Experience Exceeding Peace

Experience Exceeding Peace

(Philippians 4:2-9)

Yearly Theme:  “Peace is…”

Series Title:  “Parting Peace”

November 14^th, 2021

Something to think about:

The letter of Philippians is different from many of the other letters written by Paul because this letter is a letter of thanks and joy rather than correction. We see Paul talking about his love for the Philippian church and for the joy they have brought to him and others. He thanks them for the gift they sent him and expresses his desire to be with them. He spends much of the time talking about being joyful in the Lord and what that means.

At the end of the book, his farewell is one that Is filled with love. We see him encouraging the church to seek the peace of God and reassuring them that God wants to give them peace that is beyond all understanding. Let’s look at Paul’s farewell to a church that brought him so much Joy.

Philippians 4:2-9 (NLT)

² Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. ³ And I ask you, my true partner,^[a] to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.

⁴ Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! ⁵ Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.^[b]

⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. ⁹ Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Paul makes it clear that the deepest desire of his heart is for the Philippian church to experience the peace of God in the same way that he was currently experiencing it. At the time of this letter Paul was in prison and yet he talks about the joy and peace that he experiences through Christ. This farewell shows Paul’s heart for this church, and he offers advice on how to achieve this elevated state of peace.

Key Point:  “Experiencing Gods peace requires reconciliation, commitment to prayer, and thoughts focused on things that are holy”

How do Paul’s last words to the believers at Philippi apply to us today?

• A person who seeks  , must seek  .

Philippians 4:2 (NLT), Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. .

• A person who seeks  , must  

Philippians 4:6 (NLT), ⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.

• A person who seeks  , must fix their thoughts on what is  .

Philippians 4:8 (NLT), And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Something to take home:

I hope that this message and passage encourage you. As Christians we are meant to be peace-seekers and peace-makers, these actions are what bring God’s peace to our lives. 

This week I encourage you to look for places where you can bring reconciliation. Look for time for prayer. And fix your thoughts on what is holy. When we become peacemakers then peace fills our life, it becomes a way of life rather than a fleeting momentary thing.

May God’s peace be with you this week and may you experience his perfect Joy.