Word of Salvation – Vol. 42 No. 13 – April 1997

 

Pondering and Practising Peace

 

A Lord's Supper Preparatory Sermon...
By Rev. S. Bajema on Philippians 4:8-9

Scripture Reading: Philippians 4:2-9

Suggested Hymns: BoW 93A; 216:1-3; 373; 164:2, 4

 

Congregation,

The key phrase in this text is the very last short sentence.

"And the God of peace will be with you" gives us the assurance that the Spirit of the Lord blesses this work of our hands.

So, as those different qualities, listed in verses 8 and 9, are done, there's something spiritually in it for us.

Now, we may well wonder why this phrase appears here when Paul has already spoken of the peace of God in verse 7.

There is a difference.  For though "the peace of God" flows out of hearts that are joined to the Lord, in verse 7 the peace comes from prayer.

As we present ourselves and everything that we are to the Lord in prayer, we're blessed with the peace of God which transcends all understanding and which guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Then, when Paul draws his letter to a close, he brings in another way to this peace; to enjoying the riches which we have in our Saviour God.

And, let's be frank, these qualities in our text might well be missing from many believer's lives – even our own!

Brothers and sisters, that can be easily shown.  For who among us really has this peace; who among us has such a completeness, or sense of well-being, that everything is perfectly alright?

But perhaps you're not convinced; you can't see your need.  Okay, you say, these words are nice words.  And as you read, then it was almost poetic, a smooth flowing prose with a steadily rising rhythm.

Dear believer, it's easy to do that; somehow we just let the flow of our lives go by; we always seem to be so busy – there’s always something to do.

To think about something is hard work.  It's going to take our time.  What is even more drastic is that it could very well change us.  The phrase in verse 8, "think about such things," is very definitely pointed this way.

The Greek word used couldn't be stronger when it speaks about the possibility of our attitude being changed.

Congregation, our first point is...

THE PEACE WHICH COMES AS WE PONDER

Now, why would the Lord want our attitude to be changed?  To put it in a practical way for next Sunday, "Why should we examine ourselves before we eat and drink at the Supper of our Lord?”

Aren't we saved?  Haven't we arrived by faith?

There may even be those believers who tell us we should be living the victorious life because we don't sin anymore.  Actually, they deny God's working in believers' lives.

They might well say that they are celebrating God's completed work, but we're not in heaven yet.

While we know and are assured by Jesus' promises that there is a place being prepared for us in heaven, the room won't be completely ready until our time below is up.  Otherwise we would have heaven on earth.  But it's certainly not!

The apostle Paul, writing these words during his imprisonment in Rome, knew that most definitely!  And as the Lord is preparing our place, so we can be enjoying more now its blessing.

Don't we believe the same when we see the Lord's Supper as a foretaste of the great and glorious banquet to come?

So let's ponder upon verse 8: "...whatever is true..."; which better quality to begin and to connect what follows?  If the gospel weren't true for us, what use is it for anyone?

Paul proves this in challenging the Corinthians, "...if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith" (1Cor.15:14).  But since it is true, Congregation, imagine the blessing that comes in it being true.

Just as it is the belt of truth buckled around the waist, which is essential to the armour of the Christian soldier, our lives are so strongly held together when we ponder the truth.  Friend, then you know where you stand, and so do those around you.

But say a lie, even just avoid telling the truth, and what security is there?  How many relationships haven't been utterly destroyed by lies?

And then, "...whatever is noble...!"

In what we say and in all we do, believers should be dignified, serious.  Perhaps this is one quality somewhat less thought about today.

The sense of nobility, of respect for what is right, it's not there anymore.

Congregation, we can easily become frivolous, and while the Lord values a good sense of humour, even that gift can be abused.

Or to put it another way, we see the rising crescendo of what we ponder.  There needs to be a tone to the truth.

Then, there is "...whatever is right...!"

At first this may seem to be repeating the first quality, but again it's an even further part in this symphony.

Having seen God's righteousness in its truth and in its tone, we need to think righteous thoughts.

What about?  Certainly we can meditate on God's righteous acts; and which act is there greater than the doing and dying of His own dear Son upon Calvary?

To focus on what it was the Lord Jesus did for us will add to what we enjoy together in Him next week.  We can be thankful for righteousness in others.

