## The Peace of God

## Philippians 4:7-19

There are two phrases I want us to consider this morning. In verse 7 "The Peace of God" and in verse 9 "The God of Peace".

I. The Peace of God.

A. The most longed for commodity in our world is the commodity of peace.

1. In our world we continue to have wars and rumors of wars.

2. I was born near the beginning of the Korean war and grew up during the Vietnam era.

3. We have sent troops to the Gulf war, Bosnia, and Somalia.

4. The rumors of wars are now back in Korea and China.

5. Those who really keep up with current events could double the number of places on my list, not to mention the wars that are fought on the streets of America every day.

B. In Jer. 6:14, the prophet Jeremiah, says that the people cry "Peace, peace, when there is no peace."

1. We might think 'so what' it has always been that way, and always will be.

2. But let's get a bit more personal.

a. Forget the external conflicts of the globe.

b. If we were isolated from all that, 90% of us here this morning would still have a problem; a problem of peace of mind and peace within our heart.

c. Our world has moved from being a psychiatric society to being a suicidal society.

d. Not only it is a day when people check themselves into mental institutions, but many also check themselves out of the whole thing by taking their own lives.

e. One of the major concerns of a national health plan is:

1) Can we afford to provide psychiatric care?

2) And if so, how much can we afford?

3) The next question will be: Will the health care cover the cost of suicide machines, suicide doctors, and all the complications of successful and failed suicide attempts?

C. The Bible does address the subject of peace.

1. As far as WORLD PEACE is concerned:

a. I can offer you very little hope.

b. There will be some temporary lulls.

c. But, not long ago we were rejoicing in the tearing down of the Berlin wall, the breaking up of the Soviet Union, and the collapse of Russian Communism.

d. We may think that the cold war has ended, but don't expect it to last

e. There will be no lasting peace in this world until the coming of the Prince of Peace to establish His reign of righteousness and peace upon the earth.

2. But what about peace of heart and peace of mind to live in a world of turmoil and continual distress?

a. God has provided His perfect peace.

b. A peace that goes beyond human understanding.

c. A peace the world cannot experience or comprehend.

d. We get it by making our peace with God; which means to turn from our sins and receive Christ as Saviour and Lord of our life.

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" (Rom 5:1)

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (1 Pet 5:7)

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Mat 11:28)

3. But the peace of God which is provided for us in Jesus Christ must be continually appropriated to our own personal needs.

4. This is what the book of Philippians talks to us about.

II. In the Bible the Peace of God is given to us in three pictures:

A. As a LEGACY

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27) [5]

1. We have been included in the will of the Prince of Peace.

2. When He made this promise Jesus made sure we understood that it was not a worldly type of peace, a shallow concept of peace, or an artificial kind of peace He was leaving us.

3. He said: Peace I leave with you, MY PEACE I GIVE UNTO YOU.

4. It is a peace which passeth all understanding and that kind of peace cannot be bought with any amount of money; it is God's free gift to you, but it comes only through Jesus Christ.

B. As a FRUIT.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith," (Gal 5:22)

1. Peace is a part of that fruit that comes through the believer abiding in Christ and allowing the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit in us

2. The result of our union with Christ is God's peace that passeth all understanding.

C. As a PROTECTION

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Phil 4:7)

1. Peace is pictured here as standing guard over our hearts and minds, to prevent the confusion of world philosophies from bringing turmoil to our mind or your heart.

2. Worldly wisdom, worldly philosophies, and Worldly pleasures are seeking to capture our minds and our hearts.

3. But God's peace stands guard to protect us from the outward conflicts of the world.

4. If we've got any sense we'd rather have God's peace which passeth all understanding than to have any of the honors, attractions, or pleasures offered by this world.

5. Our prayer ought to be: God, let your peace guard my heart and keep me from the confusion that will come if I invite into my mind or into my heart the offerings of this world.

III THE GOD OF PEACE

A. The God of peace is working in the life of the believer:

1. To fulfill His purpose in the believer's life...

2. To make the believer what he was intended to be...

3. And in the process to seal eternal peace in the believer's heart.

B. What the God of peace will do in our lives.

1. Will keep our mind healthy - 4:8-9

a. We will have to cooperate with God, but if we will submit our mind to Him, the God of peace will give us peace of mind.

b. The first battlefield for every person's soul is the mind.

c. Satan is constantly attacking the mind and he is the expert at getting our thinking distorted.

1) He did this with Eve. He said to her "Yea, hath God said?"

2) She got to thinking: Maybe God doesn't know what is best for me, or doesn't want what is best for me.

d. When Satan has put before us so many things that are ugly, impure, perverse, immoral, worldly, and wicked in order to capture our minds for his own purposes, the Bible says:

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Phil 4:8)

e. If we will let Him, the God of Peace will give us a healthy mind and out of the confusion, depression, and perversion that characterizes many lives today, our mind can be healthy and filled with peace.

2. Will strengthen us for whatever He asks us to do.

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Phil 4:13)

a. What wonderful peace will come to our hearts if we will believe this verse and stand on this promise.

b. It seems that we have so many excuses that we try to offer up to God for why we cannot serve Him.

c. Paul reminds us of how God has empowered us to do whatever He has called us to do.

d. We can walk with confidence and certainty in this world, ready to face whatever comes our way.

e. The promise is that Christ strengthens us for whatever we face.

f. We must always depend on Him and keep trusting in His power.

g. But when we do that we can meet head on any trial, any problem, any challenge, or any opportunity that may be in our path and say with confidence "I can do all things through Christ..."

3. Will supply all your need.

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Phil 4:19)

a. While the first promise was internal (strength) this promise is external (supply).

b. I have strength within me to do whatever I am asked to do because of the strength Christ gives me.

c. And God is going to bring to me whatever I need.

d. To know I have strength within me for whatever I face, and to know that God is going to supply all my external need brings PEACE.

e. Sometimes we have a hard time distinguishing between wants and needs, but need to be honest with God in this matter.

Through Jesus Christ the God of peace will be with you and you will experience the peace of God as well as experiencing the supply of all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Do you know Christ today? Have you personally placed your trust in His finished work on Calvary? Do you long for this peace? Come to Christ today. Christian are you at peace with God?