Cultivating Lasting Peace and Joy in Christ
Summary
### Summary
Tonight, we delved into the profound themes of peace and joy, drawing from Philippians 4:4-9. This passage encourages us to rejoice in the Lord always, to be gentle, and to present our requests to God with thanksgiving, promising that the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds. We explored how peace and joy are not just fleeting emotions but deep, spiritual states that can be cultivated through proper expectations and a focus on God.
We discussed how our expectations shape our experiences, using the example of New York taxi drivers who expect turmoil and thus remain unperturbed by minor accidents. Similarly, Christians often lose their peace and joy because they do not expect the inevitable attacks on these states. We must understand that becoming a Christian introduces us to new enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil. These enemies aim to destroy our peace and joy by attacking our assurance of salvation.
Peace, as defined in the Bible, is a confidence and trust in God's wise control of our lives, while joy is a spiritual buoyancy that comes from rejoicing in God. The opposite of peace is anxiety, and the opposite of joy is hopelessness. We must cultivate these states by focusing on the unchanging privileges we have in God and by presenting our requests to Him with thanksgiving, trusting in His wisdom and goodness.
We also examined the counterfeit versions of peace and joy, such as cynicism and superficial happiness, which lack the depth and authenticity that come from the Spirit. True peace and joy are interconnected and grow together, created by the Spirit of God. To maintain these states, we must continually remind ourselves of the gospel, focusing more on our Savior than on our sins.
### Key Takeaways
1. Expectations Shape Experience: Our expectations significantly influence how we perceive and react to life's events. Just as New York taxi drivers expect turmoil and remain calm, Christians should expect spiritual attacks on their peace and joy. Proper expectations can help us navigate these challenges without losing our spiritual equilibrium. [04:03]
2. Peace and Joy Defined: Peace is a deep-seated confidence in God's control over our lives, while joy is a spiritual buoyancy that comes from rejoicing in God. The opposite of peace is anxiety, and the opposite of joy is hopelessness. These states are not dependent on external circumstances but on our relationship with God. [19:33]
3. Counterfeit Peace and Joy: The world offers counterfeit versions of peace and joy, such as cynicism and superficial happiness. These lack the depth and authenticity that come from the Spirit. True peace and joy are interconnected and grow together, created by the Spirit of God, and cannot be manufactured by human effort. [23:01]
4. The Enemies of Peace and Joy: The world, the flesh, and the devil are the primary enemies that seek to destroy our peace and joy. They do this by attacking our assurance of salvation, making us focus more on our sins than on our Savior. Understanding these enemies helps us to better defend our spiritual well-being. [29:16]
5. Preaching the Gospel to Yourself: To maintain peace and joy, continually remind yourself of the gospel. Focus on what Jesus Christ has done for you rather than on your own shortcomings. For every one look at your sin, take five looks at your Savior. This practice helps to keep your assurance of salvation strong and your peace and joy intact. [40:31]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:19] - Introduction to Peace and Joy
[02:36] - Expectations and Their Impact
[04:03] - The Taxi Driver Analogy
[05:32] - Depression Over Depression
[06:46] - The Kitten in the Creek
[08:02] - Making Peace with God
[09:15] - The New Enemies
[10:40] - The Importance of Proper Expectations
[11:04] - Joy as Spiritual Buoyancy
[12:33] - Joy vs. Happiness
[14:06] - Rejoicing in the Blesser
[19:33] - Defining Peace
[20:51] - Thanksgiving in Prayer
[23:01] - Counterfeit Peace
[29:16] - The World, the Flesh, and the Devil
[34:10] - The Devil's Role
[37:06] - Accusation and Assurance
[40:31] - Preaching the Gospel to Yourself
[41:09] - Conclusion and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV): "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Philippians 4:4-9, what are the steps Paul outlines for experiencing the peace of God?
2. How does Paul describe the relationship between prayer, thanksgiving, and peace in Philippians 4:6-7?
3. What does the sermon suggest about the role of expectations in maintaining peace and joy? [04:03]
4. What are the counterfeit versions of peace and joy mentioned in the sermon, and how do they differ from true peace and joy? [23:01]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How do proper expectations help Christians maintain their peace and joy according to the sermon? [04:03]
2. In what ways does the sermon define peace and joy differently from common worldly definitions? [19:33]
3. How does the sermon explain the impact of the world, the flesh, and the devil on a Christian's peace and joy? [29:16]
4. What does it mean to "preach the gospel to yourself," and how does this practice help maintain peace and joy? [40:31]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current expectations about your spiritual life. How might adjusting these expectations help you maintain peace and joy in the face of challenges? [04:03]
2. Think about a recent situation where you felt anxious or hopeless. How could you apply Philippians 4:6-7 to that situation?
