God's Call To Peace

Sunday, I finished out our "Joy" series by focusing on the entire 4th chapter of Philippians.  I knew I was only going to get thru the first part and planned on finishing here on the blog.  

So, here goes....

As background, Paul is sitting in a Roman prison, just steps from the Forum where at anytime he could be taken, given final judgement and executed.  He pens this letter to the Philippian church and the one thing most filling his heart is PEACE....deep peace....God's peace which surpasses understanding.

In the 4th chapter, Paul talks about how God in Christ has provided His peace to us, yet it is OUR job to work that peace out into 3 arenas of our lives:

1. RELATIONAL peace (vs 2-5)
2. MENTAL peace (vs 6-9)
3. CIRCUMSTANTIAL peace (vs10-19)

To hear what I unpacked concerning relational peace, go to www.harvestpensacola.com and listen to Sunday's message there.  It is a challenging message, no doubt.

Today, I want to unpack the 2nd and 3rd arena of peace God wants for us:  Mental peace and circumstantial peace.

Recently, I was talking with a girl who was a single mom, struggling to make ends meet, to take care of kids, to pay bills, to just survive.  She made the comment, "I honestly feel I am losing my mind."

Life is stressful.  But God has provided 2 ways for us to stay mentally clear:

1. PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING

       VS. 6 "Dont worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need and                        thank Him for all He has done.  Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds all                        understanding."

    Get that.  Pray about EVERYTHING.  Dont worry about ANYTHING. We are to keep 'turning things       over' to God, again and again and again.  When we start obsessing over it, again, we cast that care       right back to Him.

2. FIX YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE RIGHT THINGS.

         VS 8 "Fix your thoughts on what is true, what is honorable, what is right, what is pure, what                   is lovely and admirable......then the God of peace with be with you."

    Our tendency is toward being critical.  We get zoned in on our children's and spouses flaws, the           things that annoy us and irritate us.  If we want peace of mind, as well as peace in our relation-              ships, we have to stop this.  We need to FIX OUR THINKING on the good things, the things that              are praise-worthy, admirable, true from God's perspective.  

    Critical thoughts lead to a critical spirit.  Depressing thoughts lead to a depressed spirit.  Fix           your thinking on the good and the God of peace will enjoy your company much more!!

God calls us to work out the peace of Christ in our relationships.  He calls us to seek to have his peace ruling our minds, our mental state, which is so fragile. Finally, He calls us to enjoy His peace in each and every circumstance we find ourselves in.

I put it this way:  Peace RIGHT NOW....Peace RIGHT HERE.  The way I remember this is NOW/HERE peace.  Like "nowhere", only now...here.  :)  We are always saying we will be satified 'one day....when I move to....get another job.....you name it.  It is always future, somewhere else.  

God says find contentment NOW.....right at this very point of your life.  HERE...right in the very place you find yourself in.

Paul said this in Phil 4:

    "I have learned to be content with whatever I have.  I know how to live on almost nothing or with      everything.  I have learned the SECRET of living in every situation,....I can do all things thru            Christ who gives me the strength."

What is the SECRET to a 'contented heart'?  Receiving strength and grace from the Presence of Christ, wherever we find ourselves, whatever circumstances.  It is casting ourselves in dependency on God's loving care for us.

What is God calling you to DO in your relationships?? Are you dealing with stuff or passively doing nothing, saying 'God will take care of it'?

Have you been 'turning things over' to Him rather than worrying?  Do you truly have mental peace?  

Are you contented in the circumstances you find yourself in?  Or is discontentment eating you alive?

Love you guys and be praying for my preparation for the Multiply series starting this next Sunday!

PB

 

 

Comments

[Thomas Guidy]

It like this; " put it this way: Peace RIGHT NOW....Peace RIGHT HERE ". ... You're right PB, when you proclaim peace over the roar of the tumultuous moment in Jesus name, the stillness and peace of Jesus within will keep you from making a decision you'll regret! Great stuff!

[Jim lafleur]

thank you bobby, I needed to hear this because I am going thru not a peacefull time right now. I guit my job at the group home where I worked. because of my back trouble. I couldet just be there and do no work. also I feel GOD is callen me and my wife to something new. That is to taverl and share my testamoinl about being set free from drugs and to share the good news of JESUS. don't know how to start going about this but getting input for friends and my pastor love you and that you.

[Sis Deborah Bixler]

Thanks for posting this right away from your sermon that we were not able to hear in the alotted time.You did a great job of presenting it. Just wish we could have heard it all. When we get back into our new renovated bldg., we will have no time limits!~!PTL!