10/5/08 - Pentecost 21 - Philippians 4:4-9

PEACE IS OUR PROTECTION
- It is beyond all understanding
- It will guard our hearts and minds

Christians are obvious. And they are obvious not just because of the way they act, but especially because of the way they react. The way in which people react to certain situations oftentimes demonstrates what is in their hearts. Natural disasters, tragedies, catastrophes, physical pain, devastating setbacks, chronic illnesses… all of these things can bring out the faith or the lack of faith a person has. In an ironic kind of way: strife in this world reveals the peace of a Christian. I think of the floods that rushed through the Midwest this past summer. And the video we watched here in church showed Christians from towns in Iowa who were not all that worried or disheartened about the destruction caused to their homes and churches. Instead they were calm and at peace because they knew the Lord had everything in his hands. I think of Pastor Kurt Ebert and his wife and his family in the Denver area who lost their son in a very tragic way earlier this year. And although they were filled with sorrow - and still are - they also demonstrated a calmness and a strength and a peace that only Christians could have. And you’ve seen these types of Christians in your own life, too, haven’t you? People who do not seem to be affected by sorrow or anger or depression or hopelessness or sadness or frustration no matter what is happening to them. Christians who display an attitude of tranquility even during the most difficult times. Christians who exude a peace that only comes from the Lord himself. And this peace is something the world can’t understand.
This world can’t understand how Christians can be at peace in such stressful situations - as if they were almost indifferent to what was happening around them. This world can’t understand how Christians can almost seem to be immune from the “normal” reactions to the terrible things in life. They can’t understand how Christians can almost seem protected from the anger and the depression and the helplessness and the sorrow and the emptiness that always affects them. This world can’t understand Philippians 4:7. A verse you know well. A verse you might even know by heart because you have heard it so often. “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” The peace of God guards us. It is our protection. And the world cannot understand that because it transcends all understanding.
Unbelievers naturally think that if you suddenly lose your job or if your child tragically dies, there should be some anger, there should be depression. And so they don’t understand a Christian like Job. A man who lost his job, all of his property, all of his savings, and all of his children all in one day. But instead of showing anger or depression he immediately “fell to the ground in worship and said: Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised” (Job 1:20-21). The world can’t understand that - because the peace of God transcends all understanding. But that’s what the peace of God in a Christian’s heart looks like.
Unbelievers naturally think that when someone cheats you or oppresses you or treats you unfairly, there should be some resentment, there should be some frustration. And so they don’t understand a Christian like Jacob. A man who was cheated and oppressed and treated unfairly by his uncle Laban. Laban tricked Jacob by not giving him the daughter for whom Jacob had worked seven years. Laban cheated Jacob by changing his salary ten different times. Laban stole from Jacob be taking animals that he had promised to give him. But instead of being resentful and frustrated, Jacob remained optimistic and joyful, making this beautiful confession of faith, “The God of my father has been with me… [he] has not allowed [Laban] to harm me” (Genesis 31:5,7). The world can’t understand that - because the peace of God transcends all understanding. But that’s what the peace of God in a Christian’s heart looks like.
Unbelievers naturally think that when a person suffers tragedies and cruelties there should be a feeling of self-pity, there should be a little bit of hopelessness when those things keep happening. And so they don’t understand a Christian like the apostle Paul. He didn’t lose hope when he was shipwrecked, he didn’t fall into self-pity when he was flogged or beaten or stoned or rejected by his fellow countrymen. He didn’t lose his joy in prison. In fact, he wrote these words from prison that we are looking at today, “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” The world can’t understand how he could write such a thing in the situation he was in - because the peace of God transcends their understanding. But that’s what the peace of God in a Christian’s heart looks like.
