Well, let us turn to God's Word
in Philippians chapter 4. I'll read the first seven verses. A short portion
of Scripture here in Philippians 4. Therefore, my brethren, dearly
beloved and longed for my joy and crown, so stand fast in the
Lord, my dearly beloved. I beseech you, Odias, and beseech
you, Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. And
I entreat thee also, true yoke-fellow, help those women which laboured
with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow
labourers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in
the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice. Let your moderation
be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful
for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgivings. Let your requests be made known
unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth
all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus. Here in verse 6, of course, we
have that exhortation to prayer which is quite common as we come
to the concluding chapters and verses of Paul's epistles. He
gives these exhortations to the churches or to individuals and
would always be reminding them of the importance, the necessity
of prayer and so here the assurance of course is there at the end
of verse 5, the Lord is at hand when we Pray to Him, He's not
a God of far off, He is near at hand, He hears, and He answers. And so He says, Be careful for
nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the
peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. And it's really verse
7, the consequence of that praying that I want us to consider tonight,
the peace of God that is promised to those who pray to Him. The peace of God which part us
all understanding. Paul says, shall keep your hearts
and minds through Christ Jesus. And so I want initially to observe
that there are three things to observe in this exhortation
that the Apostle is giving to pray. First of all, in a sense,
we see there's caution here. He says to them, be careful for
nothing. Literally, don't be anxious.
Don't be anxious. Be careful for nothing. Paul
is not forbidding any forethought, any preparation, he's certainly
not doing that. He says right into the Corinthians,
or speaks to them there of providing for honest things, not only in
the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. We are to
have some forethought, and to think, and to prepare. But his caution is that they
are to be careful, careful in a sense to be diligent, but they're
not to be distracted, they're not to be full of anxiety. There's a caution then in the
opening words of that sixth verse. And then of course there's the
call, the call to pray. As I say, it's often there in
the various epistles of Paul when he writes to the to the
Colossians there in Colossians 4.2 he says continue in prayer
that's his exhortation that to continue in prayers similarly
in 1st Thessalonians chapter 5 he says to them pray without
ceasing the same exhortation really as he'd already given
to the Colossians that to pray continually the Thessalonians
are to pray without ceasing what does he say here having given
that word of caution, be careful for nothing, don't be anxious,
he says, but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. It's very much a command that
he's giving to them and it's very comprehensive really. Whatever
their situation, whatever their circumstances, in everything,
he says. And then also we see that he
mentions every type of prayer, all sorts of prayers. He uses
different words, but all of the words in a sense are speaking
of prayers, supplication. Well, prayers, supplication,
thanksgivings, requests. A whole variety of words are
used in order to encourage them to obey this call, this command
to be a prayerful people and then in verse 7 we have the consequence
and as I said that's really what I want to send to your attention
upon the consequence of such praying and the peace of God
which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus taking then these words and to say something
on the subject of the peace of God, the peace of God. And three
headings I'm going to deal with. First of all, the source of this
peace. And what lies behind this peace?
Well, it's God's sovereign purpose really. See how he uses here
the genitive, of possession. It's the peace of God. It's the
peace that belongs to God. It's God's peace that He is speaking
of. And of course, at the end of
verse 9, He reminds us that He is the God of peace. He is the
God of peace. And He requests there Himself
that the God of peace be with them. And as the God of Peace
is with them, so God will bless and will favour them with that
gift that is really His own special possession. It is God's purpose
that as His people pray, they will come to rest in Him, to
enjoy peace with Him. And what is it that lies behind
that promise of God is there's a purpose of God. We know that
God is sovereign. Remember, when we come to the
end of the epistle to the Hebrews, we have that lovely benediction
where he speaks of the God of peace. There in Hebrews chapter 13 verse
12, there's the God of peace. that brought again from the dead
our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood
of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good
work, to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing
in His sight." It is a sovereign God who is
the God of peace, and that passage there in Hebrews 13 reminds us of God's peace in terms of the
covenant. The blood of the everlasting
covenant he speaks of. The sovereign grace of God in
that covenant and the Lord Jesus Christ, that one who is the mediator
of the new covenant. And remember how in the Old Testament
of course we see several types really of the Lord Jesus. and
amongst them we read of the high priest called Joshua in the days
of Ezra. And Joshua is spoken of there
in the prophecy of Zechariah in chapter 6 and verse 11. He was the command of God, The word
of the Lord came unto me, saith Zechariah, saying, verse 11,
Take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the
head of Joshua the son of Josedek the high priest. And speak unto
him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold
the man whose name is the branch, and he shall grow up out of his
place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord. Even he shall
build the temple of the Lord, and he shall bear the glory,
and shall sit and rule upon his throne, and he shall be a priest
upon his throne, and the council of peace shall be between them
both." It's a remarkable word of prophecy. It concerns historically
this man who was the high priest, but really it's prophetic. It's speaking of that one of
whom Joshua was a type. and the antitype is the Lord
Jesus and Christ is that one who is the branch and there is
that covenant of peace between the Son and the Father and the
Holy Spirit in the covenant of redemption. And we are to remember
that when we read here of the consequence of our praying to
this God. He is the God of peace. as we see at the end of verse
9, and here is the consequence of prayers, the peace of God,
which passeth all understanding, shall keep your minds and hearts
through Christ Jesus. The promise is there in Zechariah.