3. Identify a counterfeit version of peace or joy that you might be relying on. How can you shift your focus to the true peace and joy that come from God? [23:01]
4. The sermon mentions that the world, the flesh, and the devil attack our assurance of salvation. How can you remind yourself of your assurance in Christ daily? [29:16]
5. What are some practical ways you can "preach the gospel to yourself" this week to strengthen your peace and joy? [40:31]
6. How can you cultivate a habit of presenting your requests to God with thanksgiving, as mentioned in Philippians 4:6? What might this look like in your daily prayer life?
7. Consider the areas in your life where you experience the most anxiety. How can you apply the principles from Philippians 4:8-9 to transform your thought patterns and experience God's peace?
Devotional
Day 1: Expectations Shape Experience
Our expectations significantly influence how we perceive and react to life's events. Just as New York taxi drivers expect turmoil and remain calm, Christians should expect spiritual attacks on their peace and joy. Proper expectations can help us navigate these challenges without losing our spiritual equilibrium. When we understand that becoming a Christian introduces us to new enemies—the world, the flesh, and the devil—we can better prepare ourselves for the inevitable challenges to our peace and joy. By setting our expectations correctly, we can maintain our spiritual balance even in the face of adversity. [04:03]
1 Peter 4:12-13 (ESV): "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed."
Reflection: Think about a recent situation where your expectations led to disappointment or anxiety. How might setting your expectations differently, in light of spiritual realities, change your response in the future?
Day 2: Peace and Joy Defined
Peace is a deep-seated confidence in God's control over our lives, while joy is a spiritual buoyancy that comes from rejoicing in God. The opposite of peace is anxiety, and the opposite of joy is hopelessness. These states are not dependent on external circumstances but on our relationship with God. By focusing on the unchanging privileges we have in God and presenting our requests to Him with thanksgiving, we can cultivate these spiritual states. This deep-seated peace and joy are gifts from God that transcend our circumstances and anchor us in His love and wisdom. [19:33]
Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV): "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."
Reflection: Identify an area of your life where you feel anxious or hopeless. How can you shift your focus to God's control and rejoice in Him to cultivate peace and joy in that area?
Day 3: Counterfeit Peace and Joy
The world offers counterfeit versions of peace and joy, such as cynicism and superficial happiness. These lack the depth and authenticity that come from the Spirit. True peace and joy are interconnected and grow together, created by the Spirit of God, and cannot be manufactured by human effort. By recognizing these counterfeits, we can seek the genuine peace and joy that only God provides. This involves a continual focus on our relationship with God and a rejection of the shallow substitutes the world offers. [23:01]
Jeremiah 6:14 (ESV): "They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you sought peace or joy through worldly means. How did it fall short, and what steps can you take to seek the true peace and joy that come from God?
Day 4: The Enemies of Peace and Joy
The world, the flesh, and the devil are the primary enemies that seek to destroy our peace and joy. They do this by attacking our assurance of salvation, making us focus more on our sins than on our Savior. Understanding these enemies helps us to better defend our spiritual well-being. By recognizing their tactics, we can stand firm in our faith and maintain our peace and joy through the power of the Holy Spirit. [29:16]
Ephesians 6:12-13 (ESV): "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm."
Reflection: Consider a recent spiritual attack on your peace or joy. How can you better equip yourself to stand firm against these attacks in the future?
Day 5: Preaching the Gospel to Yourself
To maintain peace and joy, continually remind yourself of the gospel. Focus on what Jesus Christ has done for you rather than on your own shortcomings. For every one look at your sin, take five looks at your Savior. This practice helps to keep your assurance of salvation strong and your peace and joy intact. By preaching the gospel to yourself daily, you reinforce the truth of God's love and grace, which sustains your spiritual well-being. [40:31]
Psalm 103:2-4 (ESV): "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy."
Reflection: Take a moment to list five specific ways Jesus has shown His love and grace in your life. How can focusing on these truths help you maintain your peace and joy today?
