WEBVTT 00:00:00.780 --> 00:00:04.360 Please take your Bibles and open them up this morning to the book of Philippians. 00:00:04.860 --> 00:00:10.019 And today we're in chapter 4, verses 2 through 9 of Philippians. 00:00:10.140 --> 00:00:13.259 And just a note for you as you prepare to worship next week, 00:00:13.300 --> 00:00:16.019 we're going to take just a one-week break from Philippians 00:00:16.019 --> 00:00:19.960 for a Christmas message next week from Matthew chapter 1. 00:00:20.500 --> 00:00:22.900 So as you prepare for next week, just take note of that. 00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:28.000 But this week we're in chapter 4, verses 2 through 9 of Philippians. 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:30.500 And so when you've found it in your Bibles, if you would, 00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:33.799 let's please stand in honor of the reading of God's Word this morning. 00:00:41.820 --> 00:00:42.719 Paul says, 00:00:42.799 --> 00:00:47.600 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 00:00:48.400 --> 00:00:51.320 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women 00:00:51.320 --> 00:00:54.219 who have labored side by side with me in the gospel, 00:00:54.219 --> 00:00:57.200 together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, 00:00:57.200 --> 00:00:58.940 whose names are in the book of life. 00:01:00.080 --> 00:01:01.840 Rejoice in the Lord always. 00:01:02.480 --> 00:01:04.079 Again, I will say rejoice. 00:01:04.879 --> 00:01:07.159 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. 00:01:08.020 --> 00:01:09.299 The Lord is at hand. 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:11.900 Do not be anxious about anything, 00:01:12.500 --> 00:01:15.439 but in everything, by prayer and supplication, 00:01:15.879 --> 00:01:16.719 with thanksgiving, 00:01:17.359 --> 00:01:19.640 let your requests be made known to God. 00:01:20.280 --> 00:01:21.460 And the peace of God, 00:01:21.520 --> 00:01:23.200 which surpasses all understanding, 00:01:23.200 --> 00:01:26.719 will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 00:01:27.840 --> 00:01:28.700 Finally, brothers, 00:01:28.840 --> 00:01:29.879 whatever is true, 00:01:30.359 --> 00:01:31.379 whatever is honorable, 00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:33.020 whatever is just, 00:01:33.620 --> 00:01:34.620 whatever is pure, 00:01:34.760 --> 00:01:35.680 whatever is lovely, 00:01:36.299 --> 00:01:37.400 whatever is commendable, 00:01:37.879 --> 00:01:39.300 if there is any excellence, 00:01:39.859 --> 00:01:41.740 if there is anything worthy of praise, 00:01:42.280 --> 00:01:43.820 think about these things. 00:01:44.260 --> 00:01:47.340 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, 00:01:47.540 --> 00:01:48.820 practice these things, 00:01:48.819 --> 00:01:52.259 and the God of peace will be with you. 00:01:53.139 --> 00:01:54.779 This is God's holy word. 00:01:54.959 --> 00:01:55.799 Let's pray once more. 00:01:55.899 --> 00:01:56.119 Lord, 00:01:57.319 --> 00:01:58.959 we thank you for your word. 00:01:59.039 --> 00:02:03.099 We thank you for what Paul's written here for us. 00:02:03.119 --> 00:02:04.219 And we ask simply, 00:02:04.500 --> 00:02:04.679 Father, 00:02:04.739 --> 00:02:07.079 would you speak to us today through your word? 00:02:07.159 --> 00:02:08.280 We ask this in Jesus' name. 00:02:09.120 --> 00:02:09.419 Amen. 00:02:09.419 --> 00:02:09.579 Amen. 00:02:09.580 --> 00:02:09.980 Well, 00:02:12.100 --> 00:02:14.140 one thing I think we can say for certain, 00:02:14.600 --> 00:02:16.600 as we reflect on the events of Christmas, 00:02:16.980 --> 00:02:18.920 and as we look to our passage this morning, 00:02:19.020 --> 00:02:19.540 is this. 00:02:20.100 --> 00:02:24.420 God desires for his people to have peace. 00:02:25.860 --> 00:02:28.040 God desires for you, 00:02:28.580 --> 00:02:29.480 and for me, 00:02:29.680 --> 00:02:32.560 to have peace this Christmas season. 00:02:32.760 --> 00:02:36.480 The birth of Christ is the birth of the Prince of Peace. 00:02:36.540 --> 00:02:38.520 We just read this passage from Isaiah 9. 00:02:38.520 --> 00:02:39.900 And I want to remind us of it again. 00:02:40.400 --> 00:02:43.120 His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, 00:02:43.540 --> 00:02:44.620 Mighty God, 00:02:44.860 --> 00:02:46.080 Everlasting Father, 00:02:46.260 --> 00:02:49.100 and the Prince of Peace. 00:02:49.860 --> 00:02:53.460 It says of the increase of his government and of peace. 00:02:53.760 --> 00:02:54.840 There shall be no end. 00:02:54.879 --> 00:02:56.439 That's almost hard to imagine, isn't it? 00:02:56.760 --> 00:02:59.840 An endless, everlasting, forever peace, 00:02:59.980 --> 00:03:02.219 with no end under the reign, 00:03:02.280 --> 00:03:04.900 and the rule of a good Prince of Peace, 00:03:04.939 --> 00:03:07.500 who came that we might have peace with God, 00:03:07.500 --> 00:03:09.020 and with one another. 00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:10.219 We sing about it at Christmas. 00:03:10.319 --> 00:03:10.879 We just sang, 00:03:11.319 --> 00:03:12.699 Hark the Herald Angels Sing. 00:03:13.319 --> 00:03:14.379 Peace on earth, 00:03:14.580 --> 00:03:15.719 and mercy mild. 00:03:15.860 --> 00:03:18.719 God and sinners reconciled. 00:03:18.819 --> 00:03:20.960 God desires for his people 00:03:20.960 --> 00:03:23.340 to have peace. 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:25.479 So my question for you this morning 00:03:25.479 --> 00:03:26.599 is very simple. 00:03:26.699 --> 00:03:27.340 It's simply this. 00:03:27.960 --> 00:03:29.000 Do you have it? 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:32.379 Do you have it? 00:03:33.379 --> 00:03:34.780 Let's look to our passage this morning, 00:03:34.879 --> 00:03:35.840 Philippians chapter 4. 00:03:36.020 --> 00:03:37.280 And what we're going to see here 00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:41.500 is three ways that God desires peace for his people. 00:03:41.599 --> 00:03:42.979 This is going to be our outline this morning 00:03:42.979 --> 00:03:43.979 if you're taking notes. 