Pastor Tim Patoka When the Lord Comes Near, He Humbles His Enemies
3rd Sunday of Advent December 12, 2021
The Lord Will Come and Humble His Enemies Philippians 4:4-7 1) The Lord’s Coming Brings Christians God’s Unsurpassable Peace 2) Christians Wait for the Lord’s Coming With Changed Attitudes and Actions As someone who has taught a number of lessons in a lot of different settings, I have found it interesting to notice how certain things can affect what happens in the classroom. You have the size of the class that changes what you do whether it be 5 students or 50. You have the age of the students to take into consideration, whether it be grade school, high school, or adults. And there’s also how much people want to talk about the subject that determines if it’s going to be a lecture, small groups, or a free-wheeling discussion. But one thing that cuts through every variable is how closely the teacher expects their students to follow the rules. And if there are behavior issues and the teacher needs to raise their voice or enact disciplinary measures, 9 times out of 10 it will be so quiet afterwards that you could hear crickets chirping. Everyone is going to be doing what is told and expected of them. While this usually humbles the unruly student, it brings comfort and relief to the student who has followed their teacher’s expectations. Relief in knowing that they have nothing to fear from the teacher and comfort in knowing that those who go against what the teacher says will pay the price. In many ways, we can see the same thing happening with God and what he expects of his children. What is it that the Lord will do when people go against his wishes to humble themselves through repentance before he comes near? For those who haven’t already humbled themselves, the Lord will humble them with his consuming fire and judgment to their everlasting shame. While this certainly sounds the warning bell for those who are opposed to Jesus, it is welcome news for we who believe. Because it is through the Lord’s coming to humble his enemies and deliver his enemies that we receive God’s unsurpassable peace that will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. And with this peace in place, we then live out our days until the Lord comes again with changed attitudes and actions. 1) The Lord’s Coming Brings Christians God’s Unsurpassable Peace When we earlier read these verses from Philippians chapter 4, you perhaps recognized the final verse where it says, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7 EHV) This is how I typically end my sermons where I remind you 1
Pastor Tim Patoka When the Lord Comes Near, He Humbles His Enemies
3rd Sunday of Advent December 12, 2021
what God’s peace will do for you before we proceed to next part of our worship service. And this peace that comes from God is certainly of far better value than anything we humans could ever think or conceive. For one, God’s peace is beyond our understanding in terms of its delivery, that is, how we receive it. It is solely through faith that we receive it, not by works of any kind. God’s peace is also incomparable with its effects, what it gives to us. We are completely forgiven and cleansed from our sins, with nothing to fear about God. God’s peace is also one of a kind because of its certainty. It depends on what Jesus and God, not on us. And on this 3rd Sunday of Advent, we learn how Jesus’ first coming at Christmas allows us Christians to look forward to his second coming with peace and joy. Because of our faith in what Jesus did for us when he came to this world, we have nothing to fear when he comes back to humble his enemies. That’s because we are not his enemies. Rather, we’re his beloved children who have his unsurpassable peace guarding our hearts and minds from every threat. Yet when you think of the Lord coming and humbling all his enemies, is there peace in your soul? Or is your heart troubled and your mind worried? Perhaps we have troubled hearts because we wonder if we will actually be counted among those whom God will humble. We heard in our Gospel how John the Baptist was calling people out who trusted in their family ties to Abraham and prescribing fruits of repentance to tax collectors, soldiers, and those with material wealth. Can we say that our lives are free from such correction? That our hearts are already humbled through repentance? Or perhaps we question God’s peace in our souls because our minds are filled with worry. Like me, you are probably concerned about some of your friend’s and family’s faith. When the Lord comes back, will he count them among his believing children or enemies who have refused to humble themselves? And the worry eats at us because we are afraid of what the answer actually is. While the Lord’s coming to humble his enemies is filled with judgment, it’s also filled with deliverance for his children. That’s why we can talk about God’s peace in the same breath as his coming to humble his enemies. Our troubled hearts are filled with peace because our sins have been forgiven by what Jesus did at his first coming. When he comes back, we know that we will be counted among God’s children, not his enemies. The worry in our minds is also replaced with God’s peace because we know that eternal judgment of those we are concerned about lasts in God’s all-knowing hands. He knows what is in their hearts far better than
