As often happens with preachers (myself included), we give all kinds of exhortations that do not mean anything until you flesh out the details of what they mean. For example, I end some letters writing, “Press on.” And this is a fine way to speak, but what does it mean? How does one press on? What does “pressing on” entail?
Other phrases that we use without thinking much about it them are “kingdom of God” and “glory of God.” That is why I have dedicated much time to try to flesh out what each of these mean.
Paul uses one of these kinds of phrases in this last chapter of Philippians. He tells them to “stand firm in the Lord” (4:1). Now, to that, I am sure that we all want to say, “Amen.” But the problem with many professing believers is that they are lacking in this. Many are not showing perseverance in the gospel. But this is the course for us if we are genuinely born again. Remember Paul’s writing to the Corinthians? “Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand [there is our phrase], by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:1-2).
Paul warned the Corinthians that the faith they professed might not be saving faith if they did not continue to stand and hold fast the word that was preached to them. Their “believing” would be pointless because it wasn’t genuine saving faith.
This phrase “stand firm” then seems to be an important one for us to grasp and obey. But what does it mean? Does Paul simply command it and leave us to figure out exactly what he is talking about? No, he doesn’t. In fact, I believe that chapter four of Philippians is an explanation of what “standing firm” in the Lord encompasses. It is Paul’s list of things that should be present in the life of a believer.
I believe this for a couple of reasons. First of all, the word “so” in the New American Standard Bible is a word that always points us forward. It is one that is hard to translate into English, but is probably best literally translated, “thus.” That is to say, “in this way” (see note 1). It is the same word that is translated “so” in John 3:16 as John writes, “God ‘so’ loved the world that he gave his only Son.” That is to say that God loved the world in that he gave he only Son.
Secondly, the commands that follow seem to fit with the idea of perseverance that is established in verse one. For the commands are aimed at an attitude that should that should bring about the details of what it means to stand firm in the Lord.
So what does Paul reveal to us concerning what it means to stand firm? He gives us a list of five things that I want to exhort us on to this morning, believing that they are crucial if we are to stand firm in the Lord.
First of all,
He does this first by pleading with individuals who are not presently living in such a manner. He specifically points out two women, Eudoia and Syntyche, who were probably in a lasting argument about something. Paul urges them to “live in harmony in the Lord” (v. 2). Then he asks the person who received the letter to help these women. They were not bad women. Paul writes that they had even shared in the cause of the gospel.
In the same way, we need to be in harmony and like-mindedness with one another. There is no reason why we should not be like-minded in our fundamental aim, which is the gospel. Therefore, as we saw from the first chapter, strive for fellowship in the gospel. Strive for harmony with others in the body of Christ.
This never means that you sacrifice the truth of the gospel, but on lesser things (petty disagreements), we should put them behind us for the sake of the advancement of the gospel.
Remember this always, for just as these two women who were once struggling with Paul in the gospel weren’t immune to unjustified strife, neither are we. And it doesn’t mean that to do this means that you will never hurt. You will in fact hurt. But nothing you can forgive will compare to what has been forgiven you. So strive and fight with God’s strength for unity and harmony with your brothers and sisters. It is hard and it will involve fighting within yourself, but that is why our church covenant reads that we will work and pray for unity among the members of this body. It is a work that we are committed to.
Second,
But he doesn’t just say to rejoice. He commands them to rejoice in the Lord always. And then for emphasis, he writes, “And again I say rejoice” (v. 4).
This is something that we should always do, no matter the circumstances. For Paul did not say, “Rejoice when you are able.” He said, “Rejoice … always.” We are commanded to always rejoice.
Now, in one sense this is hard, and I will deal with that in a second. But in another sense, it is almost embarrassing that we have to exhort each other on to rejoicing in the Lord. For do we not realize that our sins are forgiven? If we live to be as old as ninety, it is still nothing in comparison to eternity. And our eternity is secure if we know Christ as our Lord.
Michael Card words it well in his song “The Edge,” writing, “I am the richest man though I must beg for bread, for the very one who might condemn has called me friend instead.” Amen.
