Yesterday was the beginning of “March Madness,” or as it is sometimes called, the “Big Dance.” Those are nicknames for the NCAA – National Collegiate Athletic Association’s – basketball tournament. Sixty-four of this countries “best” college basketball teams are playing for the opportunity to march down the road to the “Final Four” – to be one of the last four teams in the tournament. Out of 365 teams from across the country, we have two local teams on the road to the “Final Four.”
This comparison came to me as I was considering our text. Philippians 4:9 refers to four things which culminate in one ultimate blessing. “Those things, which ye have both LEARNED, and RECEIVED, and HEARD, and SEEN in me, DO: and the GOD of PEACE shall be with you.” In accord with the context, I think we can say, “The PEACE of God shall be with you.” Once again, we have a reference to this peace, as though it should be one of our goals in life. It is mentioned in verse 7 – “The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” And if I might point out, one of the blessings of the eight things mentioned in verse 8 is a peace-filled heart. Furthermore, Paul hints at his own personal peace several times from here to the conclusion of the book. “Not that I speak in respect of want; for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith be content.” “I can do all things through Christ with strengtheneth more.” “I have all, and abound.”
Are you aware of how many times in Paul’s salutations and benedictions, he refers to the grace of peace? Romans – “Now the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and PEACE in believing… “Now the God of peace be with you all.” Galatians – “Grace be with you, and PEACE from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” I and II Corinthians, I Thessalonians, I and II Timothy, Titus and Philemon all begin with the mention of peace, John even begins the book of Revelation with – “Grace be unto you, and PEACE, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come…” Part of “the fruit of the Spirit” is peace. And “the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” How important is the peace of God? I think I can say that one of the goals of every book in the New Testament is peace. Teaching either “peace WITH God” or the “peace OF God.” And here in verse 9 the goal of the final four Paul mentions is the peace of God.
As people whom the Lord has saved, we have peace WITH God. “Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” Part of “this grace wherein we stand,” is the enjoyment of God’s peace while we serve Him in a world which hates the things and people of God. And “to be spiritually-minded is life and peace” – Romans 8:6. The Saviour told His saved disciples, “Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto; not as the world giveth I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid.”
But if peace is an important gift of God, why are so many Christians so fearful? Don’t say, “Well, it is my nature to be a worrier.” “My mother was a worrier, and I inherited it from her.” ”I’ve never been taught how to live in a calm and relaxed way.” “My job and my life place constant stress upon me.” If you, as a saint of God… if you lack peace, the problem is yours, not your mother’s or anyone else.
Going back to my illustration of “March Madness.” Theoretically, it is possible for any team in the country to win the national championship. The University of Idaho has an enrolment of 12,000 students. Tomorrow they will be playing a school with four times as many students to draw from. But that game could go either way, depending on a multitude of factors. And Gonzaga will be playing two schools in succession with seven and ten times their enrolment – and ten or twenty times the finances to pay their players. But such things don’t matter in this sport. Unlike any other team, Gonzaga has participated in March Madness for twenty-seven straight years. And it has been in the final four twice and played in the championship game each of those two years.
The peace of God is not limited to Apostles and exceptional deacons like Philip and Stephen. Watch Stephen die under the hail storm of those skull-crushing stones. Where did he get the peace to die like that? It didn’t come with the laying on of hands the day he was set aside for that ministry. Like anyone of us might do, he chose to serve the Lord, and God blessed him with strength and peace. How was it that so many of our forefathers, and foremothers in the faith, could pass through such persecution and torture with calm hope and expectant hope? The answer: they had learned, and received, and heard, and seen those things which brought them close to the God of peace just when they needed him.
One of the key ingredients in getting to the Final Four is the quality of the coaching. And this brings us back to our text once again. “Those things, which ye have both LEARNED, and RECEIVED, and HEARD, and SEEN in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
There are many things that come into play in winning a championship.
Paul has already mentioned the necessity of prayer and thanksgiving. And if we handicap our selves with worry, we leave no room for God or God’s peace. How are we going to enjoy the fruit of the Spirit, if we aren’t filled and surrendered to the Spirit? In context of his discussion of the “fruit of the Spirit” Paul says, “This I say then, WALK in the SPIRIT…” And “If we LIVE in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Coaching and culture are a part of winning – winning even the peace of God.
In this verse Paul mentions his final four requisites for peace. First, “those things, which ye have LEARNED – DO, and the God of peace shall be with you.” This word “learned” is exactly what you might think that it means. The Lord Jesus said to the Jews, “But go ye and LEARN what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” He said to His disciples, “Now LEARN a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh…” Learning involves a teacher and a heart that is willing to be taught – a coach and a budding athlete. It often requires discipline and memorization; it may include repetition and exercise. Learning is often done in the classroom, sitting at the feet of the teacher, per se. But it is also often gained by experience as an apprentice at the job site, under the eye of his mentor.
