Sermon: Wittenberg Academy – September 12 - 2023

12 Sep 2023

Text: Phil 4:1-23

In the name of + Jesus.  Amen.

St. Paul wraps up his very short letter to the Philippians with so much advice and counsel that it is impossible to reflect on all of it in one sermon.  In some ways, it reads like the Book of Proverbs: short bursts of wisdom borne from the Holy Spirit and recorded for us in the timeless form of the Scriptures.

And yet, the apostle’s advice is very practical – even calling out a couple of quarreling church members by name and urging them to “agree in the Lord.”  And really, this “in the Lord” is the theme of all of Paul’s encouragement in this chapter and in this book.  For we live in a fallen world in fallen flesh.  We do have disputes and conflicts, both within the church, and with the outside world.  But Paul urges us to remain “in the Lord,” to ponder the meaning of the Incarnation of Jesus – and not just in a theological sense, but to consider and meditate on what does the coming of God in the flesh mean for me here in the turmoil of this life?

Paul teaches us to “rejoice” – in good times and in bad times, in want and in plenty, whether we are “brought low” or if we “abound.”  In fact, we are to rejoice “always.”  But the only way to do this, dear friends, is to rejoice “in the Lord.”  When we consider that “the Lord is at hand,” this makes our squabbles and complaints, and even our major struggles – fade away.  “The Lord is at hand.”  He has come into our world in the flesh.  He has redeemed us at the cross.  He has destroyed death, the devil, and the powers of hell. And He is “at hand,” He is coming again soon.  And at the same time, He is “at hand” in His Word, and in the Sacrament of the Altar. 

Our very thoughts should also be “in the Lord.”  While the world suffers anxiety and stress and unhappiness and irredeemable conflict, Paul urges us to be content and rejoice “in the Lord.”  The world eases its anxiety by ignoring the cause of it, and masking the symptoms.  But we deal with these matters for what they are: sin.  And we deal with sin “in the Lord,” by the cross.  And so instead of temporary feel-good distractions and escapes from our brokenness, instead of the world’s approach of masking the cause of our sorrows, we can find true peace by pondering only those things that are “true… honorable… just… pure… lovely… commendable… [things of] excellence… worthy of praise.”  St. Paul advises us to “think on these things” – and such thoughts, dear friends, lead to “practice.”  And when we “practice these things,” we have peace instead of anxiety, for we have the promise that “the God of peace will be with you.”  This is what it means to be “in the Lord” as opposed to being in the world.

And as St. Paul promises us by means of the Spirit: “My God will supply every need of yours according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.”  And, dear friends, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  

Amen.

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.