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[0:00] Philippians chapter 4. We should all be somewhat familiar with the fourth chapter of Philippians,! that for no other reason than verse 13,!

[0:30] We can base a lot of other people's testimonies in Scripture and testimonies that we know of in our own lives on Philippians 4.13. But again, that's not where we'll be this morning.

[0:41] The book of Philippians is a wonderful book penned by the Apostle Paul. This is one of the prison epistles, meaning that Paul was in chains. He was in prison as he wrote this letter.

[0:54] Yet this is one of the most encouraging epistles of Paul's that you'll find in the Scripture. Paul, several times throughout the four chapters of this short little epistle to the church at Philippi, he is constantly taking the Philippians' eyes off of the circumstances around them.

[1:16] He's taking their eyes off of the situations. He's taking their eyes off of negativity and focusing on Christ and encouraging them to do the same.

[1:27] Paul, in chapter 1 of Philippians, is tickled to death because the Gospel is moving forward. Even though he is in chains, he is tickled pink that the Gospel continues to move forward just as God had decreed it to do.

[1:44] But something we need to remember as we're reading through any part of Philippians is that it was and is a prison epistle. Paul was in prison at the time that he wrote this, yet he is encouraging other people.

[2:00] And we, the New Testament church, could learn a whole lot from that. But Paul, he encourages the Philippian church. And again, he's constantly taking their eyes off of the negativity that may be surrounding them or their families or their church, whatever the case is, and encouraging them to focus on Christ.

[2:23] And that is a daily prayer of mine, and I hope that it's a daily prayer of yours, that when people see you, that they see the radiance of Jesus Christ.

[2:34] It's just as Christ said Himself in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

[2:45] People should see the light of Jesus Christ emanating off of us. They should see Him, maybe not in a physical brightness, but they should see Christ overflowing from the well that is inside of us.

[2:59] All that being said, Paul, again, encouraging the Philippians to stay positive and to focus on Jesus Christ. He talks about Christ being the Savior. He talks about Christ being the sustenance, being the very one that sustains believers.

[3:13] And truth be known, Christ is the very one that sustains non-believers as well. Folks, if that wasn't the case, I'd already be dead and in hell if that was not the case.

[3:24] But Christ blessed me with life. He blessed me with breath. He blessed me with blood flowing through my veins for 33 years before He ever saved my soul. And that was a true blessing from Almighty God.

[3:36] I didn't see it as that at the time, but in hindsight, as the old saying goes, hindsight is 20-20. There are many times that I don't see the blessings of God in the future.

[3:48] In fact, it's almost impossible to see that. But in hindsight, we can see it over and over and over again. Jesus Christ blessing us. Philippians chapter 4.

[3:58] Again, Paul encouraging the Philippian church. Philippians chapter 4 begins with Paul exhorting the church. But he also begins in the first three verses of Philippians chapter 4 of a small scuffle, if you'd like to call it that, going on within the church between two women that are in the church.

[4:19] And he encourages them to reconcile. To reconcile themselves. He's not being mean toward them. He's not angry or whatever the case is.

[4:30] But he's encouraging them to reconcile themselves. They both belong to Christ. They are both professors of Christ. And they both belong to the church at Philippi. And Paul's encouraging them to reconcile themselves.

[4:44] So that the gospel can move forward. So that it can move forward unhindered. And folks, that should be our desire. That should be the desire of every child of God. Is that the gospel moves forward.

[4:55] The gospel is preached so that lost souls can hear. They can repent of their ways. And receive the salvation that is only available by God through Jesus Christ.

[5:06] That should be our desire. Every one of our desires is that the gospel moves forward. That's where our hope is. That's where everything that is promised in the Bible is centered.

[5:17] And it is anchored on the gospel of Jesus Christ. The good news that although man be a sinner. Although man is rebellious against God. Although man has trampled the laws of God.

[5:28] And done it purposely many times in his life. Although these things all be true. God is a Savior. God is the Savior. And He is a Savior through Jesus Christ. God sent His only begotten Son into the world.

[5:41] That whosoever should believe in the good news. That Jesus Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Is a guaranteed hope of life. And life everlasting. Everyone who believes in this can receive salvation.

[5:55] Praise God. That was free. Philippians chapter 4. Beginning at verse 4. We're just going to read a few verses this morning. Philippians 4. Beginning at verse 4.

