The Joy of the Peace of God

1. Read: Philippians 4:1-7

2. About the Text:

1) Paul is closing out this letter to the church.

2) He calls them His joy and crown.

3) He reminds them that their behavior in the Lord is what brings peace.

4) Joy and peace go together.

5) If one is not at peace, it is hard to rejoice.

6) Peace makes it possible for our joy to be full.

7) Here are four positive steps that we can take to have peace and joy.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. The Lord is the Standard

1) We must remain in Him.

2) “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4).

3) “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’” (John 8:31-32).

2. Stand Fast means…

1) Keep standing where you are at.

2) Do not waver from your place.

3) Do not move to the right hand or to the left.

4) “Ponder the path of your feet ??And let all your ways be established. ??Do not turn to the right or the left; ??Remove your foot from evil” (Proverbs 4:26-27).

3. How do we do this?

1) “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7).

2) “Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle” (2 Thessalonians 2:15).

4. When we stay true to God, we have peace and joy.

1. The Lord is the Standard

1) We cannot have “the same mind” without the Lord’s mind!

2) The Lord’s mind is revealed in the word of God – 1 Corinthians 2:10-16.

3) “We have the mind of Christ” – HOW?

4) “The seed is the word of God” – Luke 8:11.

2. Have the mind of Christ in you.

1) “Have this mind in you” (Philippians 2:5).

2) It is a choice to have the mind of Christ.

3) Consider Matthew 28:20 – “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.”

3. “In matters of doctrine, unity; in matters of opinion, liberty; in all things, charity.”

1) “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son” (2 John 9).

2) “Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way” (Romans 14:13).

3) “though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2).

4. When we remain united in the Lord we have peace and joy.

1. The Lord is the Standard

1) “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

2) There are so many counterfeit joys outside of Christ.

3) They do not last.

4) Only Christ’s joy is forever.

2. How do we rejoice in the Lord?

1) “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11).

2) “And these things we write to you that your joy may be full” (1 John 1:4).

3) The key is holding onto the word of God.

3. When we rejoice in the Lord, we have peace.

1. Anxiety always threatens our peace and joy.

1) What is at the root of anxiety? – Fear

2) We must fight fear with prayer!

3) We need to replace our fear with faith in God!

2. How do we overcome our anxieties?

1) “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).

2) When we love God, we have a relationship with God; we pray, study, learn, grow, and trust in God for all things.

3) “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

4) The spirit of fear does not come from God!

5) God’s Spirit brings power, love, and a sound/healthy mind.

6) An anxious mind is not a healthy/sound mind.

3. When we replace anxiety with prayer, we will have peace and joy.

1. For us to have the joy of the peace of God we must . . .

1) Stand Fast in the Lord

2) Be of the Same mind in the Lord

3) Rejoice in the Lord

4) Replace Anxiety with Prayer

2. Invitation