church

INI
Third Sunday in Advent
December 12, 2010
Ascension Lutheran Church, Tacoma WA
Paul Naumann, Pastor

REAL PEACE IN A TIME OF TURMOIL
Philippians 4:4-7

Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus, Amen. Our text this morning comes
from the Letter of Paul to the Philippians, chapter four, beginning with the
fourth verse [KJV]:

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be
known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every
thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made
known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall
keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. So far the Holy Word.

In the Name of the Christ-child, Dear Fellow Redeemed,

We're now nearing the climax of what many people consider the season of
peace. At this time even the unbelievers are talking about some vague sort of
ease, or peace, that everyone is supposed to experience. "Merry Christmas!"
"And merry Christmas to you, too!" - People say it as a matter of course,
without thinking. It's just as easy as it is for a convenience store clerk to say
"Have-a-nice-day" -- and I'm afraid that, most of the time, it's just about as
meaningful, too.

Well, today we hear Paul speaking similar words to his congregation at Philippi,
and to us here in Tacoma. They are words of cheerfulness and peace. But these
are not empty words. They are definitely not the vacuous equivalent of "Have a
nice day!" No, Paul has the whole power of heaven to back him up when he
says to us, "Rejoice in the Lord alway. Again I say, rejoice!" Some translations
read, "Be happy," But that sounds rather inadequate, doesn't it, especially to
those of us who still thrill to the Advent hymn, "Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel!"

Our text offers encouragement that's far different from the empty wishes of a
checkout clerk at a convenience store. Paul urges us in the strongest language
to rejoice, and he gives us a very good reason to do so: because, at this season,
God is granting us His peace. Consider with me the theme --

REAL PEACE IN A TIME OF TURMOIL

When the Cold War ended twenty years ago, it came as a complete surprise to
almost everyone. Some people were so surprised and delighted that they
predicted a new era of world peace and prosperity. It was not to be. Our world
of 2010 continues to be a place of turmoil. Our nation continues to fight two
protracted overseas wars, both of which have now lasted longer than the Viet
Nam war and the Korean conflict.. America is currently struggling under
difficult economic conditions, with the deepest recession since the 1930s,
rampant economic uncertainty and staggering unemployment.

Now, it's not my job to tell you what to think about these situations. But it is
my job to repeat to you the words of God - words which are meant to give you
peace of heart and mind. The Lord wants His believers to have an attitude
which looks beyond the affairs of this world to the world which will soon
appear. The Lord is at hand. He is near. The end of this present world may be
just around the corner. While the rest of the world is expressing alarm and
distress at the present turmoil, you as a Christian are meant to be an example to
others of one who is unafraid. And not only unafraid, but actually rejoicing -
rejoicing that the Lord seems about to fulfill His promise of coming again.

Do you want to be such an example? Then follow the advice of our text:
"Rejoice always!" Let others see you rejoicing that your God has power and
control over all evil in this world. Be assured yourself, and set the example for
others, that no matter how bad things in this world get, the Lord will not allow
His believers to suffer above what they are able. Many people worry about the
threat of nuclear weapons. Be assured yourself, and set the example for others,
that on Judgment Day the Lord will see to it that this world is completely
burned up, not just partially. If the ungodly really need something to worry
about, you can direct their attention to a holocaust that's already happening -
the 3,600 unborn children who are murdered by abortion in this country every
day.

But the message of our text is primarily meant, not as a warning for the
unbelievers, but as a comforting reassurance for God's people. Jesus said, "Are
not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten
before God. 7 "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear
therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Luke 12:6-7 NKJ) Yours
is the God who knows and counts when one of the world's ten billion sparrows
dies. Yours is the God who knows the number of hairs on your head, and has
already subtracted from your count the ones that stuck in your brush this
morning as you dressed. Yours is the God who is gracious and long-suffering.
He knew from eternity that without His love, and without the sacrifice of His
perfect Son on the cross, you would have had to die in hopelessness and eternal
misery.