[6:05] It says, Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing. But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.

[6:18] Let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding. Shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ. Back to verse 4.

[6:30] Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say rejoice. Now again the first three verses of Philippians 4 here. We can read it real quick. Therefore my brethren dearly beloved.

[6:42] And long for my joy and crown. So stand fast in the Lord my dearly beloved. I beseech you odious. And I beseech Sintic. That they may be of the same mind in the Lord.

[6:53] And I entreat thee also true yoke fellow. Help those women which labored with me in the gospel. With Clement also. And with other fellow laborers whose names are in the book of life.

[7:04] Again he is addressing a scuffle. He is addressing something negative that has gone on in the church here. And telling these women to reconcile.

[7:15] And just after this. He says rejoice in the Lord hallway. And again I say rejoice. I want you to notice here. He says rejoice in the Lord hallway. He doesn't say rejoice in your circumstances.

[7:27] He doesn't say rejoice in the situations that you may be finding yourself in. He doesn't even say rejoice in the church at Philippi. He doesn't say rejoice in any of these things.

[7:38] And folks if we are getting joy out of any of those things. It will be a temporal joy. It will be a joy that does not last. But if we are rejoicing in the Lord.

[7:48] If we are rejoicing in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ who in Revelation chapter 1 said I am he that liveth and was dead. And behold I am alive forevermore. Amen.

[7:59] And all the kings of hell and of death. If we are getting joy out of Jesus. And we are getting joy out of salvation. And we are getting joy out of the gospel. That saved our unworthy soul.

[8:11] That is a joy that cannot be shaken. It is a joy that cannot be taken away from us. Regardless of what disease comes within us. Regardless of what disease comes upon our doorstep.

[8:22] To our families. Regardless of financial situations. Regardless of relationship situations. That joy is unmovable. If it is anchored in Christ Jesus our Lord.

[8:34] Hallelujah. Amen. Rejoicing the Lord always. Rejoicing the Lord always. But he doesn't leave it at that. Just so that the Philippians don't think that Brother Paul is exaggerating.

[8:49] When he says rejoice in the Lord always. He repeats himself. And again I say rejoice. Now folks we must remember where Paul was. He was in prison.

[9:00] This man in prison. His freedom had been taken away. His comfort had been taken away. All these things had been taken away from Paul. And yet here is Paul encouraging Philippians.

[9:12] Which are on the outside. Philippians that still have their freedom. Philippians that still have their comforts. Philippians that still have food whenever they want it. They still have shelter. They still have all of these things.

[9:24] And this man in prison is telling them. Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say rejoice. No wonder just a few verses down. We didn't read it. We didn't read it during this passage reading.

[9:37] Just a little while ago. But Paul also says. I've learned whatsoever state I'm in. Therewith to be content. It didn't matter if he was in good shape. It didn't matter if he was in bad shape. Jesus Christ is the reason that Paul was content with whatever situation he found himself in.

[9:55] And every one of us. Every child of God should do likewise. It doesn't matter what the world throws at us. It doesn't matter what Satan and every demon and nymph that knows that hell is home is throwing our way.

[10:08] Folks we have joy in Jesus Christ. It is a joy that cannot be taken away from the child of God. And I praise God for that. I praise God that he gave me joy.

[10:19] Not only did he give me salvation. Not only did he save my soul when I was unworthy to be saved. I praise God for the scripture that says. That Jesus said. I came to seek and to save that which was lost.

[10:31] Jesus also said. They which are not sick have no need of a physician. But everyone in mankind. Everyone that has been born. Everyone that was made.

[10:41] Adam and Eve. And everyone that has been born since. Has a sickness called sin. It's called sinfulness. And Jesus Christ is the only cure. For that illness. And for that sickness.

[10:52] And I praise God. That along with salvation. Comes this joy. That we're talking about here. And comes this joy. That brother Paul was telling the Philippian church. Rejoice in the Lord always.

[11:04] And again I say. Rejoice. And I encourage you to do likewise. Regardless of what life throws in your direction. To rejoice in the Lord always.

[11:16] And again I say. Rejoice. Verse 5. Let your moderation. Be known unto all men. I don't know about you all. I prefer the King James Version.

[11:26] I'm not a King James only. It's by any means. But I have a preference. For the King James Version. That being said. Your Bible translation that you're using. Let your moderation be known unto all men.

