Philippians 4: 1-9: The God of Peace

Welcome to Wondercafe2!

A community where we discuss, share, and have some fun together. Join today and become a part of it!

This peace is a promise ----here

e verse was Philippians 4:6-7, which says “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God that transcends all understanding will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.”

The word WILL here is a promise ----it doesn't say Might guard --or Could guard --it Say WILL Guard ----anywhere you see this word WILL --connected to what God will do ----it is His promise to His people -----


Strong's Concordance
phroureó: to guard

Usage: I guard, keep, as by a military guard.

to protect by guarding, to keep, i. e. in close connection with Christ, Philippians 4:7; τινα εἰς τί, by watching and guarding to preserve one for the attainment of something

Notice what it says ---IN Close Connection With Christ -----this peace is for people who are in Christ but who have a Close connection to Him ------and if you have qa close connection with Him you will pray with Thanksgiving -----as Thanksgiving is very --very Important with prayer -----
 
Agreeing with @unsafe that promises are made in this passage:

1. The peace of God that surpasses all understanding

2. The guarding of our minds and hearts in Christ Jesus

Both of these promises are significant. But what I don't see is any assurance that God will respond to our specific requests. Yet we are instructed to make those requests to God. I wonder why? Does God want to know everything that is in our hearts?

Also agreeing with Unsafe about prayers of thanksgiving.
 
I think that I feel/have felt that peace when lying in the arms of someone I loved very deeply. I have buried two of them, have tentatively found the third. Soul feels nourished, time stands still, no talking is involved.
What other times make us feel that our souls are nourished and time stands still?

Music comes to mind. Watching a sunset, too. Or a campfire or a lake.

Laughter and deep connection with others.
 
But what I don't see is any assurance that God will respond to our specific requests.

God already knows what your going to pray for before you pray it ------he also knows your motive for praying and He knows where your heart is before you pray -----

This comes under how to get answered prayer ------You have to pray God's Will and He Will respond ------all promises of God are His Will for His Children ------

So if your praying your will and your desire----- God will not answer your prayer -----

From Google
Praying for God's Will1 John 5:14-15 says, “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.
And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
There are quite a few stipulations in scripture to get answered prayer -------
8 Basic Requirements for Answered Prayer
  • Approach God with deep submission. ...
  • Have faith. ...
  • Go with boldness and confidence. ...
  • Pray in Jesus Name. ...
  • Have the right motive. ...
  • Forgive those who have done you wrong. ...
  • Ask according to God's Word. ...
  • Be directed by the Holy Spirit.
Mark 11:24
AMPC
For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it].

So as soon as you Pray God's Will for you ---believe you have it already ---as God who knows what your going to pray for before you pray your request --he has already answered it ----
 
I have often thought it would be worth talking a look at Jesus and prayer (i.e. how He prayed) sometime. I started putting some thoughts together a few years ago for a study group or thread.

We have the prayer Jesus taught, the seven last words from the cross and so on. Luke's gospel in particular often has Jesus going off to pray in solitude.
 
I started putting some thoughts together a few years ago for a study group or thread.
I like the idea. Depending on how you wanted to play it, it could be a thread in R&F, a study group, or even a BPoTW series. The fairly tight theme would probable make for a good study group but a thread could be more wide-ranging.
 
I like the idea. Depending on how you wanted to play it, it could be a thread in R&F, a study group, or even a BPoTW series. The fairly tight theme would probable make for a good study group but a thread could be more wide-ranging.
One source tells us there are 38 instances involving Jesus and prayer in the New Testament. It depends how you count them up, I'm sure, but this could be quite the project to tackle. :D
 
My view on Philippians 4:1-9

This first part of this Scripture is showing us -----What Christians Are to Do ------

They are to be with one mind in Christ -----they are to stop any disagreements within the Church and bring unity and peace to the Church as a whole ---