The peace of God is that unwavering trust that the Lord has done everything for you, he is doing everything for you, and he will do everything for you. The peace of God is that mindset a Christian has knowing that everything is taken care of - from the smallest detail to the biggest dilemma. The peace of God is the confidence that no matter what bad thing happens to you, nothing bad can really happen to you. Because the peace of God is knowing that you win every time. No matter what happens, no matter what you have to go through, you win because the Lord promises that whatever it may be will be worked out for your good. The peace of God not only affects you, it infects you. It’s inside you and moves you to act and to react in view of God’s love. And it also prevents thoughts of depression and anger and frustration and hopelessness to influence you. That’s why the peace of God is your protection: it guards your hearts and minds from the effects of sin and keeps them away from you. It protects you because if the peace of God fills you, there is no room for anything else.
But I am not a Job. Nor am I a Jacob or a Paul. I am a Christian, but the peace of God does not seem to fill me to the brim like it did with those men. Because I’m not always happy and calm and optimistic and joyful and thankful in every situation. And getting to know you over the past 2 and a half years, you aren’t in every situation either, are you? When was the last time you were angry or frustrated or overwhelmed or stressed out or unhappy or worried? It wasn’t too long ago, was it? Maybe it was even earlier this morning. And if not this morning it most certainly was sometime last week. And that’s a problem. Because when that happens, where’s the peace? When you are angry or frustrated or overwhelmed or stressed out or unhappy or worried, where’s the peace of knowing that the Lord had died for your sins and your salvation is secure? Where’s the peace of knowing that he is with you every step of your life? Where’s the peace of knowing that he promises to work out everything for your good? Where’s the peace of knowing that he guarantees you eternal life in heaven because of his love? The peace of God is not there at all when you are angry or frustrated or overwhelmed or stressed out or unhappy or worried. The peace of God is pushed aside. It is drowned out by the clamoring and commotions of this sinful world. And that happens all the time, doesn’t it? The peace God has given us is overwhelmed by everything this world throws at us. And we forget what he has done. We forget what he has accomplished. We forget what he has said. We forget what he has promised. That is not the mindset of a Christian at all. And really, that is hardly any different from the mindset of any unbeliever you have ever known.
But this isn’t a sermon about: “Be at peace with God and your life will be better.” No! That is never the message in Scripture! It’s not up to you to be at peace with God; it’s up to God to be at peace with you. And he is. He is at peace with you. And the only way to bring that peace of God back to the forefront of your mind again is simply to be reminded of what the peace of God does. “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” The peace of God guards your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Those last three words aren’t just tacked on to the end incidentally. Those last three words are the peace.
In Christ Jesus. That is the only way we have peace. In Christ Jesus. That is the only way we have forgiveness and can be free from guilt. In Christ Jesus. He fought for our peace. He died for our peace. He won our peace. And he gives us that peace without our asking. We rest in his arms. The same arms that were stretched out on the cross now are stretched out for us. And he will never let us go. We are now secure. We are safe. We are protected. We are at peace. And so when the devil attacks us with his “fiery darts” we can confidently say, “No problem. I have the peace of God that guards my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. The devil can’t touch me. I am secure, safe, and protected.” And when this sinful world comes after you with troubles and catastrophes and disasters, you can confidently say again, “That’s not such a big deal. I have the peace of God that guards my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. These things cannot affect me. I am secure, safe, and protected.” And when your own sinful nature tugs and pulls and prods you in the wrong directions, you can boldly proclaim, “So what? I have the peace of God that guards my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. He has forgiven me. He has loved me. And he has promised me his love for all eternity. This temptation, this enemy cannot win. Because Christ already has. I am secure. I am safe. I am protected by the peace of God in Christ Jesus.”
The peace of God in Christ Jesus protects us from the anger and depression and sorrow and frustration and hopelessness and worry when enemies attack and terrible things happen. The peace of God keeps us calm and confident. The peace of God gives us a reason to sing, “Be still, my soul, the Lord is on your side; bear patiently the cross of grief or pain; leave to your God to order and provide; in every change he faithful will remain.” A still soul. That’s what makes a Christian obvious. A still soul, a calm mind, a peaceful heart. And that’s what you have: a still soul, a calm mind, and a peaceful heart, because that’s what God has given you. Even though you have stumbled in the past, and even though both you and I will falter in the future, you can always come back to the peace of God. Because the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Amen.

“The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:7