Of course, when we come to the New Testament, we see it is the
Lord Jesus Christ who will build that temple, which is the church. that church that he has purchased
with his precious blood. Upon this rock he says, I will
build my church, the gates of hell shall not prevail against
it. He has that promise in the covenant,
he shall see the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied. Oh, it's that covenant, it's
the sure mercies of David, an everlasting covenant. ordered
in all things and sure. And so what is this peace? It
is something that passes knowledge because it's bound up in God
Himself, it's bound up in the Covenant. The peace of God shall keep your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus. What peace is, is passing understanding. We cannot find God out by all
our searchings. We know that of Him and through
Him and to Him are all things to whom be glory forever and
ever. Here is the source of peace then.
It's in God Himself, it's in that covenant of redemption,
the outworking of that in the covenant, the new covenant of
grace. But then in the second place,
we're reminded of the one who has procured this peace. How he speaks at the end of the
verse, it's through Christ Jesus. It's through Christ Jesus. Literally,
it's in. Christ Jesus. The peace of God
which is part of all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds
in Christ Jesus. It is the mystery of the Lord
Jesus Christ. And what a mystery it is. The
great mystery of godliness. Without all controversy, Paul
says, great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in
the flesh. There's the person or the person
of the Lord Jesus. Again, there in Old Testament
prophecy, is he not spoken of as the man of peace? In Micah
chapter 5 and verse 5, this man shall be the peace when the Assyrian
comes into the land. Micah was a prophet in the same
day as Isaiah. He was a prophet in the days
of that good king, that gracious king, Hezekiah. And historically,
of course, it is King Hezekiah who is being spoken of in that
fifth chapter, when the Assyrian comes into the land. And we have
the history, don't we, of all that happened. how Sennacherib
sends his general Rabshakem taunting the men on the walls of Jerusalem
and you know the account of Hezekiah how he has to take the letter
and lay it before the Lord, the threats of the Assyrians and
then subsequently how he's sick and he's going to die, and he
pleads with his God, and so on. And the Lord adds 15 years to
his life. He was such a gracious man, and,
oh, when the Assyrian came into the land, the Lord appeared.
This man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come
into the land. But if we look at the context
there in that prophecy, in the opening part of the fifth chapter
in the book of Micah. Verse 2 you see. But thou Bethlehem
hath retired, O thou be little among the thousands of Judah,
yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler
in Israel, whose going forth hath been from of old, from everlasting. and then we read on and we come
to that fifth verse this man who comes from Bethlehem Ephratah
this man shall be the peace when the Assyrians shall come into
our land the promise really ultimately
directs us to the Lord Jesus Christ he is that blessed man
of peace he is that one who is the mediator between God and
men The man in his fallen nature in that state of alienation,
at enmity with God. How Job cries out, doesn't he? Neither is there any daysman
betwixt us that may lay his hand upon us both. How can the sinner
ever come to God or be reconciled to God? Oh, there is a daysman,
an umpire, a mediator. One God, we're told, one mediator
between God and men, the Man, Christ, Jesus. And when He comes, of course,
what is the rejoicing of the angels? They're who address those
shepherds who are in the fields watching over their flocks at
Bethlehem. They come to announce the birth
of that One that promised Messiah. Glory to God in the highest. Unearth peace. Goodwill towards
men. Oh, there is peace. He is that
one who is the Prince of Peace. And he is the one spoken of here.
In his person. He's in the form of God. He thinks
it not rubbly to be equal with God. but he makes himself of
no regretation, takes upon him the form of a servant, and is
made in the likeness of man." All gods become man to stand
between heaven and earth. And it's through this one that
we come to find peace with God. We find that peace, of course,
in that great work that he has accomplished here in the earth. As we read in that previous chapter,
chapter 2, being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself
and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. He died. And he died that accursed
death of the cross. That awful death, that bloody
death. Cursed is everyone that hangeth
on a tree. And what has he done by dying?
He has made peace. That's what the Apostle says.