00:03:44.419 --> 00:03:46.159 I'm going to try to make it easy for you to follow along. 00:03:46.620 --> 00:03:51.159 It's three ways that God desires peace for his people. 00:03:51.280 --> 00:03:52.280 First, number one, 00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:56.240 God desires for us to have peace with one another. 00:03:56.240 --> 00:04:03.420 God desires for us to have horizontal one another peace. 00:04:03.480 --> 00:04:04.800 If you look there with me to verse 2, 00:04:04.920 --> 00:04:05.640 he says this. 00:04:06.260 --> 00:04:06.659 Paul says, 00:04:06.820 --> 00:04:08.020 I entreat Euodia, 00:04:08.320 --> 00:04:12.340 and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 00:04:12.420 --> 00:04:12.879 Oh boy. 00:04:14.020 --> 00:04:16.879 There's an issue here in the church at Philippi. 00:04:16.980 --> 00:04:17.699 There's a disagreement. 00:04:18.480 --> 00:04:20.639 Now, we don't know exactly what the issue is, 00:04:20.680 --> 00:04:21.699 what the argument is. 00:04:21.740 --> 00:04:24.240 These two ladies here in the church are arguing. 00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:27.480 Maybe they're disagreeing on whose name is harder to pronounce. 00:04:27.680 --> 00:04:28.280 I don't know. 00:04:28.740 --> 00:04:32.180 The Euodia and Syntyche are fighting. 00:04:32.400 --> 00:04:35.699 And I think it's also clear that this is significant to Paul 00:04:35.699 --> 00:04:38.220 because he calls them out here by name. 00:04:38.300 --> 00:04:39.079 I mean, could you imagine? 00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:41.600 Everybody gathers around in Philippi 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:43.340 to hear this letter from the apostle Paul, 00:04:43.420 --> 00:04:44.939 and your name comes up. 00:04:45.019 --> 00:04:47.180 You're called out in front of everybody. 00:04:47.360 --> 00:04:48.420 Paul goes straight to it. 00:04:48.420 --> 00:04:49.319 And he says, 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:52.860 I entreat you to agree in the Lord. 00:04:53.720 --> 00:04:54.360 As you zoom out, 00:04:54.439 --> 00:04:57.140 and remember the context here of where we've been, right? 00:04:57.240 --> 00:05:01.020 Paul has been helping the Philippians to live out their faith. 00:05:01.780 --> 00:05:03.840 He's been calling them and urging them 00:05:03.840 --> 00:05:07.180 to walk in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. 00:05:07.280 --> 00:05:10.220 He's been calling them to humble yourself like Christ. 00:05:10.360 --> 00:05:13.400 He keeps encouraging them to pursue unity with each other. 00:05:13.399 --> 00:05:17.899 But up to this point, it's all been pretty general, hasn't it? 00:05:18.539 --> 00:05:20.259 It's kind of theoretical. 00:05:20.620 --> 00:05:21.419 It's ideas. 00:05:21.699 --> 00:05:24.439 But now, it's like we're going to get a case study 00:05:24.439 --> 00:05:28.060 in how this ought to play out in the life of the church. 00:05:28.719 --> 00:05:30.159 It's not just theoretical anymore. 00:05:30.339 --> 00:05:32.319 We're applying this truth now. 00:05:32.459 --> 00:05:33.719 And here's the test, right? 00:05:33.779 --> 00:05:36.299 Because everybody can just nod their head 00:05:36.299 --> 00:05:38.519 and agree with some general truth. 00:05:38.659 --> 00:05:40.519 But when your name gets called out 00:05:40.519 --> 00:05:42.079 and say, you need to do this, 00:05:42.079 --> 00:05:44.800 will we actually apply the truth 00:05:44.800 --> 00:05:46.519 and put it into practice? 00:05:46.779 --> 00:05:49.099 And I love passages like this 00:05:49.099 --> 00:05:49.919 because it helps me. 00:05:50.019 --> 00:05:50.959 It helps me to remember 00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:53.599 that none of this is just theoretical. 00:05:54.479 --> 00:05:56.919 None of this is just kind of imaginary. 00:05:57.259 --> 00:05:58.879 This is a real church 00:05:58.879 --> 00:06:00.959 with real people 00:06:00.959 --> 00:06:02.719 and with real tensions. 00:06:03.639 --> 00:06:05.639 Real problems that they have to sift through 00:06:05.639 --> 00:06:06.419 and work through. 00:06:06.419 --> 00:06:09.360 This is a real church like ours. 00:06:09.360 --> 00:06:13.900 There's real interpersonal dynamics 00:06:13.900 --> 00:06:14.840 to work through. 00:06:14.939 --> 00:06:16.060 There's real tensions here 00:06:16.060 --> 00:06:17.180 that they have to navigate. 00:06:17.400 --> 00:06:18.540 And again, we don't know exactly 00:06:18.540 --> 00:06:19.580 what the issue was. 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:22.340 But another detail I think we can pull out here 00:06:22.340 --> 00:06:23.379 and see is that 00:06:23.379 --> 00:06:25.400 this seems to be a conflict 00:06:25.400 --> 00:06:26.560 between two women 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:28.920 who are in some way leaders 00:06:28.920 --> 00:06:30.680 in the church of Philippi. 00:06:31.520 --> 00:06:32.939 Paul says that these women 00:06:32.939 --> 00:06:34.920 have labored side by side 00:06:34.920 --> 00:06:36.259 with me in the gospel. 00:06:36.259 --> 00:06:38.240 But now, these women 00:06:38.240 --> 00:06:39.939 who've labored side by side with Paul 00:06:39.939 --> 00:06:41.480 are now coming head to head 00:06:41.480 --> 00:06:42.219 with each other. 00:06:42.459 --> 00:06:43.399 And you can imagine 00:06:43.399 --> 00:06:44.939 how this would be an issue for Paul. 00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:46.800 You can imagine how this would be 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:47.839 significant enough for him 00:06:47.839 --> 00:06:49.139 to draw this out 00:06:49.139 --> 00:06:51.019 in the letter to the Philippians. 00:06:51.120 --> 00:06:53.259 It would be hard for a church to thrive 00:06:53.259 --> 00:06:56.120 if leadership is at odds with each other. 00:06:57.000 --> 00:06:58.240 You see that issue. 00:06:58.939 --> 00:06:59.800 It would be hard. 00:06:59.899 --> 00:07:01.879 I'll let you in on a secret here though. 