So we see in this Chapter that 2 women are at odds with each other -as it appears to read that way ----but what they disagreed about is not mentioned ----so to me this says God didn't deem knowing what this dispute was Important -----but what was important to God is to show that disputes of any kind are to be resolved quickly and unity is to perivale -----

Euodia and Syntyche are out of sync with the mind of Christ and it is affecting the whole Church ---so Paul is in prison and so this disagreement had to be bad for Paul to hear about it and address it as he did------

People who call themselves Christians are to be of 1 mind in Christ ------they are to rejoice in the Lord ----they are to let their gentleness be evident -----they are to be anxious for nothing ----they are to pray with thanksgiving in all situations so God's peace Will guard their hearts and mind in Christ Jesus -----they are to put whatever is true ---noble---- pure --right ---lovely and admirable into practice -----and God's peace will be with you -------

This is for us today as well -----all who are in Christ Jesus are to put into practice all of these things ----as small conflicts and strife in the Church can ruin the whole Church ----which is bad for the soul -----
 
@unsafe
What would "peace and unity in the church as a whole" look like these days?

This question is for others, too. What do you think?
 
Does peace and unity mean we must agree on everything or can we still have diversity of opinion?

What is the bare minimum we must agree on and still be able to call ourselves Christians?
 
Does peace and unity mean we must agree on everything or can we still have diversity of opinion?
Agreeing to disagree and still work together on common causes is still peace and unity, so yes.

What is the bare minimum we must agree on and still be able to call ourselves Christians?
That Jesus matters. Whether you think that he is the core myth of the tradition or a real, historical incarnation of God or a prophet anointed by God or whatever, even some combination thereof, I think that to call yourself Christian means that Jesus Christ matters to you in some profound way. After that, there's plenty of room for discussion and disagreement.
 
What would "peace and unity in the church as a whole" look like these days?

My View
I think in these days peace and unity in the Church as a whole must present or cultivate the same Qualities as Christ -----Humility --Gentleness ---Agape --Patience ---be energized and motivated to share the Gospel and help others stay on the right path ----

Does peace and unity mean we must agree on everything or can we still have diversity of opinion?

2 Tim says this ------

2 Timothy 2:23-25

Amplified Bible​

23 But have nothing to do with foolish and ignorant speculations [useless disputes over unedifying, stupid controversies], since you know that they produce strife and give birth to quarrels.

24 The servant of the Lord must not participate in quarrels, but must be kind to everyone [even-tempered, preserving peace, and he must be], skilled in teaching, patient and tolerant when wronged.

25 He must correct those who are in opposition with courtesy and gentleness in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and be led to the knowledge of the truth [accurately understanding and welcoming it],



What is the bare minimum we must agree on and still be able to call ourselves Christians?

The word Christian today has been downplayed and doesn't mean the Same as it did in Biblical times -Believers were called Christians back then -----so to be called a Christian today in my view which is the same as in Biblical times is that you must have Faith in Jesus Christ who is Lord and who One has accepted in their heart which ensures their eternal life -----so agreement must be on that -----
 
God already knows what your going to pray for before you pray it ------he also knows your motive for praying and He knows where your heart is before you pray -----

This comes under how to get answered prayer ------You have to pray God's Will and He Will respond ------all promises of God are His Will for His Children ------

So if your praying your will and your desire----- God will not answer your prayer -----

From Google
Praying for God's Will1 John 5:14-15 says, “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.
And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
There are quite a few stipulations in scripture to get answered prayer -------
8 Basic Requirements for Answered Prayer
  • Approach God with deep submission. ...
  • Have faith. ...
  • Go with boldness and confidence. ...
  • Pray in Jesus Name. ...
  • Have the right motive. ...
  • Forgive those who have done you wrong. ...
  • Ask according to God's Word. ...
  • Be directed by the Holy Spirit.
Mark 11:24
AMPC
For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it].

