A BIBLICAL FORMULA FOR PEACE!

A BIBLICAL FORMULA FOR PEACE!

Phil 4:6-9

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Peace that passes understanding comes from God; it exists in spite of the circumstances that should quench it. It is unsinkable, indestructible, and unfathomable. It creates a strong thirst in the anxious yet it does not exist in calm but rather in trouble. We think that if we could only eliminate clamor peace would come and rest on our shoulder but it is just the opposite. God’s peace floats upon the stormy winds and not the gentle breeze. It passes understanding!

1. BE CAREFUL FOR NOTHING! (v.6)

Do not allow your confidence in God to be replaced by earthly concerns. Certainly we need to give appropriate care to daily responsibilities but do not allow those things to crowd out the assurance that God is both good and in control.

Matt 6:31-34

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

2. PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING! (v.6)

Will Rogers is supposed to have said: “I’ve suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened!”

3. DEVELOP DISCIPLINED THINKING! (v.8)

The phrase “think on” is the Greek word logizomai and means “to take an inventory” but it is not an inventory of troubles that have not yet happened. It is an inventory of blessings readily at hand. Literally we should “count our blessings!” Take an inventory of the true things, the honest things and the things that are of a good report.

4. PRACTICE IN DEEDS WHAT YOU KNOW TO BE TRUE! (v.9)

The most important word in verse 9 is the word “do.” We can sit by and work out all the details in our mind but until we apply the hammer to the nail the plank is not secured! Stop measuring and “nail it!”

Ps 34:14

14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Dear Lord, grant unto your children peace today. AMEN