Here in these verses are four challenges to deal with problems existing in the church family at Philippi, which are great for us as well! Chapter three concluded with the reminder of the all-sufficiency of the power of Christ to meet any and every problem in this life. In chapter four, Paul confronts a problem. Apparently there had arisen in the Philippian church some problems of disagreement or disunity. Paul now reminds them that the same power is available to solve every problem and settle every situation. The fact that there were problems in this church shows us that there are no perfect churches! All churches have problems because all churches have people.
1. THE CHALLENGE TO STAND FAST 4:1
What does it mean to “stand fast?”
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refuse to abandon one’s belief
Evidently the Philippians were “abandoning” their beliefs or “letting go” of some important things.
There are several areas where we are to be steadfast and persevering for Christ.
1. We are to stand fast in Faith.
* 1 Corinthians 16:13—Watch, stand fast in the faith.
We are to be alert to spiritual dangers. We are to be faithful to Christ and behave in a mature fashion. We are to be strong and courageous in the Lord.
2. We are to stand fast in Fellowship.
* Philippians 1:27—Stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.
Much energy is lost by infighting in the church. Satan has a way of getting Christians distracted by petty matters. Our priority is to be united in serving Christ and opposing our real enemy, Satan. It takes discipline for a church to stay focused on serving the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. We are to stand fast in Freedom.
* Galatians 5:1—Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Jesus came to set us free from the bondage of sin. We are not free to do what we want, for that would lead us back into slavery to our sinful desires. In Christ, we are free to live unselfishly. When we live sinfully, we are becoming entangled in the bondage of sinful habits. God did not intend that we use our liberty in Christ to destroy ourselves.
4. We are to stand fast in our Foundation in Christ.
* 2 Thessalonians 2:15—Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold what you have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. In spite of persecution and suffering, we are not to waver from the truth of God’s Word.
5. We are to stand fast in the Family of Christ.
* Philippians 4:1—Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
Paul calls the Philippians his “joy and crown.” They were trophies of God’s grace. The word for “crown” is Stephanos which was the victor’s crown of the athletes. The Philippian believers were the results of victory. The fact that they were his joy and crown shows that Paul’s ministry was a people centered ministry. He loved people and served them. He longed for and loved people dearly.
* 1 Thessalonians 2:19–20.… For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
II. THE CHALLENGE FOR UNITY 4:2
A church can have great power when its women are faithful prayer warriors. It can be a nightmare if they gossip and quarrel. Here are two good women that Satan got an advantage of and they became the gazing stock of the church. Euodia means “prosperous journey or fragrant” but her arguing was stinking up the church. Syntyche means “with fate or accident.” These two women were not getting along and Paul points it out.
* 1 Corinthians 3:3—For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and [a]behaving like mere men?
The German philosopher, Schopenhauer, compared the human race to a bunch of porcupines huddling together on a cold winter’s night. He said, “The colder it gets outside, the more we huddle together for warmth; but the closer we get to one another, the more we hurt one another with our sharp quills.” We need each other, but we needle each other. If we are not careful, in the lonely night of earth’s winter, eventually we begin to drift apart and wander out on our own and freeze to death in our loneliness. Christ has given us an alternative—to forgive each other for the pokes we receive. That allows us to stay together and stay warm.
There may be diversity without division, a difference of methods without a disunity of minds, and disagreement without a departure in fellowship. Subjecting to Christ and His Word will save the church from division and dissension. When there is disunity in the church, it hurts the testimony of the church for Christ. For this reason Paul urges these people and the church to be united in their thinking.
* Philippians 2:2—Fulfil my joy, that you be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
* Philippians 2:5—Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Peter and Paul addressed the issue of unity in other letters.
* 1 Corinthians 1:10—Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
* 1 Peter 3:8—Finally, be all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be courteous:
III. THE CHALLENGE TO SERVICE 4:3
One of the key reasons why people fuss and fight in the church is they are not busy serving the Lord. Paul tells these folks who are not getting along with one another to get busy for God. They are to serve or help the women that labored with Paul.
I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
We are called to serve, to help others, to labor in the church with the rest of the fellow workers. Service is part of being a follower of Christ.
He mentions, the Book of Life. What is this book?
* Revelation 20:12, 15—And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
The Lamb’s book of life is the record of all those who have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.
IV. THE CHALLENGE TO REJOICE 4:4
One of the best ways to extinguish problems in the church is to count your blessings and rejoice in the Lord. It’s hard to get mad when you are happy, isn’t it? Rejoicing is a great antidote for discouragement, depression, division, and disunity. In spite of our trials, we can still rejoice.
* Habakkuk 3:17–18 … Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: [18] Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Here the challenge to rejoice is linked with the challenge to quarreling saints to settle their differences. We are to be constantly, habitually rejoicing indicated by the tense of the verb. Christians usually are not rejoicing when they are in disagreement with one another. Disunity is a destroyer of joy. Paul tells us to Rejoice in the Lord always. In case we did not get the message he says, “Again, I say rejoice.”
Our knowledge and intimacy with Jesus Christ will lead to joy and is the key to rejoicing in the Lord. The joy that the Lord provides also gives us enough strength to face trials and suffering.
The joy of the Lord is our strength. Joy and laughter are good for your health. A November 15, 2000, article in Reuters News Service and CBS radio news submitted by Greg Asimakoupoulos stated: The old axiom “Laughter is the best medicine” holds true when it comes to protecting your heart, according to a study conducted by the University of Maryland in Baltimore. Dr. Michael Miller, who conducted the study, says that laughter releases chemicals into the bloodstream that relax the blood vessels. In addition, hearty laughter reduces blood-pressure and heart-rate. Miller, who is the director of the Center for Preventive Cardiology at the university, interviewed 150 patients who had suffered heart troubles and 150 who had not. Each patient was asked questions to measure their response in typical day-to-day situations. The results showed that individuals with heart problems were 40 percent less likely to respond with laughter.
Rejoice in the Lord always! And again I say, Rejoice!
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Source: Adapted from Rod Mattoon, Treasures from Philippians, Treasures from Scripture Series (Springfield, IL: Rod Mattoon, 2004), 199–208.
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