[11:37] It may say something like gentleness. Or kindness. Something along those lines. Let your gentleness be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Regardless.

[11:49] Paul gives commandment here. And by the way. Verse 4 was a commandment as well. And if it was a commandment from Paul. Who had apostolic authority.

[12:01] To the church at Philippi. Then it's a commandment to us. You fast forward to the New Testament church. 2,000 years later. It's a commandment to us. Folks. These are some of the most quoted verses.

[12:12] In scripture. To rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say. Rejoice. But unfortunately. It's some of the least obeyed commandments. In all of the scripture. When God.

[12:23] Or when Paul. Tells the Philippians. To rejoice always. God is telling us. 2,000 years later. To rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say. Rejoice. In verse 5. Let your moderation be known.

[12:35] Unto all men. And let your gentleness. Let your kindness. Let your meekness. Be known. Unto all men. Folks. If we are arbitrary. All the time. If we puff up.

[12:47] At the slightest little thing. What kind of testimony. Of Jesus Christ. Are we giving to the world. And even more so. What kind of testimony. Are we giving to the church.

[12:58] What kind of testimony. Do we give. If we all come in here. And our noses are up in the air. Or if we all come in here. And our faces are red. And we're angry. And we're bitter. And all these other things.

[13:09] Paul here. Commanding the Philippian church. And God likewise. Commanding us. Let your moderation be known. Unto all men. And he tells us what to do. And he tells us why to do it.

[13:19] In the same verse. For the Lord is at hand. The Lord is at hand. Speaking of the presence of Jesus Christ. In our lives. That carries double meaning.

[13:30] Speaking of the presence of Jesus Christ. In our lives. Speaking of the soon coming. Of Jesus Christ. I don't care if you're five years old. Fifty years old.

[13:41] Or five hundred years old. Christ is still coming. And he's still coming soon. I've heard all my life. As I'm sure you have as well. Christ is coming soon. And folks. It is in light of eternity.

[13:53] In light of eternity. It could be another ten thousand years. Before Jesus Christ comes. And it would still be soon. It would still be soon. In light of eternity.

[14:04] But he tells them. Let your moderation be known. Unto all men. The Lord is at hand. That not only goes for us. That not only goes for us.

[14:14] Having the presence of Jesus Christ. When you receive salvation. If you're sitting here. Born again. Washed in the blood. Child of God. Right now. When you receive that. You receive the Spirit.

[14:26] Of Almighty God. Romans chapter 8. Says that. Without His Spirit. Speaking of Christ. You are none of His. So. If we are His.

[14:36] We have His Spirit. Dwelling on the inside. We have the presence. Of Jesus Christ. Through. Through the Holy Spirit. Of Almighty God. Abiding within us. The Lord is at hand.

[14:47] We have the promise. Of His soon coming. The Lord. Is at hand. But if we're going out into the world. And we're giving bad testimony. If we're going out into the world.

[14:58] And let me tell you something. Right now Christians. The world will be the first ones. To tell you. How you should be acting. They'll be the first ones. To tell you. What this book says.

[15:08] As far as how. A Christian is to act. Those that aren't even saved. Those that don't even know Christ. Those that have not repented. And believe the gospel of Jesus Christ.

[15:18] Will be the first ones. To tell you. How you are to act. He says. Let your moderation. Or your gentleness. Be known unto all men. He tells us why.

[15:30] The Lord is at hand. Not only is He with us. But the Lord is soon coming. Not only for us. The church. The bride of Christ. As Scripture describes us as. But He's coming.

[15:41] To take the bride of Christ out of here. And when He comes. And does that folks. Judgment is going to fall on this world. Like no time. That man has ever seen.

[15:53] That's another reason. We need to let our moderation be known. Unto all men. They need to see our moderation. They need to see our gentleness. Think of Jesus Christ folks.

[16:04] Think of Him standing. Before Pontius Pilate. The Jews had accused Him. The Gentiles were mocking Him. All this was going on. All these false accusations.

[16:16] Were against Jesus Christ. And Christ was there before Pilate. And yet He answered him another word. Wow. That was meekness folks.

[16:27] That was gentleness. To know. That the very one. That spoke this entire universe. Into existence. The very one. That had power. To rain fire and brimstone.