So as soon as you Pray God's Will for you ---believe you have it already ---as God who knows what your going to pray for before you pray your request --he has already answered it ----

Imagine all the above as part of what we don't know, and folk declare they will step in for you as they know it all! Yet, those that take this stance will say there is no unknown factor that could deter their leadership ... and thus questions open up ...

In the bible we are told to question everything and yet in church the leader will often tell you; "not to question their authority"!

When questioned by temple authority Jesus is said to counter with a question about their authority. That authority declined and thus it went down ... in a tome rarely read into by those finding authority in an expression of chaos! What to believe? We just don't know without a lot of observation, a science in its own rites!

A ruse of irrational fear? Insecurity for a mass continues ... alas denied, so as to wear a masque! Thus mute wishes ... diabolical eh (A')?

After Alef and Bet do mores follow; pluralized additions?
 
Last edited:
Got a citations for that. I don't recall any passages that explicitly say that though, as always with The Bible, there's probably passages that can be read that way. :unsure:

How about Thess 5:21 ... it always fascinated me along with that verse about a little whine ... is good for the soul! Now we Wahl out in harmonious discord! There are those that will not run with it ... ecclectic?

Then our service yesterday presented the matter of the great marriage ... raising questions about drinking it in with the Ayes ... letting down the blind vu's ... all was left was the feeling and orge to get out quick ... Freud's Martyr Scheme? So many word and so little broad based culture on the communications ... Avon was devastated ... by Avarice ... naked virtue? The gods say we can't have that ... or at least the representaives declare ... but can these understudies know 4 shore?
 
Last edited:
There are lots of commonalities between Thessalonians 5 and Phillipians 4

So much common thread that folk will complain when crossing threads after the spinning and weaving ... only to be clipped by those powerful merchants running off with the production! In the garden a demand for dressing fancy for the wedding even though all were invited ... even those so poor to be rye as a jay boid. Thus these people are entrained in a barrel ... captivated by the decision of going as you are or covering up?

If covering up for something is it the evidence of desire, want's and need's and no one understands why?

Here the devil steps into GEO Ghia ... like a bat out of hell on a hot summer night. It may be only a whine or Wahl ... but really? Is it not evidence of psyche activity although we are told psyche is a myth ... and thus that Jack Daniel's ballad about the power of strong spirits ... like that counter to power ... it can kill! Damn those dark ides as many resist due to terrors of the night ... in consequence .... life goes on because of dislike of ultimate relaxation and rest ... as may be all that is left after the rites of passage are completed. Did you pass???

As the Spook in The Wizard of ID stated: "What! I have to do it all again?" Ignore it is is all a figment of sole ... autonomously derived from nothing ... spontaneous is "the thing"! One can claim this when writing of alien interests and concerns about foreign stuff ... many cannot get over isolationism when initiated ... it is confining when injured in the process ... Lord what a brave stab at it! Like the shining edge of a long dark knife! What you don't know is like that and kind of Fam fey or ephemeral ... hard to figure ... but makes for a grand fabrication! This must be passae Don ... in sacred manner!

If only to give the chance to be ignorant of the reason of the story ... since everything can be rationalized down to nothing ... a weird point of comprehensibility! If you know something of it suppress it ... for powers hate it!


Salvador Dali??? The creator of that mystical White Horse ... in Santi ego EL Grandee? The spells may vary ... edits and cuts can be reductive ...
 
Last edited:
Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsh has a section on praying like Jesus means giving thanks for receiving what you need before you have received it, praying as though you believe you will receive it. Joel does a similar thing in thanking God for a harvest before it has been harvested.

Praying for or about something brings that issue to the whole of your brain or consciousness improving the possibility of success. Most of our thoughts form on one part of pur brain and the other half might not be aware of them.
 
Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsh has a section on praying like Jesus means giving thanks for receiving what you need before you have received it, praying as though you believe you will receive it.
Do you have a biblical reference for Jesus praying with thanks for something before He received it?

I can't think of one myself but that's not to say it isn't there somewhere.
 
Back
Top