KJV- careful

                   o anxious/careful- trouble with care / to care for/ ie. providing for

 

-         We need to cast our cares on Christ only He can do anything with them.(Phil 4:13 / John 15:5)

 

-         He as our father wants to help us and he cares for us.

 Cast your burden on the LORD,and he will sustain you;he will never permit the righteous to be moved.(Psalm 55:22 ESV)

 

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!(Matthew 7:11 ESV)

 

casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

(1 Peter 5:7 ESV)

 

“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)

          o We cannot forget the main reason to not be anxious and that is that God is for us

If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?(Romans 8:31-32 ESV)

 

and all we have to do is seek Him!  “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you”

 

 

In EVERYTHING- opposite of the nothing we are to not be anxious for. In everything by prayer.

          o prayer- prayer addressed to God

                             a place set apart or suited for prayer

                                       o humbling of heart in prayer or even literally the secret place of prayer as in Matthew 6:6

          o supplication- a need, want, seeking, asking, entreaty

                   o pray and do not give up if it is on your heart!

 

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:1-8 ESV)

 

-As we and making requests known to God we must believe he will answer do not be double minded

          But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.(James 1:6-8 ESV)

 

-         So we are asking... it is still on my heart I believe it will happen still

not happening…. why? Paul throws in there WITH THANKSGIVING.

when bringing our requests before God be thankful for all that we already have and we may realize what we are asking for is selfish and not from God. I can pray that I would win the 1.5 billion powerball and believe that God can make me win but will i actually win it probably not…..

 

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.(James 4:3 ESV)

 

if we seek God first (Matthew 6:33) everything we need will be added to us and if we are seeking God only those desires that are from Him will stay

          o Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.(Romans 8:26-27 ESV)

If God has put a desire on your heart do not give up (widow parable Luke 18:1-8) Sarah was 90 years old when she has Isaac.

 

          o Story of Jackson faith in WEBMD vs with Daniel faith in God and James 5:14

 

Be anxious for nothing and pray for everything! then…..

V7 the peace of God will guard you!

 

-         It is very practical that when we cast our cares on God and give everything up in prayer there is a peace that we are blessed with however I think the PEACE OF GOD is the only thing that can lead us to not be anxious and to pray for everything.

 

          “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword (Matthew 10:34 ESV)

          o Jesus did not come to bring peace….then how do we get the peace of God? Before his crucifixion as he is promising the Holy Spirit to the disciple he says to them...

 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.

(John 14:27 ESV)

         

and then the first thing the resurrected Christ says to the disciples is...

         

Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

(John 20:19-21 ESV)

 

Jesus being resurrected is our peace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! without it we have no peace just some good moral teaching of another man

          o And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.(1 Corinthians 15:17-19 ESV)

 

but Christ did DIE FOR US AND DID rise from the dead to one day come back and take us to heaven!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 and when jesus tells us to …..

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.(Matthew 16:24 ESV)

 

how could i not want to do that. all i want to do because of that fact is rejoice and be gentle and love and pray and give everything to GOD!!!!! I owe him everything anyway without the cross and the resurrection I am a goner... that is the peace that surpasses understanding. And it is THAT peace that guards our hearts the peace of knowing i cannot do anything!! and it is relieving to know i don't have to do anything Christ did it all already I must only

-         if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.(Romans 10:9 ESV)

 

Just like Charles should live his life differently now...make it mean something because someone gave his life for he and his families we too should live our life differently and God has given us a “death note” to say hey live this way I promise it it better for you. It is not about being moral and good to be “righteous” the only thing that makes us right is what Christ did for us but he gave his life for us ….HIS LIFE for ours…… we must rejoice and we must be reasonable and we must pray and give everything to HIM!!!!