Elements City Church
Joy Full - God's Unity and Peace - Philippians 4:1-9
Relational tension is a part of any and every relationship. It can stir stress and anxiety within us. The Apostle Paul gives us a prompt for exchanging relational anxiousness for an abiding peace from God. He tells the Philippians what they can do, so that God’s peace can return to their heart and in their church. Yes, it will take work and effort. No, it’s not necessarily easy. But it is our calling. This is one of the most beautiful passages of Scripture that leans on God’s promise of His peace to watch over us, when we align our lives to this gospel practice. God's unity and peace will prevail.
Locations & Times
Elements City Church
1825 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712, USA
Friday 5:00 PM
Welcome to church!
Whether you're on-site or online, we are praying that tonight will be an encouragement to you! If you're new and want to get connected, we'd love to hep you do so! Click the link below to fill out our Connection Card.
https://connect-card.com/yr4Y0g8VLBSqzKXeubjbHow can we pray for you?
If you have a prayer request you'd like our Elders and Prayer Team to pray for, click the link below to share it with us.
https://share.fluro.io/form/6329f633da0feb00250cbd5fI’ve gotten caught up reading this section - and starting in v.4 and kind of ignoring the first little bit…but Paul in context is addressing something that happens in every family, every work place, every group of relationships, every church, == it’s a dynamic of relational tensions and the ripples that creates within folks. Each of us will be here at times and Paul (inspired by the Spirit) writes some wisdom here for us…RELATIONAL TENSION HAPPENS (conflict happens)…so what are we to do about it??
*in verses 4–9, Paul tells the Philippians what they can do so that God’s peace can return to their heart and in their church.
Paul tells them not to be anxious about anything. In other words, don't fret and stew over the issue. Don't let your concern lead to frustration or growing anxiety.
==Instead, lay the issue out before God.
PRAY > SAY
Paul uses four words to describe bringing our problems before the Lord:
prayer, petition, request, and thanksgiving.
Prayer is coming to God.
Petition is admitting you need his help.
Request - SEEK specific/divine intervention - how you need God to help.
Thanksgiving. That is, we should be thankful that God knows best and is in control and sovereign over our life and all of life. He’s been helpful before and will be again…as we stay seeking Him, we'll be met by His peace.
Paul tells them not to be anxious about anything. In other words, don't fret and stew over the issue. Don't let your concern lead to frustration or growing anxiety.
==Instead, lay the issue out before God.
PRAY > SAY
Paul uses four words to describe bringing our problems before the Lord:
prayer, petition, request, and thanksgiving.
Prayer is coming to God.
Petition is admitting you need his help.
Request - SEEK specific/divine intervention - how you need God to help.
Thanksgiving. That is, we should be thankful that God knows best and is in control and sovereign over our life and all of life. He’s been helpful before and will be again…as we stay seeking Him, we'll be met by His peace.
How do brothers and sisters stand firm in the Lord? By holding onto the great reconciliation and the great reunion. (see ch. 3)
And as we hold on to that reality - it should impress upon us a refusal to get stuck, quarreling on the way home…with our brothers/sisters.
Actually, it's not the first time Paul has used the phrase "stand firm"
—stēkō in the Greek—in his letter to the Philippians. He uses it in chapter one.
The context specifically has to do with unity.
"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the
gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear
about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one
spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel." (Phil. 1:27)
And as we hold on to that reality - it should impress upon us a refusal to get stuck, quarreling on the way home…with our brothers/sisters.
Actually, it's not the first time Paul has used the phrase "stand firm"
—stēkō in the Greek—in his letter to the Philippians. He uses it in chapter one.
The context specifically has to do with unity.
"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the
gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear
about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one
spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel." (Phil. 1:27)
Paul calls the church to help here because the conflict between these women is not just a private matter. It hurts everyone. It hurts the cause of the gospel.
Don't miss this: One Christian's animosity against another is seldom just a private matter. It's not just between two people. It can leak out and begin to hurt many in the community. It can damage the credibility of the gospel and can damage the credibility/witness of the church community.
Unity matters!
Not uniformity — we’re not called to all be the same, but we are called to be on the same page — UNITY MATTERS.… (Jesus’ great prayer in John 17) unity will put His love on display in a fractured world.)