00:07:01.879 --> 00:07:05.120 So, sometimes Christians 00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:09.579 and sometimes even Christian leaders 00:07:09.579 --> 00:07:12.240 don't always agree on everything. 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:15.560 The Bible makes this very clear 00:07:15.560 --> 00:07:16.279 and very plain. 00:07:16.480 --> 00:07:17.899 This is real life. 00:07:18.060 --> 00:07:19.319 Sometimes even elders 00:07:19.319 --> 00:07:21.459 don't agree on every little thing. 00:07:22.180 --> 00:07:24.060 Sometimes deacons don't agree 00:07:24.060 --> 00:07:25.079 on every little thing. 00:07:25.180 --> 00:07:26.579 Sometimes Bible study leaders 00:07:26.579 --> 00:07:27.500 don't always agree 00:07:27.500 --> 00:07:29.300 on every little thing. 00:07:29.399 --> 00:07:30.860 This is real life in the church. 00:07:30.860 --> 00:07:32.259 And it's not just the leadership 00:07:32.259 --> 00:07:33.819 but the membership of the church. 00:07:33.980 --> 00:07:35.259 Sometimes membership, 00:07:35.580 --> 00:07:36.939 sometimes the members of a church, 00:07:37.160 --> 00:07:39.060 sometimes y'all get on each other's nerves. 00:07:39.180 --> 00:07:39.740 Be honest. 00:07:41.819 --> 00:07:44.560 When you get a bunch of sinners together, 00:07:44.780 --> 00:07:45.759 here's the honest truth, 00:07:46.620 --> 00:07:48.300 at some point or another 00:07:48.300 --> 00:07:51.180 we're going to grate on each other's nerves. 00:07:51.319 --> 00:07:53.699 This is real life talk in the church. 00:07:53.699 --> 00:07:55.300 When you gather a group of sinners, 00:07:55.420 --> 00:07:57.340 even regenerate sinners, 00:07:57.520 --> 00:07:58.819 even born again sinners, 00:07:58.939 --> 00:08:00.040 even saved sinners, 00:08:00.040 --> 00:08:02.100 at some point or another 00:08:02.100 --> 00:08:05.480 we're going to have some level of conflict. 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:07.340 Now I do want to be clear here 00:08:07.340 --> 00:08:09.720 because I am thankful 00:08:09.720 --> 00:08:11.540 that right now in our church 00:08:11.540 --> 00:08:13.400 we're enjoying a season of sweet unity. 00:08:14.600 --> 00:08:16.240 And there's been very, very little 00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:18.220 of this type of drama 00:08:18.220 --> 00:08:20.420 in my time here at the church. 00:08:20.500 --> 00:08:23.060 Our leadership is very much aligned 00:08:23.060 --> 00:08:24.020 and I'm grateful, 00:08:24.439 --> 00:08:25.480 grateful for that. 00:08:25.480 --> 00:08:27.220 But here's again the honest truth. 00:08:27.800 --> 00:08:29.120 Every church, 00:08:29.780 --> 00:08:31.120 at some point or another, 00:08:31.360 --> 00:08:32.940 every church eventually 00:08:32.940 --> 00:08:35.240 has some level of conflict. 00:08:36.039 --> 00:08:38.000 It's not a matter of if, 00:08:38.120 --> 00:08:38.840 but when, 00:08:39.019 --> 00:08:40.200 and to what extent. 00:08:40.340 --> 00:08:40.960 And that might be 00:08:40.960 --> 00:08:43.159 an issue of clashing personalities. 00:08:44.220 --> 00:08:45.460 You think one way, 00:08:45.580 --> 00:08:46.899 another person thinks another way. 00:08:46.899 --> 00:08:47.139 You, 00:08:47.139 --> 00:08:48.600 you're wired one way 00:08:48.600 --> 00:08:50.559 and another person is wired differently 00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:52.860 and those personalities just don't mesh. 00:08:52.980 --> 00:08:53.079 They, 00:08:53.139 --> 00:08:54.179 they clash with one another. 00:08:54.259 --> 00:08:54.699 It might be, 00:08:54.899 --> 00:08:56.279 might be clashing personalities. 00:08:56.279 --> 00:08:57.779 It might be an issue of, 00:08:57.840 --> 00:08:59.259 of differing preferences. 00:09:00.179 --> 00:09:01.480 You have preferences. 00:09:02.439 --> 00:09:03.720 I have preferences. 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:05.679 Everybody has their own personal preference 00:09:05.679 --> 00:09:07.019 and they don't always, 00:09:07.159 --> 00:09:07.740 all the time, 00:09:07.819 --> 00:09:08.899 line up with one another. 00:09:08.899 --> 00:09:09.379 And so we, 00:09:09.779 --> 00:09:10.759 when we come together, 00:09:10.759 --> 00:09:12.139 we have to have a little bit 00:09:12.139 --> 00:09:12.799 of give and take, 00:09:12.860 --> 00:09:13.039 right? 00:09:14.279 --> 00:09:14.959 But also, 00:09:15.179 --> 00:09:15.819 if we're being honest, 00:09:15.939 --> 00:09:16.379 it also, 00:09:17.039 --> 00:09:19.299 it might genuinely be an issue 00:09:19.299 --> 00:09:20.500 of sin. 00:09:21.899 --> 00:09:23.039 I'll tell you the truth. 00:09:23.159 --> 00:09:23.319 When, 00:09:23.480 --> 00:09:25.100 when people get together, 00:09:25.100 --> 00:09:26.679 when you spend enough time together, 00:09:26.679 --> 00:09:27.120 when you're, 00:09:27.220 --> 00:09:28.620 when you're actually doing life together 00:09:28.620 --> 00:09:29.199 as a church, 00:09:29.199 --> 00:09:30.819 at some point or another, 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:31.079 it's, 00:09:31.159 --> 00:09:32.179 it's probable, 00:09:32.439 --> 00:09:33.379 it's highly likely 00:09:33.379 --> 00:09:34.279 that at some point, 00:09:34.539 --> 00:09:36.259 someone will probably sin 00:09:36.259 --> 00:09:37.519 against you in this church. 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:40.000 And it's also highly likely 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:40.980 if you spend enough time 00:09:40.980 --> 00:09:41.480 with one another 00:09:41.480 --> 00:09:41.679 that, 00:09:41.799 --> 00:09:43.539 that you will probably sin 00:09:43.539 --> 00:09:44.600 against someone else 00:09:44.600 --> 00:09:45.699 in this church. 00:09:46.579 --> 00:09:48.079 So the question becomes, 00:09:48.199 --> 00:09:48.340 well, 00:09:48.579 --> 00:09:50.100 what do we do with it? 00:09:51.100 --> 00:09:52.399 How do we handle it 00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:53.240 when it comes? 00:09:53.360 --> 00:09:53.600 Will we, 00:09:53.759 --> 00:09:54.759 will we take all 00:09:54.759 --> 00:09:56.059 that Paul has been showing us 00:09:56.059 --> 00:09:56.879 this whole time 00:09:56.879 --> 00:09:57.919 through the book of Philippians 00:09:57.919 --> 00:09:58.720 and will we actually 00:09:58.720 --> 00:10:00.480 put it into practice? 