That's a sweet song, isn't it?
That's a sweet song. The days, the moments fleeting
till I reach the promised land. Verse 2 said, Every day the Lord
Himself is near me. As we just sang that, I thought,
whether I know it or not, whether I feel it or not, Every day the
Lord himself is near me with a special mercy for each hour. All my cares he feigned would
bear and cheer me, he whose name is Counselor and Pyre." That's
wonderful. That's just wonderful. Go with me back to Philippians
chapter 4. Philippians 4 and look with me
at verse 7. And the peace of God which passeth
all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus. Doesn't that sound fantastic?
Doesn't that just sound fantastic? The peace of God which passeth
all understanding. Sometimes you just cannot understand
how can a child of God who's going through so much tribulation. Our Lord said, in the world you
shall have tribulation. How can a child of God have peace? Peace. Others don't understand it. Tragedy
happens. I know a woman who lost her daughter
and she was sorrowful, but at peace with it. And somebody asked
her, how can you be so calm in this and at peace? Passes all
understanding, can't make any sense of it. Others can't make
sense of it. We can't make sense of it. The
peace of God that passes all understanding shall keep your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. What is the peace of God? What is the peace of God? It's peace with God. That's what it is. Peace with
God and peace with God brings peace in God. Peace in the spirit. Peace with his people. How was
peace with God made? And I'm going to tell you this
is a defining key in this message. This is not just a question we
already know the answer to. even though we already know the
answer to it. How was peace with God made? The answer is there
was a way, right? A particular way, a very particular
way. Something had to be done. Something had to be done. And
our God recorded for us in His Word what it was, didn't He? Look with me at Ephesians 2. Ephesians 2, verse 11 says, Wherefore remember,
that you being in time past Gentiles in the flesh who are called uncircumcision
by that which is called the circumcision in the flesh made by hands, that
at that time you were without Christ being aliens from the
commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise
having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ
Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the
blood of Christ, for he is our peace. He is our peace. Philippians said, and the peace
of God. He is our peace. Verse 14 goes on to say, who
hath made both one, he and I, both one, and hath broken down
the middle wall of partition between us, having abolished
in his flesh the enmity. Enmity means we're enemies. He abolished in his flesh the
enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances, for
to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace, that
he might reconcile both unto God in one body, by the cross,
having slain the enmity thereby. And then he came and he preached
peace to you, which were a far off into them that were not."
That's how peace with God was made. That's how peace with God
was made. We who were outcast, enemies
of God, we were brought near to him again by the blood of
Christ. He joined himself to us, union
with him. Two became one. And then he reconciled
both unto God in that one body on the cross. And in doing that,
he slew that enmity. He slew the enmity between us,
so making peace. Now that's how peace with God
was made, okay? Here's the question for tonight,
question for the message. How is peace in God made? That's how peace with God was
made. How is peace in God made? Peace in the Spirit. Peace with
His people. How does a child of God truly
come to enjoy inner and outer peace and contentment? There
is a way. There is a particular way. Something must be done. And our Lord has recorded in
His Word what it is. Okay, just like peace had to
be made with God in a particular way, peace in God is made in
a particular way. Go with me back to our text now,
Philippians 4. Now in the first six verses here,
I believe two Wednesday nights ago we looked at the first three
verses and then last Wednesday night we looked at verse four,
but in the first six Our Lord has given us an instruction in
each verse. There's one of them in each verse
for us to follow. And then he says in verse seven,
you do these things and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding
shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Because
of that peace with God, he said, you follow these instructions
and you'll find peace in God. Peace in the heart, peace in
the mind. So we're gonna review the first four and then look
at the other two. The first one is in verse one,
he said, and here's the instruction, stand fast in the Lord. Verse one says, therefore, my
brethren, dearly beloved and longed for my joy and my crown,
so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. What does it
mean to stand fast in the Lord? What does it mean? I found some
scriptures in here that tell us that. I want to turn to one
of them, and then I'll tell you the other ones. Go with me to
1 Corinthians 16. Back just a few pages to 1 Corinthians
16. What does it mean to stand fast
in the Lord? 1 Corinthians 16 verse 13 says, watch ye stand
fast in the faith. Stand fast in the faith. Faith
looks to Christ, doesn't it? That's what faith does. Faith
looks to Christ. He said, watch ye look to Christ. Where am I supposed to look?
