Introduction.

1. Over the past four weeks we have been focussing on the concept of finding real refuge under the wings of Almighty God. Abiding under the wings of the Lord is a place of rest, peace and security. This is not a form of escapism, but the proper exercising of faith in the sovereignty, omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence of God and trusting the covenant promises he has made. Exercising faith and trust in this way fills the believer with abundant joy no matter what his circumstances may be. Ruth whose past circumstances in life from a worldly perspective were tragic, sad, and difficult, desperately needed the benefits that come from abiding under the wings of the Lord. The Lord by his grace makes refuge under his wings available to everyone called to belong to him. Everyone who has been born from above can and ought to abide under the wings of God. The Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:4-9 sets out the process believers need to practice everyday of their lives to abide under the wings of God.
    
2. We have already examined three of the four spiritual duties and exercises of keeping your faith, trust and love focussed on the Lord, keeping your actions God-centred and keeping your prayer life alive. This morning we come to the final exercise of keeping the wonder of the peace of God which is described in Philippians 4:8-9. Listen to what Paul says:
   
   ‘Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.'
   
   These two verses can be divided into three parts, 1. Feeding your mind on things that glorify God. 2. Following Paul's teaching and example. 3. The wonderful promise that the God of peace will be with you.

1. Feeding your mind on things that glorify God.

1. What do you think about? Not when you are absorbed in work or in a book, but when your mind is idling along. What do you think about before you go to sleep or become bored with what's going on around you? What you think about usually depends on what you feed your mind. Where do you go, and to whom do you turn in order to get food for your mind? If you got all the food for your body from junk-food outlets you would soon be over-weight or obese. What goes into your body through your mouth quickly changes your body shape. Getting fat on junk food is cheap, easy and pleasurable. Getting rid of unwanted fat is expensive, difficult and takes a great deal of effort. Our minds are no different to our bodies in that they love to feed on things that are cheap, easy and pleasurable. The television set gives you access to a variety of junk-thoughts to feed your mind, as do most of the throw-away magazines. What did you feed your mind on over the past week?
   
   
2. Did you feed your mind at all on things that are true, noble, just, pure, and lovely, things of good report and things that are praiseworthy? Were these things your snack food or main meal? Do you think of the things Paul lists as exciting as snacking on celery? Do you show any concern for what goes into your mind through your eyes and ears? Your mind is like a sponge it absorbs what you put in it. The way you use what goes into you mind is determined by your spiritual condition. If your mind is still captive to sin, you will largely process the data along sinful lines. Listen to God's comment in Genesis 6:5 on the way the natural mind thinks; ‘Now the Lord observed the extent of the people's wickedness, and he saw that all their thoughts were consistently and totally evil.' NLB) Evil must be defined as anything that does not fully conform to the character and Law of God. The call of the Gospel is a call to believe in Christ Jesus and repent of your sins. The Greek word translated as repentance means to change your mind. When you are saved by Christ, God in his great grace changes your mind about himself, yourself and sin. This change of mind is clearly seen in the Apostle Paul who changed his mind totally: Jesus whom he hated was now his first love, Christians whom he persecuted were now his brothers and sisters in Christ, the gospel which he once sought to obliterate from the face of the earth was now the focus of his preaching. Those saved by Jesus are set free from the dominion of sin therefore Paul in Romans 12:2 gives this instruction to believers; ‘ do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.' Christians are to be actively engaged in the transformation of their minds getting rid of evil thoughts (anything and everything that does not conform to the character and Law of God) by the power of the Spirit. Charles Hodge well said, "It is vain for us to pray for the presence of the God of love and peace unless we strive to free our hearts from all evil passions."
   
   
3. When Paul instructs us to think about things that are true, noble, just, pure, and lovely, things of good report and things that are praiseworthy he uses the present imperative, which means keep on thinking. Thinking about godly things ought to be part of our daily mental diet. We must take time and make the effort to deliberately think about these things, the mind must be disciplined to focus on these things. If you do not deliberately direct your mind to these things it will focus on things that appeal to the remnants of sin that are still active in your mind and heart. Having said this there are two errors that need to be dealt with. (i) This is not mental distraction. It does call us to live in denial, to pretend that everything is ok when it is not, or avoid thinking, saying or doing things that need to be done. It is not filling your mind with things so that you ignore your problems and do not deal with them. God requires believers to face their problems and deal with them as he has told us to do in his Word. (ii) This is not the power of positive thinking which originated with the heretic Rev Norman Vincent Peale. Peale said, "through prayer you ... make use of the great factor within yourself, the deep subconscious mind ... [which Jesus called] the kingdom of God within you ... Positive thinking is just another term for faith." The way to find God within you and to have great faith is simply the rooting out negative thoughts; therefore the work of Christ is made redundant by Peale's theology.
   
