This week has been a roller coaster of emotions for me and many of you here at Joy Fellowship. Our sister in Christ, Shari Magg went home to be with Jesus on Tuesday evening. She had been physically sick for a little more than a week with what she described as tonsilitis. Shari was a trained nurse and was self-monitoring her condition at home but realized on Tuesday that she needed medical assistance. Shari asked her son Chuck to drive her to Patient First. We are not sure exactly what happened inside of Shari’s body but shortly before arriving at the Patient First, Shari was loosed free from the cords that tied her Soul and Spirit to the body she lived in for 64 years. The medical staff at Patient First, EMTs and Southside Regional tried there best to bring Shari back to us but I believe she had seen a glimpse of Heaven and said I am not going back. Shari has passed from Death to Life into eternity with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She is surrounded by her family, Her mother, father, Husband Richard, son Cory, my brother Daniel, and all her friends from Woodlawn Baptist and Joy Fellowship that have gone on before us.
2 Corinthians 4:7
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
2 Corinthians 5:6-8
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
**Please join us here at Joy Fellowship tomorrow at 6:30pm as we have a celebration of Shari and we comfort her family and each other remembering the time that God allowed Shari to be with us.
I did not have any idea what God wanted me to speak about this morning when I went to sleep last night. I prayed and asked the Lord to give me the words to say this morning that will bring life to you. God is Faithful. It was at 3:08am that God woke me up with this passage of Scripture from Philippians
Philippians 4:6-8
King James Version
6 Be careful for nothing; 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 keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-8
Amplified Bible
6 Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. 7 And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].
**The first point of the message this morning: God desires a believer to live in freedom of fear, doubt and unbelief
I understand that we find ourselves in situations many times that cause us to worry and carry burdens of concern for ourselves and others around us. It is during these times that we must return to the words of Christ Jesus
Matthew 11:28-30
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Many of you know the words to the Hymn, “What a friend we have in Jesus”. This morning as I was preparing this Message the Lord brought these words to be my heart:
1 What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!
Joseph M. Scriven, an Irish immigrant to Canada, wrote this text near Port Hope, Ontario, in 1855. Because his life was filled with grief and trials, Scriven often needed the solace of the Lord as described in his famous hymn.
Educated at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, he enrolled in a military college to prepare for an army career. However, poor health forced him to give up that ambition. Soon after came a second blow—his fiancée died in a drowning accident on the eve of their wedding in 1844. Later that year he moved to Ontario, where he taught school in Woodstock and Brantford. His plans for marriage were dashed again when his new bride-to-be died after a short illness in 1855. Following this calamity Scriven seldom had a regular income, and he was forced to live in the homes of others. He also experienced mistrust from neighbors who did not appreciate his eccentricities or his work with the underprivileged.
2 Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer!
3 Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge--
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield you;
you will find a solace there.
**As I was preparing the message this morning the Lord put in my heart that there are some who will be listening today, either here in Church or perhaps at home online who find themselves feeling down, depressed or even in a dark place today. Many people experience these feels following the Holidays as the commercialization of the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ sets unachievable standards for celebration. At every store display, social media post or Holiday movie we are shown the world’s interpretation of how Christmas should be celebrated. As I child we wait with anticipation to open presents that never bring us the Joy we desire. As adults we look for love and relationship connections to be strengthened but many times they are strained. As New Years eve approaches we do not look forward to returning to work and bills to pay off the debt we overspent buying presents in December.
My friends if you are relating to any of these sentiments this morning I have good news for you!
Philippians 4:6-8
Amplified Bible
6 Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. 7 And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].
***Jesus spoke about this Peace in John 14
John 14:25-29
25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
**The first point of the message this morning: God desires a believer to live in freedom of fear, doubt and unbelief
***The 2nd point of the message today: God sent the Holy Spirit to be our Comforter and give us peace.
**But you may ask this morning, Pastor Jon, I am filled with the Holy Spirit but I am still not at peace with this situation, or I am depressed about this other thing in my life. How can this be? I want to show you from the Gospels a clear representation of how this can be.
Mark 4:30-41
30 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
32 But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.
34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
***Point #3 of the message today: The lack of peace in your life is a direct reflection of your level of trust in Jesus for that area of your life.
Reflecting on this story there a couple of key points I want to share with you:
- Jesus gave the disciples clear instruction to take him in the boat to the other side.
