Philippians 4 - The Peace You Cannot Explain!

Philippians 4 - NIV

Enduring Word Commentary

As we started Paul's letter to the Philippians, I said it was my favorite letter in the New Testament. That being said, Chapter 4 is my favorite chapter. Verses 4-8 and verse 13 are defiitely worth memorizing! 

Final Exhortations

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

First, two important things about the historical context of this passage. One, Paul was in prison suffering for the proclamation of the gospel. Two, the Philippians were suffering, as we see Paul writes that the Philippians were experiencing the same kind of struggles and conflict, they had seen him go through. 

If anybody had a reason to be anxious it was the apostle Paul. He was not only anxious for what lay ahead of him, as he knew trouble awaited him wherever he went. He was anxious to preach the gospel to as many as he could reach. He was most anxious for all of the churches, as many of them were experiencing internal strife, persecution, and false teachers. The church at Phlippi was the one church he was in debt to for they had supported his ministry, even beyond what they could afford. 

So Paul says something that at face value might seem a little trite, "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice!" The word "rejoice" in the Greek language is in the imperative tense. In the Greek it means, "A direct, continuous command from God to make deliberate, habitual gladness rooted in Christ your ongoing practice, regardless of your passing circumstances." (H.B. Charles)

You might says that sounds like saying to a person who is very worried, "Don't worry!"

But is he saying something more than that? Yes. He is specifically saying, "Rejoice in the Lord!" Though your circumstances may be rotten and not at all joyful, you can take joy IN THE LORD! In the Old Testament, the prophet Nehemiah says, "The joy of the Lord is my strength." Nehemiah 8:10 

Again, Paul’s joy wasn’t based in a sunny optimism or positive mental attitude as much as it was the confidence that God was in control. It really was a joy in the Lord. - Guzik

It's hard to be anxious when you are full of the joy. But when we are anxious, Paul has an antidote to that too. Prayer! And not just prayer, but prayer with thanksgiving. Paul says, "Don't be anxious about anything". And, "Pray in every situation". 

So you might say, "We can be anxious for nothing, if we pray about everything!"

And then comes the linchpin. Paul makes an incredible promise. When we pray all the time about every thing, "The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus!"

Notice it doesn't say that God takes away our circumstances or troubles, but He give us peace within them. And, he says it is a peace that doesn't make sense. Many times, people ask the question when someone has lost a loved one or had some other tragic loss, "I can't believe how much peace they seem to have."  They can't explain it. It doesn't make sense. \

It only makes when you are realize it is the "peace of God", not the "peace of the world".  True peace can only come from God. It comes when we have a right relationship with Him through faith. Peace in the world is completely temporary and complete out of our control. But if God is in us, we can have peace at all times. 

What are you feeling anxious about these days? How can you rest in the peace that only God can give you through Christ? 

How can you "rejoice in the Lord"?  Is the world or your circumstances trying to rob you of the joy Jesus came to bring you? Remember Jesus said to his disciples on his last night, 

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27

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