When was the last time we appreciated that in someone else?  And we ourselves should plan righteous words and actions.

Employers, for example, should take account of what's fair and square in relating to their employees.  You see, all earthly bosses have an Employer in heaven.

In fact, in everything we do, we need to ask, "Is this what Jesus would have done?  Is this according to God's Word?"

And next, there's a quality very appropriate for our day "...whatever is pure...!"

The Philippians, because of their cultural background, were constantly being tempted.  Those sensual sights, the luring sounds; like an octopus, its arms were all around.

How much different is it for us today?  We don't even need to travel downtown to have its effects; it's there in a box in our lounge rooms.

How much more blasphemy and pornography and violence and anti-social behaviour isn't on that screen now, compared with, say, twenty years ago?

In our cities we know of the danger to life that is all around; even the countryside isn't safe anymore!

But the real danger is not physical, much as there is all the trauma and sadness it causes; the real curse is spiritual, as minds and hearts and feet begin to move to another beat.

It destroys the flowing rise in a Christian's life; distorting, even perhaps destroying the fruit on the vine.

"...whatever is pure...!" that means, to use Paul's words elsewhere, "Don't be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Rom.12:21).

That certainly means thinking about things; making conscious choices, and sticking to them when you've made them.

Then, there is "...whatever is lovely...!"  This thing has a beauty in itself.  This thing breathes love, it gives love, it is lovely.

Do you know something like this?  Then meditate upon it; reflect on why it is so.

Like the part of music where the note is held a little longer, we are pleased by it.

After which there comes the last "whatever", "...whatever is admirable...!"  This describes things which are well-sounding and appealing.

Of this William Hendriksen comments, "Even upon non-Christians they make a good impression."  But, as he further explains, "The main consideration is, however, that in their inner essence they're actually worthy of creating that impression."

You see, the believer has been pondering.  He or she has taken the time to look at what is 'excellent' and what is 'praiseworthy.'  'Excellent' here refers to what has virtue; so that which produces fruit from the tree of salvation.  If it helps us grow in the Lord, that's what we need to know!

And with 'praiseworthy' we have that which in itself is worthy.  It may not help us directly grow in the faith, but it does make us look upward, heavenward, to the Creator and Sustainer of all things.

With such a comprehensive list, is it any wonder that many commentators have seen these verses as Paul's conclusion to his whole letter?  What he writes after this are more personal remarks.

Here, though, he leaves us in no doubt about what the Lord wants us to do....THE PEACE WHICH COMES AS WE PONDER.

But then there is verse 9.

From such an exhaustive list of clear objective qualities, Paul turns to himself, of all people, to show our second point...

THE PEACE WHICH IS SEEN IN THE PRACTICE

Now, why this modelling upon an apostle?  Didn't Paul in chapter 2 so definitely point to the only true example of Christ Jesus?  Wouldn't His words and actions be far better?

Of course they would be.  Far from being an egotistical display, this verse points us even more to the Living Word.

Seems strange?  Well, let's put ourselves in the sandals of those Philippian believers; what would this have meant to them?

Why, when Paul speaks of what they have learned or received or heard from him, or seen in him, it is all about Christ!

For Paul is one of the apostles – that special group of men authorised by none other than Jesus to be His unique eyewitnesses.

And how fitting, because before Scripture is inscripturated, it was taught and given and spoken by these men; in that way it was also seen in them.  Since that situation has gone, and their words have been recorded, we have all that we need in Scripture.

Congregation, this is... THE PEACE WHICH IS SEEN IN THE PRACTICE.  For if we were to model our lives on Paul and those other apostles, they would be lived just like the Bible says.

In the same way that those tremendous qualities in verse 8 lead us into the blessing of the Lord; so will following the Bible.

And notice how direct it is, "...put it into practice."  Beyond meditation is this explicit application!

When do we today learn or receive or hear or see these things?  By the preaching of the Word no less!  Further by daily reading that Word.  Make it your life, for then it can become much more in your life.

Pondering what we do can only become depressing.  But thinking about what God, through Jesus, has done for you – and there's peace with us!  The Holy Spirit confirms our faith.

That's blessing as it draws us nearer, still nearer, close to His heart.

Amen.