Sermon Cloud

Paul “connects the dots” for the Philippian followers of Jesus.  First, he deals with a public conflict between E. and S.  These were not just some fringe or random guests.  They had been critical members of Paul’s ministry team.

However, Paul’s appeal is huge.  He urges them to reconcile BECAUSE they belonged to God.   Their love for Jesus and the Good News is the hope for them learning to love each other, in spite of their disagreement.

Then Paul urges us to experience joy, to the full.  Its one thing to taste a bit of joy, but it’s another to be filled with joy.  And again, Paul connects this experience to our love for God.  “Be filled with joy…in the Lord.”

Then God connects the dots for us between joy and peace.  We are filled with joy thru seeking God above all else…all the other potential sources for joy. 

In the same way, we find peace.  It’s thru coming to God in prayer.  It’s thru telling Him what we need, thanking Him for what we have.  The image of such peace "standing guard" (if pressed in a military sense) over hearts and minds is striking. Thru practicing God’s presence we can find a kind of peace that will serve like a Roman guard standing watch at the gate of our hearts.  Peace is found as we intentionally pursue the person of God.

While E. & S. have even sacrificed for God in their work for the Good News with Paul, this peace was eluding them, individually and with each other.  Because of who God was, they could find this peace again.