Standing Firm in the Lord Pt. 1
Text: Philippians 4:1-7
Core Idea: If we want to press on, we must first stand firm in the Lord by having the same mind in the Lord, rejoicing in the Lord, and presenting our requests to the Lord. Then let’s do just that for when we do this, the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
INTRODUCTION
Well, we are currently going through the Book of Philippians – reflecting on what it means to press on with joy in all circumstances. And two weeks ago, we learned that Christians press on to take hold of Christ because Christ first took hold of us. Because Christ has made us His own, we will gather up our lives to make them focused on one thing – the supreme worth of knowing Christ. We will constantly think about Jesus, talk about Jesus, do all things for Jesus, do everything we can to deepen our relationship with Jesus, and do everything we can to become like Jesus. All that to say, Christians go through a radical reorientation of life – and we no longer live for ourselves but for Christ and His glory. Today, we’ll start looking at the final chapter of this book – and what you’ll notice is that Paul begins to get really practical. If Chapters 1-3 have been rich with theological truths of the gospel, in Chapter 4, Paul will help us apply that truth to our lives. Now, why is application so important? Why isn’t it enough for us just to know the truth? Why should we aim to live it out? Of course, there are many reasons but one of them is because Christians are meant to display the power of the gospel through their lives. Our lives (how we think, how we feel, how we behave, how we treat others, how we respond to trials and pain, how we handle success and power, and so on) are intended by God to be a showcase of just how transformative the gospel is – to show the world that the gospel truly has the power to change. Then let me ask you, “Are you being transformed today – or are you the same person as you were a year ago, five years ago, or ten years ago? Are you truly pressing on to know Christ, become like Christ, and live for Christ – or have you stopped running?” It really doesn’t matter how many times you’ve read the Bible or how many times you’ve heard heart-convicting sermons – if you’re not growing, there’s something missing in your relationship with God. Then, brothers and sisters, let’s not make the gospel to be just a Sunday thing. Let’s intentionally apply the gospel to the deepest part of who we are so that it will transform every aspect of our lives. So, with that in mind, please turn your Bibles to Philippians 4:1-7 – and let’s ask Paul to help us apply the gospel truth to our lives. Let me read this for us.
1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! 2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Amen. This is the Word of God for you today.
One of the things that we saw earlier in this book is that Paul wasn’t just a brilliant theologian and a passionate preacher but also an affectionate pastor – in that, he loved the Philippians. He cared for them deeply. So, it’s not surprising to see him display his affection for them again in verse 1 – calling them brothers and sisters, his joy and crown, and dear friends. You could clearly see how much he valued them. Now, if he could’ve, Paul would’ve written 20-30 chapters because I’m sure there was so much that he wanted to say to them – but he obviously couldn’t because it would’ve been too heavy for Epaphroditus to carry. But it seems like there was one more truth that he really wanted to drill in their hearts – one thing he wanted them to remember as they pressed on and fought the good fight of faith. Verse 1, “Stand firm in the Lord.” Paul was most definitely aware of the reality that the Philippians were facing. He knew that they were being ridiculed and treated unjustly. He knew that their possessions were being taken away. He knew that some were being imprisoned. And he certainly knew that their lives were now being threatened all because of their allegiance to Christ. In other words, Paul knew that being a Christian, living a life worthy of the gospel was not easy. In fact, he himself was writing this very letter from prison. And yet to these struggling Christians, Paul doesn’t give them a message of comfort but of challenge – calling them to never give up but to stand firm in the Lord because he knew that Christians were at war. Because the world hated Jesus and all that He stood for, he knew that pain and suffering would be inevitable for Christians. Then just as a soldier is commanded to stand their ground and defend at all costs, Paul was calling the Christians to be strong and courageous – to plant themselves in Christ so that they won’t get swept away by the storms of life. He was basically saying, “Stand firm in the Lord because the only way to press on and progress in faith is to be completely rooted in Christ.” Now, if