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Pastor Tim Patoka When the Lord Comes Near, He Humbles His Enemies
3rd Sunday of Advent December 12, 2021
we do. And if we have tried to witness to them, then we know that God will not hold us responsible for their eternal shame. This unsurpassable peace from God continues to stand guard over our hearts and minds as a Roman legionnaire stands guard at his post. When we suffer the wrongs laid against us and the injustices out in the world, the Lord guards our hearts and minds by telling us that he will make all things right. Who better to deliver justice than the one who is both judge and jury? When we realize how much of what we hope for has yet to be seen, we again find our hearts and minds guarded. For he will vindicate our faith and show all the world what we only see through the eyes of faith. When we consider how the Lord will also deliver his children on that Last Day, we again have God’s unsurpassable peace guards our hearts and minds. For we have God’s guarantee that all of our pains and sufferings, trials and tribulations, will be gone when he takes us to be home with him in heaven. 2) Christians Wait With Changed Attitudes and Actions It is because of our faith in what Jesus did at his first coming that we have God’s unsurpassable peace guarding our hearts and minds both now and in light of his second coming. While we wait for that to happen, we learn how our attitudes and actions change in these current days. Instead of being apathetic or indifferent, Christians have a clear perspective on what actually matters, what we leave in the Lord’s hands, and a renewed urgency to tell all people about their Savior before the Lord comes and humbles his enemies. And there are three things in particular that the apostle Paul mentions – rejoice, be gentle, and be thankful in your requests to God. When it comes to rejoicing, we hear Paul say, “Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4 EHV) Besides being the theme of the book of Philippians, rejoicing is also the refrain of a Christian’s life. Even when our struggles overwhelm us and our days go from bad to worse, God’s peace remains ours and surpasses everything we could ever think about with its delivery, effect, and certainty. We have nothing to fear when the Lord comes back because we will be counted among God’s children, not his enemies. As such, we always have reason to rejoice. When it comes to being gentle, Paul writes, “Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. (Philippians 4:5 EHV) We gain a better 3
Pastor Tim Patoka When the Lord Comes Near, He Humbles His Enemies
3rd Sunday of Advent December 12, 2021
understanding at what Paul means when we define gentleness as “not insisting on every right of letter of law or custom [and can be translated as] yielding, gentle, kind, courteous, tolerant.” Instead of repaying an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, we are willing to turn the other cheek, give up our rights, and suffer injustice if it shows Christian love. While we don’t ask to be gluttons for punishment, we rest our hearts in knowing that the Lord is near. He will right all wrongs and repay those who mistreat and take advantage of us. When it comes to our requests to God, Paul teaches us, “Do not worry about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6 EHV) We offer up our requests to God in thankfulness instead of worry. As Jesus taught us in his Sermon on the Mount, God will provide for all our bodily needs. As such, when our eyes look to the future, we can be sure that God will continue to watch over and provide for us as he has in the past. Spiritually, we are forgiven and at peace with him. Physically, we have more than what we need. And so we go to God with our requests thankful for what he has already done and glad to receive whatever he will give us in the future. Concluding Encouragements Rejoice, be gentle, and be thankful in your requests to God. That’s how Paul describes our attitudes and actions as we wait for the Lord to come back and humble his enemies or deliver his children. The only way we can have such attitudes and actions is if we have God’s unsurpassable peace guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Such a peace requires faith in Jesus and what he did for us when he first came to this world. The one who was born in Bethlehem is the same one who died for our sins, freeing us from them and their eternal curse. And whoever has faith in Jesus has God’s unsurpassable peace both now and when Jesus comes near once again. As we wait for that day, let us rest in God’s unsurpassable peace that guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus and fill our actions and attitudes with joy, gentleness, and thanksgiving. And when we face hardships or injustices, let us look forward to what the Lord will do when he comes back – to humble his enemies and to deliver his children. Amen.
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