00:10:00.659 --> 00:10:02.659 Will we extend to others 00:10:02.659 --> 00:10:04.699 what Christ has extended to us? 00:10:05.659 --> 00:10:07.100 Will we humble ourselves 00:10:07.100 --> 00:10:09.180 as Christ has humbled himself? 00:10:09.860 --> 00:10:11.220 Will we pursue peace 00:10:11.220 --> 00:10:11.899 with one another 00:10:11.899 --> 00:10:13.500 as God has pursued peace 00:10:13.500 --> 00:10:15.540 with us in Christ? 00:10:15.720 --> 00:10:16.240 This is what, 00:10:16.320 --> 00:10:17.460 what Paul calls us to 00:10:17.460 --> 00:10:19.000 also in Ephesians chapter four, 00:10:19.100 --> 00:10:20.180 kind of a parallel passage. 00:10:20.800 --> 00:10:21.220 He says, 00:10:21.320 --> 00:10:22.659 be kind to one another, 00:10:23.560 --> 00:10:24.340 tenderhearted, 00:10:25.120 --> 00:10:26.580 forgiving one another 00:10:26.580 --> 00:10:30.340 as God in Christ forgave you. 00:10:30.460 --> 00:10:31.080 Here's the point. 00:10:32.220 --> 00:10:33.660 Christians of all people 00:10:33.660 --> 00:10:34.100 ought to know 00:10:34.100 --> 00:10:35.200 what it's like to be forgiven. 00:10:36.040 --> 00:10:37.980 And so Christians of all people 00:10:37.980 --> 00:10:39.259 ought to be quick 00:10:39.259 --> 00:10:39.879 to forgive. 00:10:41.560 --> 00:10:42.680 Christians of all people 00:10:42.680 --> 00:10:43.480 know what it's like 00:10:43.480 --> 00:10:44.200 to be reconciled 00:10:44.920 --> 00:10:46.580 and so Christians of all people 00:10:46.580 --> 00:10:47.220 ought to be eager 00:10:47.220 --> 00:10:49.080 to seek out reconciliation 00:10:49.080 --> 00:10:50.300 with one another. 00:10:51.160 --> 00:10:52.340 Christians of all people 00:10:52.340 --> 00:10:53.080 know what it's like 00:10:53.080 --> 00:10:54.280 to be loved 00:10:54.280 --> 00:10:55.940 despite your shortcomings, 00:10:56.100 --> 00:10:57.320 despite your failings, 00:10:57.480 --> 00:10:58.620 despite your sins, 00:10:58.860 --> 00:11:00.360 and so Christians of all people 00:11:00.360 --> 00:11:01.140 ought to be eager 00:11:01.140 --> 00:11:03.120 to extend the love of Christ 00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:09.840 to one another. Here's the point. At Christmas, we celebrate the glorious truth that Jesus has 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:18.039 come to bring peace on earth. Vertical peace between God and man. God and sinners reconciled. 00:11:18.299 --> 00:11:25.600 But here's the thing. That vertical peace ought to spill over into horizontal peace with one another. 00:11:25.600 --> 00:11:35.360 If you have experienced and received reconciliation with God, peace with God, unity with God vertically 00:11:35.360 --> 00:11:41.060 through Jesus Christ, you ought to be eager to pursue horizontal peace with one another. 00:11:42.040 --> 00:11:53.139 God desires that we have peace with one another. So Paul says, Euodia and Syntyche pursue unity. 00:11:53.139 --> 00:12:01.379 Forgive one another. Agree in the Lord. And if you can't do it on your own, look there to verse 3. 00:12:01.779 --> 00:12:06.879 He says, if you can't resolve that issue on your own, Paul says, well, guess what? That little personal 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:13.919 rift that you're having, just the two of you, it is no longer personal. The church ought to come 00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:20.639 together and help resolve the issue. Look there to verse 3. He says, I ask you, true companion, 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:28.799 help these women. Help them. They've labored with me. They're believers. I'm sure of it. Their names 00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:34.840 are in the book of life. And now they need your help, church, to resolve their dispute. So come along 00:12:34.840 --> 00:12:45.179 and help them. Christian, are you eager to pursue peace with one another? Are you easily offended? 00:12:45.179 --> 00:12:55.839 Are you easily annoyed and bothered by other people's sins? Or are you eager to pursue unity and to pursue 00:12:55.839 --> 00:13:03.139 this horizontal peace with one another? God desires that we have peace with each other. Not only the second 00:13:03.139 --> 00:13:10.679 way God desires us to have peace. God desires that we have peace in every circumstance. 00:13:10.679 --> 00:13:19.259 In every circumstance. Look there to verse 4. Verse 4. There's several commands here that Paul gives. I count 00:13:19.259 --> 00:13:29.219 three. And as I read at first blush, all three sound impossible. Absolutely impossible. He says, verse 4, he says, 00:13:29.519 --> 00:13:37.439 rejoice in the Lord always. How's that for a command? That's not a suggestion, church. This is a command 00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:43.740 from the Lord. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say, he wants to make sure we understand this. Again, 00:13:43.860 --> 00:13:51.020 I say, rejoice. Don't let your circumstances alter your joy. Christians aren't meant to be up one day and 00:13:51.020 --> 00:13:58.420 down the next. Even in sadness, even in struggle, Christians are to have joy that's not altered or 00:13:58.420 --> 00:14:03.960 shaken by our circumstances. And that type of joy can't be explained in worldly terms, can it? 00:14:03.960 --> 00:14:10.540 How do we explain joy like this? You know, that's often one of the ways that the Lord will catch a 00:14:10.540 --> 00:14:16.220 non-believer's attention. You realize this? A Christian is going through something that from a 00:14:16.220 --> 00:14:22.600 worldly perspective ought to just crush them. They're going through suffering, through loss, 00:14:22.900 --> 00:14:30.040 through cancer, through some sort of devastating circumstance. And yet, even in the midst of this 00:14:30.039 --> 00:14:37.079 tragedy and hardship, guess what? There's joy. And they ask, where does that joy come from? 00:14:38.379 --> 00:14:45.079 Rejoice always, he says. Second command, he