Stand Firm
Philippians • Sermon • Submitted
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· 4 viewsWe are to stand firm for the Gospel and labor side by side with each other.
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Welcome to part 1 of our study on Philippians 4. We will only be in the first 3 verses in this study and that will almost be the norm for us over the next 5 weeks so I think the most verses that we will be looking at at any time is about 5 verses. As we start a new chapter, I want to emphasize again what I said in our very first video in Philippians 3 that these videos are not designed to be exhaustive studies of what the Lord has to say in the book of Philippians. These videos are more of a springboard to your own studies so just supplemental and they shouldn’t replace your own quiet time looking over the things of God. Now that we’re in the last chapter, one might think that Paul is gonna start winding down his message, and in some ways he does, but for the most part, some of the greatest verses, if we want to make it a contest or whatever, are still to come in Philippians 4. I want to talk about 2 things in this study and those things are 1. We are to stand firm in the Lord and 2. We are to labor side by side with each other regardless of the cost. So, let’s go ahead and dive into Philippians 4:1-3. Paul writes,
Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 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.
Verse 1
Verse 1
Let’s look at verse 1. Once again, Paul is emphasizing the great love he has for the Philippians so we won’t dwell on that again. If you have been in youth ministry for any time at all, you have probably heard me or another pastor say, “when you see the word therefore in Scripture, you need to ask, ‘What is it there for?’” I think that when we get to the therefore in verse 1, we see Paul connecting all that he has said not just in chapter 3, but 1-3, to the statement that he is about to make in verse 1. At the end of chapter 3, Paul reminds believers of their future dwelling place. He reminds us that we are citizens of Heaven, that we should live out our lives emphasizing our allegiance to Christ in all we do, that we are to contrast greatly with the world, just as light is a complete contrast from darkness and that was just as the tailend of chapter 3. Think about everything else that Paul has said up to this point, think of his circumstances up to this point. All that he says and all that he is going through, his call for the Philippians comes down to Philippians 4:1 “Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.” I want to look at this from 2 angles quickly. The first is that Paul says that believers are to stand firm. Paul has just shown how the Church is being attacked on all sides. It’s evident by his own imprisonement, which he readily admitted in chapter 1 is because of Christ. The greater one’s allegiance to Christ, the bigger the target they’ll have on their back. I’ve said before the world will not care about the church that is not conformed to Christ. The world will care greatly about the church that resembles Christ in all that it does. So, we are to stand firm in the Lord. Not in our own strengths or wisdom, our ability to stand firm is only accomplished if we are standing firm in the Lord. Steve Lawson says that if the church is to stand for the Lord, they must stand in the Lord. Christians are to be like soldiers standing at the frontline, ready for battle. If one soldier abandons his post, that leaves an opening for the enemy. Each one of us is to stand firm in the truths of God. We are not to flee in the heat of the moment or at the strongest point of fighting, we are to say with Martin Luther, “Here I stand, I can do no other! So help me God.” The next angle that I want to look at this from is that each believer is to stand firm in the Lord. Our surefooting does not come from anywhere else. It doesn’t come from what other people say or think about us. It doesn’t come from what other people are doing. I’ll admit that one thing that I struggle with is comparing myself to other people, especially some of the ministry heroes that I have. This video is coming out on my 28th birthday and I’ll be honest, I often think about some of the people that I look up to and what they accomplished in ministry by the time that they were my age. I think of men like Jonathan Edwards who by 19 had resolved to live to the best of his ability a life that was worthy of the Gospel. He wrote his series of resolutions by the time he was in his early 20’s. I think of a man like George Whitefield who by the time he was 25 was preaching to about 650,000 people a month. When Whitefield preached, he would often speak to crowds that were more than double the population of the city that he was in. In England, they actually built churches that could seat thousands so Whitefield could preach. The things that God did through Whitefield were beyond extraordinary. Whitefield brought about revival that had not been seen since the days of the Apostles. Benjamin Franklin, who was not a Christian, was in awe of what Whitefield did. I think of someone like Charles Spurgeon who