He said, watch. Where? Look to Christ. In all things,
look to Christ. In all things. Thing after thing
after thing comes. With each one, the first thing
we do is forget to look to Christ. With each one. We look to Christ
on that one, the next thing comes, and now we forgot about that.
In all things, keep a single eye on Christ, first and foremost. I don't turn, but Galatians 5
says, stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us
free. That's the gospel. Stand fast in the liberty wherewith
Christ has made us free. You'll know the truth and the
truth will make you free. That's the gospel. To stand fast
in the Lord is to remain in, remain under the gospel. How do we have peace? How do
we have contentment? Remain under the gospel. Stand,
don't just believe it, stand in it. Stand fast in it. Philippians 1 says, stand fast
in one spirit. The spirit of Christ. Second
Thessalonians 2 says, stand fast in the word. Stand fast in him. Stand fast in him, look to him,
assemble with his saints. He said, there's a place where
I've chosen to put my name there. He said, when two or three are
gathered in my name, I'm in the midst of you. His spirit is in
the midst of us. Stand fast in the place where
He said He would send His Spirit and feed on His Word. Feed on
His Word. Soak up His Word, every bit of
it, as often as you can. Be in His Word. Stand fast. That's
the first thing. If we want peace and contentment,
then let's stand fast in the Lord. All right, now back in
Philippians 4. Verse 2, the second one he said
is be of the same mind. Verse 2 said, I beseech you Odius
and beseech Syntyche that they be of the same mind in the Lord. Strive for the same mind. Strive for the same mind. Let's
cut out everything that could cause a division. That's something
to actively do. That's something to do. Absolutely
cut out. Let's completely do away with
anything that could bring a separation to our hearts and our minds. Whatever that may be. There is
only one thing worth dividing over. One thing. And that thing is, what is it
that justifies a sinner before God? If somebody wants to say
that the blood of Christ was not enough, and we have to add
our works to it, we cannot agree. We cannot walk together. We need
to separate. We need to go our separate ways.
But if we have the same mind in that, then with everything
else that comes along, let's ask ourselves, Compared to Christ
crucified, how important is this? Compared to Christ crucified,
how important is it? Does it really matter? The answer
is always no. Always no. Compared to Christ,
how important is it? The third one is in verse three.
He said, help each other. I entreat thee also, true Yoke
fellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel,
with Clement also, and with other my fellow laborers whose names
are in the book of life. help each other. If we would
like to have inner and outer peace and contentment, then let's
think about each other as often as we can. Let's think about
each other. Let's have a desire for each
other. Let's help each other as often
as we can. I believe one of the One of,
there are many, but one of the greatest helps we can give to
each other is communication. I believe it is, communication.
It's amazing what picking up the phone and calling somebody
just to say, I was thinking about you, I wanted you to know, I
love you, and I just wanted to tell you that. It's amazing what
that can do for that person's peace and contentment in mind,
that communication. In that communication, we're
reminded of the fact that God has given us one mind. When you talk to a believer,
usually the conversation at some point will go to Christ. And
when the conversation goes to Christ, both parties know we're
on the same page. That's my brother. That's my
sister. We both have a desire to stand
fast in the Lord. It's an encouragement. It's a
help. Brethren usually say to each
other, I'm here for you. If you need anything, you call
me. We help each other. So let's reach out. That's something
to do. That's something to do. I quoted,
I believe, Sunday night, if we want to have a friend, we need
to be a friend. That's something to do. Reach
out physically, emotionally, prayerfully. Let's pray for each
other. Brethren, pray for me. I would like for you, every time
I run through your mind, pray for me. Every time you run through
my mind, I want to pray for you. Before we attempt to worship
God Almighty, pray for me. I'm so thankful. We just met
back there and the men, pray for me. Pray for me. Pray for
us. Pray for each other. There's
really no greater help we could give each other than prayer to
God. Back over in Philippians 4. Look at actually chapter 2, Philippians
chapter 2 verse 4 says, look not every man on his own things,
but every man also on the things of others. If we would truly
do that, we would start to experience some true peace and contentment.
