Keeping our eye on the prize - Peace - Happiness & Joy - Sunday message 11-1-20

 

  

     Keeping our eyes on the prize… The prize or reward for serving God is eternal life but what have we to gain in this life?? For me it is an easy answer.. It is the Joy and peace we get living for the Lord…We hear so much about the negative aspects of living a Christian lifestyle and when it is framed in that context it should be too hard and very dreary indeed…i.e. The denial of one’s self, the sacrifice of worldly pleasures, the denial of the flesh and so the list goes on.. I have learned that living for God is much much more than this…The price we pay to live a Godly life pays us huge dividends in this life as well as in the next….Happiness and Joy need to be the hinge pins of serving God for our lifetime here on earth. Happiness and Joy increases our faith and as such gives us peace of mind…It’s all connected.. When we begin to radiate this peace then it is clear that we have peace in our hearts also…Our lives take on a clear ,simple purpose and through the ups and downs we know that God is with us.. Personally I would like to see more people living with this Joy . It’s infectious and what a wonderful way to influence lost souls down the right path toward Jesus…In a world full of misery the opportunity to live with Joy in our minds and hearts, to be happy in our lives with the Lord is a wonderful prospect indeed…

The other day I read a question – It said “a lot of people want to understand how to have peace”… I want to say look at those people who live for God, see the joy in their lives and feel the peace in their hearts and model after them… Understand that peace and joy in serving, and believing is possible.. Then the choice is yours to make… Our daily example can make a difference. It was the essence of the life of Christ; to live as an example for us.. the lifestyle itself serves as an example for us… Paul says..PHIL 4 “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Paul was ever mindful of the power in leading by example….

Paul is a magnificent example of the joy and peace that is attainable for us….For this reason I would like to spend a little time on Paul so that we may look beyond the pettiness of life and see in him the possibilities which are laid out before us…

“No matter that we may face adversity, persecution, affliction, hardship or disaster. God’s remarkable purpose for us is so much better, that it is not to be compared with this life’s sufferings,” says Paul.

Beyond that is the wonderful news that we can have the spiritual strength to endure trials when they strike our lives. Paul says to us that we do not face life’s problems alone, but do so with the Holy Spirit — through Christ in us.

That’s how Paul was able to remain assured in his terribly unsure years in prison. We should think of a spiritually joyful Paul in prison, not someone downcast and fearful…We see Paul carefully dictating a profoundly positive letter to encourage the church. We can but imagine his circumstances.. Paul writes hopefully of his future in spite of the obvious hopelessness of his predicament.

This contrast between Paul’s rather hopeless physical situation and his hopeful reaction reverberates through a letter he is writing. It is one of the four prison epistles. This one is to the Philippians, and it becomes a message of joy. The word joy occurs 16 times in its various forms in the letter. Spiritual joy, rejoicing in Christ, is a major theme. “I will continue to rejoice,” Paul writes to concerned believers while he is under house arrest in Rome (Philippians 1:18). He continues, “For I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance” (verse 19). Paul has confidence in the outcome of his situation. No matter how bleak it is, no matter what ominous turn it may take, God’s will shall be done.

Meanwhile, the power of the Holy Spirit will see him through his predicament, no matter how difficult. Through Christ, Paul will face the worst and come out the best. What may happen to him in the near future is not the issue.

Paul’s present prison life, admittedly, is horrifying. However, that is not the issue for the apostle Paul. He learned to be content whatever the circumstances. Encouraging the people he knew and loved, Paul says: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation” (Philippians 4:12).

Paul encourages the church

Here is Paul in an uncertain and trial-filled position. Yet he is the one encouraging the church to have hope, joy and peace. He virtually demands the members to feel triumphant: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (verse 4). Paul, who is suffering in prison, pleads with the Philippians: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (verse 6).

Paul is no bootstrap psychologist. Church members need not attempt to manufacture this confidence and joy. They should have joy and peace within because these are fruits of the Holy Spirit living within us (Galatians 5:22). So Paul can tell the church: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

Paul’s prison message is always hopeful, his outlook confident, his future bright. This especially shows through in another prison letter, the one to the Ephesians. When writing this letter, Paul is in chains, with little to look forward to in this world. But he is exuberantly thankful for God’s priceless spiritual gifts.

It is these gifts — joy, peace, faith, hope — that will get Paul through his trial. Paul tells the Ephesian Christians that God and Christ are the source of all these spiritual blessings — ones we need to support us through life. He writes: “To him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

When we are under the spirit we are living under several guiding principles which are obvious based on the examples of Christ and Paul: Standing fast, The importance of Unity, Rejoicing and gentleness…

PEACE is the whole point of Philippians 4:1-9, specifically the peace of God in verse 7 AND the presence of God in verse 9.

