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Philippians 4:6-9 Be careful¹ for nothing²; 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 keep³ your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. {8} Finally, brethren, whatsoever¹⁰ things are true⁴, whatsoever¹⁰ things are honest⁵, whatsoever¹⁰ things are just⁶, whatsoever¹⁰ things are pure⁷, whatsoever¹⁰ things are lovely⁸, whatsoever¹⁰ things are of good report⁹; 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.

Humans, though we live in the physical, are truly controlled by what we think. The Philippians Church was a loving assembly of believers, all doing what God wanted them to do. When you do what God tells you Satan rears his ugly head. Satan loves to confuse, to spread fear and uncertainty, and to divide. This is not the state that God wants the Christian in. We are to live in such a way that …

vs 7 the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,
shall keep³ your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus

the peace of God will guard (φρουρέω phrouréō, {pronounced froo-reh’-o}) our hearts and minds – our emotions and intellect – from evil. The word translated “keep” is the Greek phrouréō, {pronounced froo-reh’-o} which means “to mount a guard or a garrison over so as to protect”. God does NOT want His children – saved by faith in Christ – to become part of the chaos that is this fallen world.

The Normal Christian Life Is Supposed To Be Filled With Intellectual And Emotional PEACE

The Bible says in Proverbs 23:7 (my paraphrase)

As you think in your heart, so you are!

What is in your heart and mind – your emotions and your intellect – will control whether you ACT or you REACT. An animal REACTS. A Christian is not an animal. We are God’s Children. We are not supposed to REACT, but to ACT. We are called to be at peace in our lives. How do we reach this peace? Again, focus on our text:

vs 7 the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,
shall keep³ your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus

There is no peace when you fill your souls with worldliness. When you think like worldlings, you will act like worldlings. When you think like the lost, you will act like the lost. We achieve the peace of God THROUGH Christ Jesus.

Notice how the name of Jesus is written. He is in this text Christ Jesus. Sometimes in Scripture Jesus is called “Jesus Christ”, and other times Jesus is called “Christ Jesus”. The name that comes first is an indicator as to how the Scripture should be applied. The name “Christ” coming before “Jesus” emphasizes that our Savior is the Messiah, the One Who died for us so that we might live. The word “Christ” emphasizes that, though Jesus died for our sins, He defeated death and rose from the grave on the third day. The Apostle Paul confidently stated:

1 Corinthians 15:3-5 … I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen …

Christ died for MY sins. He is my Messiah, my Savior. Jesus is the “only Begotten Son of God” (John 3:16) and the “Beloved Son, in Whom God the Father is well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). The Father loved the Son with an infinite love, and yet sent Jesus to die for us, for ME. He died in agony and misery, bearing my evils, but rose again to lead me. God paid a great price for us in Christ Jesus. If He paid a great price for us, our Father will not abandon those He paid so dearly for. The Apostle says:

Romans 5:1-6 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

God paid an infinite price for my salvation and for your salvation. We who are Christians are at peace with God. God is our Father, and knows us by name. God numbers the very hairs of our head (Matthew 10:30; Luke 12:7). If this is all true then we are not to worry. Jesus told us:

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

In Christ we have peace. In the world we have tribulation. If my heart and mind is filled with worldliness then I will have tribulation. If my heart and mind are filled with Christ and His Words then I will have peace.

Worry does not come from God. Our God is the Lord of PEACE. Not of worry.

2 Thessalonians 3:16 … Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means.

Isaiah 26:3-4 3 Thou {O Lord} wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4 Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:

Are your minds centered on Christ Jesus, or are you filling your minds with the pandemonium of the world? Dr. David Jeremiah – a preacher I love to listen to – writes:

“There are four powerful evidences of a centered life in Jesus Christ: You are gladly identified with Christ. You recognize Jesus as the authority in your life. You have a deep sense of spiritual and personal security. And you rest in Christ, knowing that He is the master of your destiny. In Christ you live a brand new life in a brand new way. When everything else is out of control, set your affections on the One who is in control. Everything you put your hope in other than Jesus will fail. Jesus Christ alone is faithful and changeless, and will never fail you!”

To Achieve Peace In The Midst Of Turmoil You Must SET YOUR MIND On Christ Jesus

Back to our text. Look at the first four words of what we read today:

Philippians 4:6 Be careful¹ for nothing²

These words are the Greek verb merimnao¹ {pronounced mer-im-nah’-o} combined with the adjective medeis² {pronounced may-dice’}. A much better translation of these words is:

quit worrying about things

When you worry about the things that are going on around you, all you are doing is filling your soul with negative emotions. Someone told me that “we may see the worst of this coronavirus pandemic in the next two weeks – much worse!” My reply to that person was “so what? What is worrying about it going to do?” Will your worries about it somehow avert the problem? Will the dead come back to life because your worried about it? When the Apostle said “quit worrying about things” this is a COMMAND.

Worry sickens us.
Worry robs us of our joy.
Worry fills us with darkness.
Worry does no good whatsoever.

Jesus put it this way:

Matthew 6:25-34 Therefore I say unto you, {Do not worry} for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by {worrying} can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why {do you worry about clothing}? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore {stop worrying}, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do {unbelievers} 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 {Do not worry} for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

The network news loves to broadcast the bad, never the good. These networks are not endorsed by Jesus Christ – not even FOX. You are told the bad news so that you will tune in, and they can sell more commercial time to businesses. Worrying does nothing for you. It subtracts from the quality of your life.

