Finding Joy In Chains (Part 10) ( Philippians 4:1-9)                                                   2008.06.29    Pastor Edward Cheng  

Last week we began to read through Paul’s final thoughts toward his beloved Philippians.  We can tell that he has a tremendous heart for them by the way he addresses them: My brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown…” (Phil 4:1).  For his final thoughts to them, he crams into just a few sentences several commands and encouragements, as if to squeeze in as much as he can before his ink runs dry.  We noticed last time that all of these commands really are brought together by the unifying thought, “you should stand firm” (4:1).  In this encouragement, to stand firm, or to stand out, Paul indicates that the life and attitude of the Philippian Christians ought to be different than those around them in several ways.

Today, as we continue to look from vv. 6-9, we find additional ways in which we are to be different.  First of all, in vv. 6-7, he encourages the believers to live lives free from anxiety and worry.  The life of the believer should not be characterized by worry since we have trust in the Lord and we can pray concerning our needs.  Paul understands that it’s quite natural for people to worry because there are certainly plethora of things that are out of our control.  When we encounter situation that we cannot control, such as future events, we certainly are flooded with anxiety.  However, for the Christian, it’s not in the ability to control such events that we find comfort, but rather that we can lift up our concerns to the Lord who is able to control such things.  We don’t have freedom from worry because we can manipulate these types of situations, but because we can lean on the only Person who has the ability to do all things.

When we trust in Him in this way, lifting up our burdens with thanksgiving to the Lord, Paul tells us that the result is a tremendous peace that cannot be explained.  This is a peace and rest that envelopes the heart and mind of a believer, that can only come from on high.  Isn’t this really what we all want – peace and rest from all sides?  Israel sought that during the Old Testament.  When they were faithful to the Lord, the biblical authors indicated that they had peace and rest from all sides, meaning all borders.  No one surrounding was plotting to attack them at the moment and they could be at ease.  We see this in Joshua 23:1, for example.  For us, rest and peace from all sides means rest and peace in all fronts of our lives – our work lives, our home lives, our relationship lives, our financial lives, etc.  When we have rest, we experience a time when we are not filled with concern and worry about what is going to happen.  That’s a wonderful life to live, and can only come from trusting in the Lord.

Secondly, Paul continues by telling us that this rest and peace, which is really the dominant theme of these last few verses, comes from filling our minds with good things and godly things.  This happens when we meditate on that which is true, noble, right, pure and so on.  However, the flip side to doing this is to guard ourselves against filling our minds with junk and garbage.  Frankly speaking, there is so much garbage in the world which we are exposed to.  If we are not careful, we mindlessly accept and receive such garbage in our hearts and minds and allow such filth to change us, albeit in a subtle manner and unbeknownst to us.  This is what happens when fill our hearts with certain kinds of rap music, certain kinds of television shows, certain kinds of books.  That garbage we expose ourselves to does change us, no matter how strong we think we are.

Instead, Paul says that peace from God (v. 7) and the God of peace (v. 9) are with us when we fill our minds with good things.  When we expose ourselves to wholesome things, the result of that is that peace and rest that we all seek.  This is the life that Paul lived and taught and is hoping that the Philippian Christians (and us) follow (v. 9).

Do you experience the type of peace and rest Paul describes here?  A life free from worry and anxiety, in which peace from God stands guard over our hearts and minds, not allowing “worry” to attack?  If not, then let’s consider Paul’s words together and determine how we might be more faithful in lifting up our burdens to the Lord and filling our minds with good things.  Perhaps then God would be gracious to us and give us “rest from all our enemies around us” (Joshua 23:1).