That is what Jesus Christ did for us, isn't it? He looked not
on his own things, he looked on the things of others. And
in that, he made peace. And if we would do the same thing,
we would make peace. So let's help each other. All
right, Philippians 4, the fourth instruction he gave was in verse
4. Rejoice in the Lord always. And again, I say rejoice. The key word in that verse is
always. Always. Always. You know, without
the Spirit of the Lord, that's impossible. I know it's impossible,
but if we beg Him, Lord, would you help us? Help us now in these
tribulations, Lord. Send your Spirit to us. Bless
our hearts. Help us always to rejoice. What he's saying is, let's absolutely
stifle. Absolutely squash. Kill. All murmuring and complaining. Wouldn't that be wonderful? Wouldn't
that be wonderful? Just kill all murmuring and complaining. Like that man who said, Josh
Gravitt, he said, the Lord is sovereign, we'll be grateful.
Kill all murmuring and complaining. Look again back at chapter two,
verse 14 this time. Do all things without murmurings
and disputings. Surely he does not actually mean
that. He does. He does. Verse 14, do all things without
murmurings and disputings that you may be blameless and harmless,
the sons of God without rebuke. in the midst of a crooked and
perverse nation among whom you shine as lights in the world,
holding forth the word of life, that I may rejoice in the day
of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain.
Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice in service of your
faith, I joy and rejoice with you all. For the same cause also
do you joy and rejoice with me. Our Lord, he endured the greatest
suffering that the world could ever know. And he said, nevertheless,
not my will, thine be done. May he give that to us. May he
give us that heart, that spirit, If we would truly love to enjoy
peace and contentment, then the Apostle Paul says the way, the
particular way, is to rejoice in the Lord always. Whatever
comes along, may the Lord cause this heart to rejoice in Him.
Rejoice in what He's done for us. Stand fast in Him. Strive for the same mind, help
each other, love each other, support each other, and rejoice
in what Christ has done for us. Now back in Philippians 4, the
next instruction he gives to us is in verse 5. He said, let your moderation
be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. The word moderation means appropriate. That's what the word means, appropriate.
It means mild, gentle, patient. When it comes to believers, when
it comes to our conduct, our dealings with others, each other
or anybody, the Apostle said we need to be appropriate. Appropriate,
that's the command to the Lord's people. What is appropriate? All right, what is it? You know,
different people can interpret it different ways. What is appropriate?
Mild, gentle, and patient. That's what it means. Appropriate,
mild, gentle, and patient. The way to true peace and true
contentment is not by being harsh. It's by being mild. This applies anywhere. This applies
everywhere. You know, how we deal with people,
you know, something doesn't go our way and we're just going
to, I'm going to get mean and we're going to power through
this thing. It never works. It never works. And it sure does
not work with the Lord's people. And it does not bring that inner
peace. It does not bring that trust in the Lord. True peace
and contentment. He said, don't be brutal with
each other, be gentle, be gentle. Don't be short-fused, be patient. Be long-suffering, as Christ
has been to us. Everything he has been to us,
he's dealt with us so mildly. He's been so gentle with us. He has been so patient with us.
He's been so long-suffering. This world, this flesh right
here, everything about man by nature is inappropriate. All you have to do is turn on
the TV, look in the news, it's inappropriate. His way, the way
of man, his attitude, everything about him is inappropriate. Man
is not naturally moderate, none of us. None of us are naturally
moderate. Man is loud and proud. That's what man is. Paul said,
we just shouldn't be that way. We just shouldn't be that way.
He said, let your moderation be known. I love that. If you break that down, look
at verse five with me. He said, let, that means do. Your, if nobody else is doing
it, let your. appropriateness, mildness, gentleness,
patience. Let your moderation be known. Let it be known. Don't just possess
moderation. Promote it. Promote it to all
men, he said. To all men. The Lord is at hand.
