"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" Philip:4:4-7
The Apostle St. Paul, writing to the Christian Church at Philippi in Macedonia had words of encouragement and instruction for them, but not only they who lived 2000 years ago, but for Christians down through the ages.
Where St. Paul Preached
This Roman enclave was the community to
where the Apostle Paul visited in 49-50 AD and met with the Jewish women
who gathered at the Krenides River where they worshiped outside due to
having no Synagogue in the city. Here St. Paul preached the Gospel to the
assembled woman . Lydia the textile merchant heard about Jesus and came to
believe and was baptized.
Philippi was a city that was founded by
the Macedonian King Phillip II around 356 BC, situated on the Via Egnatia, the Egnatian Way, which was a major road
way, that moved east-to-west, and allowed Roman troops to move quickly to the
Eastern provinces of Empire. This road way was also a major trade root for the
Empire into Asia Minor and beyond as well.
The city of Philippi also had a local
economy that was straighten by mines, this source of revenue gave Philippi
an important place along the Egnatian Way and generated commerce and a general
prosperity for the city. It was also known as the city of fountains due to
major water sources found nearby.
Presence of Cesar
Philippi had become, in many respects,
a very Roman city ruled by the power of Rome with the banner of
Cesar representing Cesar's imperial presence there showing that this
city was part of the Empire. Where Cesar's banner flew the Empire ruled; his
imperial banner was to reflect his imperial presence, this showed that the
power of Rome was near at hand.
Often Roman rule brought many
benefits and improvements to a nation; even the coinage of the day carried the
words minted upon them "Peace and Safety" along
with the likeness of Cesar, this was to convey that in Rome all the blessings
and advantages that a people could ever want to achieve could be found under the
rule of the Empire; all they need do is give their loyalty to Cesar and
accept his banner reflecting his imperial presence in their lives and showing
that the power of Rome was near at hand.
The city of Philippi had become an
important outpost for the Roman Legions and became populated with many retired
Roman soldiers after their time of service had expired, it is probable, and likely,
that many of the Christians, to whom the Apostle St. Paul wrote were either
former Legionnaires or familiar with them due to the city’s historical ties
with the Roman Army.
Their Needs Met
The former Legionnaires would have been
used to relying upon the power of the Cesars for the material supplies and food
and other needs as they were on the march in far flung places of the Empire
or in long campaigns away from their homes.
These retired Legionnaires also were
now having their needs met and were supported through receiving an
imperial pension from the Roman Legion. It was to them that St. Paul
speaks directly in his time, and is now shared with all Christians though
his Epistle.
St. Paul directs them, and we, to
be a people who are in a state of perpetual worship and praise for the
great acts of Salvation accomplished for each and all through our Lord Jesus
Christ, as St. Paul admonishes each and all Christians to rejoice. St. Paul
even quickly reiterates it in his Epistle twice to emphasize our need to
have a heart of worship toward and for our God.
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say
it again: Rejoice!" Phip: 4:4a
The Apostle then admonishes them, and
we, to reflect a transformed life; one led and controlled by the Holy
Spirit, which is the outward evidence of a life that has been set fully on the
person of Jesus Christ.
"let your gentleness (or moderation ) be
evident to all"(5a)
For these Christians, many of whom once
serves Cesar and Rome, they now served the true Lord and King Jesus Christ,
therefore that truth should be demonstrated before all.
Jesus is Near
St. Paul now tells them
and us, why Christians should rejoice and why there should be an
outward display of a transformed life in the very next verse, a verse which is
in truth the crux and point of this section of the fourth chapter of this
Epistle.
"the Lord is near" (5b)
Many Christians have read this verse over
the years as an admonishment to remain faithful, and reminding them that our
Jesus will come "soon" that is, his "coming is near" ; and in truth , there may be
some broad appliance to the literal return of Jesus Christ to bring the
reign of God over all things which is truth.
Many have concluded this, by
referencing St. Paul words to the Christians of the Thessalonian Church
when St. Paul speaks of the coming of Jesus. The word used by St. Paul
in 1Thessalonians: 5:2 is "Parousia" it is a word which just does not
speak of Jesus to come future, but is speaking that Jesus is come even here and now to us. That is, Jesus is near, that his royal "presence" is, present tense, is with us
even now in this life. Jesus is more with us than we are with our selves.