Rather than worry, the Apostle says:

Philippians 4:6  {Stop worrying about it} but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

The solution for the Christian is to draw closer to God, to communicate your concerns to Him – to draw closer to our source of power. In this mighty angelic conflict, where the forces of evil and the forces of God collide, the solution to the conditions of America and the world is undying allegiance to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

There’s an old Mel Gibson movie I love called “The Patriot”. In that movie at the last battle the American Militia is fighting the somewhat superior and elegantly dressed British Army. The battle begins to go against the Americans, and the Americans begin to turn and rapidly run away. Mel – [playing the Patriot] sees the American Militia withdrawing. He runs forward, grabs the American flag, and yelling loudly waves it over his head while running TOWARD the enemy. The American Militia sees this and responds, turning from their confused retreat, and runs back to the fight.

Britain lost the battle, and sued for peace.

Christians, we must not allow the enemy to run us scared. We must follow the colors, follow Jesus Christ. If you are a Christian you are citizens of a Heavenly Kingdom, and Jesus Christ is your King. We are not of this world …. Jesus was very clear on this. He stated:

(John 17:14-17 KJV) I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. {15} I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil {literally, the Evil One}. {16} They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. {17} Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

We are told in the Scripture that the battle going on around us is not physical, but it is spiritual. Who do I wrestle against? Who wants my demise, my failure, my loss? Who wants to see my children cursed, my wife harmed, my life set in disarray? No earthly foe desires this, but the Scripture says:

(Ephesians 6:12 KJV) For we wrestle NOT against flesh and blood, but AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES, AGAINST POWERS, AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD, AGAINST SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS in high places.

NOT flesh and blood, BUT principalities. NOT flesh and blood, BUT powers. NOT flesh and blood, BUT rulers of the darkness. NOT flesh and blood, BUT spiritual wickedness in high places. Listen Beloved: the war we fight may outwardly look physical, but it is truly a matter of the thought life.

Draw near to God in prayer and in obedience, draw near to the Colors, to Jesus Christ, and He will post guard on your hearts and minds.

Philippians 4:6-9 {Stop worrying} but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

We draw near to God. The world in panic draws near to NOT God, but the Christian draws near to God. We use:

Prayer
Supplication
Thanksgiving

The more weird things grow, the more we should pray. Billy Graham wrote in his book Answers to Life’s Problems:

“Is prayer a central part of your life? Pray for your own needs. Pray for the needs of others. Praise God in prayer, and pray for His guidance in your life. “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful” (Colossians 4:2). Remember, Christ prayed repeatedly, and if He – the sinless Son of God – needed to pray, how much more should we learn to pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17).”

We need to pray for our national, state, and local leadership.
We need to pray for our churches.
We need to pray for our communities, our neighbors.

But as we pray we also need to be thankful. We need to thank God for the blessings that we have. He has given us so very much. We need to thank God for the opportunities and open doors that this time of trouble will bring to the Church. What better time to share the confidence we have in Jesus with others than right now!

Take Control Of Your Thought-Life

After telling us to stop worrying and start praying and thanking God, the Apostle now tells us to take control of what goes into our minds and hearts. We read:

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever¹⁰ things are true⁴, whatsoever¹⁰ things are honest⁵, whatsoever¹⁰ things are just⁶, whatsoever¹⁰ things are pure⁷, whatsoever¹⁰ things are lovely⁸, whatsoever¹⁰ things are of good report⁹; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

When I was a little boy I used to try and get mamma to buy the breakfast cereal that had a little prize in it. You know, a decoder ring, or some other piece of plastic junk that today I wouldn’t even look at twice. I have never found anything at the bottom of a box of cereal that wasn’t cheap, easily breakable, and literally useless. If you want the peace of God you need to quit feeding your souls the drivel of tv.

You need to turn to the Word of God. You need to fill your minds with His Words.

Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament says of this verse:

“Whatsoever (hosa). Thus he introduces six adjectives picturing Christian ideals, old-fashioned and familiar words … They are pertinent now when so much filth is flaunted before the world in books, magazines and moving pictures under the name of realism (the slime of the gutter and the cess-pool).”

What are “Things that are TRUE”? When Jesus prayed for His Church before He was crucified, Jesus prayed:

John 17:12-17 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

God’s Word is truth. When Jesus stood before Pilate just before He was crucified, Jesus said:

John 18:37-38 … To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?

The world, like Pilate, views “truth” as fluid, determined by whatever a person “feels”. The Christian views “truth” as certain as gravity. We believe God’s Word to be “truth”. Absolute truth. Timeless truth. So I often people tell me,

“Brother David, that Bible is an old book. It was written back then, and times have changed. It’s obsolete.”

To which I say, HOGWASH! A pound was a pound 10 years ago, it was a pound 50 years ago, it was a pound a million years ago. Gravity doesn’t change. Neither does God’s Word. As Christians we are to “set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:1-4). The Bible was written by God through faithful men. The sum of God’s Word is TRUTH (Psalm 119:160). God’s Words are TRUTH (2 Samuel 7:28). The Apostle said:

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

We need to get back to the Bible. We need to feed our souls the Word of God daily. Not CNN, ABC, CBS, or even FOX. The Bible. What God has said. We must take control of our minds. Rest in Jesus, dear Christian. Read and rest in His Word. Use this wonderful opportunity before us – staying at home – to pick up and read God’s Word, and to pray.

And if you are not a Christian, may I invite you to turn your lives over to Him Who loves you? Do it today. The Scripture promises:

Romans 10:8-13 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

May God touch your hearts with His Word and His Spirit. Amen! Amen!