[16:39] From the skies. The very one. That had power. To flood the entire earth. And kill everyone. And everything. Save eight people. That same one. Was standing before Pilate.

[16:51] Under false accusation. Even Pilate himself said. I find no fault in this man. And yet. In his meekness. Which is strength under control. In his meekness.

[17:02] He answered him not a word. Until Pilate said. Do you not understand. That I have power to crucify you. Or that I have power to set you free.

[17:13] And Christ said. That would have no power at all. If it were given thee from above. If it were given you. By my father. You would have no power. And yet Christ.

[17:25] Had power. To call ten thousand angels. To put an end to it. At any time he wanted to. But he didn't folks. He is always. Our supreme. And prime example.

[17:36] As to how we. Should act. I'm not saying. That we should go out here. And let the world run over us. That's not what I'm saying at all. I understand that Jesus said. That we should turn our other cheek.

[17:48] I get that. And there's some context. Around all of that. But folks. We are given biblical authority. To defend ourselves. At the same time. You read in the book of Exodus. That his blood is shed.

[17:59] Of a thief. That is broken into your house. That blood will not be held accountable. To the one that struck him. You read in the book of Nehemiah. Chapter 4.

[18:10] Where they built the wall. The Jews were building the wall. And they had a tool in one hand. And a weapon in another. Yes. We need to defend ourselves. I'm not saying.

[18:21] Let the world run all over you. But the world needs to see meekness. Folks. We have power. We have power. And I'm not getting all charismatic with you. When I say that. But we have power.

[18:32] The same power. That raised Christ. From the dead. Is the same power. That dwells on the inside of you. And the same power.

[18:42] That dwells on the inside of me. We have power. And plus. As far as the world is concerned. They can't call upon God. To help them. They can call upon God. To save them.

[18:53] And that's where their help truly begins. But outside of that. They had no authority. And they had no right. To call upon God. Until they belong to God.

[19:04] Now everyone on planet earth. Belongs to God. Saved and lost alike. By means of creation. Everyone on earth. Belongs to God.

[19:15] But as far. As a personal relationship goes. It is a means of salvation. Whether we belong to God or not. Whether we have been adopted. Into the family of God or not.

[19:26] If we have been washed in the blood. Of Jesus Christ. Then we belong to God. And we can make our petitions and supplications. Known unto Him. But the world cannot do that.

[19:36] Until they are born again. Let your moderation be known. Unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Verse 6. Be careful for nothing.

[19:47] But in everything by prayer and supplication. With thanksgiving. Let your requests be made known. Unto God. Again. I don't know what version of the Bible. You all might be reading. But where He says. Be careful for nothing.

[19:59] Many modern English translations. Have that. Be anxious for nothing. And that's a very good translation. That's exactly what it's getting at. The problem is. In 17th century English.

[20:10] The word anxious meant eager. It didn't mean what it means today. The word anxiety. Wasn't around like it is today. But that's exactly what this is getting at. To be anxious for nothing.

[20:21] To be careful for nothing. I'm sorry. Be careful for nothing. But in everything by prayer and supplication. With thanksgiving. Let your requests be made known. Unto God.

[20:32] Now folks listen. When He says be careful for nothing. Or be anxious for nothing. I'm not saying that there's not true burdens out there. There are. There are true burdens.

[20:44] That befall Christians and non-Christians alike. There are true sorrows. That befall Christians and non-Christians alike. I'm not saying that that's not the case. And Paul here is not encouraging the Philippian church.

[20:57] To deny those things. Nor anywhere else in Scripture. Does the word of God. Encourage people to deny. The negativity. And to deny the bad stuff.

[21:09] That goes on around us. And goes on in our lives. He says be careful for nothing. Be anxious for nothing. Don't worry about anything. In other words. Jesus gives this same commandment in the Sermon on the Mount.

[21:21] He says care not for the morrow. For the morrow shall have the cares of itself. In other words. Don't worry about what's going to happen tomorrow. When you've got enough to think about today.

[21:33] But. Here He says. Be careful for nothing. And He gives us the prescription to cure that. Now. Is anxiety real?

[21:44] Absolutely. 100%. I'm not speaking from personal experience. But it is a real thing. But anxiety. In the life of a Christian.

[21:56] In the life of someone that knows God. Someone who has been saved. Anxiety is not a psychological condition. Anxiety is a theological problem.

