When I was a kid, I was part of the Awana ministry at Ardella Baptist Church in Lakeland. I loved Awana. Our church was usually really successful at the Awana Olympics. In fact, the winner of the local Awana Olympics usually came down to my church or Heritage Baptist Church.
One of the events at the Awana Olympics was tug-of-war. This was a unique tug-of-war, as the rope was sort of a square where four teams would pull from each side. My brother and I were usually on a team together for tug-of-war, and we were hard to beat because we were coached well. Our coach taught us to get low and wide so that we would have firm footing and be able to stand even though we were being pulled in multiple directions.
Friends, sometimes life pulls you in multiple directions, doesn’t it? How do you stand firm?
Today, we’re going to learn how to stand firm in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Before we do, join me in prayer as we ask God to speak to us.
(prayer)
Let’s look at verse 1 of our passage today.
Paul says:
1 So then, my dearly loved and longed for brothers and sisters, my joy and crown, in this manner stand firm in the Lord, dear friends.
Paul says, “in this manner.” Well, of what manner is Paul speaking?
Of course, he’s speaking about what he said in Chapter 3. He’s speaking of knowing Jesus and pursuing the ways of Jesus.
If we seek to know Jesus more, if we seek to follow the ways of Jesus more, we will be able to stand firm in Jesus when the world around us becomes shaky ground.
As we journey through this first part of Chapter 4 today, we’re going to see three specific ways that we can stand firm.
First, . . .
I. Stand firm in unity.
Listen, church: Unity can make or break a church.
The devil hates to see churches thrive, and he will do whatever he can to prevent them from being healthy. One of the primary tactics he uses is to sow disunity in the church.
The Apostle Paul knew this, and he longed for the Philippian church to be unified.
Listen to what he said in verses 2 and 3:
2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I also ask you, true partner, to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the book of life.
We learn of these two, Euodia and Syntyche.
These are women who have contended for the gospel of Jesus Christ alongside Paul.
These are not unbelievers. These are not troublemakers. These are people who love Paul and love Jesus, yet they seem not be getting along for some reason.
We don’t know the reason; we don’t know who was right and who was wrong. In fact, it’s as if that really doesn’t matter.
What matters here is that these two ladies seek to agree in the Lord. What matters is that they stand in unity.
Paul asks for help from this unnamed person, whom he calls “true partner,” as well as Clement, and all those in Philippi whose names are written in the book of life, to help bring gospel unity among these women, and by implication to all the church in Philippi.
Brothers and sisters, if the early church had problems with unity, you better believe we’re going to have problems with unity as well.
However, a temporary weakness in our unity does not have to become a permanent problem.
We are people who belong to Jesus. There is no problem too big for the healing power of the Lord Jesus Christ.
If we turn to Jesus and His ways, we can overcome any problem, whether it’s between two people in our church or many people in our church.
Catch this reality also: The closer we all get to Jesus, the closer we all get to unity.
Check out this illustration: As we all pursue Jesus, we get closer and closer and closer to Him. As we get closer to Him, we are also closer to each other.
As we get closer to Jesus, we get closer to unity.
Right now, if you don’t have unity with someone in our church, the best thought you can have is, “I need to get closer to Jesus.”
The best thought is not, “Here’s how that other person sinned,” or “Here’s how I was offended.”
The best thought is, “I need to get closer to Jesus.”
The closer the church gets to Jesus, the closer it gets to unity.
When we are unified, we can stand firm, together.
A unified church stands against the attacks of evil together.
A unified church suffers together.
A unified church celebrates together.
A unified church shares the gospel together.
A unified church gives together.
A unified church serves together.
A unified church stands firm in Jesus together.
Stand firm in unity.
Next, . . .
II. Stand firm in peace.
Look at verse 4 for a moment.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Paul has told us many times to rejoice, hasn’t he? That’s why he says, “I will say it again: Rejoice!”
When we rejoice in the Lord, it’s easier for us to have peace, isn’t it?
Peace is having comfort despite what’s going on around us.
When we rejoice in the Lord, we know that we have Jesus, which is the greatest blessing we could have.
So, we can have peace because we have Jesus.
Next, look at verse 5. Paul says:
5 Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
To be gracious means to be kind and generous towards others. In short, it means to show grace.
Don’t forget, Paul just spoke of two women whom he wanted to get along. So, we should certainly show grace to each other.
However, Paul says that we should show graciousness to everyone. Why is that?
When we are gracious to others, we develop peace in our own lives and in the lives of others.
This sounds very similar to what Paul said in Romans 12:18 when he said:
“If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Friends, how are you doing with this standard?
