Call To Worship:
Our call to worship is from Psalm 85:8 & 10:
“Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people….
Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other.”
Let’s pray together:
We meet you here, Lord, at the intersection of love and faithfulness.
Here prayer and praise join hands, scripture is embraced, and our voices unite in song to you.
Speak tenderly to our hearts in this hour of worship, God of all Creation,
and show us the path to peace. Amen.
We are repeatedly told to rejoice in the sufficiency of Christ in God’s Word- not simply to have some basic knowledge that Christ is sufficient, but to rejoice from our hearts in His sufficiency! That’s very different and there is a reason for this because when we are rejoicing our thoughts are focused on who Christ truly is and the work He has done on the cross, believing when He said it is finished, it is finished. When God says, “My grace is sufficient” no matter our circumstances, His grace is sufficient.
Do you often ponder what it means to be sufficient? To look up the definition it says, “enough” or “adequate”. Is Christ enough? He says He is and God affirms it. Do you believe this? Do we need anything more than enough or adequate to meet our needs? No, we don’t. He is enough. He is adequate to help with every problem and situation we encounter. He is sufficient. Therefore, we rejoice in His sufficiency!
Reflect on your thoughts and what you focus on throughout your days will be a key indicator as to whether you truly believe in the sufficiency of Christ.
This is not a message of condemnation; it is a message of hope and a call for us to train up in the ways of the Lord so as we grow in knowledge and understanding, we will be able to stand in faith that Christ is sufficient no matter what comes our way. Until your heart truly grabs hold of that and locks it in, you will continue to be plagued with doubt, worry, and fear of all that could be and all that is outside of your control. And this is not God’s will for you and me.
If you want to know if you believe, just try entrusting God with what is most important to you-maybe a spouse, children, grandchildren, your pets, a job… and you can’t control things that are happening. Maybe a spouse has an illness and is suffering in some way; a child ventures out on their driving, leaving home, traveling; or a child is struggling with relationships; or the same for your grandkids going out into the world, a pet that needs care, an issue with your job, and in any of these situations you can’t do anything but wait and think.
How do you spend that time? For many, we go right to the worst-case scenario picture every horrible outcome possible, and play those over in our thoughts. Why do we do that? That’s a horrible way to live, isn’t it?
We lie awake at night with thoughts of worry and fear racing about our heads. We might pray, but as we do we hold on to our fear and worry and don’t release it, so we find no comfort in our prayers because in some way we find our worry offers us some false notion of control over these situations that are truly out of our control.
What about the sufficiency in Christ?
In times like these are you aware and reminding yourself of this truth? Are you choosing to rejoice in His sufficiency to calm your fears? Where do these truths go when you find yourself in situations you can’t control?
It is not natural for us to stop our train of thought and say, “I don’t need to worry or be afraid because Christ is sufficient and He has given me His peace that surpasses my understanding in this moment. Thank You, Lord! I rejoice in You and all that You are to me, my family, our church…!”
To do this takes practice and intention. It is truth and yet we must teach our hearts to trust in this truth because our mind can’t process this solely as logically and our emotions will fight against it and scream “No we need to be afraid right now because so many bad things could happen! We need to panic!”
But Jesus says, no you don’t, for I am all you need and I have given you My peace so when trials come, you can rest in Me, because I have overcome every trial you will have in this life.
I have been practicing walking in this truth for quite a while, learning to rejoice as we’re told in the sufficiency of who Christ is. I have been given more and more opportunities with our kids growing up and venturing out into the world to put this truth into practice. Isn’t it funny when you want to grow in some area God opens the floodgates and says here you go-plenty of practice time! Jonny went off and served in the Army and was sent to Korea for part of that service away from home and put into all kinds of different and potentially dangerous situations throughout his time. Reese went to college and worked full-time 2nd shift and driving home late at night after a full day of class and work. Riley went to college in another state and took on training and competing at the college level-now recently flew on a plane across the country without either of us parents. So many moments when I could let fear consume me or worry steal my joy and peace. I’m not saying I didn’t have moments of fear or worry-but I have learned to practice what we’ll be talking about today and to rejoice in who Christ is if He is that for me-sufficient, He is that for my kids, and if He says I am with you always, then I know He is with them always. I choose to focus on what is true and don’t give space to untruths rolling around in my head kick them out quickly. I give thanks to God that He is our helper, protector, healer, comforter, and counselor. This is what I focus on and imagine God doing these things as He promises. I acknowledge who He is and I rejoice from my heart in that, and I have learned THIS is how I walk in the peace of God.
It does take a lot of effort on my part; I do have to be intentional with my thoughts and guard my heart in Christ. And I know this is the will of God for me, it’s how He wants me to live. Choosing to live in His peace is a benefit to me and an act of obedience and worship to my God-for then I am showing my reverence for who He is as God Almighty.
Throughout this year we have been focusing on messages to help us “Expand our Territory” into the promised land, meaning helping us further our understanding and growing our obedience so we can more fully live in the promises God has for us. We are expanding in our faith, in our obedience, in our trust, in our knowledge of who Christ is, and the blessings in knowing through personal experience what it means to live in His peace and joy.