by 20 was the most famous preacher in all of England. Spurgeon would draw in such a crowd that they the New Park Street Chapel would be overflowing and they would have to rent out music halls to fit everyone in. By the time Spurgeon was 25, he would preach to almost 24,000 people at the Crystal Palace in London, the largest crowd that building had seen up to that point. I think of the success of pastors like that and I think, “What have I done in these years that the Lord has given me? Have I squandered what could have been the most productive years of my life?” But we aren’t to find our confidence in what others have done or are doing. I don’t stand firm in what Edwards, Whitefield, or Spurgeon accomplished in their life time. We’re to stand firm thus in the Lord and the Lord alone. I think of what Jesus said to Peter in John 21 when Peter asked Him about what would happen to John the Apostle and Jesus only said, “If it is my will that he remains until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” So, where am I going with this? Well what made Edwards, Whitefield, and Spurgeon so succesful? They stood firm in the Lord and the Lord alone. What makes a Christian “successful” if we want to use that word comes solely in the stand that they make for the Lord and in the Lord. So, we don’t try to measure up with whatever others are doing. We stand firm thus in the Lord, not in Spurgeon, not in Whitefield, or Calvin, or Luther, or Wesley, our salvation beginning, middle, and end, comes from God alone but our ability to stand firm thus in the Lord is only strengthened as we are united with others that are standing firmly in the truths of the Gospel and this brings us to verses 2-3.
Verses 2-3
Verses 2-3
Paul mentions in verse 2 of two women that are in the midst of some sort of squable and he urges them to agree in the Lord. Now amazingly, this is the only issue from within the church of Philippi that Paul addresses. He talks about attacks from outside of the church but this is really the only major issue that seems to be happening within the church but Paul knows that minor mole hills can turn into major mountains if left untreated. So, he urges these women to agree but he does more than just urge these 2 women, he calls the Church to work to help these women come to an agreement. I have seen so many battles happen within the church that could have been helped if the church worked together to lead those that were arguing into a Gospel-centered agreement. But I have also seen some situations be treated so poorly by those within the church that it has caused even more damage. I have seen people leave churches because of how poorly situations were handled. There is definitely a delicate balance that needs to be found when it comes to the church handling certain things. We are to labor side by side with each other for the Gospel. The Church was not meant to be a one man job. We as the Body of Christ labor together side by side with each other for the Gospel. In order for us to do this effectively, we need to love one another, we aren’t to leave this unsettled between each other. We are to pursue peace with each other at all costs. David Strain said of these 2 women, “They are destined for this glory Paul has been speaking of. They are citizens of Heaven. But they are not currently living like it. They are at odds with each other. Brothers and sisters, let me say to you that holding grudges is a shocking contradiction of your profession of faith. How long have you been tending the embers of some slight or offense, real or imagined, large or small, that some brother or sister has given you? How long have you been fanning the flames of frustration and anger? Paul says it’s time to let those flames die out. You need to practice unity. Extinguish the last embers of your bitterness and forgive one another and learn to be of the same mind in the Lord.” I understand that there is some real hurt that can come from those within the church. I’ve been hurt by people within the church, I almost left the ministry because of hurt within the church. But I won’t let that past hurt overtake me to where I lose sight of what really matters. We are to stand firm thus in the Lord and labor together side by side in the Gospel. Remember, no man is an island and no one person is the Church. We need the Church and even though those within the church may be ugly with you, it is our responsibility to agree together in the Lord. Now this doesn’t mean that we compromise in certain areas. If there is error in theology, I would certainly hope that we would strive to come to agreeance. But we agree together in love and if correction must be made, it must also be done in love. The church is not yet perfect and every single member of it, this side of heaven, is an imperfect person. We are going to argue, just as any siblings do, but as the church we come together to agree in the Lord so that we may be able to stand firm in the Lord and labor side by side in the Gospel together. Is it easy for us to get alone? Not always. But is it possible? Absolutely, through the strength that the Lord provides and through the love of His Church. Let’s go to the Lord in prayer.