In the chaos of a fallen world we long for peace. In Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi we are given encouragement on how we can experience true joy. There is nothing like a church that is filled with joy. You can sense it when you walk through the doors. This joy fills our hearts when we are at peace with one another. The Bible Knowledge Commentary says, “Paul’s love for the Philippians, which is evident throughout this letter, is especially apparent in the opening verses of chapter 4. One of his chief concerns was that these people would be characterized by the fruit of the Spirit. Love, joy, and peace were uppermost in his heart and mind for them. In order to experience these Christian graces Christ must be at the center of a believer’s life. Paul made this plain as he wrote to the saints at Philippi.”[1] We have seen throughout our study in Philippians that a key component of joy is keeping our eyes on Jesus. Making Jesus the center of our lives and of our church is the only way to have real joy. It must be all about Jesus. When Jesus is at the center of everything we will experience peace with God and with each other which produces a flood of joy in our hearts. At the beginning of Paul’s concluding remarks to the church of Philippi we see seven steps to the joy of peace.
Stand Firm (v. 1) The Pulpit Commentary says,“The apostle here, as in 1 Cor. 15:58, urges the hope of a glorious resurrection as an incentive to steadfastness in the Christian life.”[2] We should stand firm in the hope we have in Christ. To have peace we must stay true to the Word of God and guard ourselves from anything that would disrupt the peace. Compromising does not bring peace. Trying to please everybody does not bring peace. Living with no rules does not bring peace. To have real and lasting peace amongst ourselves we must unite around the Word of God.
Be Right (v. 2-3) It is apparent that there were two women in the church at Philippi that were not at peace with one another. There was such a squabble that Paul felt compelled to mention them in his letter. Can you imagine being one of these two women? You are called out by the apostle Paul and told to behave! These were faithful members of the church at Philippi. No doubt they served faithfully in the church. Yet, there was some disagreement amongst themselves and they were not of the same mind. The Bible Knowledge Commentary says, “Two women, Euodia and Syntyche, did not live up to the meanings of their names. “Euodia” means a “prosperous journey.” “Syntyche” means a “pleasant acquaintance.” Since Paul pleaded with these two to agree with each other in the Lord, it seems that they were causing dissension in the assembly.”[3] This was not a matter of doctrine or theological differences. It was two people that just simply did not get along. “Paul refuses to take sides, thus maintaining friendship with all.”[4] If we want to have the joy of peace, we must be right with one another.
Rejoice Always (v. 4) Another step to the joy of peace is to rejoice always. Paul says that we should rejoice always. Matthew Henry wrote, “It is our duty and privilege to rejoice in God, and to rejoice in him always; at all times, in all conditions; even when we suffer for him, or are afflicted by him. We must not think the worse of him or of his ways for the hardships we meet with in his service. There is enough in God to furnish us with matter of joy in the worst circumstance on earth.”[5] God has been so good to us. There is such an enormous measure of God’s goodness that has been bestowed upon us that we can’t help but to rejoice always. Rejoice when things are good. Rejoice when things are bad. Rejoice when you are in perfect health. Rejoice when you are sick. Rejoice when you are strong. Rejoice when you are weak. Rejoice when you have a leaky faucet. Rejoice when the car won’t start. Rejoice when your hair won’t part. Rejoice when you lose the game. Rejoice when you stomp your toe. Rejoice when you “ain’t got time for that.” No matter what you face this week, learn to rejoice always. Peace comes to those who remember the goodness of God. Peace comes to those who rejoice no matter what the circumstance.
Be Gentle (v. 5) Paul said to “let your moderation be known to all men”. This means to be known as a gentle person. If we want to have peace, then we must be peacemakers. There are many things that I aspire to be. One of those things is to have a gentle spirit and to be a peacemaker. I want to be one of those people that brings calm when I walk in a room. I want my life to be so in tuned with Jesus that people sense it. I want to be the type of person that my presence gives assurances to others that everything is okay. As believers in Christ, this should the desire of us all. We should be known as peacemakers, not peace disrupters. Unfortunately, many Christians are known as peace disrupters rather than peacemakers. They bring an uneasiness and people feel like they are walking on egg shells when they are around them. Brother and sister, this ought not be. Our lives should not be characterized as one that brings anxiety and frustration and fear. Instead, our lives should be characterized as one who is gentle and on who brings assurance and calm and peace. To have the joy of peace, we must be known for our gentleness. We must be known as peacemakers.