says, verse five, let your reasonableness be known to 00:14:45.079 --> 00:14:53.659 everyone. Now, another way to read that is let your gentleness be known to everyone. Now, most of the 00:14:53.659 --> 00:14:59.379 commentators that I read this week, they agreed that there's likely some external persecution 00:14:59.379 --> 00:15:04.839 coming against the church in Philippi. There's enemies from the outside. These believers here in 00:15:04.839 --> 00:15:10.980 Philippi are facing some sort of persecution and opposition. They're being mocked and ridiculed, 00:15:11.100 --> 00:15:17.259 even attacked. And so again, the natural response to something like this is what? 00:15:17.259 --> 00:15:25.019 I'm going to get back. I'm going to retaliate. I'm going to fight back. I'm going to take up arms and 00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:31.559 defend myself. I'm not going to let anybody do anything to me. But what does Paul say? He says here, 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:40.360 don't be violent. Don't repay evil for evil. Instead, let everyone see your reasonableness. 00:15:40.360 --> 00:15:47.800 Let everyone see your gentleness. I mean, how in the world can anyone have the strength to be gentle 00:15:47.800 --> 00:15:54.500 when they're facing persecution? It seems impossible. Again, second impossible command. But the third 00:15:54.500 --> 00:15:58.860 command here, in my opinion, this seems the most impossible out of all of them to me. Look there 00:15:58.860 --> 00:16:05.360 to verse six. It's a two-parter. It's don't do this, but do this instead. Don't do this, but do this 00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:18.500 instead. He says, do not be anxious about anything. You hear that? Do not be anxious about anything. 00:16:18.740 --> 00:16:26.039 I mean, Paul, are you serious? Don't you know what I have on my plate? How in the world is this even 00:16:26.039 --> 00:16:30.680 possible? Put yourself in the Philippians' shoes as they would read this. Think about all the things 00:16:30.679 --> 00:16:36.259 that they have to be anxious about. How are we supposed to not be anxious? Paul, you're in prison 00:16:36.259 --> 00:16:42.279 right now. Our spiritual father is in prison. We don't know whether he's going to survive or die 00:16:42.279 --> 00:16:47.599 out of this. He might be sentenced to death. Paul, we're anxious about you. How can you tell us not to 00:16:47.599 --> 00:16:54.679 be anxious? And not only that, we have this external threat against us, this persecution coming against us. 00:16:54.719 --> 00:16:59.740 We have problems outside of our church. Paul, how in the world can we not be anxious when the world 00:16:59.740 --> 00:17:05.660 around us hates us and wants to destroy us? And not only that, Paul, apparently you know about the 00:17:05.660 --> 00:17:12.519 issues we have in our church. Euodia and Syntyche, these women that are meant to be leaders in the 00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:17.220 church and they can't seem to get along. We're worried about this. Paul, how in the world can you 00:17:17.220 --> 00:17:25.319 tell us don't be anxious about anything? Don't you see the problems we have? I wonder if you've ever 00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:34.899 felt that way. Because you realize this command is a command for you, Christian. Christian, you are 00:17:34.899 --> 00:17:41.839 commanded. Do not be anxious about anything. I wonder if you hear that and you just, you think 00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:47.740 that's impossible. Paul doesn't have a clue what I got on my plate. Maybe you're thinking I have 00:17:47.740 --> 00:17:52.000 holiday stress. Paul doesn't know about that. Paul never hosted my in-laws for Christmas. 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:59.079 Paul never planned a holiday party. I got to clean the house. I got to cook. I got to buy the 00:17:59.079 --> 00:18:02.539 presents. I got to make sure everything's planned out. I got to make sure everybody's happy. I'm 00:18:02.539 --> 00:18:06.440 traveling here. I'm traveling there. Paul never had to deal with any of that. He doesn't know what 00:18:06.440 --> 00:18:14.480 I'm dealing with. And maybe it's family stress. Y'all don't have any of that, I know. Maybe it's 00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:19.220 you're anxious about seeing family members you haven't seen in a while. You know there's tensions there. 00:18:19.220 --> 00:18:23.940 You don't know what that's going to be like when you walk in the door and you have that interaction 00:18:23.940 --> 00:18:27.120 and they're going to say that one thing that's going to set you off or you're going to say that 00:18:27.120 --> 00:18:30.319 one thing that's going to set them off. What's that going to be like? You're anxious about it. 00:18:31.579 --> 00:18:37.519 Maybe you're anxious about your children or your grandchildren. I've heard some of your prayers 00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:43.000 of decisions they've made or conversations that you've had or things that you're just, you're worried 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:50.579 about them and their future. Are you anxious? It might be financial stress. I mean, let's be real. 00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:57.119 This time of year, especially, this is hard for many people. You worry about, am I going to be able 00:18:57.119 --> 00:19:02.500 to provide for my family? Your blood pressure rises every time you go to the mailbox because you worry 00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:07.559 maybe there's going to be another bill and you're not going to have enough to pay it. 00:19:07.559 --> 00:19:14.779 But the truth is, church, there is always something that could make you anxious. 