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This message is both hard and easy; it is hard because like Paul in Philippians 3:12, I have not attained.  

It is easy because it is God's straight- forward commands with no hidden agenda.

V.4/ “Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again, rejoice.”  This is not an idle command through Paul.  In Acts 16:16-40, Luke records an event in Paul's life (along with Silas) where he casts a demon out of a fortune teller who brought great wealth to her owners.  Paul and Silas were arrested, they were stripped, severely beaten with rods, then thrown in prison.  Since it was ordered that they had no chance of escape, they were placed in an inner prison, their feet clamped in stocks.  The result was: around midnight, Paul and Silas were heard praying and singing hymns to God.  An earthquake set them free, they were able to share the Word of the Lord with the jailer, the result was salvation of the jailer and his household.  Where did this take place?  In the city of Philippi.   

In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul is compelled to describe some of what he had to endure as an apostle, 2 Cor. 11:23-28, “Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more.  I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.  Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.  Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move.  I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.  I have laboured and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.  Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.”  Paul is able to admonish us to “rejoice always” out of his own experience.  When we rejoice in the Lord, we are less likely to take offence or give offence, we have confidence that God is in control.

v.5/ “Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.” Gentleness: epieikes [ep-ee-i-kace]; mildness, patience, yield edness, moderation, unwilling to litigate or contend.  Let it be evident to all!  Our sphere of gentleness goes beyond those to whom we choose. How is this possible?  The Lord is near.  He is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Ps 34:18). He who vindicates me is near (Ps 50:8).   

v.6/ “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”  It boils down to trust (reliance on the character, strength or truth of someone).  Can we rely on God's character?  God is Infinite, Self-Existing, without origin (Col. 1:17); I AM THAT I AM (Ex. 3); God is Immutable, Unchanging (Mal. 3:6); God is Self-Sufficient, He has no needs (Rom. 11:34-35); God is Omnipotent, All Powerful ((Job 11:7-11); God is Omniscient, All-Knowing (Isa. 46:9-10); God is Omnipresent, Always Everywhere )(Psa. 139: 7-10); God is Wise (Rom. 11:33); God is Faithful (2 Tim. 2:13); God is Good (Psa. 34:8); God is Just, Without injustice (Deut. 32:4); God is Merciful (Rom. 9:15-16); God is Gracious (Psa. 145:8); God is Love (1 Jn. 4:7-8); God is Holy (Rev. 4:8); God is Glorious (Hab. 3:4).  Can we believe that He is strong enough (Ex. 8:19; Pharaoh's magicians said this was the finger of god when they could not replicate the plague of gnats.  Lk. 11:20; “But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”) or cares enough (1 Pet. 5:7)?  Is God a liar or can we believe what He says?  How can we be anxious (troubled with cares) when we fully understand who we pray to and petition of?  I am not saying that it is easy but we do need to ask God to help us understand.

v.7/  “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Proverbs 3:5-6; “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”  The word, guard, has a military connotation which literally means to prevent hostile invasion.  All of Psalm 91 describes the blessing of putting ourselves under the protection of the Lord and Ephesians 6:10-17 describes the fact that we have an enemy in the spiritual realm that is at war with God and us, His saints.  As we walk in trust, with God's peace, knowing we are under His protection that guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

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