“Rejoice Always?” Philippians 4:4-13 (Preached at St. John Sparta)
1.
In the
name of Jesus. Amen. Here we are at the final chapter of Paul’s letter to the
Philippians. It’s hard to believe that
Paul was writing this letter while he was imprisoned in Rome and about to be
put to death for his faith in Jesus Christ as His Lord and Savior. Yet,
here’s Paul in Philippians 4 calling the Christians at Philippi to rejoice in
all circumstances. The key word in Philippians
is the word “rejoice,” which Paul
uses 14 times throughout this letter. Today
we’ll learn from Paul how we as Christians can rejoice even when everything in
our fallen world is crashing down around us. The message today is taken from Philippians
4:4-13 and is entitled, “Rejoice Always?” Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
2.
Like many of you, I don’t look forward to
turning on the NEWS these days. These are troubling times. Not only do we face problems
with our Nation’s economy. But, every
time we turn on the tv, read the newspaper, surf the internet or listen to the
radio we can’t help but hearing about natural disasters— hurricanes, floods,
tornadoes and all the rest that have ripped through our nation this past year. Not only that we live in uncertain times
with the war on Terror that we’re facing as Americans with our troops fighting
at war. Yet, Paul tells us to rejoice
here in Philippians 4? I think many of us would be right to say,
“Paul you’re crazy, I can’t rejoice right
now when all the money that I’ve saved for retirement is going down the drain,
my child’s off at war and my relatives are trying to rebuild their lives after
a death of a loved one.” Sure, it
hurts to see your life savings or your job threatened. It’s part of being human
in a fallen world. But this is a time when Christians must be different and
show it to the world. Maybe that’s what God intends to do with this crisis.
Maybe He’ll use it to banish the “health
and wealth or prosperity Gospel” and let the world see how the genuine
faith of God’s people shines all the brighter in the darkness.
3.
Before we begin with the text of Philippians 4
it would be fitting for us to understand the conflict that was going on in the
church at Philippi as Paul was writing to them.
There was a dispute
going on in the Church between two prominent women—Euodia and Syntyche. Both of
these women had been coworkers of Paul.
They were energetic in spreading the message of Jesus Christ and Him
crucified for the sins of humanity. But,
there were some disagreements between them.
Now instead of harmony there was conflict between these two women and it
was hurting the Gospel message. Notice
how Paul deals with these women. He
doesn’t open old wounds by rehashing the problem. He doesn’t scold or blame. Instead Paul pleads with the women to forgive
one another through Jesus Christ their Savior and encourages them to REJOICE in
the blessings that Christ had given to the Christian Church. Paul wanted the Christians at Philippi to
remember that they were working at a common task in spreading the GOOD NEWS of
Jesus Christ and that this message shouldn’t be hindered by little squabbles.
4.
Paul begins Philippians 4:4-5 by saying, “Rejoice
in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known
to everyone. The Lord is at hand;” There it
is. Rejoice
that word that Paul brings up over and over again in his letter to the
Church. How can Paul as a Pastor and
Evangelist tell the Christians to rejoice after talking about this conflict
between Euodia and Syntyche? It may
be helpful to reflect on this with an illustration—there was a manager who took
a pen and put a black dot in the center of a large sheet of white
cardboard. “Your trouble is,” the manager told his employees, “that the moment one black spot appears you
fix your attention on that, and fail to see all the clean white space.” We Christians are like that too. When a black spot or a dozen black spots
appear we spend all our energy thinking about them, rather than on the white
space of the forgiveness of sins and eternal life that we have through Jesus. Paul wasn’t going to let conflict between
Euodia & Syntyche pull his eyes away from the joy He had in Jesus. So he tells us that when the black spots
appear in our lives to “rejoice in the
Lord always, again I say, Rejoice!”
5.
Paul goes onto say in Philippians 4:6-7, “6do
not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the
peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and
your minds in Christ Jesus.” WHOA
Paul wait a minute. Wait just one
minute… You’re telling me to not be
anxious or worry about ANYTHING. Are you
kidding me? My wife and I have two
little boys at home, Eddie & Marty.
That’s a lot of responsibility for us to handle. Anxiety’s going to happen. Maybe you’re thinking to yourself… I don’t know if I’m going to still have my
job by next year or how long I’ll be able to live off my retirement savings. Paul there’s just too much for me to think
about here.
6.
Psychologists have defined anxiety as a feeling
of apprehension when something we hold dear to us is threatened. Now doesn’t that describe the times we’re living in right
now? But, do you know someone who’s always
anxious, even when there’s no threat against them. Whatever the source of worry, it’s no fun to
have. Not much room for rejoicing when
we feel depressed. But, the real
cause of anxiety is a sense of powerlessness.
Paul could have felt this way while he was imprisoned in Rome. He could have given up, renounced his faith
in Jesus and be set free. But, he didn’t
do that. Paul tells us that instead of
worrying we can place our fears in the hands of God our Heavenly Father and
Jesus our Savior who has dealt with every threat we may face in this life and
the greatest threat of all, our sin that eternally separates us from him and
only damns us to hell. Thanks be to God
that Jesus’ death on the cross has saved us from that.
7.
Why does the peace of God transcend all
understanding? On the surface our present circumstances don’t
change. Something we hold dear will be
threatened. We’ll still be out of work. Our child may be bullied on the school
bus. Our spouse may still be battling
cancer. We could explain the peace we
feel to others if we announce, “I have a
new job! Or if the bully was kicked off the bus, or the doctor announced the
cancer cured.” BUT, the thing that’s special about the
peace God gives is that we experience peace before the situation changes in any
way. God’s Spirit calms us and whispers
in our ear, “It’s alright now, God will
provide for you spiritually and physically with all that you need.”
8.
Paul
says in Philippians 4:8-9, “8Finally,
brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever
is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any
excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9What
you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things,
and the God of peace will be with you.” The
word translated “think” here means to “continually
focus your mind.” As Christians Paul is exhorting us to
express these qualities in our lives.
We’re to search out the truth,
fight for justice, do what is pure in God’s sight and avoid sin, look
for what is lovely and always seek
to encourage and commend others for what they do. As we do this Paul wants to remember that
we’re Christ’s light throughout the world.
The world is watching us at every turn and we don’t want our behavior to
keep others from finding Christ as their Lord and Savior from sin, death and
the devil.
9.
Finally Paul says in Philippians 4
Philippians 4:10–13, “10I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length
you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you
had no opportunity. 11Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I
have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12I know how
to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I
have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13I
can do all things through him who strengthens me.” There it is again REJOICE. And now Paul says that he can be content no
matter what the circumstance.
10.
It’s fitting that Paul ends Philippians 4 with
rejoicing in God’s grace and goodness. Whatever Paul needed to accomplish for the sake
of Christ and Him crucified for our sins he was confident that he could meet
the challenge because Jesus was with Him. He knew that Jesus’ grace
was sufficient for Him. Christ’s power
rested on Him as it does for us who are in Him through our baptisms. Whatever Paul would face physically or
spiritually He knew that the Lord Jesus was on His side.
11.
We too as Christians can rejoice with Paul. We have the assurance that because we’re in Christ by faith, He
will always be with us and will give us the strength he knows we need to cope
with life in the world. After all, God has promised us a better world
to come where He’ll wipe every tear from our eyes and where He’s even prepared
a place for us in heaven to live and praise Him for all eternity for His loving
kindness in Christ Jesus our Lord! May
we thank God that even in uncertain times we can rejoice just as Paul did in
God’s grace and loving-kindess in Jesus our Lord. Amen…
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