Many of the Christians reading this epistle had been well-schooled in the church at Philippi. They had heard sermons and Bible lessons for years, and they applied themselves to those lessons. Maybe they took notes, as some of you do. Maybe they tried to memorize the texts which had been taught. Maybe they went home after a couple hours with the brethren, and they rehearsed what they had heard. They didn’t attend their church services with a desire to be entertained. Their meeting place was not a theater but dignified and spiritual classroom.
And with their desire to learn, they received those things which God intended to bring them peace. There is a difference between being taught and receiving. Teaching, as they say, might go in one ear and out the other. We all need some sort of mechanism to catch and hold that flow of Godly instruction. We need to receive and retain the truth of God, as best we can.
Year after year there are high school and college basketball players who choose to come to Spokane, when they could go to any number of bigger and more prestigious schools. They come here, because the head coach has proved himself at honing young players into professionals. But some kids prosper more than others, because they purpose to receive what is taught. They are willing to sacrifice their egos, making room for the instruction of their coaches. Some kids are described as “sponges” soaking up everything their coach shares with them. They ask questions, and they talk with other players to see if they missed anything. And then they go out on the court, trying their best to implement what they have been taught.
When Paul says “Do those things, which ye have HEARD,” he is taking his friends beyond the classroom. His ministry in Philippi was relatively short; he spent far more time in Corinth, for example. But he was well known throughout the Mediterranean world. Not only were Timothy, Titus and other students traveling back and forth between established churches… But those churches themselves were sending their members with finances and assistance to Paul. And they carried back news and descriptions of what he was doing. Sometimes they carried letters with more instruction, exhortation and help. Thus, the church in Philippi heard more of Paul’s ministry and message. And their instruction was not confined to Paul, but they were hearing about Peter, John and others.
Among other results from what they were heard and saw – was faith and peace. Every bit of Biblical instruction was designed by the Holy Spirit to produce spiritual fruit. And when they heard the testimony of various new believers, it strengthened them in their service. When it was reported that a new ecclesia – a new church – had been established, it thrilled them. And then there was news that some well-known saint had been slain, but he died in peace, it helped to establish them in peace as well. They learned, received and heard things which were conducive to peace.
And then we have Paul’s final point of the final four:
“Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and SEEN in ME, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” Why might the preacher or teacher hesitate to repeat Paul’s words while pointing to himself? Why might he shy away from saying, “if you do what you see me doing, the God of peace will be with you.” Isn’t it because he knows deep down in the depths of his heart that not everything he does is worthy of imitation? Does anyone have any right to compare himself with the Apostle Paul?
To that, two things need to be said: First, if there are things in our lives which are not worthy of emulation… If there are things not conducive to nearness to the Lord and the blessings that come of that – like peace… Then we need to do something to rid ourselves of those things. The world needs – the brethren need, and the Lord deserves Christians at their best. Each and every one of us are living, breathing sermons to those who are around us.
I can hear someone say, “But Paul was an apostle; so that automatically puts him among the professionals.” Yes, he was the apostle to the Gentiles, and as such he was a special prophet of God. And he had an office which none of us will ever hold. But at the same time he was a sinner saved by grace, just like all the rest of us. And yes, he had more eyes on him than we have, but people are watching us as well. We have neighbors who expect to see the peace of God in us. And therefore we need to learn, receive and do those things which permit us to enjoy God’s peace.
And then let’s remember that Paul was not the source or creator of this “peace of God.” “The peace of GOD, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds thru Christ Jesus.” The peace of God comes to us from the God of peace – the God of all comfort. It may be ministered to us by the Holy Spirit, but again, it is “through Christ Jesus.”
But when was the last time you saw the face of Jesus? Have you ever personally and directly watched Christ peacefully walk through His enemies as they picked up stones with which to kill Him? Have you like Mary had the privilege to sit at Jesus feet directly hearing, learning and receiving His word? Our revelation of the Saviour and all His blessings comes through the infallible written Word of God. And humanly speaking, we possess life and lessons of Christ by way of John’s testimony and Matthew’s. We have the messages of God through men like Peter and Paul, who says, “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and SEEN in ME, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
My final point is this: Just as the Philippians learned about the God of peace through Paul, we have learned what we know of God through some other servant of God. And now WE have become the conduit through whom the message of the Lord is to be shared with the world. We have the responsibility of saying “Those things which ye have SEEN in ME, DO, and the God of peace shall be with you.” In the past we have been the raw and green rookie, sitting under a coach who was once as raw and green as ourselves. But now that coach has passed into the presence of his Saviour, and it is up to us to say – “this DO.”
We have the opportunity and the ministry to share God’s peace with people desperately needing it. We can share the gospel through which they can come to have “peace WITH God.” And by our words, our lives and our peace, we can share with other believers the “peace OF God.” “Grace be unto you, and PEACE, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come…”