May every person we come in contact with know us to be mild and gentle
and patient. May the heart and spirit and
way of Christ be in us. If you look, if your Bible has
a reference there, there's a reference to Titus 3. Turn with me over
there to Titus chapter 3. Titus 3 verse 2 says, Speak evil
of no man, no man, no matter who it is, no man. Don't be a
brawler, but be gentle. showing all meekness unto all
men, showing it, showing it, striving to show it, striving
to promote it, showing all meekness. Our Lord, we quote it, take my
yoke upon you, learn of me, I'm meek and lowly in heart, showing
all meekness unto all men. May he enable us to do that.
Back over in Philippians 4, The last word of instruction
he gives is in verse 6. He said, Be careful for nothing,
but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving,
let your request be made known unto God. Don't be anxious. Be careful, full of care for
nothing. Don't be anxious over anything. That's impossible to do. With man it's impossible, but
with God all things are possible. Be anxious over nothing, but
by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
as we pray May our prayer be seasoned with
thanksgiving. We naturally ask for more than
we give thanks for. Lord, this is what I'd love to
have and if it be that will, I'd love for you to do this and
we want and may it be completely seasoned with thanksgiving. Lord,
thank you for what you are doing. Thank you for order in all things. Thank you
for doing all things well. Lord, these are our petitions. He said, be careful for nothing
but in everything by prayer and supplication. With thanksgiving,
let your request be made known unto God. These are the things
we request. But we do it with thanksgiving.
If we desire peace, if we truly desire peace, We will never find
it as long as we are taking our burdens and our cares. everywhere but our Lord. We'll
never find it. We take our burdens and our cares
to this one, that one, here, there. We will never find peace
until we take our burden to the Lord and leave it there. Absolutely leave it there. Let your request be made known
unto God. That's what he said. Let them
be made known unto God. If we could ever trust our Lord
that He will do what's right, we could do that. We could take
our burden to the Lord. Somehow we feel like that's not
enough. That's not good enough. But if we could take it to the
Lord and leave it there and trust Him, stand fast in faith, stand
fast in Him and trust Him, then we would find peace. This world
cannot help us. The world cannot help us. We
can't help each other. We really can't. We share our
burdens and we want to bear each other's burdens. But what we're
doing in that is we're saying, I will be praying about this
with you. We'll both bring it to the Lord. We'll both call on him. And he said, that's the answer.
That's the way to peace. Take it to the Lord and leave
it there. Verse six, be careful for nothing,
but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving,
let your requests be made known unto God. Stand fast in the Lord. Stand fast in the Lord. Be of
the same mind. Help each other. Rejoice in the
Lord always. Let your moderation be known
and don't be anxious for anything. Take everything to the Lord your
God and then leave it there. And he said in verse 7, the peace
of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus. That peace will come to the heart
and the mind of a child of God that says Christ has already
taken care of everything, every single thing. Our peace is interrupted
whenever we lose sight of the fact that our Lord is sovereignly
in control. He is in complete, complete control. Whatever it is, he's in complete
control. And that peace will come back
that he's taking care of everything. He has reconciled me to God. He has satisfied all of my debt. He has ordered all of my steps,
every single one of them. He has predetermined every one
of them for good, every single one of them. In Him, I am complete. Finished. And everything that
pertains to this life and the life to come is ordered and sure.
It is all ordered and sure. And this is the only thing He
commands of me. Rest in Christ. Just rest in Christ. That right there is peace. That's
peace. Isaiah wrote, thou wilt keep
him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee. If the Lord would let us do that.
we would find perfect peace and contentment. Right there, right
there. Thou wilt keep him in perfect
peace whose mind is stayed on thee. My heart's desire, this
is my heart's desire, is that the Lord would bring peace to
our hearts, peace to our minds, he said, through Christ Jesus
our Lord, by looking to him. By remembering who He is, what
He's done, where He is now. I'm in control of nothing, He's
in control of everything. Wait on the Lord, it's going
to be fine. Look to Christ, trust Him, and
He'll bring peace. Alright, let's stand together.