First Presbyterian Church                                                                  Rev. Dr. Michael J. Imperiale

Salt Lake City, Utah                                                                                  December 3, 2006

“Emmanuel: A Sense of God’s Wholeness”

Philippians 4:4-9; Luke 3:1-6

Introduction

In the world of biblical thought and Christian experience, peace is not merely the absence of war or the easing of conflict. Actually, “the peace of God which transcends all understanding” is God’s gift to his people even in the midst of such struggles in this world. In the Old Testament, peace is a description of well-being, a holistic embrace of God’s loving presence in life together no matter what is happening in and around and to us. In the New Testament, peace is synonymous with salvation itself, salvation of the whole person, body, mind, soul, and spirit.

Peace in this world and in this life only comes through the saving relationship with God in Christ and in relationship to one another as a result of God’s peace in our lives. In this world and in this life, there will always be challenges to the peace of God in Christ.

The Inquisitor held up the forbidden book and called to his assistant. “Bring in the mayor and his family. Someone is studying the Bible in this house.” In the 16th century, Philip II sent the Duke of Alba to Flanders to stamp out the Protestants who insisted on reading the Bible in their own language. Anyone found studying the Bible was hanged, drowned, torn in pieces, or burned alive at the stake.

One by one, family members were questioned. Finally, when officials asked a young maid-servant named Wrunken, she boldly declared, “I am reading it.” The mayor tried to defend her, “She only owns it; she doesn’t ever read from it.” Wrunken chose not to be covered by a lie. “This book is mine; I am reading from it; and it more precious to me than anything.”

She was sentenced to die by suffocation. On the day of her execution, an official tried to get her to change her mind. “You’re so young and beautiful – and yet to die?” Wrunken said to him, “My Savior died for me. I will also die for Him.” As brick after brick was put in place trapping her inside the wall of the city, she prayed again and again, “O Lord, forgive my murderers.” Many years later, her bones were removed from the city wall and buried in the cemetery of Brugge.

In our own day and time, there are continuing and growing challenges to peace in the lives of God’s people. Twenty-three years earlier, Orson Vila gave up his medical career in Cuba to dedicate himself to preach the gospel among his people. In May of 1995, Cuban police surprised Pastor Vila at his home and took him prisoner. It was the latest move by Castro’s government to implement a new law designed to close down house churches everywhere. Over the previous four years, the Communist government permitted development of these house churches as a sign of religious freedom. Pastor Vila’s church had grown to over 2,500 members as did many other house churches. On seeing the unstoppable growth of new believers, the Castro government changed its mind. Many of the house churches refused to close down. Pastor Vila was sentenced to one year, nine months in prison.

After many demonstrations and international attention, he was released in March 1996 and placed under house arrest. Pastor Vila shared about his time in prison: “I am so thankful for the power of prayer,” he said. “I received strength from God and was never ill – no flu, no skin disease, no illness at all. And I had lots of opportunities to share the Gospel with my fellow inmates.”

Where does such confidence come from? How can the peace of God take hold in such dire circumstances? How do you and I respond when our faith is questioned, challenged, criticized, or dismissed? We may never have to face what many in the early church faced; or those during the Reformation era; or those around the world today (but don’t be to sure; the world is changing so fast; Christians are facing persecution with increasing frequency, even in the West).

I. Knowing Peace (vs. 4-7)

The apostle Paul and the Philippian church were no strangers to such struggles. Facing opposition on many fronts, Paul writes this great passage of God’s inspired word not only to that young Christian community but to us as well. How do you find, experience and know “the peace of God that transcends understanding?”

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: always rejoice!” When things are going well, rejoicing comes naturally. But when things are tough, what then? Rejoice, not in the difficulty itself, but in the Lord. Emmanuel, God is with us – our gracious Savior is right there with you. Hopefully, coming to worship each week reminds you and me, empowers you and me, encourages you and me to rejoice in the Lord always.

In rapid fire, Paul provides a pathway to peace. “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” This word gentleness is reminding us how Jesus reacted to those who gave him a hard time. There is an attitude of kindness where the normal or expected response is retaliation. As a follower of Christ, it is best to imitate Jesus when things are not going well. Let gentleness take over.

Then he says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Replace anxiety with prayer. Pray with petitions, requests and thanksgiving.

Some of you may have had a tough year. I know I have. You’ve endured your share of criticism; maybe lost a job; going through a rough patch in your marriage or family. As the calendar year comes to close, Advent and Christmas remind us of Emmanuel, God with us, the one who brings a sense of God’s wholeness, God’s well-being. Again we can realize that his purpose is bigger than our problems. He gives us the courage and power to overcome these kinds of problems. And I know that I grow through these experiences if I allow the Lord to help me grow. Praying with thanksgiving is an effective way to God’s peace.

II. Thoughts of Peace (vs. 8-9)

Paul concludes. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” God has given each of us a certain amount of energy, time, attention, ability, personality, interests, things that make our lives special. Why waste them on things that do not lead to God’s peace? Why not spend what we have on this list: true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable?

If you like to read, what are you going to spend your time reading? If you like music, what are you listening to? If you have an hour or two for TV, what do your watch? The Lord clearly wants us to pursue the good things in life and faith.

Paul even invites his friends to imitate him. “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

Evelyn Underhill was a wonderful Christian writer on the attributes of God, the mystery and privilege of knowing and worshiping God, and the amazing way that the Almighty works. “God works always in tranquility,” she noticed. Fuss and feverishness, anxiety, intensity, intolerance, instability, pessimism and wobble, and every kind of hurry and worry – these, even on the highest levels, are signs of the self-made and self-acting soul. The saints are never like that. God’s people, those who have come to know Christ and live in his hope and peace, his joy and love know better. They share the quiet and noble qualities of the great family to which they belong.

You and I can find God’s peace; you and I can know the God of peace by filling our minds and meditating on things true and noble, things reputable and authentic, things compelling and gracious; the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Putting God’s word into practice, God, who makes everything work together, will work in you and me his most excellent peace.

Conclusion

We come to the Table of the Lord this morning. In the broken bread and the poured out cup, we see the fullness of what God did for us to secure the peace. It’s not a fragile peace made with human conditions and selfish promises. It is a peace made certain for you and for me when we praise God for the gift of life, acknowledge our sinful state, ask the Lord to come again with his forgiveness, and accept the amazing, free gift of new life in Christ. The peace of the Lord be with you all.