Bible Passage: Philippians 4:4-7
Pastor: Joel Jenswold
Sermon Date: December 15, 2024

Bulletin December 15, 2024

In the name of, and to the eternal glory of, Jesus,

This past week I heard about something I had never heard of before.  I learned what a “blue Christmas” is.  I am not referring to the famous Elvis Presley song.  I have heard that before!  I am referring to what some churches call a “blue Christmas service.”  This is a special Christmas worship service for people who are especially struggling with sadness at this time of year, maybe the sadness of loss of a loved one, or sickness, or loneliness.  The service is often held on December 21, the longest night of the year.

The presence of such services evidences a reality.  This time of year can be difficult for many.  I don’t know if this is mere coincidence, but I thought the other day that I have been seeing more ads on TV for behavioral health clinics.  Maybe I just never noticed them before, or maybe mental health professionals know that many will struggle with sadness and anxiety at this time of year.

I suspect some, if not many, who will hear this sermon today are among those who are struggling.  Now, I am not going to be so naive and simplistic as to suggest that hearing this sermon today is going to make all depression and anxiety instantly go away.  But there is comfort to be found for the depressed and the anxious in this simple Advent message:  The Lord is Near!

The Lord is near. (v. 5)  That little statement of Paul is tucked right in the middle of our text today.  And on either side of it, Paul has placed applications, or ways this simple truth affects us as Christians.  The first of these ways is found in verse 4.  There Paul says, Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again:  Rejoice!  One gets the sense that Paul feels strongly about rejoicing!  He repeats himself.  He realizes it, too.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Truth of the matter is, Paul has already used the word “rejoice” six times in this letter!  Paul is all about rejoicing!

I have heard that it is cruel to say to someone who is struggling, “Cheer up!”  Such counsel shows a lack of empathy and understanding.  Causes of sadness are deep and complex.  Care and cure goes beyond a single spoken sentence.  Is Paul being cruel?  Is Paul being clumsy in his care of souls? What of the Philippians who want to attend the “blue Christmas service”?

No.  Let’s read Paul carefully.  Paul has written, Rejoice in the Lord.  Paul isn’t giving them – us – some secular advice.  “Cheer up!  Things are bound to get better!”  Or the particularly bad bit of counseling, “Don’t be sad.  Remember, there are people who are worse off than you!” Paul centers his encouragement on the Lord!  Rejoice in the Lord!  Because he’s near!

Just before our text at the end of Philippians 3, Paul had reminded his readers that there are many in this world who are only concerned with the here-and-now.  Paul had said, Their mind is on earthly things. (3:19)  How depressing!  “Earthly things.”  Ugh!  Crime, murder, natural disasters, wars, drugs, violence, sickness, corruption, human trafficking, economics, politics.  Paul pivots from this, to Jesus.  But our citizenship is in heaven.  And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. (3:20-21)

Paul directs us to the Lord!  To the Lord who is going to come back from heaven.  And we know he will!  Because he came here 2000 years ago and he bought you.  He bought you at a frightful cost.  He purchased you from all sin, from death, and from the power of the devil.  Not with gold or silver, but with his holy precious, blood, and with his innocent sufferings and death.  You are bought and paid for by Jesus!  So he’s coming back for you.  And when he comes back, he is going to transform your lowly body.  At the resurrection. This body that gets sick and feels physical and emotional pain.  This body that feels loneliness and sadness and anxiety.  It will be transformed.  He is going to glorify you when he returns so that your body is like his glorified resurrection body!  Soon!  The Lord is near!  Soon the Lord will cry out, Behold, I make all things new! (Revelation 21)  Rejoice!  “Soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song!”

This nearness of Jesus gives us “gentle joyfulness.”  Let your gentleness be evident to everyone. (v. 5) This nearness of Jesus also gives us reason to pray.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (v. 6)  The word used in the text for “be anxious” literally means “to be separated and divided.”  Isn’t that a good way to describe anxiety?  Our mind just goes in a million different directions.  For me, it’s usually in the middle of the night.  I wake up and my mind starts to race and stress about 20 different things that need to be done.

Paul says when your mind starts going a million different directions, do ONE thing:  pray.  Bundle all those disquieting thoughts, all that anxiety about what needs to be done, and take it to the Lord in prayer.  You can do this in the middle of a stress filled day.  You can do this in the middle of a stress-filled, sleepless night.  “Oh what peace we often forfeit, oh, what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer.” The Lord is near!  Pray!

Paul concludes with a most-memorable picture.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (v. 7)  Christians living in Philippi had likely seen Roman soldiers standing guard many times and in many places.  Here Paul says that when we cast all our anxiety on him (1 Peter 5:7) in prayer, the peace of God will stand like a guard at our hearts.  Can’t you picture it?  “Halt!  Who goes there?”  “Um, it’s worry and anxiety.  Can we come in?”  “Go away!  I am Shalom!  I am peace!  I have been posted to guard this heart and mind by the Prince of Peace himself, Jesus!  You’re not welcome here!  Go away!”  Dear friends, the Lord is near!  Rejoice in the Lord!  The Lord is near!  Relax in his peace!

Amen.