This is the manuscript of the sermon preached at Christ Church, Los Angeles, CA on Sunday March 24, 2019.
For the past month we've talked about the badge that we Christians wear. It's the badge of love. Christians also have marks. No, not nail marks in our hands, feet, sides, and other places on our bodies like Jesus has because of our sin as He was tortured and then crucified. But we do have marks that identify us as Christians.
To hear the audio click on the YouTube image at the end of the manuscript.
Scripture:
Philippians 4:1-7 ESV Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Text:
Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Introduction
For the past month we've talked about the badge that we Christians wear. It's the badge of love and as long as as we have it on everybody will know that we belong to Christ.
We should remember our series text by heart.
John 13:34-35 NKJV A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
As I was thinking about what to talk about this week as we start to look toward Resurrection Day I read something that says that Christians have marks. No, not nail marks in our hands, feet, sides, and other places on our bodies like Jesus has because of our sin as He was tortured and then crucified. But we do have marks that identify us as Christians. Sort of like birth marks. Some of us were born with certain physical marks; a strawberry in our scalp, some kind of mark somewhere on our body that may be visible or only known by a loved one. Mine is this mole. I was born with it. My brother had a mark on the back of his scalp that came down to his neck.
When we're born again the Holy Spirit gives us some birthmarks, or characteristics. These marks aren't meant to be hidden but like some of our physical birthmarks we may try to cover them up.
It's strange how we can characterize and categorize people. We identify them as being country or urban or sophisticated, educated or uneducated. But these outward marks fail to characterize Christians.
In the beginning verses of the final chapter of Philippians, which we read this morning, Paul identifies some of the marks or characteristics of Christians.
I. In addition to being a badge, love is also a mark of a Christian.
Philippians 4:1-3 NKJV Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
This agape love that we've been talking about this past month is an inclusive love. Notice that the love Paul expressed for his fellow Christians in Philippi included the quarrelsome Euodias and Syntyche as well as the helpful Clement and everyone else.
I know we've been talking about this for a month but we can't be selective with our love. We can't love only those people who seem lovable or who love us in return. God is not like that. He loves us all even when we don't deserve to be loved. If we are to love like God, we must let our love reach out to everyone.
It is a concerned love. Love always expresses concern for the one who is loved. Paul called these people, those in the church in Philippi, his “joy” and “crown.” He was concerned about them even though he was in prison and separated from them as he wrote this letter.
For the past month we've talked about the badge that we Christians wear. It's the badge of love. Christians also have marks. No, not nail marks in our hands, feet, sides, and other places on our bodies like Jesus has because of our sin as He was tortured and then crucified. But we do have marks that identify us as Christians.
To hear the audio click on the YouTube image at the end of the manuscript.
Scripture:
Philippians 4:1-7 ESV Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Text:
Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Introduction
For the past month we've talked about the badge that we Christians wear. It's the badge of love and as long as as we have it on everybody will know that we belong to Christ.
We should remember our series text by heart.
John 13:34-35 NKJV A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
As I was thinking about what to talk about this week as we start to look toward Resurrection Day I read something that says that Christians have marks. No, not nail marks in our hands, feet, sides, and other places on our bodies like Jesus has because of our sin as He was tortured and then crucified. But we do have marks that identify us as Christians. Sort of like birth marks. Some of us were born with certain physical marks; a strawberry in our scalp, some kind of mark somewhere on our body that may be visible or only known by a loved one. Mine is this mole. I was born with it. My brother had a mark on the back of his scalp that came down to his neck.
When we're born again the Holy Spirit gives us some birthmarks, or characteristics. These marks aren't meant to be hidden but like some of our physical birthmarks we may try to cover them up.
It's strange how we can characterize and categorize people. We identify them as being country or urban or sophisticated, educated or uneducated. But these outward marks fail to characterize Christians.
In the beginning verses of the final chapter of Philippians, which we read this morning, Paul identifies some of the marks or characteristics of Christians.
I. In addition to being a badge, love is also a mark of a Christian.
Philippians 4:1-3 NKJV Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
This agape love that we've been talking about this past month is an inclusive love. Notice that the love Paul expressed for his fellow Christians in Philippi included the quarrelsome Euodias and Syntyche as well as the helpful Clement and everyone else.