Philippians 4 - Paul writes……

“4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 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. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

When a believer loses his peace with God, things happen to a person which may set him on the path to misery… Several things can happen and usually does happen as we consider the following points.

If he has lost his peace, he becomes cantankerous, critical, murmuring, grumbling and divisive.

Some feel guilt…

Behaviour changes as a person who has let fall by the wayside in his/her life and only serves to support discontent… As they begin to slip back into sin.

The peace that he once had with God becomes disturbed inside of himself. On the surface he can appear to be doing just great but on the inside cannot shake the turmoil. We see the behaviour manifest in a number of negative ways such as becoming a trouble maker, sharp or contentious…Habits will likely change because on an unconscious level anyone would begin searching for peace or wellbeing in other directions….Some individuals may become depressed over time and just feel defeated within themselves…(It’s called regret).Like he has failed and in some sense unworthy….It is common that people become “fear driven” in their lives which is a depressing way to live in and of itself….Fear and avoidance can take over our lives very quickly and the devil will be just waiting to take advantage of the despair when it does….

BUT “PEACE” in the Lord IS THE ABSENCE OF FEAR:

In order for us to understand what Paul is telling us in this passage, we will go to John 14:27, the source of peace and perhaps a little further into that chapter.

“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, KJV)

A comforting thought is it not? Let not your heart be troubled, neither be afraid…..

DEFINITION

It is always helpful to define the words we are dealing with and so think about the definition of PEACE. Peace [ceirene] means to bind together, to join, to weave together. It means that a person is:



bound,

woven

and joined together with

himself,

with God

and with others.

The Hebrew word SHALOM means freedom from trouble and much more. It means:



experiencing God’s highest good,

enjoying the very best,

possessing all the inner good possible.

wholeness and soundness.

good, enjoying the very best.

prosperity in the widest sense.

especially prosperity in the spiritual sense of having a soul that blossoms and flourishes.

NOTICE  THINGS ABOUT PEACE:


1. There is the peace of the world. This is a peace


of escapism.

of avoiding trouble.

of refusing to face things.

of unreality.

sought through pleasure.

Superficial satisfaction,

momentary contentment.

the absence of trouble.

the denial of problems.

2. There is the Peace of Christ and of God. This is, first a bosom peace, a peace deep within. It is a:


tranquillity of mind.

a composure.

a peace that is calm in the face of bad circumstances and situations.

It is more than feelings – even more than attitude and thought.

3. This is second, the peace of conquest. (John 16:33) It is the peace of independent conditions and environment; the peace which no sorrow, no danger, no suffering, no experience can take it away.

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, KJV)

This is third, a peace of assurance. (Romans 8:28)

“And we KNOW that ALL THINGS work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28, emphasis added, NKJV)

This is a PEACE OF ASSURANCE. It is the peace of unquestionable confidence; the peace with a sure knowledge of one’s life in the hands of God and that all things will work out for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them ETERNAL LIFE, and they shall NEVER perish; neither shall ANYONE [this includes you] snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to Me, is greater that ALL; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.” (John 10:27-30, emphasis added, NKJV)

This is the fourth peace of intimacy with God. (Philippians 4:6-7) It is the peace of the highest good. It is the peace that settles the mind, strengthens the will and establishes the heart.

“Be anxious for NOTHING, but in EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication, with THANKSGIVING, let your requests be made KNOWN to God; and the PEACE OF GOD, which surpasses all understanding, WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS.” (Philippians 4:6-7, emphasis added, NKJV)

When we CONSIDER THE SOURCE OF PEACE: True peace is always borne out of RECONCILIATION. Its source is found ONLY in the reconciliation brought about by Jesus Christ. Peace ALWAYS has to do with personal relationships:

a man’s relationship to himself.

his relationship to God.

his relationship to his or her spouse.

his relationship to mankind.

NOTE: A man must be bound, woven and joined together with himself, with God (through salvation) and with his fellow man.

“But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. FOR He Himself is OUR peace, who has made both ONE, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,” (Ephesians 2:13-14, emphasis added, NKJV)

TO HAVE PEACE ONE MUST WALK WITH CHIRST DAILY.

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools BUT AS WISE, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be UNWISE, but UNDERSTAND what the WILL of the Lord is.

Peace be with you…..

We need to keep our eyes on the prize… In the next life it is eternal life but in this life it is the joy and piece we have as we live our live for Christ..

Dear Lord show us the way to contentment and peace so that we may know the joy of serving you.. Help us to overcome our desires of the world, our sicknesses, our frailness of spirit and our internal wilfulness…Be with us this day and bless our bible study. We pray for those less fortunate, in this country and around the world. We look for evidence of your power as you intercede for us. We look for evidence of your power as the rich, proud and powerful unbelievers who are seeking control of this world are brought into check..

We ask these things in Jesus’ name…

Amen