Joy - Jesus Others Yourself

This week, was okay. A few assignments, etc and work on sermon. Anyways going to Challenge conference tommorrow (Used to be called club 5). However before i do that, i will share my exergesis of Philippians 4 which i used for our committee meeting today.

Philippians 4:4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be know to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy or praise, think about these things. Whatever you have learned and received and heard and seen in me – practice these things and the God of peace will be with you.

Paul in verse 4, tells us to rejoice, rejoice in the Lord all ways, joy is to be commended everyday. Paul conclusion to rejoicing comes in verse 7. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Here is a great promise, God will bring us peace. This peace is also a peace God possesses; it is not just peacefulness or settled feelings. It actually comes from the Jewish word ‘Shalom’ which mean’s wholeness, and it is in our relationship with God and with others and is given to us when we trust in Jesus. It is a peace which is beyond our thoughts, considerations or plans, and it guards us so that we can press on. Why do we need this peace? It is because we have a real need for a transformation and keeping of our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, and notice it is only possible through faith in Jesus.
So how do we receive this peace? Well verse 7 starts of by the word ‘and’, therefore God’s peace is dependent upon the commands which come before verse 7.

First command is a command for our relationships. Verse 4, Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.
Glorifying God in Christ Jesus is central in our Christian lives as God’s people, and this is how we rejoice in the Lord. Jesus is our Joy, and naturally we cannot hope to enjoy the peace of God if we give less than first place to him who is our peace. Paul also sums up Jesus’ attitude towards others in the loving word which we have translated as reasonableness or gentle forbearance. It is the uncomplaining readiness to accept others as they are and to submit oneself to their demands. This is what Jesus was like and likewise we should be as well.

Second command is a command for our circumstances, the antidote of prayer. Verse 6, do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be known to God. The prelude to the enjoyment of peace is to be found in linked exercise of prayer and thanksgiving. In prayer, anxiety is resolved by trusting in the promises of God. In otherworlds it is trusting that God is totally competent and in whose hands the matter may be left. In thanksgiving, anxiety is resolved by accepting that the worrying circumstances have been appointed by the all-wise, all-loving and all sovereign God. In a time of anxiety, it is easier to retreat into a corner complaining to ourselves, but it’s when we bring the matter to God that we find release, therefore our minds should be so constantly upward that all of life is reflected to the throne of God. And this is done through prayer.

Third command is a command for our thoughts, discipline for our thoughts. We must ponder, to give proper weight and value to, and be allowed to be influenced by all that is true, all that merits serious thought and encourages serious-mindedness, all that accords with justice and moral purity, all that is fragrant and lovely, all that brings with it a good word, that speaks well and whatever has genuine worth.

Finally, the forth command is a command for our behaviour, the authority of the Word of God. This command requires us to submit to the apostolic word and the continuing teaching of God’s word in the Christian church. If we are to know the presence of the God of peace, then for certain, we must seek the life of which he approves.

The peace of God can properly be summed up in this. JOY.
J – Jesus
O – Others
Y - Yourself

First submit yourself to Jesus in obedience, and trust in the promises of God. Second imitate Christ, in the uncomplaining readiness to accept others and submit yourself to their demands. And lastly if we, as God’s people, are to stand fast in the face of the world, then we must attend to our personal sanctification and make sure we pray, and practices the things taught in God’s word.

Please continue to pray for me, particularly my sermon prep, i have to presented it next sunday and i am still far away from finishing and other matters i am struggeling with.

Anyways Goodnight, God bless
Laurence.