I know we've been talking about this for a month but we can't be selective with our love. We can't love only those people who seem lovable or who love us in return. God is not like that. He loves us all even when we don't deserve to be loved. If we are to love like God, we must let our love reach out to everyone.
It is a concerned love. Love always expresses concern for the one who is loved. Paul called these people, those in the church in Philippi, his “joy” and “crown.” He was concerned about them even though he was in prison and separated from them as he wrote this letter.
II. Joy is a mark of a Christian
Philippians 4:4 NKJV Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Joy is a theme that runs throughout the entire book of Philippians, which is amazing because as I said before was written from prison.
This is an incessant joy, which means that it doesn't stop. Paul said that Christians are to rejoice in the Lord always, not just in good times, but in bad times too.
This is an independent joy. This joy is “in the Lord,” which means that it is independent of life’s circumstances. When joy is “in the Lord,” it can be experienced and expressed even when there doesn't appear to be much reason for joy.
I Peter 1:6-9 NKJV In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
III. Gentleness is a mark of a Christian (v. 5).
Philippians 4:5 NKJV Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
Gentleness marks the person who is willing to give up something that could rightfully be considered his or hers. Christians know when to use mercy.
Why do we know that? Because the Lord is at hand. Everything Christians do they do with the understanding that the Lord is present with them, through the Holy Spirit who is in us seeking to live out Christ’s life on this earth. In doing that we will act with gentleness toward others.
So the motivation for everything that we do should be to glorify God, because He is at hand.
IV. Peace is a mark of a Christian (vv. 6–7).
Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Nowhere is the peace that we have in Jesus Christ expressed quite so forcefully as in these two verses. Whatever the circumstances, the Christian must not be crippled and paralyzed by anxiety. Bad situations can be met with prayer and praise. And where prayer and praise exist, there is the promise that the peace of God will keep the hearts and minds of Christians.
The term “guard” in verse 7 is a military term. God’s peace will stand guard over you.
Deuteronomy 31:6 NKJV Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
Are you beginning to see a pattern in these marks? They are the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Salvation which brings eternal life and heaven leaves marks on those saved.
Check for these other marks on you
A hunger and thirst for righteousness is a mark.
Matthew 5:6 (NKJV)6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
If I go one day without food, by the end of the day, I would do anything for a beef sandwich—really, really hungry. Is that how I feel about living a life that is marked by righteousness? Am I person who says, “I want to do what is right…at any cost!”
Being merciful is a mark.
Matthew 5:7 (NKJV)7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
How am I doing when it comes to this business of forgiving others? Do I forgive quickly? Am I merciful towards the weaknesses and failings of other people?
Having a pure heart is a mark.
Matthew 5:8 (NKJV)8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
What is the condition of my heart? To what extent is it marked by purity? To what extent is it marked by impurity?
Being a peacemaker is a mark.
Matthew 5:9 (NKJV)9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
Am I a person who brings peace? Does peace follow me because it lives in me? Or do other people in the home or in the workplace experience tension from me because of the turmoil that is in me?
Because you can be identified by your birthmarks and your badge you will be persecuted.
Matthew 5:10 (NKJV)10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The Lord is upfront in telling us that we will suffer and that the world will not react in love and kindness towards us. That's because as a Christian you are influential. I'm not talking just about pastors and preachers, or evangelists, or those on radio and television, or missionaries. All Christians are influential.
Here's what Jesus said to His disciples all those with marks;
Matthew 5:13-16 (NKJV)13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Christ says that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. As salt we preserve and flavor a rotting and evil world. As light we are to lift the brightness of Christ up with confidence and allow him to shine through us to reveal the darkness of our world.
Conclusion
How do you tell who the Christians are? Look for the badge and the marks.
Do you wear the love badge and have the Christian marks? If not Jesus Christ gives you a personal invitation to join Him in the family of God.
We receive Christ by personal invitation
Jesus Christ says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him” (Revelation 3:20).
Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self and trusting Christ to come into our lives, to forgive us of our sins and to make us what he wants us to be. Just to agree intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that he died on the cross for our sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. We receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of our free will.
We can choose two kinds of lives: the Self-Directed Life or the Christ-Directed Life.
A self-directed life is one where you are in charge of your life and Jesus Christ is outside your life. Your interests, plans and actions are directed by yourself, often resulting in disaster.