If this doesn’t bring you joy despite your circumstances, then you have either failed to realize our former position in sin and under the eternal wrath of God or you have failed to meditate on the glory that we now share in and will for all eternity.
And we are to rejoice in the Lord. He is our ground. I know that rejoicing is sometimes hard, but herein is the key. We find the strength for rejoicing by looking to the Lord. It is Nehemiah 8:10, “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” Your strength for rejoicing is in the joy of the Lord.
That’s why the fight to stand firm in the faith is a fight to see God for who he is. For unless we see that, we lose sight of our ground for rejoicing. And when that occurs we are bound to live disobedient to the command Paul gives us in Philippians 4:4.
Rejoice always, and again I say rejoice.
Third,
The idea here is that we should be known for not having a spirit of contention or one that is self-seeking. We should be known for not wanting to be argumentative and for wanting to exalt the needs of others. We should not be self-promoting.
Do not be known for wanting to show off how great you are in front of others.
Paul gives us a motivation for not wanting to live a self-promoting, arrogant lifestyle. He tells us that the “Lord is near” (4:5).
There are two ways that one can take this verse. First of all, he could mean that we should live this way because the Lord’s return is near. That is to say, “Hey live this way because this is how you want to be living when Christ comes back.” And that is a good and fine way to think. However, there is a second way to understand what Paul is saying, and I think that it is a better one.
We can understand that in Paul saying “The Lord is near” that he is meaning it spatially. That is to say, the Lord is present, or at hand, or in our midst. And this is true. For where two or more are gathered in his name, he is there in the midst of them.
So Jesus Christ is with us as we live. Therefore, if you were standing in a room with Jesus standing there with you, would you show off how great you are? No way. Instead, you would fall on your face and realize that you are nothing—especially is the presence of the Lord.
Well, this is the exact situation. The Lord is near. He is present. So live a life that strives not to exalt yourself but longs to be others-exalting, gentle, and patient.
Fourth,
Paul writes, “Be anxious for nothing, 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 comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (v. 6-7).
We’re to be anxious about nothing as Christians. Isn’t that a high standard? Some of you might respond saying, “No, it isn’t a high standard; it’s an impossible one. It cannot be done.”
But we say that, I believe, probably because we have ignored the solution to anxiety. For we are not simply commanded not to be anxious and nothing more. We are commanded not to be anxious but to pray. Pray about everything. My dad has that exact thing written on a piece of paper by his computer.
This means that the solution to anxious thoughts is to actually take time and give your burdens to the Lord in prayer. Yes, it takes time, but we need to take that time. We need quiet, solitary time before God each day, and part of that time needs to be time when you let him know your anxious thoughts and give them to him.
Paul doesn’t deny that anxiety will come, but he tells us how to deal with them. And as we deal with them in giving them to God, I think we will begin to see what William Cowper wrote about in his hymn, “God Moves in Mysterious Ways.”
“Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds ye so much dread Are big with mercy, and shall break In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust him for his grace; Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour; The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err, And scan his work in vain; God is his own interpreter, And he will make it plain.”
Be anxious for nothing; pray about everything.
Finally,
That is surely what Paul is getting at as he writes, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things” (v. 8).
What Jesus pinpointed in his sermon on the mount was that issues of sin and holiness start in the heart. That’s why he pushed beyond adultery to lustful thoughts and beyond murder to thoughts of anger. If we want to live holy lives, we must think holy thoughts. Is that not what Paul is saying is Romans 12:1-2?
Every thought must be taken captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Everything that comes into our minds must be removed or transformed to think of that which is excellent and holy. If your mind is not filled with these things, your life will not reflect them.
And again, Paul resorts back to modeling the Christian faith, writing in verse 9, “The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you.” O that all of us could say, “Think and be about what I was about when I was among you” to everyone whom we are with.
May we live consistently holy lives. May we stand firm. I know these things are nothing new, but they must never be lost in your heart and in your lives.
Amen.