[22:10] Why? Because. Anxiety means. For a born again Christian. That they're questioning the sovereignty of God. They're questioning the goodness of God.

[22:21] They're questioning the faithfulness of God. They're questioning all these things. that the Bible plainly states and plainly explains are attributes of Almighty God.

[22:33] The world can't claim that. The world, I'm speaking about lost people, cannot make such a claim. But folks, we as Christians, we know that God has been good.

[22:47] We know what He has done. We know what He's done in our own lives. We've witnessed it. We have seen it. We've felt it. We have tasted it. And we have seen that the Lord is good.

[23:00] So why would we be anxious? I'm not saying, folks, that I'm a worry-free person. This is just as much for me as it is for you all. I'm not standing up here pointing a finger at you. Because this preaches just as much to me.

[23:15] But why worry when the Sovereign Creator of the entire universe claims me as His own? Hallelujah! Why should we worry? Why should we fret?

[23:26] And yet we do. But Paul tells us how to avoid that in the same verse. Many times, while I've been preaching, while I've taught over the years, many times, I've explained this to people, many times, you will not only find the what in a verse of Scripture, but you will also find the why within the same verse or at least the same passage of Scripture.

[23:50] And these four verses we're going through here in Philippians 4 this morning are no exception to that. Be careful for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known unto God.

[24:07] What's the antidote for anxiety? What's the antidote for worry? It's prayer. It's prayer. It is communion with God.

[24:19] And God desires this. God, if He did not desire communion with His people, with those which He has saved, if He didn't desire communion with them, the veil in the temple would not have been written plain from the top to the bottom when Jesus Christ died on the cross.

[24:41] But that was significant or signified access for everyone to come to God. Jesus Christ not only died to save our souls, Jesus Christ died that you and I could have a relationship that we could be reconciled back to God.

[25:00] What was the need of reconciliation? The reconciliation was needed because back in the garden, man was cursed of God. He was cast off of God. Or by God.

[25:12] So we had to be reconciled. We had to be brought back into right relationship with Him. A lot of the Jews back in the Old Testament, that's what got them in trouble.

[25:26] They got caught up in their forms. They got caught up in their fashions. They got caught up in their religion. God set it forth for them. You read it in Leviticus chapters 1-7.

[25:37] Different offerings for different things at different times. But they got so caught up in that that that's what they were depending on for their relationship with God.

[25:48] Yes, I've done this. Yes, I've went there. Yes, I did this with this person or done that with this person. All I've got to do is take a couple of turtle doves.

[25:59] I'll take a goat. I'll take a ram. I'll take a bullock. And I'll be well. No! No! No! No! Religion gets the church in more trouble than anything else does.

[26:11] Religion and idolatry. I'm talking about the church. I'm talking about born again believers. Religion and idolatry gets us in trouble with God. You can read in Scripture where God despises the religion of the Jews.

[26:27] Read it in the book of Amos. He says, I will not smell your incense even though He's the very one that puts burning incense unto Him in the plague. He says, I will not smell your incense.

[26:39] There are stints in my nostrils. Because that was just religion. It was not relationship. It was not relationship. Here God, through Paul, encouraging the Philippians.

[26:54] Fast forward to year 2026. He says, encouraging us to defeat and have victory over our worry and our anxiety through prayer.

[27:06] Through prayer. Again, be careful for nothing but in everything. Not just in the spiritual things. Not just in the physical things. Not just in the mental things.

[27:17] Not just the things to do with you or to do with them or anything else. He says, in everything. Things! So don't ever think that your problems are too small to take to God.

[27:28] And don't ever think that something that's going on in your life just wasn't significant of praise for that matter. In everything. In everything the Scripture says.

[27:39] But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. That's the key to this whole thing. With thanksgiving. What do we have to be thankful about? My goodness, what do we have to not be thankful about?

[27:52] If we enter prayer thanking God 99.9% of the time what are we thanking Him for? We're thanking Him for something that He has done in the past.

[28:05] Whether it was 30 seconds ago or 30 years ago. So if we enter into prayer with God. Communion with God. Conversation with God.

[28:16] With thanksgiving in our heart. Folks, we're remembering what God has done for us. And that is what defeats the worry.

[28:28] That is what defeats the anxiety. You remember every time in your life when the cupboards were bare. But you're still here. You remember a time in your life where there was nothing in the fridge.