Quotes
1. "The reason for the difference between the way the one taxi driver, the taxi drivers in New York operate and the way, you know, two people in Richmond, Indiana would operate. rate is because of expectations. Expectations. The taxi drivers expect turmoil. They expect conflict. See, most places when somebody runs into your car, you consider that a conflict. In New York, it's not yet. You see, your ability to, in New York, your expectations of having people in your face all the time, elbows in your face when you're on the subway, you know, your nose in someone's armpit, right, for 100 blocks. You know, this sort of thing that, well, that doesn't happen to me too often because of my size, but some of you I know right where you live, and I really wonder how you do it. It's a matter of expectations." [04:03] (61 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "A lot of Christians are cast down all the time and are losing their peace and joy all the time because they don't expect the attacks on peace and joy that are inevitable. I'd say one half, two thirds, maybe three quarters of the depression that we experience as Christians is depression. Over our depression. We're sad that we're sad. We're surprised that we're surprised. We're upset that we're upset. And if you weren't so upset about being upset, you wouldn't be as upset. At least a half of being upset is the anger and the guilt and the frustration. You say, it's not supposed to be like this. Because you don't have the proper expectations. Christians do not come into the Christian life with the proper expectations." [05:32] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The minute you make peace with God, instantly all of God's enemies declare war on you. And they're not nice enemies. You see, before you became a Christian, your main enemy in life was a good guy. Someone who loved you, someone who cared about you, someone who was doing everything he could to wake you up. Now, when you become a Christian, all your enemies are bad guys. And the three enemies are the world, the flesh, and the devil. Now, if you don't have proper expectations, you are going to get mauled because, well, think of warfare. If you don't come in with proper expectations into warfare, you will be mauled. If you have, if you, overestimate or underestimate, if your expectations are off at all, you're going to be killed in a battle." [08:02] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Joy is a buoyancy, a spiritual buoyancy that comes when you're rejoicing in God. Second Corinthians 4, 16 to 18 is a terrific place where Paul's saying, I don't remember at all, but Paul's saying, we're down, but we're not out. We're crushed, but we're not destroyed. He's talking about buoyancy. He says, Christians have got a joy that doesn't mean that we're impervious to suffering. It means that we're unsinkable. We're constantly getting wet. We're constantly being pushed down, but we don't stay down, or at least we don't sink. There's a buoyancy about it. We're constantly being pushed down. The buoyancy comes from a focus on the unchanging privileges we have in God." [11:35] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The opposite of joy is not sadness. The reason that can't be, the opposite of joy cannot be sadness because the Bible is constantly talking about the fact that you can be joyful when you're sad. If you don't know what that means, you haven't gotten the hang of it yet. It doesn't mean you're not a Christian, but it really means you haven't even begun to tap into the resources that are yours. If what I just said makes no sense at all, you may not be a believer at all. You may not understand at all. If on the other hand, it's just something very difficult to grasp, it could be that you're a believer, you just haven't really gotten a hold of something that's critical." [12:33] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "There's a big difference between joy and happiness. Happiness comes from the comfort of having things that you want. Joy is a deep kind of rejoicing, an assurance, a maturity, a mirth. I'm only going to use the word mirth, but we don't use that word much. But it's better than the word happiness, I think, for our purposes. There's a deep mirth down deep that says, I've got the only thing that really matters. And you constantly say that to yourself, and the more you say that to yourself, the more you say, hey, that's pretty good." [12:58] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Peace is confidence and trust in God's wise control of your life. The opposite of peace is anxiety. You see, there's a difference. Some people say, what's the difference between peace and joy? And the answer is, joy is the opposite of hopelessness. Joy has to do with the mirth. Joy has to do with actually being up. But peace has to do with the steadiness. And the opposite of peace is not hopelessness or despair. The opposite of peace is worry or anxiety. And peace, therefore, has to do with confidence in God's control of your life." [20:01] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Worry is the absence of thought. Or we'll put it like this. You can either talk to your heart or you can listen to your heart. You know, tomorrow your heart's going to start to say, oh my word, what are we going to do about this? What are we going to do about that? Oh my gosh, what are we going to do about this? It goes like that all day, doesn't it? Some of you. Now there's two things you can do with your heart. You can sit and listen to your heart and you can go, you can talk to your heart. In Psalm 42, you can see exactly what happens. David in Psalm 42 is depressed and he says, why art thou cast down, oh my soul? Who's he talking to? Himself. He's talking to his soul. Why art thou cast down, oh my soul, and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God. What he's doing is instead of listening to his heart, he's talking to his soul. He's talking to it. He's saying, think about this, think about this, think about this. Don't forget this, don't forget that. Don't forget who it is that made you. Don't forget who it is that saved you. Think. Worry is listening to your heart. Peace comes from talking to your heart." [28:01] (61 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "The world, the flesh, and the devil basically come after you to try to get your conscience to go crazy. They basically, it all comes down to accusation. And the main way in which your joy and your peace is destroyed is by the world, is by the world, the flesh, and the devil getting after your assurance of your salvation. You see, they come alongside of you and they talk about your past. They say, think of the things that you've done. Haven't you ever noticed that you'd be walking down the street and all of a sudden something that you did a long time ago is incredibly vivid in living color and quadraphonic sound and it comes up right as you're going along?" [37:06] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "The reason that you will lose your assurance is if they come alongside of you and they poison your conscience. There's a great place in Pilgrim's Progress where there's a man named Mr. Conscience who's a watchman around the city and if anybody tries to break into the city, Mr. Conscience runs around saying, awake, awake, awake, awake. You know, there's enemies and what Satan does is he comes up and he poisons Mr. Conscience not to kill him but to drive him insane so he yells, awake, awake, awake when there's nobody really coming in and he goes to sleep when there's somebody coming in and that's the way all of our consciences are and that's the way the world, the flesh, and the devil tries to get at us. He tries to poison our conscience and get us to look more at our sins than our Savior." [38:25] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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