A Christ-directed life is one where Christ is in charge of your life and you yield to Him. Your interests, plans and actions are directed by Christ, resulting in harmony with God's plan for you.
Which of these two kinds of lives best represents your life at this time?
Which would you like to represent your life? You or Christ?
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Philippians 4:4 NKJV Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Joy is a theme that runs throughout the entire book of Philippians, which is amazing because as I said before was written from prison.
This is an incessant joy, which means that it doesn't stop. Paul said that Christians are to rejoice in the Lord always, not just in good times, but in bad times too.
This is an independent joy. This joy is “in the Lord,” which means that it is independent of life’s circumstances. When joy is “in the Lord,” it can be experienced and expressed even when there doesn't appear to be much reason for joy.
I Peter 1:6-9 NKJV In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
III. Gentleness is a mark of a Christian (v. 5).
Philippians 4:5 NKJV Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
Gentleness marks the person who is willing to give up something that could rightfully be considered his or hers. Christians know when to use mercy.
Why do we know that? Because the Lord is at hand. Everything Christians do they do with the understanding that the Lord is present with them, through the Holy Spirit who is in us seeking to live out Christ’s life on this earth. In doing that we will act with gentleness toward others.
So the motivation for everything that we do should be to glorify God, because He is at hand.
IV. Peace is a mark of a Christian (vv. 6–7).
Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Nowhere is the peace that we have in Jesus Christ expressed quite so forcefully as in these two verses. Whatever the circumstances, the Christian must not be crippled and paralyzed by anxiety. Bad situations can be met with prayer and praise. And where prayer and praise exist, there is the promise that the peace of God will keep the hearts and minds of Christians.
The term “guard” in verse 7 is a military term. God’s peace will stand guard over you.
Deuteronomy 31:6 NKJV Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
Are you beginning to see a pattern in these marks? They are the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Salvation which brings eternal life and heaven leaves marks on those saved.
Check for these other marks on you
A hunger and thirst for righteousness is a mark.
Matthew 5:6 (NKJV)6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
If I go one day without food, by the end of the day, I would do anything for a beef sandwich—really, really hungry. Is that how I feel about living a life that is marked by righteousness? Am I person who says, “I want to do what is right…at any cost!”
Being merciful is a mark.
Matthew 5:7 (NKJV)7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
How am I doing when it comes to this business of forgiving others? Do I forgive quickly? Am I merciful towards the weaknesses and failings of other people?
Having a pure heart is a mark.
Matthew 5:8 (NKJV)8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
What is the condition of my heart? To what extent is it marked by purity? To what extent is it marked by impurity?
Being a peacemaker is a mark.
Matthew 5:9 (NKJV)9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
Am I a person who brings peace? Does peace follow me because it lives in me? Or do other people in the home or in the workplace experience tension from me because of the turmoil that is in me?
Because you can be identified by your birthmarks and your badge you will be persecuted.
Matthew 5:10 (NKJV)10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The Lord is upfront in telling us that we will suffer and that the world will not react in love and kindness towards us. That's because as a Christian you are influential. I'm not talking just about pastors and preachers, or evangelists, or those on radio and television, or missionaries. All Christians are influential.
Here's what Jesus said to His disciples all those with marks;
Matthew 5:13-16 (NKJV)13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Christ says that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. As salt we preserve and flavor a rotting and evil world. As light we are to lift the brightness of Christ up with confidence and allow him to shine through us to reveal the darkness of our world.
Conclusion
How do you tell who the Christians are? Look for the badge and the marks.
Do you wear the love badge and have the Christian marks? If not Jesus Christ gives you a personal invitation to join Him in the family of God.
We receive Christ by personal invitation
Jesus Christ says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him” (Revelation 3:20).
Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self and trusting Christ to come into our lives, to forgive us of our sins and to make us what he wants us to be. Just to agree intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that he died on the cross for our sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. We receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of our free will.
We can choose two kinds of lives: the Self-Directed Life or the Christ-Directed Life.
A self-directed life is one where you are in charge of your life and Jesus Christ is outside your life. Your interests, plans and actions are directed by yourself, often resulting in disaster.
A Christ-directed life is one where Christ is in charge of your life and you yield to Him. Your interests, plans and actions are directed by Christ, resulting in harmony with God's plan for you.
Which of these two kinds of lives best represents your life at this time?
Which would you like to represent your life? You or Christ?
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
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