The point is: He IS gracious; He DID offer the ultimate sacrifice; and our hope
IS very much alive and well and thriving --

So let's act like it, shall we? "Rejoice in the Lord always! Let it be known (to
everybody who wants to know about it) your moderation.” Let them see your
gentle reasonableness that trusts securely in God's almighty control. If you are
ill, you can be the example that says, "No, it's not a very joyous experience
being sick, but mine is a God who can heal every disease, and whose promise
extends to a world where disease will never again intrude." If you have a
disability, you can be the example that tells the world, "Yes, I am disabled for
the time being, but I know that my God is using this whole problem to lead me,
and countless others like me, to trust that the Lord is at hand, and that all will
soon be solved in a way that is better than I could even imagine." Or you may
simple quote the Apostle Paul, For I consider that the sufferings of this present
time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in
us. (Romans 8:18 NKJ)

We know that this is really the basis for your faith and trust. Well, then, it's no
convenience store hypocrisy for me to repeat the Apostle's encouragement, for
it is God's own. It has the power to bring forth from you what it asks for,
namely, "Rejoice in the Lord always! And again I say, Rejoice!" You, as a
Christian, have all the best reasons for doing just that!

As a pastor, I am particularly comforted by the following words, "Be careful for
nothing." And I pray you will be comforted by those words, as well!

Be “care-full” for nothing. Don’t get stressed! Why is it that we are so full of
care? Why do we suffer the debilitating effects of stress and anxiety? Isn't it
because we feel that we have to solve all our own problems by ourselves? Have
we concluded that every ill must find its solution within our own intelligence
and actions, and that if we fail it's our own fault? How long will it take us
Christians to see the obvious: that the Lord has invited us to bring our burdens
to Him, as Peter says, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (1
Peter 5:7 NKJ) How long till we realize that, the very moment we bring our
needs to God in prayer, His answer is already on the way? Why do we insist on
retaining the whole load ourselves anyway? Do we really doubt whether our
Lord will keep His promise? "Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for
you." The Bible said it; I'm only repeating it! Put your cares in God's hands and
leave them there - not as a last resort, but right off the bat! And what happens
then? You don't have the cares anymore. Your Lord has them. You can then be
anxious for nothing. The Bible says Blessed are those who hear the Word of
God and keep it. Well, if you will only hear this Word of God and keep it, it will
open up whole new vistas of carefree living for you!

So let's test the promise a bit. Say you have a son or daughter or grandchild
who seems destined for nothing but trouble. You are full of care and have the
feeling that matters are already out of your control. Give it to God first, who
loves you and your child in Christ. Make full use of the help of others whom
God supplies to assist you with the problem. But then don't go back and take
on yourself all the brooding and worrisome care - then your life beings to show
that you really doubt whether God can or will or is able to help.

Test it again. Perhaps you’ve been affected by the current economic downturn.
You don’t know you will meet your financial obligations. Have you really
brought also this matter before your God in persistent prayer? I know, "it's so
obvious" -- but have you? I and your fellow Christians will remember you and
your situation in our prayers also. But I wonder if it might not simply be a case
of "ye have not, because ye ask not"? Are you asking? If you are, then
remember to add a word of thanksgiving to your Lord that you and your family
have food and clothing. And so much more. Or do you, after all, believe that it
really is you and your own effort that has to get you out of your present
difficulty? Listen to your God, and offer prayer with thanksgiving.

It is so simple for the Christian, and so unbelievable for the scoffers. The two
different ways of approaching the challenges of life simply will never agree.

If your heart and mind is really rejoicing in the one true god who is in control of
this seemingly uncontrollable and hell-bent world, what have you got to keep
on being worried about? Put your cares aside! Put your care on Christ, who has
invited you to do so. Remember what our text says, the Lord is at hand. Isn't
that truly great? Rejoice! It'll soon be all over, and you are already the winner in
Christ! You have no trouble so great that you can't be thankful for the blessings
you have enjoyed.

"Commit your way unto the Lord: trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to
pass." Put this into practice, and you know what will happen? -Of course, the
peace of God, which surpasses our little worry-filled world, will keep both our
hearts and minds focused on Christ Jesus, and on the eternal peace that will
soon be ours - the peace of souls gathered together with Him forever.

He promised to come. He did come. He is coming again soon. We're supposed
to be His own special people, so let's not act as though this is all some kind of
fairy tale. My Christian friends, thank God! The Lord is at hand! "Rejoice in the
Lord always. And again I say -- REJOICE!" AMEN.