PHILIPPIANS 4 AUGUST 23, 2016 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. We are aliens away from home. 1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. A call to unity. The plea to stand firm is to each individual as well as the group Thee believers are called my crown. Paul saw them as his reward o metaph. the eternal blessedness which will be given as a prize to the genuine servants of God and Christ: the crown (wreath) which is the reward of the righteousness He had a similar encouragement for the Thessalonians, o 1 Thes 2:19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy. Ever think of a brother in Christ as YOUR crown? Your investment in their spiritual life. Your walking alongside them during the struggles and temptations of life? Standing firm. There is need for consistency in unity. Agreeing on absolutes and living them without bending the truth or compromising. But there s trouble in river city. 2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. The exact nature of any trouble between these two women is not stated but hinted at earlier in the letter
Philippians 2:1 4 (ESV) 1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.. At one point these two women worked alongside Paul but something caused them to be contentious It s enough a concern that Paul pleads with his true yokefellow) KJV to help the women to settle their difference. o σύζυγος [suzugos /sood zoo gos/] 1B of a yoke fellow, consort, comrade, colleague, partner. Unity and peace is implied He then uses a common theme as a basis for resolution of many of life s events. REJOICING IN YHE LORD IS NOT ABOUT HAPPINESS. Rejoicing in the Lord does not remove the things that cause anxiety, rather it helps us to focus on the bigger picture. And Paul gives the instruction as present active imperative. Urgency. Up to each individual. Not a suggestion but a command. 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; Reasonableness - patience moderation John MdArthur: Spiritual stability requires resting on a confident trust in the Lord resting on a confident trust in the Lord. He says in verse 5, the Lord is near; then verse 6, so be anxious for nothing. What are you going to worry about when the Lord is there? If you understand who God is and if you believe Him and you believe in Him, then what are you going to worry about? He transcends every
problem. He transcends every difficulty, every test, every trial, every temptation. So the bottom line here is how much do you know about God and how much do you trust God? If you trust God, you will transcend your difficulty because you will understand who God is, you will understand the purposes of God, you will understand that God is still in control, and you will therefore be calm in the midst of your storm. Let s call this the virtue of faith. These are the virtues that make for spiritual stability peace, joy, humility, and faith. You trust God and you know He s in charge. 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. DON T PANIC!!! Prayer is the posture supplication is the asking 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. The promise is not that you are going to get what you want.the promise is that you will have a marvelous peace about it. o A peace that surpasses all understanding o An awesome peace It would seem then that the very decision to communicate with God made possible when the veil in the temple was torn is the foundation for peaceful lives. Prayer is an act of FAITH a confirmation that the power of the shed blood truly restores and redeems us Jesus warned about worry knowing that it compromise trust in Go Matthew 6:25 33 (ESV) 25 Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. PAUL S DETOUR TO SIN 8 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. Thinking. &.doing 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. CONFIDENCE IN GOD S PROVISIONS 10 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. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 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. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Paul defines times in his experience where there was great wealth or great poverty He doesn t endorse or condemn either But he does proclaim that he was strengthened in both circumstances by Christ
THANKFUL FOR SUPPORT 14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Paul doesn t beg, but presents a need and trusts God to provide BENEDICTION 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. 21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar s household. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Philippians Highlights There is great joy in observing others as they mature in the gospel A rich prayer life is essential Proclaim Christ without fear or contention. God doesn t need our help to be God. Our lives are not a race to collect stuff but to live steadfast in faith Christ is the supreme model of humility and selflessness. Christ is fully God and fully man Salvation is in the shed blood Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Jesus Christ is Lord. Our decisions should be salvation inspired to shed light There is one Christ, one life, one death, one resurrection, one eternity Each of us has a private race on uneven ground Don t hesitate to be a disciple or be discipled Be an example stand firm There is a marvelous joy in the LORD that flourishes as contentment if allowed The peace of God guards our hearts and minds We have alternatives to things of the flesh