you’re wondering, “How does standing firm (which sounds stationary) help us move forward?” think of a tightrope walker. No matter how skilled and experienced he may be, he does everything he can to stabilize himself before taking each step. It could be taking a deep breath, calming himself down, loosening up his muscles, slowing down his movements, balancing his feet, feeling the wind – whatever it is, he is planting himself firmly in order to take that next step. Then in the same way, if we want to make progress in our faith, we’ve got to have that stability – we’ve got to have things that will ground us so that we won’t fall when tribulations come. So, let’s learn from Paul today. Here are three things that will keep us stable as a rock:
· HAVE THE SAME MIND IN THE LORD
· REJOICE IN THE LORD
· PRESENT YOUR REQUESTS TO THE LORD
1) HAVE THE SAME MIND IN THE LORD
In Chapter 3, Paul warned the Philippians about the people who were dividing the church – the Judaizers who taught that gentile Christians had to be circumcised if they truly wanted to become part of the people of God and the enemies of the cross who tempted others to live in contradiction to the gospel. But here, in Chapter 4, we encounter a threat to the unity of the church that we probably wouldn’t have anticipated. Verse 2, “I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.” Here, Paul tells us that those who can break up the church aren’t just false teachers or those who compromise in their holiness but also faithful disciples of Jesus Christ who are in conflict with each other. According to Paul, Euodia and Syntyche weren’t new or immature believers. No, they were godly women who labored side by side with Paul to advance the gospel – which means that they knew the importance of unity. And yet something caused them to fight and quarrel – and their dispute was now affecting the whole church. How? It could be that their issue was distracting the whole church from doing what they were called to do. Or it could be that people were actually siding with them – causing the fight to become bigger than what it was and dividing the community. Either way, the matter became so serious that Paul had to appeal to them by name – and you could understand how shocking this would’ve been for these two individuals. Think with me. Euodia and Syntyche must have been sitting with the rest of the church listening intently to the public reading of Paul’s letter that they have been so eagerly waiting for. In fact, I’m sure they were being convicted and challenged by the gospel truths that were being taught in the letter. But what they didn’t expect was to hear Paul address them by name – pleading with them to resolve their conflict. Can you imagine what this would’ve been like for them? What would’ve been the reaction of others sitting around them? In fact, what if I did that today? What if I said, “Don and Wayne, I plead with you – stop fighting. Let go of your pride and have the same mind in the Lord”? Now, obviously, Don and Wayne are not in conflict with each other – they really do love each other in the Lord. But let’s say that there was a real tension in their relationship – and I had the audacity to identify them by name and address their issue from the pulpit. How would they feel? How would you react if you were sitting close to them? Now, if I were Euodia or Syntyche, I would’ve left the church because of shame and embarrassment. Then we can’t help but ask, “Why? Why did Paul do this?” Well, one thing’s for sure – it’s not because he wanted to humiliate them. How do I know? Because we saw how much Paul loved this community – and considering that Euodia and Syntyche served with him, his heart must have been utterly broken to hear that these two individuals that he dearly loved were standing against each other. Then there’s only one reason why he addressed them publicly – it’s because he cared for them and the church as a whole. Paul must have heard from Epaphroditus that this relational conflict was threatening the unity of the church and weakening the mission of the church. So, even though he knew that this would be incredibly difficult for Euodia and Syntyche, Paul had to address them so that they would no longer be a hindrance to the advancement of the gospel. But at the same time, Paul must have known that they weren’t able to resolve this on their own – which is why he called the Philippian church to help these women in verse 3. He was basically saying, “They can’t do this on their own. The issue is too deep. So, go and help them. Get involved. Listen to their stories, pray for them, and mediate for them so that they’ll be of the same mind in the Lord.” In other words, he was telling the church to make it their business. Of course, we must tread this with wisdom and sensitivity – but we must do this because we love them, because we want to see them flourish in their walk with the Lord.