[28:39] But you're still there. You remember when the bank account was in the negative. But you are still here. That's past deliverance. Hallelujah. And we can thank God for those things.

[28:51] Think about David. David going up against Goliath. You read about it in 1 Samuel 17. He's talking to Saul. They're standing there.

[29:03] This entire army of Jews against one Philistine that's mocking the people of God. And they won't budge. And David tells Saul, you know, I was just a little shepherd boy.

[29:15] I was watching over my father's sheep. And there was a bear and there was a lion that come and took one of the lambs of the flock. And he goes on to tell him, speaking of Goliath, the Philistine, he says, the Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the bear and delivered me out of the paw of the lion will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.

[29:36] David remembered the bear. He remembered the lion. He remembered the deliverance. And that's why he had boldness to go against Goliath. Hallelujah. How many times has God delivered you?

[29:49] How many times have you prayed for someone to be healed? How many times have you prayed for somebody's circumstances to get better? Whether it be yours or whether it be somebody that you knew and you saw that.

[30:00] Go to God with thanksgiving in your heart. And that will decrease the worry and the anxiety in your life. Prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. Let your request be known unto God.

[30:14] Not to the void. Not to a tree. Not to a rock. Not to a priest. Not to a pastor. I ain't saying y'all can't go into this man over here Brother Tony and ask him to pray for you.

[30:29] That's not what I'm saying at all. But we the church have learned we have been conditioned by society that we're to run other places.

[30:39] One, we've been conditioned by society to depend upon self. We've been conditioned to think that but when self fails we've been conditioned to run to somebody else or run to some other entity.

[30:52] Run to Uncle Sam. Run to the local government. Run to the pastor. Run to the deacons. Run to whoever. When Scripture commands us commands us to go to God and make our supplications and our petitions known.

[31:08] And if you all ask me to pray for you I will happily do so. But don't forget to go to God. Go to God first. Go to Him first. Folks, I can pray but I can't do much else than that.

[31:21] But God can do all things. Praise God. He said, with man it is impossible but not with God for with God all things are possible.

[31:32] Make your petitions and your supplications known to Him. Verse 7 And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

[31:45] I want you to notice those first four words there. Or five words. And the peace of God. Not peace with God.

[31:57] And a lot of people get that crisscrossed. He's not talking about peace with God. That happens at salvation. That happens at salvation.

[32:07] I've explained it numerous times in numerous situations. You read about the peace offering in Leviticus chapter 3. God commands a peace offering to be brought but it wasn't to make peace with God.

[32:21] It was because of peace that you had with God. The peace that was made in Leviticus chapter 1 through the burnt offering. Folks, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ.

[32:34] Through the cross of His suffering. That's how peace with God is made. But this is talking about the peace of God. This is a whole different thing. This is experiential peace. This is peace that we know because we have felt that peace within us.

[32:48] We have felt it inside of us. Why? Because we are at peace with God. We can have the peace of God. And there is no other peace like it. Not only are we commanded in the Scripture to rejoice always and again I say rejoice.

[33:05] But here we're encouraged to do that. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding it's beyond anything that you can comprehend. Jesus said to the disciples in the Gospel of John he said my peace I leave with you or he said peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you.

[33:27] Not as the world giveth and praise God it's not like that. Otherwise it would be fleeting. It might last from five seconds to five years but eventually that peace would fade.

[33:38] But again folks we are talking about something that comes from God. everything about God is eternal. He is eternal. He is the ancient of days. He is the beginning and the end.

[33:50] He is the first and the last. He is Alpha and Omega. Therefore if anything comes from Him it is just as eternal. Just as eternal.

[34:01] The love of God is eternal. The goodness of God is eternal. The long suffering of God is eternal. The patience of God is eternal. The salvation of God is eternal.

[34:12] The life of God is eternal. But on the flip side of that coin the judgment of God is eternal. The fury of God is eternal.

[34:22] The anger of God is eternal. The vengeance of God is eternal. Don't you dare let anybody say if you go to hell you'll be burned up in a few minutes and that'll be it. Not when the Bible describes hell as otherwise.

[34:36] It describes hell as a place where the worm dieth not. Where the fire is not quenched. It describes it as a place of outer darkness. It describes it as a place of a bottomless pit. There's all kinds of descriptions of hell in the scriptures.