   
4. How do we train our minds to think on things that are true, noble, just, pure, and lovely, things of good report and things that are praiseworthy? There are five things that you can do to help focus your mind on these things.
   
   
   1. Read a passage of Scripture everyday and think about the passage. Ask all kinds questions of the text. Not simply the who, what, how, when questions, but also more penetrating questions like: Is there a warning? Is there a promise? Is the Lord issuing a command? Is there a challenge to my life in the passage? Is a sin being condemned? What doctrines are present in the passage? How does the passage apply to me? We need to become people who think spiritually. Thinking spiritually means that the Word of God becomes part of your frame of reference. You interact with life by constantly using the Word as your measure and compass. Use the passage you read to help you rejoice in the Lord.
   2. Make attending activities that stimulate you to think about the Lord and his ways a priority. Make attendance at worship services and Bible study an essential rather than an optional part of your life. Think about the sermons and studies you participate in. Sermons and studies are supposed to change the way you think about everything in life. Your thinking must be Biblical.
   3. The third practical step for thinking about things that are godly is this: Regularly expose yourself to things in this world that reflect the beauty and goodness of God. Enjoy the grandeur of God's glorious creation. Go to the beach every now and then and simply admire the hand of God in watching the waves and listening to the pounding surf. Listen to music made by the birds. Examine the beauty of the flowers God has made. Read good devotional books that challenge you to walk closer with the Lord.
   4. Control your tongue and put the ninth commandment into practice. This command requires a whole lot more than simply not telling lies about others. Listen to the Larger Catechism concerning the positive action it requires. Question 144: What are the duties required in the ninth commandment? Answer: The duties required in the ninth commandment are, the preserving and promoting of truth between man and man, and the good name of our neighbour, as well as our own; appearing and standing for the truth; and from the heart, sincerely, freely, clearly, and fully, speaking the truth, and only the truth, in matters of judgment and justice, and in all other things: Whatsoever; a charitable esteem of our neighbours; loving, desiring, and rejoicing in their good name; sorrowing for, and covering of their infirmities; freely acknowledging of their gifts and graces, defending their innocency; a ready receiving of a good report, and unwillingness to admit of an evil report, concerning them; discouraging talebearers, flatterers, and slanderers; love and care of our own good name, and defending it when need requires; keeping of lawful promises; studying and practicing of: Whatsoever things are true, honest, lovely, and of good report. Our modern world particularly through the media has taught us to do the very opposite, we must root out this way of thinking and replace it with obedience to this command.
   5. The fifth thing we need to do is simply be more selective about what we allow to stimulate our thinking. Be more discerning about what you give to your eyes to watch and what you give to your ears to hear. Spend more time with others who bring out the best rather than the worst in you. Spend less time with those who are cynical, critical and continually grumble and complain about life. Be more selective about how you feed your mind.

2. Following Paul's teaching and example.

1. William Hendriksen comments on Philippians 4:9 as follows, ‘It becomes very clear now that the thinking or meditation of which the apostle spoke in the preceding passage was not of an abstractly theoretical character. It was thinking with a purpose, and that purpose lies in the sphere of action. This is also the teaching of The Sermon on the Mount and of Christ's parables (Matt. 7:24; 13:23; Luke 8:15). True believers hear. They meditate until they understand. Then they act upon it, putting it into constant practice, thereby showing that their house was built upon a rock.' Thinking about things that are true, noble, just, pure, and lovely, things of good report and things that are praiseworthy must result in a different way of living and behaving. What goes on in your mind must transform your actions.
   