Now, how is pursuing unity and being of the same mind in the Lord with others connected to standing firm in the Lord? Let me answer this by quoting from the book, The Meaning of Marriage. Pastor Tim Keller said, “Marriage has the power to set the course of your life as a whole. If your marriage is strong, even if all the circumstances in your life around you are filled with trouble and weakness, it won’t matter. You’ll be able to move out into the world in strength. However, if your marriage is weak, even if all the circumstances in your life around you are marked by success and strength, it won’t matter. You’ll move out into the world in weakness.” Isn’t that true? Then applying this to our context, I firmly believe that if we’re united in the Lord, if we are one in heart and mind, no matter how difficult life may be, no matter the trials and troubles we’re facing, we will stand firm and press on with strength. But if we’re divided, no matter how well we may be doing financially, numerically, or ministerially as a church, we’ll move out into the world in weakness.
Then let me ask you, “Do you ever see yourself as a potential threat to the unity of this community?” If you said, “No,” I invite you to reconsider because no matter who you are, we all have the potential to be a threat to the unity of our church. This of course applies to me as well. Because we are sinful, because we have our preferences and personal convictions, we can engage in arguments, disagree with one another, and even become judgmental in the heart. For example, we’ve been wrestling with the issue of complementarianism and egalitarianism as a church. And even though I prefaced each message by reminding us that this is not a gospel issue and that we should approach this with humility and understanding, it could become a source of division – “How can he think like this? Why is she thinking like that?” Then if we’re tempted to think this way, what do we need to do? How do we guard our hearts against this kind of attitude? Well, we should reflect on Philippians 2:5-8 which says, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!” In other words, we should look to Christ and imitate Christ. But at the same time, we should also ask for help. We cannot do this on our own – we need the help of others to overcome sin and grow in unity. Then we must realize that this community is a gift from God – the people you see around are not here to compete with you. No, they’re your brothers and sisters – co-laborers in Christ. They’re not here to destroy you but to build you up. They’re not here to shame you but to sanctify you. They’re not here to criticize you but to walk with you. Then don’t hesitate to invite them to help you – help you apply the gospel truth to your life. And of course, be ready to help when others ask you. Don’t be quick to say no but find ways to get involved in their lives and in their relational conflicts. Paul says in Galatians 6:2, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Then church, let’s stand firm in the Lord by living in harmony with each other. Let’s pursue and protect unity by resolving our differences and having the same mind in the Lord so that we will be effective in the mission that God has given to us. Let’s not allow our disagreements to rob us of the joy of laboring side by side for the advance of the gospel.
2) REJOICE IN THE LORD
Verse 4, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Now, this is not the first time we encounter the theme of joy as this is the 11th time the word joy or rejoicing has been used in this short letter. Clearly, Paul wanted the Philippians to be filled with joy in their hearts. Then what does this really mean? To understand and appreciate this better, we must first identify the ground of our joy. Here, Paul calls us to rejoice in the Lord – which means that the ground of our joy as Christians is not in the circumstances but in the Lord. That’s what distinguishes Christian joy from worldly joy. What the world typically calls joy is often derived externally – it’s dependent on our circumstances. So, when circumstances are favorable, when things line up to my advantage, when I look good in the eyes of others, when I prosper financially, when I’m comfortable, when I’m free from pain, I feel joy – I feel good. But when things don’t line up, when things go wrong, when my hopes are dashed, when my life is inconvenienced, when I’m criticized, when I encounter pain, when I encounter loss, I’m not so joyful. But let’s be honest – this kind of joy always fades away quickly because nothing is constant in this world. Every good thing will one day be taken away – which means that the joy that is dependent on circumstances will always be short-lived. Now, I do want to point out that I’m not in any way implying that to feel good when things go well and feel crappy when they don’t is wrong. No, that’s completely fine. I’m just saying that that is not what Christian joy is. The Christian joy that the Bible talks about is grounded solely on our relationship with God. In other words, our joy comes from the fact that we are recipients of God’s mercy and grace.