Remember back, or following this read, I should say, in Colossians,
there in chapter 1. verse 20 having made peace through
the blood of his cross by him to reconcile all things unto
himself by him I say whether they be things in earth or things
in heaven and you that were sometime alienated and enemies in your
mind by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled in the body
of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable
and unreprovable in his sight oh he has made peace He has made
peace. He is the propitiation for our
sins, says John. And again, here in his love,
not that we love God, but that he loved us and sent his Son
to be the propitiation for our sins. And all that that technical,
that theological word propitiation reminds us of, it reminds us
of a God who is a holy and a righteous and a just God who will by no
means clear the guilt He has borne that punishment,
that dreadful penalty that was the sinner's just desert. He
has died. The just for the unjust to bring
us to God. Oh, the mystery of it all. That
such a man as Jesus of Nazareth should die that death. He is God, never anything less
than God, at one with the Father. And yet, how He cries in all
the agonies of His soul, there upon the cross, My God, My God,
why hast thou forsaken Me? It is all in order that the sinner
might be reconciled to God. This is the Lord's legacy, is
it not? He says it there in John 14, Peace I leave with you, my peace
I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid, he says. Why, that's his legacy,
you see. It's a legacy of peace. And so
we have it here in the text, the peace of God which, part
of all understanding, shall keep your hearts and mines through
Christ Jesus. Oh, what a blessed legacy. And
again, see how it's spoken of when the Lord, after His resurrection,
comes and appears to His disciples there in the 20th chapter of
John's Gospel. What does the Lord say? Chapter
20, verse 19, The same day at evening, being the first of the
week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled
for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst and said
unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he showed
unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad
when they saw the Lord. For three hours he pronounces
the word, Shalom, Peace be unto you. When he had so said, he
shows them his hands and his side. those wounds from whence
the blood had flowed away. He poured out his soul, he died
the bloody death of the cross, the life is in the blood. And
he shows them those wounds. This is the legacy of the Lord
Jesus Christ. He is that one through whom then
this peace is brought to the needy sinner.
It's through Christ Jesus. It's in the Lord Jesus Christ.
And of course in and through him there is the breaking down
of that ancient partition between Jew and Gentile. As we see from what the Apostle
says in writing to the Ephesians Ephesians 2.14, He is our peace. We've spoken there in verse 13
of the blood of Christ, He is our peace. Who hath made both
one and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between
us, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments,
containing ordinances. For to make in Himself of twain,
of two, of the Jew and the Gentile, one new man, so making peace,
and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross,
having slain the enmity thereby, and came and preached peace to
you, you Gentiles at Ephesus, which were afar off, and to them
that were nigh. For through him we both, Jew
and Gentile, have access by one Spirit unto the Father." It's
the mystery, the calling of the Gentiles, the ancient division
gone. It's the new covenant. It's the
covenant of grace and the salvation for Gentile sinners. Oh, this
is the one you see through whom the peace comes. His name shall
be called the Prince of Peace. And then, finally from this text,
the experience of peace that comes to the believer. What does
it say here at the end of the verse shall keep your hearts
and minds the peace of God which passeth understanding shall keep
your hearts and minds through or in Christ Jesus there's the
heart there's the heart the wise man gives that exhortation keep
thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues
of life but can we really keep our own
hearts? can we do such a thing? again
we think of the words of the Lord Jesus there in that 14th
chapter of John let not your heart be troubled he says you
believe in God believe also in me and the word that we have
there to be troubled it means to be stirred up agitated Like
the sea, you see. Oh, the wicked are like the troubled
sea when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. Isn't that our heart sometimes?
Oftentimes. How we're troubled, how we're
stirred up, how we're agitated. Oh, that hideous thing called
sin. Oh, thou hideous monster of sin,
what a curse hast thou brought in. All creation groaned through
thee, pregnant cause of of misery, and it makes us miserable. And
yet here we have it, you see. What we find in the Lord Jesus
Christ, or the God of peace, which passeth understanding,
shall keep your hearts, through Christ Jesus, kept by the power
of God, through faith, unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last
time. But besides the heart, there's
also that keeping of the mind. It's heart and mind, isn't it? He says back at the beginning
of verse 6, Be careful for nothing. And the word that we have there
to be Careful, as I say, it's that word that really refers
to anxiety. Don't be anxious. That's what
he's saying. I like the comment that Mr. Philpott makes with
regards to that word and the significance of it. He said it
has the idea of tearing the mind, dividing the mind asunder. A
mind so torn so confused how can we find peace with such
troubled minds as that well remember the language that we have in
that second chapter that great second chapter which says so
much about the person and work of the Lord Jesus great doctrine
is found here and yet the setting is so practical What does the
apostle say? Let this mind be in you, which
was also in Christ Jesus. And then he goes on, who being
in the form of God, thought it not rubbish be equal with God,
but made himself of no reputation. Oh, what is it? It's that lowliness
of mind. It's that lowliness of mind. Look at what he says previously
there. Verse 2, Fulfill ye my joy, that
ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord,
of one mind, in lowliness of mind. Let each esteem other better
than themselves. We want that humility then, that
lowliness of mind. But what does he say to the Corinthians?
In 1 Corinthians 2.16 he says we have the mind of Christ or
to have that mind the mind of the Lord Jesus Christ and to be those who daily in
our experience are drawn to him where else can we go to whom
else can we turn as Peter says thou hast the works of eternal
life. The peace of God, which passeth
all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus. The Lord bless His word to us
tonight. Let us now turn to our second
praise. The hymn is 594. We're omitting
verses 3 and 4. the tune Holy Warfare 471 Oh
my soul with wonder tell Jesus has done all things well and
through his atoning blood I have settled peace with God 594 omitting
verses 3 and 4 the tune 471