Philippians 4:7 Mis-Understood – There is MORE!!

Philippians 4:7

7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

NKJV

BUT WAIT!!  That isn’t half of the story.  You don’t just get “automatic peace”.  You have to participate in “getting peace”!

Let’s look at the whole context of the verses that surround Philippians 4:7

How about Philippians 4:6-7!

Phil 4:6-7

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

NKJV

PEACE ONLY COMES WITH PARTICIPATION

Let’s look at Philippians 4:6-7 under a spiritual microscope – shall we?

Be Anxious For Nothing

First let’s look at the command to “Be anxious for nothing”.
What does that mean?

It means that you are being told NOT to worry about anything.  Period.  Notice there are no exceptions to this rule. Nothing – period.  You are being told to understand the big picture.  You are being told to see beyond the flesh.  You are too understand that “all things are spiritual” and this world is but a tiny period in the context of the entire Bible.  Eternity is HUGE.  Step away from your tiny understanding of your worldly challenges and don’t worry about a thing. NOTHING.  It is a command.  You are expected to reach out to a higher understanding and trust in God and know that what you are going through amounts to a “hill of beans” in the grand scheme of all eternity.  Worry about “nothing”.  Period.

 Prayer & Supplication in Everything

You are told that you also must pray for everything.  Be in constant prayer.  Supplication means “earnest” prayer, “humble prayer” and “petition” (remember Jesus is your divine intercessor).  So not only do you need to “forget about worry” completely, (its a command) – but you must take to the Lord, in humble, earnest, petition your concerns – with CONFIDENCE that he, who loves you, will take care of your every need.  This is Faith.  You must exhibit total spiritual faith in all things.  Pray and Believe!!

With Thanksgiving!  That’s PRAISE!!

WOW!  I bet it didn’t occur to you.  It sure didn’t occur to me!  You cannot have peace that passeth all understanding unless you PRAISE, PRAISE, PRAISE.  The effects of praise cannot be overstated.  You are not asked to praise God in all things.  You are COMMANDED to praise the Lord in all things. The Israelites were not only admonished by God for grumbling and discontent, but they were punished because they did not praise him for his goodness.  They were short sighted and so wrapped up in their day to day issues, they grumbled about them and forgot to thank God for the food on their plates.  We so easily forget the daily blessings of day to day life and we always forget to PRAISE JESUS in ALL THINGS. 

THAT’S HOW YOU GET PEACE

So therein lies the secret formula for peace.  You must chase away the forces of evil.  You must clean out your spirit of unbelief.   You must self-sanctify your existence.  CLEAN UP YOUR ACT.  Become spiritual in Jesus name.  Pray always and PRAISE, PRAISE, PRAISE THE LORD in ALL THINGS – ALWAYS.

OR GUESS WHAT?

You will never feel the wonder of the Lord’s greatest gift.

PEACE
REAL PEACE