Then how does our relationship with God create this kind of unshakable joy in our hearts? Well, think with me. The Bible tells us that even before we existed, God decided to set His affection on us. Even before the creation of the world, God predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ. Not because we deserved it, not because we were better than others, but solely because of His love for us, He sent His one and only Son Jesus Christ to live the life we couldn’t live, to die the death we should’ve died, and to overcome the grave that we couldn’t have overcome so that we would be forgiven, born again, and transformed through Him. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “God made Him who had no sin [and who knew no sin] to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” And if that wasn’t enough, He has now given us the Holy Spirit as a downpayment of the ultimate inheritance that we will certainly receive when Christ returns. Then if this gospel reality occupies our minds, informs our perspectives, and becomes the lens through which we interpret our life circumstances, how can we not be filled with joy in our hearts? This is what it means to rejoice in the Lord. Our rejoicing is not dependent on circumstance but a sure reality that has been made possible by the gospel message.
This is really important to remember because it implies that Christian joy is not just an emotion. That’s part of it – but there’s more. Then think of it as an informed response of the entire person to the truths of the gospel – which means that it’s not just the way you feel but it also affects the way you think, speak, desire, and behave. It’s the kind of power that impacts your appetites, attitudes, and ambition. Christian joy creates hope when you feel hopeless, peace in the midst of chaos, confidence when there seems to be no way out, gentleness when you’re wronged, and even greater faith in the Lord when things don’t work out the way you desire. In fact, this is why we can rejoice even in our sorrow and pain. Then let me ask you, “Are you responding properly to the gospel you love so much? Is the gospel making an impact on the way you perceive and experience life? Are you intentionally making a decision to focus on Jesus and celebrate all that He has done for you today because that’s what it means to rejoice in the Lord?”
Now, let me prepare you for the week ahead because something is most likely going to happen this week that will shake the ground of your joy. It could be an argument with your spouse, a frustration with your child, a misunderstanding with your friend, a setback at work, a problem with your car, a leaking faucet, trouble with your health, an unexpected news that leaves you devastated, an incident that ruins your plan, your paycheque doesn’t come in on time, someone cutting you off in traffic, the package being delayed, a rude server at a restaurant – the list can go on and on and on. Then when that happens, how would you react? Would your joy quickly fade away or will you choose to still rejoice in the Lord? What will these unfavorable circumstances reveal about yourself? Will it prove that the source of your joy is truly in the Lord, or will it expose that the ground of your joy was always dependent on circumstances? Now, if these things do rob you of your joy, please don’t think that God is disappointed with you. He’s not standing there with His arms crossed and a look of displeasure. No, He’ll always have His arms wide open – ready to embrace you, comfort you, encourage you, inspire you, and challenge you to find joy in Him again. Why? Because He’s our loving Father. Don Carson writes, “Perhaps that is one of the reasons why the Lord sometimes allows miserable circumstances – to lash us so that we may learn this lesson. Whatever the mysteries of evil and sorrow, they do have the beneficial effect of helping believers to shift the ground of their joy from created things to the Creator, from the temporary to the eternal.” Friends, this text is a gift to us this morning. It’s a gift from God to help us reestablish our joy in Christ and all that He has done for us on the cross. Then I pray that you’ll do that today because this will help you stand firm in your adversity, challenges, and trials of life. If we do this, we may be pressed on every side, but we won’t be crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. May this be your experience today.
3) PRESENT YOUR REQUESTS TO THE LORD
Verse 6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” We find two commands in this verse (“Don’t be anxious about anything” and “Present your requests to God”) but they actually go hand in hand. In fact, together, they describe one reality – absolute dependence upon God. That’s what Paul is asking us to do – renounce all anxiety and cast everything upon God. Worry about nothing; pray about everything. Trust God and lean on God whenever you’re anxious. Now, what’s anxiety? Oxford Dictionary defines it this way, “A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease – typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.” In other words, we become anxious when the season of uncertainty continues, when we feel lost, or when we feel like we’re going to lose control – causing us to worry. “Am I going to get this job? What if my resume is not good enough? If I don’t get in, how will I support myself or my family financially? What if the economy doesn’t bounce back? What if this doesn’t go through or work out the way I planned? When will I find the ‘one’? What if this person is not the ‘one’? What will they think of me if I say this or do that? What if my children don’t turn out well?” So many questions run through our minds, and they weigh our hearts down. In fact, the word “to be anxious” in Greek literally means “to chop up the mind or to divide the mind into bits.” And sadly, too many of us are familiar with this kind of anxiety – in fact, some of us may be anxious even right now. Now, I do want to point out that there are some anxieties that are not primarily emotional and spiritual – there are some that are purely biological or physiological. So, if you’re in the latter category and struggling with deep anxiety, please don’t misunderstand Paul’s words – he’s not in any way minimizing your situation and nonchalantly saying, “Just pray more and your problem will go away.” No. In fact, if your issue is biological, it might be wise to see a doctor first because they may be able to help you in many ways. They may be God’s way of providing for you. But if you’re experiencing spiritual and emotional anxieties, you should carefully listen to what Paul has to say here because this is how we can be freed from anxiety.