00:19:15.819 --> 00:19:24.799 So the question again is, how do we handle it? What do we do with it? What's the pathway forward 00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:30.099 for us to obey these impossible commands that Paul's laying out for us here? And here's what he says. 00:19:30.139 --> 00:19:36.059 Look there again to verse five. Paul says, let me give you a little bit of perspective here 00:19:36.059 --> 00:19:44.319 that you might've forgotten. He says, friend, the Lord is at hand. 00:19:45.720 --> 00:19:56.240 The Lord is at hand. That truth ought to transform the way that we view everything else in our life. 00:19:56.319 --> 00:20:03.619 The Lord is coming. Have you forgotten? The Lord is coming back. The Lord is coming soon. So whatever 00:20:03.619 --> 00:20:10.199 it is that grieves you and makes it impossible seemingly to rejoice always, whatever it is that 00:20:10.199 --> 00:20:15.599 grieves you here and now will be eclipsed by fullness of joy at the return of Christ. 00:20:16.739 --> 00:20:23.299 Whatever it is that threatens to steal away your joy now will be done away with for good at his return. 00:20:23.559 --> 00:20:33.319 Have you forgotten? The Lord is at hand. There will be no more sin. No more death. No more sorrow. 00:20:33.619 --> 00:20:40.259 No more pain. No more tears. No more goodbyes. No more awkward family interactions. 00:20:40.839 --> 00:20:46.639 The Lord is at hand. So rejoice always. Again, I say rejoice. 00:20:48.059 --> 00:20:52.839 As a Christian, the Lord is at hand. So whatever threats are coming against you, whatever opposition 00:20:52.839 --> 00:20:58.559 faces you, whatever persecution you endure here and now, whatever enemy you might have here and now, 00:20:58.559 --> 00:21:06.899 remember, the Lord is at hand and with him, he is bringing justice. King Jesus is coming back. 00:21:07.539 --> 00:21:13.200 Of the increase of his government and of peace, there will be no end. The king is coming and with him, 00:21:13.440 --> 00:21:19.019 he is bringing justice, perfect justice. So we no longer have to think that we have to take vengeance 00:21:19.019 --> 00:21:27.539 into our own hands. We can be reasonable and gentle. So we look ahead to the return of Christ. Friend, 00:21:27.660 --> 00:21:33.519 the Lord is at hand, Paul says. So every little thing that brings you stress right now, 00:21:34.019 --> 00:21:40.319 every little decision that you're anxious about, every little thing that makes that blood pressure rise, 00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:49.480 guess what? When he returns, it will dissolve in an instant. All will be well. The Lord is at hand. 00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:54.539 This world with all of its stressors and all of its worries will be gone in the blink of an eye. 00:21:54.839 --> 00:22:02.899 And you, if you are in Christ, you get to spend eternity forever with God under the reign and rule of the 00:22:02.899 --> 00:22:07.439 Prince of Peace. That's your future. So tell me again, what's got you anxious? 00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:14.500 Jesus, the Lord is at hand. I love the words of Jesus in Matthew chapter 6. You don't have to turn 00:22:14.500 --> 00:22:21.279 there. I'll read it. Jesus says, therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life. That's the 00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:26.799 same command, isn't it? Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, what you will drink, 00:22:27.120 --> 00:22:32.759 nor about your body, what you will put on is not the life, is not life more than food and the body 00:22:32.759 --> 00:22:39.519 more than clothing. Look at the birds of the air. They neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, 00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:45.599 and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you, 00:22:45.660 --> 00:22:51.539 raise your hand, which of you by being anxious can add even a single hour to the span of his life? 00:22:53.819 --> 00:22:58.700 Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They neither 00:22:58.700 --> 00:23:03.819 toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 00:23:04.180 --> 00:23:09.640 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, 00:23:09.900 --> 00:23:16.539 will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:23.600 what shall we eat? What shall we drink? What shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek after all these things, 00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:31.299 and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. Here's the command. But seek first the kingdom 00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:41.799 of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Fix your eyes on the kingdom. 00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:52.559 Fix your eyes on the king. The Lord is at hand. And in the meantime, as you wait on his return, 00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:57.460 Paul says, there's something that you can do to add to your peace here and now. Do you know what it is? 00:23:57.539 --> 00:24:06.779 Look there again. The Lord is at hand. Do not be anxious about anything, but do this. In everything, 00:24:07.119 --> 00:24:14.579 by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God. And here's the 00:24:14.579 --> 00:24:23.419 promise. The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, surpasses all understanding, 00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:29.159 will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Listen to me. Listen to me here. I want you 00:24:29.159 --> 00:24:39.220 to get this, okay? Listen to me. Our prayer life is directly correlated with our experience of the peace 00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:48.880 of God. There is a God-appointed link between prayer and peace. If you are not experiencing peace 00:24:48.880 --> 00:25:00.259 this Christmas, I wonder, are you experiencing prayer? He bids you come. He's eager to hear. He's eager to 00:25:00.259 --> 00:25:05.600 give you peace. Here's the good news. If you want peace this Christmas, you can have it. Go get on your 00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:17.480 knees and pray. There's an old hymn. What a friend we have in Jesus. All our sins and griefs to bear. 