Come What May: Joy And Peace In All Things

Philippians 4:4-13 ESV

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.  I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Pastor Luke Woo

The time between Christmas and New Years can be a time of worry and sometimes, depression.

The passage we are covering today should help us to navigate the New Year.

Exhortations of Joy

Paul tells us to pray more. To exercise our spiritual muscles. To follow in his steps in following the leading of God. But this is not a laundry list of to-do's, but rather a lifestyle. To live lives centered around God.

We are to tune into God' desires rather than our own. What does this mean? We end up chasing after things that we desire over God's desire. Our capacity for joy becomes limited to just those things we decide will bring us joy. A tunnel vision sort of effect. Failure to do this will make us idol worshippers, always chasing after things other than God. Find joy in the Lord. Rejoice in things that glorify God. Rejoice in things of eternity.

He repeats this in the negative. Avoid being anxious. Do not worry about those things that will not bring joy. Bring your troubles to God. Trust that God will take care of things. God is good, loving, and powerful. He will resolve things for the good. God is king over all things.

The type of prayer he commands us is one of thanksgiving. The heart of this prayer is one where we acknowledge God as loving and merciful. A father who loves to bless His children.

Paul's Example

Paul sets his life as an example. This letter was sent to the church of philipi. He was under intense persecution. They had been stripped, beaten, and jailed. From their jail cell, they were singing praises to God.

His joy comes from the churches being planted and growing. His focus is not on the chains, the convicts, or those persecuting him. It is upon God's work in this church and the people.

Paul's X Factor

Jesus Christ is the X behind Paul. He is the one who died and was punished for us. He is the one who gave us eternal life and a hope that will not disappoint.

The secret to being content in all circumstances is understanding that we have Jesus... and all other things of this world pale in comparison.

The mothers of Jesus: The wife of Uriah

Matthew 1:1-6, 12-17 ESV

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.   Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.  So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Genealogies were like a resume. It wasn't about what you accomplished or went to school. It was about from where you came. Matthew is trying to prove that Jesus is the Christ that is the Messiah. To the Jewish audience, he is trying to show the credibility of Jesus.

Our need for a savior

If that is so, why is the wife of Uriah here? Bathsheba, the beautiful wife of one of the mighty men of David. The sorry story of betrayal,  conspiracy, murder, and sin of David against one of his most loyal and best fighting men, Uriah. But why would this be on the resume of Jesus? It was a reminder. A reminder of the ways we sin and oppress. David, a man after God's heart, who is a point of pride of the Jews. He also needs a remedy for sin, just like many of us. It is to point to our mutual need for a savior.

Our need for a real king

King David was leading the nation through many victories and in wise judgement. And then suddenly, oppression and betrayal. We need good leadership. But everyday, we see bad leadership. Nations, governments, schools, police, and sports... It can be enough to make anyone reject any authority.

Final thoughts

We have an authority that we can rest and rejoice in. One who has power, but does not abuse it. A king unlike any other. He brings about the reign that we long for. One full of justice, peace, and dignity.

We are called to labor and long for Jesus. We are to actively promoting the cause of Jesus. Justice, truth, peace, and love. We are limited in power, but eventually Jesus' reign will come and all these things will come to fruition.

The mothers of Jesus: Ruth

Ruth 1:6-17, 4:13-17 ESV

Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food. So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.” Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.  And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”

So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord , who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Rev. David Skinner

What is it that you do? Here in the States, people want to know what you do. It is a large part of how people see you. For the Hebrews, they looked at genealogy. They didn't look at what you did, but rather your ancestors. It is rare for women to be listed in genealogy. But Jesus' ancestry makes reference to unusual women. Women of ill repute. From foreign women  to prostitutes. These are not your typical matriarchs.

The bitterness of Naomi

Naomi goes out to Moab with his husband and her two sons. Her husband passes away. She is left with two sons. They get married to some local moabite women, but they also die. The women are all left widowed. Naomi is left widowed and without any means of support in a foreign land among a foreign people. She tells people to call her Mara, meaning bitter. God has done this to her. She accuses Him of bringing this calamity upon her.

Ruth, the faithful one

Ruth is often overlooked here. But consider the faith of Ruth, she is refusing Naomi's offer to send them back to their families. Ruth is leaving behind a solid chance of remarriage and her family. She commits to going to Bethlehem with Naomi. Ruth has to become the breadwinner. She goes out to glean. But this is especially dangerous, since the Hebrews have a hatred for Moabites. She has no promise for protection or food or shelter.

Boaz

He is the kinsman redeemer. He has the right to purchase ancestral lands and property. He goes out of his way to protect and provide for Ruth. He must also have been surprised by the actions of Ruth to provide for her mother-in-law, Naomi.

Sacrificial love has great impact

Ruth and Orpah both love their mother in law. But only one of them willingly sacrifices their life for Naomi. Orpah turns back to her father's family and her people. Ruth is willing to sacrifice her safety, her comfort, the support of her family and her people. Naomi rebuffs the initial offer of support from her daughters in law. She's considering their comfort and lives above her own. Boaz gives up part of his reputation and resources to marry this foreign woman and redeem MoabiteNaomi cannot see the faithfulness of God

Ruth is the embodiment of the grace and love of God. Naomi may know God is good, but not existentially. We can picture as Naomi says that God has left her empty... Ruth in the background, clearing her throat. Has God really left Naomi empty?

Love breaks traditional and racial boundaries/divides

Ruth is a Moabite. She marries an Israelite. Interracial marriage... just asking for trouble, right? Blood is thicker than water... why are you moving away from your family and her people, Ruth? Ruth, a widowed foreign daughter in law, is better than seven sons... really?