Then how do we overcome anxiety? Prayer. The truth is that when we’re anxious, it exposes our hearts because it reveals what we actually believe about God. Pastor Tim Keller said, “Anxiety is just the opposite of peace. Peace is confidence and trust in God’s wise and good control over your life – which means that anxiety is really a lack of confidence in God.” So, for example, we might be anxious because we believe that God is not faithful – that He’s not powerful, wise, or loving. That’s what our anxiety causes us to think about God. In other words, we’re making a statement when we’re anxious – a pronouncement about the character of God. Then prayer does the opposite. When we pray, we renounce those lies because prayer opens our minds to see the unseen realities. When we pray, we’re reminded that God is orchestrating all things perfectly and that He has never lost control. When we pray, we’re reminded that God is for us and is with us – to know that He’s fighting for us and that He’s working for the good of His people. So, when we pray, we’re making the opposite statement of anxiety – “God, I believe that You are faithful – that You are rock solid dependable. I believe that You are powerful, wise, and most importantly loving because You are my father. So, I choose to rest in You.” That’s what prayer is. And here’s God’s promise to those who pray – verse 7, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” The word “guard” here is a military term. Then Paul was basically saying, “Make your requests known to God. Make them all known. Make them consistently known because God’s peace will station itself around your heart and your mind like an army to protect you from worry and anxiety. He will not allow anything to enter your heart and mind that may provoke anxiety.”
And if that wasn’t enough, Paul gives us another wonderful motivation to pray in verse 5 – he says, “The Lord is near.” Now, there’s division over how this should be interpreted. Some people think that it’s temporal (in that, Paul is referring to the Lord’s return – He’s coming back soon) while others think that it’s spatial (in that, Paul is referring to the Lord’s presence – He’s close to us). But for the sake of argument, we’ll take the latter meaning because the fact that the Lord is close to us should encourage and cause us to call on Him with confidence. Then, friends, are you wrestling with a major decision right now? Are you confused because you don’t know what to do? Pray because He is near. Are you tempted to despair because of unfulfilled desires? Maybe you’re single and that relationship hasn’t worked out. Maybe you and your spouse have been wanting to have a child but it’s not happening no matter how hard you try. Pray because He is near. Maybe you’re concerned about your child’s spiritual health. Pray because He is near. Maybe you’re concerned with your health or the health of your loved one. Pray because He is near. It’s amazing how any given day, every single day, in a matter of seconds, we could be paralyzed by anxiety because we’re playing out in our minds the worst-case scenario possible. But friends, this text is a divine interruption to that thought – which is why I encourage you to memorize this and preach this to yourself whenever you’re tempted to despair and worry. All of us are going to be tempted with anxiety. Then guard yourself with the Word of God – and pray for prayer drives out anxiety.
CONCLUSION
Lighthouse family, if we want to press on, we must first stand firm in the Lord by having the same mind in the Lord, rejoicing in the Lord, and presenting our requests to the Lord. Then let’s do just that this week for when we do this, the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1) Verses 2-3. Why is division in the body of Christ so dangerous? How do divisions within the church harm the church’s mission? What are some ways we can guard against sinful divisions and pursue unity in the church?
2) Verse 4. What does it mean to rejoice in the Lord always? What might rob you of your joy this week?
3) Verses 6-7. Are you anxious about anything right now? What about those things that make you anxious? What do you do when you are anxious? Why is it so hard to pray when you’re anxious? How does prayer bring peace to your heart?
4) Share and pray for each other