*It's not just the responsibility of the pastors to broker peace and be peacemakers - it takes each believer to champion being peace makers and seeking reconciliation and restoration when necessary… it takes each believer practicing Matthew 18 & Matthew 5 - leaving their gift at the alter when they realize they’ve got something between themselves — to go make it right - then come worship the Lord.
KEEP SHORT ACCOUNTS WITH OTHERS AND GOD.
Don't miss this: One Christian's animosity against another is seldom just a private matter. It's not just between two people. It can leak out and begin to hurt many in the community. It can damage the credibility of the gospel and can damage the credibility/witness of the church community.
Unity matters!
Not uniformity — we’re not called to all be the same, but we are called to be on the same page — UNITY MATTERS.… (Jesus’ great prayer in John 17) unity will put His love on display in a fractured world.)
*It's not just the responsibility of the pastors to broker peace and be peacemakers - it takes each believer to champion being peace makers and seeking reconciliation and restoration when necessary… it takes each believer practicing Matthew 18 & Matthew 5 - leaving their gift at the alter when they realize they’ve got something between themselves — to go make it right - then come worship the Lord.
KEEP SHORT ACCOUNTS WITH OTHERS AND GOD.
We MUST revolutionize how we measure spiritual maturity:
== it is becoming a loving person like Jesus
Jesus refused to accept that people were growing in love for God that didn’t translate into a love for people.
Whatever the issue, Paul calls them to agree with each other in the Lord.
Paul knows that, aside from a few issues of a moral or doctrinal nature, there are few things that can divide us, and nothing that is bigger than the Christ who unites us.
re-read v. 5-6
What in essence Paul is saying is: Let God know your problems, but let others know your peace.
** if we vent with God (prayer), we can be peaceable with others; if we vent with others, we won't have peace. **
if you're venting too much to others and praying too little to God...
Reverse that pattern, and see what happens.
*after all, it is our Savior who challenged us to PRAY FOR OUR ENEMIES…
As you practice the pattern of praying more to God, venting less to others — you’ll experience the peace of God — His peace will quell and calm your anxiousness.
== it is becoming a loving person like Jesus
Jesus refused to accept that people were growing in love for God that didn’t translate into a love for people.
Whatever the issue, Paul calls them to agree with each other in the Lord.
Paul knows that, aside from a few issues of a moral or doctrinal nature, there are few things that can divide us, and nothing that is bigger than the Christ who unites us.
re-read v. 5-6
What in essence Paul is saying is: Let God know your problems, but let others know your peace.
** if we vent with God (prayer), we can be peaceable with others; if we vent with others, we won't have peace. **
if you're venting too much to others and praying too little to God...
Reverse that pattern, and see what happens.
*after all, it is our Savior who challenged us to PRAY FOR OUR ENEMIES…
As you practice the pattern of praying more to God, venting less to others — you’ll experience the peace of God — His peace will quell and calm your anxiousness.
Paul tells us to renew our minds according to the word of God, discern what is best according to the character of God, and then fill our minds with these things by help of the Spirit of God stay active in shaping our mindset and perspective.…
He ends with: Focus on what you have seen, heard, learned, received. This way of life is not just a mental exercise. It is lived. It is practiced. It is walked out, not just thought out. — put it into practice.
what is NIKE slogan: JUST DO IT!
He ends with: Focus on what you have seen, heard, learned, received. This way of life is not just a mental exercise. It is lived. It is practiced. It is walked out, not just thought out. — put it into practice.
what is NIKE slogan: JUST DO IT!
We are grateful for your financial partnership!
Thank you for giving your tithes and offerings. They enable us to be the church, and they help fuel the mission of Elements City Church. Our capacity to function as a church on a daily basis is directly impacted by your support, and we are so grateful for it! You can give online at the link below, or through the Elements City Church app.
http://elementscitychurch.org/giveAren't you glad you came to church tonight?!
There's power when we gather together to worship in song and in the Word! We pray tonight has been a blessing to you as you start your week.
Join us next Sunday as we continue through the book of Philippians in our Joy Full series.
Check out the Elements up to stay up to date on upcoming events, including:
- Dudes Day on Sept 28th @ Top Golf
- Chili Cook-off October 20th
There's power when we gather together to worship in song and in the Word! We pray tonight has been a blessing to you as you start your week.
Join us next Sunday as we continue through the book of Philippians in our Joy Full series.
Check out the Elements up to stay up to date on upcoming events, including:
- Dudes Day on Sept 28th @ Top Golf
- Chili Cook-off October 20th