The Apostle Paul speaks of this peace God offers us and calls us to rejoice in it. The whole book of Philippians is a letter of joy and rejoicing in all that Christ is as the Sufficient One. We are going to look at Rejoicing in the sufficiency of Christ’s peace. Hear Paul’s exhortation and receive it in your hearts today.
Heed his wise counsel so you might live in the peace of God.
Philippians 4: 1-9 NIV
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! 2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
- Unity Promotes Peace.
Philippians 4: 2-3 2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Notice in this exhortation to walk in the peace of God, Paul begins with addressing some grievances some ladies were having in the church, because we have to strive for peace in the Body, for we are called to peace in the Body of Christ-we need one another-just as our physical bodies need all our parts working in harmony or we suffer in some way-so does God’s Church when we allow grievances with one another to fester and carry on. It does us no good, there is nothing to be gained from it and it only hurts the Body of Christ. So we must also choose to agree with one another in the Lord. That doesn’t mean we have to agree on absolutely everything God knows we all think differently and remember He has grafted each one of us into this particular Body just as he did with these women so He’s not unaware of how we think and perceive things He is calling us to join together and be united on the eternal things. He reminded them they have been a great help and support for sharing the Gospel-their service matters in the Kingdom and is needed. These are the things we focus on and stand united in.
Not how we choose to decorate, not what paint color or carpet color matters, not on song selections, or how we should dress for church, or what we should be doing as parents or not with our children at church, or any other number of things we can get offended and upset over. Paul is saying these things don’t matter. What matters is staying unified in Christ so we might all be vessels to share the Gospel of peace-so we might demonstrate the Gospel of Peace to one another. We must choose unity every time over division, for unity is what leads to the peace of God.
Paul states this important truth again to the church in Corinth:
2 Corinthians 13:11 11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
Notice he says rejoice! In what? The sufficiency of Christ! In the peace, He gives to us. Rejoice! It’s an act of worship to rejoice in who He is and what He has done for our great gain.
- Peace of God vs. Peace with God.
In this letter, Paul is mentioning the peace of God being with us and notices there are conditions for this peace of God. There is a big difference between having peace WITH God and having the peace OF God in our lives. We have peace with God-meaning we are no longer subject to His wrath for our sin, because of what Jesus did on the cross. We have been pardoned for our sins and stand justified before Him. Not our doing-all Jesus.
Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
But to have the peace OF God we must follow His ways and put into practice what He says is good.
Philippians 4: 6-7 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
What are we guarded from? Wrong thinking that promotes shame, guilt, condemnation for us or others, resentment, fear, doubting, anxiety, bitterness, and hopelessness. When we live out of these types of thoughts we are not living life to the full in Christ. We are not a vessel to serve Him well. We are not in obedience-for our thoughts are working against God’s Truths. We are not promoting the Gospel-which is a message of peace in Christ.
Notice what happens when we follow what God tells us to do pray, trust Him with our cares, when we give thanks for His sufficiency: what is the promise? The peace OF God that surpasses understanding (meaning it doesn’t have to make sense and we don’t have to know how it will all work out, we just trust He will work it out)-this peace will guard our hearts and minds-so we don’t fall into that stinkin’ thinking.
Philippians 4:9 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Practice. We must work out our salvation. If we want to take hold of the good life He promises us-we must practice living as He calls us to live. For some these are hard habits to break, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, making time to be with God, reading His Word so we learn His truth, and praying often with trust and thanksgiving.
- Prayer- Vehicle to God’s Peace
Philippians 4:6 . 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
How many times do you allow yourself to go into a full-blown tizzy or worry before you remember to bring God in that He is capable and sufficient to handle even this situation, whatever it is? Let us practice prayers of thanksgiving first because here is the promise:
Psalm 55:22 Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.
You will remain standing as you trust in the Lord and give Him your cares to handle.
In our prayers, we can practice rebuking wrong thinking and speaking out that which is in alignment with the Word of God. This is why we want to read His Word so we begin to know it in our hearts and we pull it up and we speak it with authority for God says His Word will accomplish that which it has been sent out for! Believe it! The more you begin to pray in this manner, using His Word as truth, the more powerful it becomes and the stronger your faith grows-leading to greater peace in your day-to-day living.
2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Philippians 4:8 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Practice praying in this manner. Practice praying from a place of certainty and victory in Christ. These prayers open the gates for His peace to flow freely within you. These prayers build our trust in Him and His sufficiency over our lives.
Isaiah 26:3 NASB The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace Because he trusts in You.
Conclusion: Our Lord and Savior is sufficient in all things and all seasons! Let us rejoice in His sufficiency! Let us put into practice what we have learned to live in the peace of God that surpasses understanding and is rightfully ours. This is an act of worship.
Let’s pray
Lord’s Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, Forever and ever. Amen.
Final Blessing: Philippians 4:7 and Colossians 3:15 May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. And may this peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And let us be thankful for this gift of peace we have in Christ.