- Jesus was in the boat with the disciples and they were in the “will of God” to take him to the other side.
- I want to point out there was no reference to the disciples deviating from the will of Jesus. They had not stopped to go fishing. They had not decided to go tubing or water boarding. Peter did not say, hey guys this is a great spot to go fishing or swimming.
- Sometimes we loose faith in God’s protection because we step out of his direction.
- They had kept Jesus in the boat.
- Jesus in verse 40 describes the peace trouble with the disciples lack of faith, not with the storm.
****Point #4 of the message today: It our lack of faith, not the storm that steals our peace.
**Look at verse 40 again: 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
***Let’s go back to our key verse this morning:
Philippians 4:6-8
6 Be careful for nothing; 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 keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
***I want to focus for a minute on verse #7 here and specifically the way Paul describes this peace of God. Paul says this peace is actually beyond understanding.
There are two Greek words here Paul uses to describe this peace of God:
1st word is Transliteration
hyperechō (Key)
Pronunciation
hoop-er-ekh'-o
to be above, be superior in rank, authority, power:
2nd word is Transliteration
nous (Key)
Pronunciation
nooce
the mind, comprising alike the faculties of perceiving and understanding and those of feeling, judging, determining
**This is different than the word Paul uses in Romans 8:6-7
Tools
For to be G5427 carnally minded G5427 is death; but to be G5427 spiritually minded G5427 is life and peace.
Tools
Because the carnal mind G5427 is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
***Here Paul is speaking about the thoughts and purposes and not the actual biological and emotional processing center of information.
Transliteration
phronēma (Key)
Pronunciation
fron'-ay-mah
- what one has in the mind, the thoughts and purposes
*** In Philippians
Philippians 4:7
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
**Here Paul is telling use that the Peace of God is superior in rank, authority, power over the mind, comprising alike the faculties of perceiving and understanding and those of feeling, judging, determining.
While mediating on this the Holy Spirit brought the following passage of scripture to my mind:
1 John 3:18-24
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
**The first point of the message this morning: God desires a believer to live in freedom of fear, doubt and unbelief
***The 2nd point of the message today: God sent the Holy Spirit to be our Comforter and give us peace.
***Point #3 of the message today: The lack of peace in your life is a direct reflection of your level of trust in Jesus for that area of your life.
****Point #4 of the message today: It our lack of faith, not the storm that steals our peace.
***The 5th and closing point of the Message today: Your lack of peace is equal to your lack of love to one another.
**Staying in the book of 1st John
1 John 4:13-21
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him, because he first loved us.
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
***As we close I want to take you back to our key verse in Philippians 4**As I began to look at this passage closer and the context of Paul’s writing to the Church at Philippi I noticed something unusual. Paul names out three women in the beginning of Chapter 4. I did not know anything about these women until I started researching this morning.
Philippians 4
1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
Euodia and Syntyche are two women mentioned in only one short passage in the Bible: “I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 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” (Philippians 4:2–3).
It seems that Euodia and Syntyche had worked directly with Paul to spread the gospel throughout the city of Phillipi, although it is unclear in what manner. The church had begun at a women’s prayer meeting (Acts 16:11–15), and it is quite possible that Euodia and Syntyche were part of that original group. The one thing we know for sure is that these two women were at odds with each other. It is likely the brawl was a public one, due to the fact that Paul had heard about it even though he was currently in a Roman prison “in chains” (Philippians 1:13). Two women fighting in this manner would have put the unity of the believers in Philippi in jeopardy, so it was important for Paul to address the bickering in his letter to the church.
Unity among believers is a common theme in the Bible (see Psalm 133:1; John 17:23; 1 Peter 3:8). Paul himself spoke about unity in several of his letters (1 Corinthians 1:10; Ephesians 4:11–13; Colossians 3:13–14). In fact, Paul’s plea for addressing the problem was for each member of the church at Philippi to be united in helping Euodia and Syntyche live peaceably with one other (Philippians 2:3).
**The first point of the message this morning: God desires a believer to live in freedom of fear, doubt and unbelief
***The 2nd point of the message today: God sent the Holy Spirit to be our Comforter and give us peace.
***Point #3 of the message today: The lack of peace in your life is a direct reflection of your level of trust in Jesus for that area of your life.
****Point #4 of the message today: It our lack of faith, not the storm that steals our peace.
***The 5th and closing point of the Message today: Your lack of peace is equal to your lack of love to one another.