1. Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Even though the Church in Philippi has reasons to fear, the peace of God that transcends all understanding now guards, patrols, and garrisons their hearts and minds. The message from God’s Word on this 3rd Sunday in Advent is taken from Philippians 4:4-7 and is entitled, “God Has Got You Surrounded,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
2. The day is getting nearer. Children are becoming more excited as Christmas draws ever closer. Others dread that day. People without families anticipate another lonely Christmas. Still others, because of a death in the family, are spending their first Christmas without their loved one. So, what’s to be so excited about? Well, even in this season when it’s so easy to become distracted and depressed, our Heavenly Father gives us the reason to rejoice, because He’s got us surrounded.
3. Whether we find ourselves in poverty or wealth, solid families or broken ones, for us as Christians, the reason for our rejoicing isn’t to be found in our circumstances. Instead, it’s to be found in the gracious heart of God. He sent his Son Jesus to live, suffer, and die for us so that we might be reconciled to God.
4. So many people think they need to find their own reason to rejoice. People have bought into a lie that joy can be found in things of this world. Adam and Eve bought the lie that they would find true joy apart from God, that God was holding out on them. We too are often deceived into believing that created things hold more promise than the Creator (Rom 1:25). Sadly, too many see this Advent & Christmas season just as an opportunity to have their personal wants and desires met. People often look for happiness in the things of this world. “If only I could have” or “If only I could be” are the longings of the unfulfilled.
5. But such things people live and hope for do not deliver. King Solomon called it “vanity and a striving after wind” (Eccl 2:11). Jesus put things into eternal perspective: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Mt 16:26). There are other people who are looking for the very same reason to rejoice but believe a life of joy isn’t possible for them because of their poverty or circumstances.
6. This belief is just as wrong as the one before because it also believes the basis for happiness is life, wealth, identity— something different from what God promises. The result is often to blame God and be angry at him. This gets in the way of seeing how much he wants to fill us with joy. Ultimately, it’s our sinful nature that causes unhappiness, sadness, sorrow, and desperation. It separates us from God, the true joy-giver. It always leads to death, both temporal and spiritual.
7. Our text from Philippians chapter 4 points us beyond the temporary things of this life. St. Paul, even in most difficult circumstances, exhorts us to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil. 4:4). Our reason for rejoicing is found “in the Lord.” We have joy because Christ conquered sin and death for us. All that robs us of hope and joy has been defeated at the cross through the suffering and death of Christ on our behalf. Since the sin that separated us from God has been removed by Jesus’ cross, we are now back together with him. We are “in the Lord.” Therefore, He calls us his children no matter what our station in life. His relationship with us is based on grace. That gives us a new sense of purpose in life, a reason to serve with joy.
8. The child of God is sustained in this joyful purpose by the constant declaration “Your sins are forgiven.” We have joy in the promise of Christ’s abiding presence: “The Lord is at hand” (Phil. 4:5). Christians do not need to be anxious about life (Phil. 4:6a) because the Lord who is at hand cares deeply for us. He invites us to commit all of our cares and concerns to him (Phil. 4:6b). We can be so confident of his care for us that even as we offer our prayers, we can already add thanksgiving.
9. We rejoice that he promises to come again. He is also “at hand” in his second coming. Although we do not know when, we do know it will happen. He came into our world first in humility. That purified us so that we will rejoice—not tremble—when he comes again in glory. In the meantime, the peace of God, which is far beyond all understanding and guards our hearts and minds, is given to us in the Gospel (Phil. 4:7). It is a peace that is based on the fact that God has reconciled us to himself through his Son (Col 1:21–23). It is a peace that endures. This peace guards and sustains us in our reason for rejoicing.
10. God has got you surrounded! In Philippians 4:4–7, Paul is concluding his letter to these dear friends with some final words of encouragement. Verse 7 includes a striking image that holds these verses together: Paul says that the “peace of God” is going to garrison, or guard by placing a sentinel over the hearts and minds of these Philippian believers.
11. Since Philippi was a Roman colony, Paul’s audience would have had personal experience with a military garrison. A garrison is the place where the soldiers who are not on duty are able to rest secure, knowing a guard has been placed and someone is keeping watch. It’s not difficult to imagine that the people who heard Paul’s letter would have seen Roman soldiers patrolling the borders or the Roman garrison, providing both defense and an early warning system. The result of that military security would have been soldiers well-rested and ready for action.
12. For the Apostle Paul, it’s the peace of God, not the Peace of Rome, which provides this kind of confident rest and ready preparedness. While the Epistle to the Philippians is a joyful and encouraging letter, you can also tell that the Philippians face real threats, both foreign and domestic. Paul calls for unity in the face of the division which has crept into the Philippian church. Concern for Paul because he is in jail and worry about their own financial future seem to be causing some divided hearts and minds at the Christian church in Philippi. In fact, the word Paul uses for anxiety in verse 6 (merimnaó - μεριμνάω) has to do with being divided or going to pieces. The Philippians are actively engaged in this kind of splitting anxiety, and Paul says that they should stop. Concern for individual status or rights, worry about money, leaders who are divided—all of these seem to be perceived threats to the wellbeing of the Philippian community.
13. Paul’s remedy for anxiety and division is the peace of God which places a sentinel and patrols the hearts and thoughts of the Philippian church. They can rest from their worry. They can stop being afraid. They can find unity in the midst of division. Even though they have reasons to fear, the peace of God that transcends all other circumstances now guards, patrols, and garrisons their hearts and minds.
14. Paul’s answer to anxiety echoes Jesus’ teaching on anxiety: Worry’s opposite and antidote is trusting prayer (Matthew 6). No perceived threat, big or small, is outside the domain of prayer. In all things, in every situation, thankful prayers bring our needs to God (Philippians 4:6), who in turn, stations peace to watch as sentinel over our anxious thoughts and feelings (4:7). The trust evident in such prayer is grounded in the coming Christ (Philippians 4:5) and the confident joy in the Lord that transcends our present circumstances (4:4).
15. In these short verses, Paul paints the picture of a community surrounded by the presence and provision of God, grounded in joy and trust, and guarded by peace. What a beautiful way to imagine the Christian Church and our life together as those who belong to the Jesus who is both near to us and coming soon!
16. God has got you surrounded (in a good way). You have nothing to fear. Your heart and mind can be at rest. Jesus is near, hears your prayers, and gives you great joy. Amen. Now the peace of God that passes all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus until life everlasting. Amen.
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