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:26.459 What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. Oh, what peace we often forfeit. Oh, what needless 00:25:26.459 --> 00:25:34.339 pain we bear. All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer. Do you want peace, church? 00:25:35.599 --> 00:25:43.639 Commit yourself to prayer. Pray until you have the peace that God has promised you. Lay hold of this 00:25:43.639 --> 00:25:48.980 promise of God, that the peace of God that doesn't make any sort of sense to anybody around you, 00:25:49.079 --> 00:25:57.719 will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Third, finally, God desires that we would have 00:25:57.720 --> 00:26:07.039 peace in his presence. God desires that we have peace in his presence. Look there with me again to 00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:14.640 verse 8. Paul, he brings this whole section to a close with this set of instructions here in verse 8. 00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:21.120 He says, finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, 00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:27.519 whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there's any excellence, if there's anything worthy 00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:35.619 of praise, think about these things. And what you have learned and received and heard in me and seen 00:26:35.619 --> 00:26:44.500 in me, practice these things. And here's the promise. The God of peace will be with you. You hear the promise? 00:26:44.500 --> 00:26:52.380 The God of peace will be with you. He says, the Lord is at hand. The time is coming soon. We're going 00:26:52.380 --> 00:26:58.519 to know perfect peace that's ahead of us because we'll finally be with the God of peace with no more 00:26:58.519 --> 00:27:05.339 sin, no distraction, no weakness, nothing to disturb our peace and joy and our worship. But now, 00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:15.220 Paul says, even now, Paul says, you can experience the presence and the peace of God with you right 00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:23.279 now. Do you believe that? How do we do it? Look there again, because it seems to be conditional 00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:30.419 here, doesn't it? But Paul says, think like this and practice this and what's the result? The God of 00:27:30.420 --> 00:27:35.360 peace will be with you. Now, again, we got to remember who he's talking to here. He's talking 00:27:35.360 --> 00:27:41.980 to Christians, okay? This is a church that he's talking to. These are people who have already 00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:48.180 received that vertical peace between God and man through faith in Jesus Christ. They've already 00:27:48.180 --> 00:27:55.380 been reconciled to God. And so, if you have not yet received that peace, you can't move on to step 00:27:55.380 --> 00:28:01.460 two here. Okay, step number one for you. If you don't know the Lord, if you have not received peace 00:28:01.460 --> 00:28:06.940 with God through putting your faith in Christ, don't pass on beyond that and just ask, what do I 00:28:06.940 --> 00:28:13.200 need to do to get peace? What you need to do is repent and put your faith in Christ. That's step 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:21.400 number one. But then, now here, Paul says, after receiving that new life, after receiving forgiveness 00:28:21.400 --> 00:28:28.440 of sins, after being reconciled to God and united to Christ, Paul says, here in the flesh, as we wait 00:28:28.440 --> 00:28:39.480 for his return, there are things we can do, steps that we can take to more fully experience the presence 00:28:39.480 --> 00:28:46.120 of God with us. In other words, here's what I think he's saying. There is a certain way that we ought to 00:28:46.119 --> 00:28:52.759 think in a certain way that we ought to live in order to maximize our experience of the presence 00:28:52.759 --> 00:29:00.199 of God with us. And in doing so, to maximize our experience of the peace of God within us. So, 00:29:00.519 --> 00:29:05.599 let's look here. He says, two instructions. He says, think like this and live like this. You see that there? 00:29:06.239 --> 00:29:12.819 Think like this and live like this. Think like this, whatever's true, whatever's honorable, 00:29:12.819 --> 00:29:17.619 whatever's just, whatever's pure, whatever's lovely, whatever's commendable. If there's 00:29:17.619 --> 00:29:23.099 any excellence, if there's anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 00:29:24.759 --> 00:29:30.619 Think about these things. That's the command here. You do realize what you put into your mind affects 00:29:30.619 --> 00:29:36.919 your peace. What you put into your mind affects your experience of the peace of God. It's like 00:29:36.919 --> 00:29:41.599 junk food. If you put junk food into your body, does that affect your body? Yes, it does. 00:29:41.599 --> 00:29:48.939 If you put junk into your mind, it affects your mind. Paul says, think on these things. And of course, 00:29:49.679 --> 00:29:56.980 if you want total purity and total excellence, there's no match for the word of God, is there? 00:29:58.919 --> 00:30:07.679 Psalm 19 says, the law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure, 00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:14.880 making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the 00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:21.820 Lord is clean, enduring forever. The rules of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. There is 00:30:21.820 --> 00:30:28.080 nowhere you can look on planet earth that can match the purity and the excellence of the word of God. 00:30:28.079 --> 00:30:35.139 So if you want to think about what's true and what's right and what's pure and what's praiseworthy, 00:30:35.460 --> 00:30:38.639 number one place you need to go this year, where is it? 00:30:39.439 --> 00:30:42.699 Commit yourself to intake this word. 00:30:43.859 --> 00:30:49.819 Commit yourself right now to say, I'm going to fight for joy in the Lord every day, 00:30:49.859 --> 00:30:51.240 even when I don't feel like it. 00:30:51.240 --> 00:30:55.460 I'm going to come to this word and say, Lord, would you, would you sanctify my mind in the truth? 