How are you doing with letting your graciousness be known to all?
How are you doing when it comes to living at peace with everyone?
How do you respond to the person at the restaurant when your order is not correct, or it’s taking longer than you prefer?
How are you doing with that cranky neighbor?
How are you doing with that annoying classmate or coworker?
How are you doing with that cantankerous family member?
How are you doing with that difficult church member?
Listen, church: As Paul said in verse 5, the Lord is near.
Let us have peace because we know Jesus is coming soon to make all things right.
Let us also spread His peace throughout the earth in any way and every way that we can, because we know that Jesus is coming soon.
Finally, pay attention to these two very famous verses concerning peace. Look at verses 6 and 7:
6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Ok, let me just tell you something that I learned from Paul that will make your life so much easier: stop worrying.
Ok, let’s move on.
“Wait a minute, Pastor!” You might think. “That’s easier said than done.”
Indeed, we don’t want to worry, do we? However, so many of us do.
When we worry, it doesn’t make things easier, does it?
Jesus asked in Matthew 6:27:
“Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying?”
Of course, we can’t! No one’s life is better because they worry.
By the way, worrying is different than being diligent.
God made some of you on this earth to be diligent.
My mom is diligent, and some of that rubbed off on me.
Diligence is paying attention to details and being able to get things done.
Worrying, on the other hand, is rooted in fear and anxiety. Worrying robs us of our peace. Worrying consumes us.
Well, what should we do if we are anxious about something? What should we do if we worry about something? Paul tells us what to do, doesn’t he?
Paul gives us this three-step process:
1. Speak to God through prayer.
2. Let God know what you want/need (petition).
3. Be thankful to God.
Church, God gives us everything we need. We should be thankful to Him for all of His blessings, we should feel free to express our requests to Him, and we should trust Him with the results.
What happens when we do these three things? Paul says in verse 7:
“ . . . the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
I want some of that, don’t you, Church? I want peace that surpasses all understanding. I want peace, even when it doesn’t make sense for us to be peaceful.
So, let us rejoice in the Lord and find peace, let us be gracious people of peace, and let us present our requests to God and trust Him so that we can have peace.
Stand firm in peace.
Finally, . . .
III. Stand firm in thinking.
Did you know that the way you think matters?
Our minds are not neutral. They help control who we are and who we become.
What you allow to enter into your mind, what you choose to focus on with your mind, and what you allow to come out of your mind affects your life as a follower of Jesus.
Listen to what Paul said about this truth in verse 8:
8 Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.
Think about all the influences that pass into and out of your mind.
Think about what you immerse yourself in on social media.
Think about the music, movies, and shows that you consume.
Think about the people with whom you spend your time.
Think about what you read.
Think about what you view on news and media channels.
Think about where your mind drifts when you’re alone.
Are these influences that fill your mind true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, morally excellent, and praiseworthy?
Here’s a good test: Would you allow these influences to come into your mind if Jesus was sitting with you?
Pay attention to this, Church: We’re not simply to avoid ungodly influences, we should also fill our minds with good stuff.
I recently started a new diet. It’s hard to diet. It’s even harder if you don’t find some good stuff to put into your body. I know that I need to avoid cupcakes, potato chips, and grilled cheese sandwiches. However, I’m still trying to find food that tastes good and is relatively healthy for me. I’m learning to eat more protein and fewer sweets. If I want to be healthy in my body, I must get rid of the trash and fill myself with good stuff.
Brothers and sisters, it’s the same with your mind: Get rid of the trash, and fill yourself with good stuff.
Think about what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, morally excellent, and praiseworthy. Think about those things.
Let us remember the words of Paul from Romans 12:2:
“Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”
Let us stand firm in the way that we think.
Let this bottom line summarize what we are learning this week:
Bottom Line: Stand firm in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Look at the final verse from today’s passage. Look at verse 9:
9 Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
Here’s what Paul is basically saying. If we do what God wants us to do, we’ll be ok.
Our designer has a plan for us. That plan will lead to our flourishing.
Though the world around us will get shaky, we can stand firm in the Lord Jesus Christ.
So, will you take your stand in Jesus?
Challenge yourself this week in this one way:
Weekly Challenge: Identify shaky ground.
What things are happening in this world right now that represent an unsteady foundation?
What part of your life is a little shaky right now?
Where do you need to pursue unity? Where do you need some peace? In what area do you need to start thinking rightly?
We all have parts of our lives that need improvement. Identify those areas in your life this week.
(Gospel presentation)
(closing prayer)
(Benediction)
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