Main Text: Philippians 4:4-7
Main Idea: The transforming gospel of Jesus Christ empowers us to rejoice in the Lord, to be reasonable with everyone, to overcome anxiety through thankful prayer, and to experience the supernatural peace of God.
- You can always find joy in the Lord. (vs. 4)
[4] Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
“I am glad that we do not know what the quarrel was about; I am usually thankful for ignorance on such subjects; – but as a cure for disagreements, the apostle says, ‘Rejoice in the Lord always.’ People who are very happy, especially those who are very happy in the Lord, are not apt either to give offense or to take offense. Their minds are so sweetly occupied with higher things, that they are not easily distracted by the little troubles which naturally arise among such imperfect creatures as we are. Joy in the Lord is the cure for all discord.” (Charles Spurgeon)
- Because the Lord is near, you can be reasonable with everyone. (vs. 5).
[5] Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
Psalm 34:18: The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
- Anxiety is overcome by thankful prayer. (vs. 6)
[6] do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
- A central experience of the Christian life is the internal, supernatural peace of God. (vs. 7)
[7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
“What is God’s peace? The unruffled serenity of the infinitely-happy God, the eternal composure of the absolutely well-contented God.” (Charles Spurgeon)