When, at the end of human civilization,
at the literal second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, Jesus will descend from
the heavens when the last trumpet does sound, the dead are raised and
those alive will be changes, this in truth, only shows or manifest openly what
is now true, that our " Lord is near".
Jesus' royal "presence" in our lives is what make us part
of his Kingdom even now, demonstrated by the transformed lives we live. Even as
Cesar's banner flew within the provincial territories of the Empire
showing the power of Rome was near and at hand.
This speaks to us, and to our
Philippian Christian predecessors, that the power of God is at hand and
near to us to help us and provide for us even more than Rome could provide for
the troops in the field; this would have resounded with the Christians at
Phillippi. They knew Cesar provided for them as part of the Legion, and even
now through the pensions which they received at their discharge from
service, so how much more can Jesus provided for us here and now?
No Fear
With the truth knowing that the "Lord is near" they could move forward in life
knowing that Jesus was with them and would not fail them, therefore they could
face anything without fear, as St. Paul tells they and we. The Lord is near.
"Do not be anxious about
anything,"(6a)
You and I need not fear or to be
anxious about anything for we now see that our Lord Jesus is with us and near
at hand to provide for us and see us through the marches and long
campaigns of this life as we head for eternity.
When on the march through life we
encounter needs we, like the Roman Legions, can ask for help. The Legions were
used to the concept of drawing on the supply lines and depots established
by the Roman armies for their uses and needs while in the field or at garrison
or in battle whatever the given situation was all they need do is to make
a request to the quarter master and the needed supplies would be issued.
Make Our Request
In the same way when we have needs, we
can make our request known to God and we can have confidence that he will provide
our needs even more so than the Legions of Rome could receive. Whatever
confronts Christians, the understanding that Jesus is ever with them and
near at hand, that we can turn to the great God and our Lord Jesus for help.
" but in every situation, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."(6-c)
With Thanksgiving
This verse speaks as well of a heart
that is filled with the very faith of our Lord Jesus and is a worshiping heart,
as St. Paul tell us that it is "with
thanksgiving" that is we present our request.
To God
We approach Jesus thanking him in faith in advance that our Lord will respond with a gracious answer. Thanking Jesus reflects a trust that he will answer, and that we worship him acknowledging him as the only one to whom we should and can look to for help, that he is our God, the only one to whom our allegiance is due, remember the Cesar(s) demanded complete loyalty to Rome and the nations within the Empire were to participation in the Imperial cult of Empire worship giving Rome that place which only our Lord Jesus should have in our lives.
"present your request to God"
(6 last part)
The Peace of God
When see that our Lord is near and that
Jesus is with us , knowing that he has dealt with anything which would prevent
us from having an eternal relationship with him , whatever that might be , sin,
fear, feelings of disenfranchisement, whatever it might be we can be at peace.
This peace arises form
recognizing and believing and accepting that Jesus is the one and only
Savior of humanity God's only true Son, fully God yet fully human. This Savior
knows and understands our weakness and limitations and he is there for each and
all who will but freely receive him.
Jesus has done for us what we could
never have done for ourselves. Jesus died to make peace for us with the Great
God. This is the peace that Jesus gives to us as he said "peace I give you, but not as the world gives" this
is the peace that goes beyond circumstance or conditions, it is peace of
knowing that the Lord is near, that he will never "leave you nor forsake you" . This is true
peace, a peace that Cesar's enforced peace could never be. Jesus himself is our
peace.
This peace which is born out
of our Lord being near at hand and this gives us stillness of heart
which is like the high walls of a strong garrison that allows us to face even
the most difficult of challenges of the march through life. The Roman soldiers
would have grasped the idea being conveyed by the words of the Apostle that of
walled enclosures which kept one safe while under assault by adversaries.
And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (7)
This, as with all that St. Paul speaks
of and is due again to the truth that our Lord Jesus Christ is near to us all.
Jesus is with his people near to each and all, his abiding presence is never
diminished, what rises and falls is our awareness of his presence with us.
Our Lord has given his word that Jesus
is with us in all that we encounter in this life, therefore we need not fear
nor be dismayed at what we face while on the march toward his Kingdom,
therefore we should rejoice always for "the Lord is Near"..
Benediction: May we each and all worship with
joyful confidence. that our Lord is ever near to each and all, today, tomorrow
and forevermore..Amen.
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Rev.Todd Crouch, Norman, Oklahoma
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