00:30:57.079 --> 00:31:03.240 The word of God is completely pure. But I think, I think Paul is also telling us, 00:31:03.460 --> 00:31:10.839 don't, don't stop there. You see that here? Six times, you see it? Six times he says the word, 00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:17.460 whatever. You see that? Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just on down the list. 00:31:17.460 --> 00:31:24.059 I think what he's telling us is, is seek out the good and the true. Seek out God and his goodness 00:31:24.059 --> 00:31:30.620 wherever you can. The yes, total purity is only found in the word of God, but, but we acknowledge 00:31:30.620 --> 00:31:38.680 that there is, is common grace everywhere you look. But there is, is common grace. There are reasons to 00:31:38.680 --> 00:31:46.539 praise the Lord everywhere you look, if you look. And what Paul's doing here is he's, he's giving us 00:31:46.539 --> 00:31:55.079 categories of evaluation. Now, as you walk through life, as you, as you, as you watch a movie, as you read 00:31:55.079 --> 00:32:00.079 a book, as you, as you have a conversation with your neighbor, Paul's giving us categories of 00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:07.759 evaluation here and saying, you go mine for gold. You take that pan and you, you sift out all the mud and 00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:13.440 all the dirt and all the, all the gravel and you keep that nugget of truth wherever you can find it. 00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:22.180 Let everything else wash away. He says, peace will come upon you as you think on these things and see 00:32:22.180 --> 00:32:27.380 that glimmer of the goodness of God everywhere, everywhere you can. But not only this, he says, 00:32:27.980 --> 00:32:35.920 practice these things. In other words, don't just nod your head in agreement at the truth. 00:32:35.920 --> 00:32:45.920 Don't just leave it as theoretical. Verse nine, what you have learned and received and heard and seen 00:32:45.920 --> 00:32:57.539 in me. Practice these things. Practice these things. Put into action the truth that you hear when you leave 00:32:57.539 --> 00:33:05.060 this place. Don't just leave here nodding your head at the truth. Practice these things. I would love for 00:33:05.059 --> 00:33:10.259 each of you to just take one or two things. Just, just write down one or two things that you'd like to 00:33:10.259 --> 00:33:16.960 put into practice this week and this month. Don't just leave here nodding your head. Practice these 00:33:16.960 --> 00:33:24.839 things. And here's the promise. The God of peace will be with you. You realize that's the whole story of 00:33:24.839 --> 00:33:33.000 the Bible. That's the whole story of the Bible. And that one promise, the story of the Bible is a story 00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:41.659 of God making a way to be with his people. That's the story that we celebrate here at Christmas. 00:33:42.959 --> 00:33:50.459 The word of God, the son of God, the creator of all things, stepped down into his own creation 00:33:50.460 --> 00:33:58.500 in order to redeem it. The prince of peace came into a world of chaos. The perfect son of God came 00:33:58.500 --> 00:34:04.519 to pay the price so that sinners like you and me can know the peace of God and can know peace with 00:34:04.519 --> 00:34:12.539 God and walk in the peace of God. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and they shall call his 00:34:12.539 --> 00:34:21.800 name what? Emmanuel, which means God with us. The whole story of scripture from beginning to end is, 00:34:21.900 --> 00:34:29.019 is a story of God making a way to dwell with his people from the garden to the cloud, to the tabernacle, 00:34:29.199 --> 00:34:36.980 to the temple, to the stable, to the Holy Spirit, to the new creation. Where John says in Revelation 21, 00:34:36.980 --> 00:34:44.659 behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them. They will be his people. 00:34:45.320 --> 00:34:51.740 And God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death 00:34:51.740 --> 00:34:58.500 shall be no more. Neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore for the former things 00:34:58.500 --> 00:35:06.900 have passed away. It's the story of God bringing peace on earth, goodwill toward man. 00:35:06.980 --> 00:35:15.519 So I ask you again as we close this morning, do you have it? Do you have peace with God? 00:35:16.740 --> 00:35:23.800 Are you walking in the peace that God's brought you in Christ? Are you casting your anxieties on him 00:35:23.800 --> 00:35:29.860 and letting the peace of God rule in your hearts and your minds? Are you experiencing total peace 00:35:29.860 --> 00:35:34.480 with the Lord? The good news is, friend, if you want peace this morning, you can have it. 00:35:34.480 --> 00:35:42.840 Come to Christ. Cast all your anxieties on him. Rest in him. Put your hope in him. Think upon him. 00:35:43.179 --> 00:35:49.760 Trust in him. Walk with him. Abide in him. And here's the promise for you. The peace of God 00:35:49.760 --> 00:35:59.199 and the God of peace will be with you. Let's pray. Father, we thank you for this good promise of peace. 00:35:59.199 --> 00:36:09.039 I know what it's like to not have it. And so I pray for those in this room that we would have the peace 00:36:09.039 --> 00:36:14.779 that comes by faith in a perfect Savior, Jesus Christ, who came that we might have peace with God, 00:36:14.859 --> 00:36:20.559 be reconciled to you. And I pray for these Christians, Lord, in front of me that maybe are 00:36:20.559 --> 00:36:27.539 walking in anxiety and stress. Father, we give that to you. And we ask God, would you give us peace? 00:36:27.659 --> 00:36:29.719 We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.