[34:51] And God is there. God is there in His full wrath and His full judgment and His full fury and His full vengeance.

[35:03] God is there. Even the psalmist said if I ascend up to the heavens thou art there. If I make my bed in hell thou art there. Hallelujah. That is our God and that is the God that saved my soul.

[35:17] That is the God whom I serve and that is the God who leads me and guides me through this life. And the peace of God praise God for that peace. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

[35:33] the peace of God and it's a peace that passeth all understanding shall keep. You read that in the original Greek it's actually a military term.

[35:43] Speaking of a garrison or a sentinel that is guarding something shall keep. It says the peace of God that passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

[35:55] The peace of God this peace that dwells on the inside this peace that every born again believer has. it shall keep our hearts that peace will keep and guard our hearts and not only our hearts but our minds as well the heart the seat of our affections the minds the seat of our thoughts the peace of God guards those but not by Himself.

[36:19] Paul tells us how it's done through Christ Jesus. That being said and I've already said it once this morning the world cannot lay claim to any of these commandments those that are not born again those that are not saved you might have a temporary peace you might be able to rejoice a little bit you might be able to have joy my goodness you think about the prophet Habakkuk you read the very last few verses Habakkuk chapter 3 he says though the fig tree shall not blossom though the herd shall not be in the stall yet I will rejoice in my Lord and I will joy in the God of my salvation he's talking about famine he's talking about no food being available talking about everything around him dying and yet he has joy the world does not have that joy and the world cannot have that joy the only way that joy is made possible is through

[37:28] Jesus Christ this peace and the peace of God which passeth all understanding the psalmist David he knew a little bit something about this he knew something about circumstances and he wrote about this and we all know about heart Psalm 23 he says yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil and he tells us why he will fear no evil for thou art with me thy rod and thy staff they comfort me he had peace even walking through the valley of the shadow of death he had peace you and I can have peace because that peace all comes from God and it's a peace that passeth all understanding and it shall keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus my question to you this morning I don't know everybody's heart in fact I don't really know any of you besides my wife my mother Bill and brother Tony do you have that peace can you joy like that can you rejoice in the Lord always have you been born again do you want that peace just as scripture says it passes all understanding it passes all of our human intellect think of Stephen in the book of action chapter 7 all the man did all the man did was preach a truthful sermon and they dragged him outside and they were going to stone him and as they were coming at him with the stone the Bible says that he looked up toward the heaven and he saw

[39:13] Jesus Christ standing at the right hand of majesty standing at the right hand of the father but what else did it say about Stephen said he had the face of an angel he had peace even though he knew he was about to be killed in a very violent way he was about to have rocks thrown at his head and have his head dashed to pieces yet the Bible says his face was like an angel's he had peace do you have that peace have you been born again the Bible teaches it over and over folks your work cannot and will not save you you cannot be good enough you cannot merit enough good works to your account you can't throw enough money in the coffer you can't sing enough songs you can't preach enough sermons you cannot memorize enough scripture to be saved it is through Christ and Christ alone that salvation is obtainable that is the way it has been prescribed by almighty

[40:15] God Jesus said it himself in Mark chapter 1 he said the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of heaven is at hand repent and believe the gospel it is not just belief in the savior if you believe in the savior yet there is no repentance in your life you did not truly believe you didn't truly believe the cross of this Bible the cross that was born of a virgin in Bethlehem the cross that lived a perfect sinless life the cross that died upon a cross that suffered bled and died on behalf of rebel sinners the cross that was buried the cross that was resurrected the cross that has since ascended to the father and forever sits at the right hand of the father making intercession for all those that have what?

[40:58] repented and believed but that's not the end of that cross you read about him again in Revelation 19 he's coming as judge the Bible speaking of Christ says he does judge and make war it says on his thigh is a name written king of kings and lord of lords he's coming back as judge and that is the hardest part of Christ that people have to believe that's the part people don't want to believe they want a cross that will let them do what they want they want a cross that will let them go wherever they want to do what they want with whom they want however often they want but folks my Bible says in the book of 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 if any man be in Christ he is a new creature old things are passed away behold all things become new if you've made a profession of Jesus Christ and yet you're still in your old ways still doing the old things still hanging out the same old places you have not been born again that is not the evidence of a new creature

[42:00]  God bless you all I hope that's been a help and an encouragement network