I want to take a moment to share a follow-up, or a continuation, of last week’s entry. Right now the world is hurting in so many ways; and as a part of that, there are so many individuals that are looking to Christians, to believers, to us, for help, for guidance, and for ways to find just a moment of peace in the storms around them. You may ask, “how do I help others find peace when i’m so anxious myself?” I know I have. It’s difficult to lead the way in a time of complete and utter uncertainty. Fortunately for us, we have a manual to turn to! It gives us step-by-step instructions on how to handle these very trials that we’re going through.
I want to start in Philippians and I’ll finish up in John. We will actually finish in John chapter 16 just before the crucifixion and resurrection — fitting for this week!
Before I get to the scripture that I want to focus on — Let me give just a bit of background. Paul is writing to the church in Philippi from prison. He’s writing to believers, and the basic of theme of this letter is to encourage unity and joy. Additionally, and i’m paraphrasing 2:15, Paul is pushing these believers to do those things necessary so that they may shine as beacons of light in a crooked and perverse world. Most of Paul’s letters begin with doctrine, then how to apply that within our lives. Philippians is slightly different in that it seamlessly intertwines doctrine and self-application throughout.
One night this past week, I opened my Bible app on my phone, and the verse of the day was Philippians 4:6-7. It’s another that you know by heart. “6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
I copied a few lines above and below this passage for a couple of reason. First, my note on verse 5, “Be kind, always”, is unrelated, but self-explanatory. Second, and more applicable, I wanted the note for John 16:33. More on that later.
Remember now, Paul is telling the Church, from prison, to be anxious for nothing. That, in itself, is pretty powerful. Here we have the believers at Philippi, going about their daily lives, sending help and aid to Paul and his companions in prison. You would think that Paul would be the anxious one — yet he’s sending encouragement back to the church and letting them know to live in joy and how to apply that within their lives.
Let’s go on… Be Anxious for nothing, BUT in everything by prayer and [humble petition], with thanksgiving….talk to God. Let him know our requests. Let him know what’s going on in our lives. Continually let him hear our needs, our fears and our doubts. Continually Pray. Of everything in this passage — this section is the key to achieving the peace of God.
Notice here, that Paul doesn’t say that we will get what we want. It’s not mentioned at all. But the promise that he does give is that the Peace of God will surround us and guard against the tribulations of this world. I know, it doesn’t say “tribulations of this world”. I’ll get to that shortly. But first, the greek word for “guard” used here is “phroureō”, and means to be guarded or protected by a military guard to prevent hostile invasion. That’s just how strong the Peace of God can be — strong enough to guard our hearts and minds against a hostile invasion of everything bad going on around us. Stop and truly let that sink in. When we place our trust, our faith, our prayers, in God, the result of that is Peace!
Let’s take a closer look at what it means to have the Peace of God. We’re going to jump over to John 16.
This is Jesus speaking to the Disciples. “33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Once again, there’s no guarantee here that trials won’t come, in fact, it’s the opposite — the world will have tribulation. But (another keyword) He has overcome the world!
Because of the cross, — We can have perfect peace through Christ — regardless of what tribulations are going on in this world. (Paul was well aware of this, and is exactly what he was communicating to those at Philippi.)
We already know that He has overcome all that is yet to come. Read that again — all that is YET to come. It’s important to add a note here on God’s sovereignty. This is Jesus speaking, about an upcoming event — yet he speaks in past tense. “I have overcome the world“. It was by His death, and subsequent resurrection that He was able to overcome the world — and He knew this well before it happened. If he can know that, with complete certainty, who are we to doubt Him when he says, “The peace of God, through Christ, will guard against all that is out there?!”
To bring this full circle — now, more than ever, we are being called to help a dying world. To be the light that the world needs. Through Paul, God has given us direct instructions on how to achieve the peace that we need, so that we are more prepared to reach those around us. He gives us exactly what is needed to calm us through this storm. He gives us the promise that even through the trials and tribulations of this world, that He has already defeated everything that is yet to come — and only through him can we experience the perfect peace that we so desperately need.