   
2. Paul calls on the believers at Philippi to imitate him. The NKJV is not as clear as it could be in Philippians 4:8, listen to this verse from the New American Version, ‘Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.' When Paul says, keep on doing he is advocating a life-style or a way of life rather than a short-term mimicking. Paul encourages believers to do much more than use him as a role-model; he urges them to follow his example. While you and I would never dream of suggesting that other Christians use us as an example to follow, we have to accept that they do. Every Christian ought to live a life that is worthy of imitation because the work of Christ in saving us has empowered us to such a life. Has the presence of Jesus in your heart and mind had such an impact on your life that your life is worthy of imitation? Paul kept on striving to be like Christ and therefore could call on believers to imitate him. We need to see ourselves and particularly our minds as a work in progress. Believers should be striving to reach the goal of being like Christ in the way they think.

3. The wonderful promise that the God of peace will be with you.

1. By putting into practice the spiritual duties and exercises detailed in Philippians 4:4-9 we will know the presence of the God of peace. I am sure that you are more familiar with the concepts of  ‘the God of love' and ‘the God of all grace' than you are with the God of peace because you have heard more sermons and participated in more studies that deal with the first two concepts than the third. Yet in all the Scriptures God is specifically designated "the God of love," and "the God of all grace" only once, yet five times He is called "the God of peace."  Why does Paul in Philippians 4:9 use the title the God of peace? Before we can answer this question we need to ensure that we understand the meaning of the title ‘God of peace.'
   
   
2. The title God of peace tells us that peace is part of God's very essence in the same way that love is. God and God alone is the source or the fountain of all peace. Our relationship with God is a covenantal relationship and in Isaiah 54:10; Ezekiel 34:25; 37:26 the everlasting covenant is specifically called the covenant of peace. Jesus is called the Prince of Peace in Isaiah 9:6 and at his birth a great multitude of angels sang: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" (Luke 2:14) What is the covenant of peace made between God the Father and God the Son? Listen to A. W Pink, ‘In that covenant Christ stood as the representative of His people, transacting in their name and on their behalf, holding all their interests dear to His heart. In that covenant, in compliance with the Father's will and from His wondrous love for them, Christ agreed to enter upon the most exacting engagement and to undergo the most fearful suffering in order that they might be delivered from the judicial wrath of God and have peace with Him, that there might be perfect amity and concord between God and them. That engagement was faithfully discharged by Christ, and the peace which God eternally ordained has been effected. And in due course the Father brings each of His elect into the good of it.'  The salvation secured by Christ Jesus came from the heart of God, who is a God of peace. Through Christ Jesus you are reconciled to God therefore you have peace with God. God sent his only begotten Son to secure and provide peace between God and his people. Listen to the tender words of God towards his people expressed in Jeremiah 29:11, ‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.' God's thoughts are thoughts of peace towards his people who are stubbornly rebellious. God desire is for his people to know true peace.
   
   
3. Now we can return to the question: ‘Why does Paul in Philippians 4:9 use the title the God of peace? From verse 4 Paul has been instructing believers in the church at Philippi on how to restore the unity, peace and harmony of the congregation disturbed by the dispute between Euodia and Synthyche. Look at the instructions he has given them:
   
   Rejoice in the Lord - celebrate the fact that you have peace with God through Christ.
   Show gentleness to all - respond towards others in a way that promotes peace.
   Be anxious about nothing - enjoy the peace of God guarding your heart and mind.
   Think about godly things - enjoy the presence of the God of peace.
   
   Paul's great desire is for believers to recognise God's continual presence with them, and that they remember that he is the God of peace. Who is with you? The God of peace in with you, and he is the only one who can give you peace because he is the source of peace and he is sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. Your circumstances may look grim and dark and living in them may be difficult, but if the God of peace is with you then you must have the peace he gives filling your heart and mind with joy, because he is in control.

Conclusion.

Paul in Romans 15:33 gives this blessing; ‘Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.' Paul asks the Lord to bless believers by knowing and experiencing the presence of the God of peace. When we come to salvation in Christ we are overwhelmed by the experience of knowing the God of love who saved us by his grace. As we live the Christian life we ought to be overwhelmed by experiencing and knowing the God of peace irrespective of our circumstances. Believers can find refuge under the wings of the Lord because he is the God of peace. Unbelievers have no place to find refuge and the God of peace is not with them. Remember their plight as you rejoice in you privilege of finding refuge under the wings of the Almighty.