Don’t Worry (v. 6-7) In order to have peace we cannot be worry warts. We must be a people that does not worry but gives everything to the Lord in prayer. Great encouragement is given in Matthew 6:25-33. Jesus tells us not to worry about our lives for God is our provider. We are instructed to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. When we do, everything we need falls into place. Living free of worry comes through prayer. The Evangelical Commentary on the Bible says, “As important as rejoicing and gentleness are in difficult times, they are incomplete without prayer.”[6] Prayer takes away the fear. Prayer takes away the anxiety. Prayer takes away the worry. I love those quiet moments with the Lord each and every day. The highlight of my day is those early morning hours spent with the Lord. The more I am on my knees the less I worry. All the things I fear and all the things that has me burdened just melts away when I am in the presence of Jesus. It gives me a peace that is beyond description. To live in the joy of peace, you must not worry, you must pray.
Be Pure (v. 8) I have verse 8 as the background image on my phone. It reminds me to look on the things that are pure and to refrain from the filth of the world. Paul says that the only thing that we should concern ourselves with is the things that bring God glory. If you cannot praise God for it, is it worth looking at? If you cannot praise God for it, is it really worth your time? I do not want to do anything that I cannot thank God for. I do not want to do anything that does not bring Him glory. When we have things in our lives that are not pure and holy, it causes us to be anxious. It keeps us from peace. Many times when we are not at peace, it is due to some unconfessed sin in our lives. Sin separates us from God. It hinders our relationship with Him. Therefore, we cannot experience the joy of peace when there is unconfessed sin in our lives. Every single day we must confess our sins and be determined to not look upon the things of this world, but to fill our minds with the things that are pure. We should live innocent lives that are not tainted by the world. Oh, to return to the days of innocence! To live with no knowledge of the evil devices of men. Those days are long gone for many of us. It’s time that we reclaim our innocence. It’s time that we return to the days of no regard for worldliness. It’s time that we go back to the days of our childhood where we knew so little of the wickedness of this world and where we just simply enjoy life. True joy is found in being innocent. It is found in being pure. Live in purity and you will have peace.
Follow the right example (v. 9) Paul encourages the church at Philippi to follow his example. Lenski writes, “Paul had taught them these things in their true value, and they had learned and received them, made them their own. Paul had ever exemplified these things in his own person (faith and life), and they had heard this from many sources, heard what Paul was before he came to Philippi, heard what he was after he left Philippi even as they are now hearing it in the epistle, they had also seen it right in Philippi every time he was in their midst. Paul lived what he taught; he could say: “Be joint imitators of mine”.[7] The greatest lessons learned are those we both hear and see. We need to follow those who are setting the right example for us. Follow those who practice what they preach. We should pattern are lives after those who are living in the joy of peace.
Peace. It sounds so good. So refreshing. So joyful. You can have peace. It is within your reach. Stand firm, be right, rejoice always, be gentle, don’t worry, be pure, and follow the right example. When you do, you will discover the joy of peace.
[1] Lightner, R. P. (1985). Philippians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 663). Victor Books.
[2] Spence-Jones, H. D. M., ed. (1909). Philippians (p. 155). Funk & Wagnalls Company.
[3] Lightner, R. P. (1985). Philippians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 663). Victor Books.
[4] Fee, G. D. (1999). Philippians (Vol. 11, p. 168). IVP Academic.
[5] Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 2328). Hendrickson.
[6] Luter, A. B., Jr. (1995). Philippians. In Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Vol. 3, p. 1046). Baker Book House.
[7] Lenski, R. C. H. (1937). The interpretation of St. Paul’s Epistles to the Galatians, to the Ephesians and to the Philippians (pp. 884–885). Lutheran Book Concern.
Pastor Chris Noland 