7.9.50 11.12.2023 Gracious Obligation Philippians 4.1-7
Completing the Work God Began • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Start:
1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
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.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Entice: The problem with Philippians 4 is not where to start, but where to stop. Each section is a jewel. The guidance Paul provides is memorable and powerful. He names names and speaks both affectionately and authoritatively. We need leaders who love us who are kind to us and direct.
Sound leadership is
corrective,
corrective,
preventative,
preventative,
and
directive.
directive.
Engage: This is a passage of direction. Even Paul’s “suggestions” really are not. He is gentle, yet firm in giving instructions that will be beneficial to each of us as individuals, but more importantly will bring favor on the work of the Church. Our age is typified by individualism. Doing it my way is a catchphrase of the culture. Many people, even inside the Church, do not take guidance graciously.
Paul does not scold but he makes it perfectly clear that
the needs of the community and the integrity of the Church are more important than the pride, prejudices, and priorities of the individual.
the needs of the community and the integrity of the Church are more important than the pride, prejudices, and priorities of the individual.
Expand: Philippians 4 is a remarkably deep chapter. It is tempting to linger over every word, every section, and every verse. Such fragmentation makes it more difficult to look through Paul’s eyes to see the big picture. I’ve tried to consider each sermon as presenting a specific, clear picture. It is that picture he wishes to communicate to the Church. The details lend color and vibrancy to the picture—but the picture is the point.
What he says must be understood in terms of how he said it and how he organized his thoughts to give believers like us focused and concentrated guidance. Like the Philippians this process will help us to apply Paul’s inspired instructions. It won’t be because we can’t understand.
Excite: The Christian life is not “make believe” nor magical. We have responsibilities. There are some things we must do. There are times when we get on one another’s nerves. There are even times when the disagreements that begin as petty can become big enough to divide and hamper the Church. Paul’s clarity for both them and us is a refreshing reminder that we are invited to be partners with other believers in this great adventure of faith.
Explore:
The outcomes and opportunities of productive discipleship come with the obligations of obedience.
The outcomes and opportunities of productive discipleship come with the obligations of obedience.
Expand: Paul challenges us with three considerations….
Body of Sermon: At the heart of the faith is relationships… Paul would have us
1 Consider the Context.
1 Consider the Context.
1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.
1.1 Companionship.
1.1 Companionship.
1.2 Conflict management.
1.2 Conflict management.
1.3 Collaboration
1.3 Collaboration
Next we need to
2 Consider the Commands.
2 Consider the Commands.
Philippians 4:1–6 (ESV)
1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
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.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
In this text Paul rattles off a string of directions that help to balance those very real contexts we just discussed. We are saved by grace. We are saved for freedom. Yet, we are saved for a purpose and fulfilling that purpose puts us under discipline—that is what a disciple is. We will need to be both corrected and directed. The most effective oversight comes when correction and direction occur at the same time and reinforce one another these are the commands at the heart of this text.
2.1 Stand firm.
2.1 Stand firm.
2.2 Get along.
2.2 Get along.
2.3 Help.
2.3 Help.
2.4 Rejoice in the Lord.
2.4 Rejoice in the Lord.
2.5 Be Reasonable.
2.5 Be Reasonable.
2.6 Pray instead of being anxious.
2.6 Pray instead of being anxious.
The Spirit of God indwells us to equip us to obey God’s commands, in this case offered by Paul.
Our understanding of the public context of our faith and the commands given to direct us are what prepare us to
3 Consider the Consolation.
3 Consider the Consolation.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
It is a human tendency to want the reward before the work, or even without it. Paul puts the reward, the outcome, the consolation where it belongs—after the work. The consolation for right relationships with one another is a right relationship with God described as the
3.1 Peace of God.
3.1 Peace of God.
This consolation of God is known in the
3.2 Abundance of God.
3.2 Abundance of God.
The abundance and peace we find in God leads to the
3.3 Protection of God.
3.3 Protection of God.
It is our hearts and minds which need protection! It is the interior life that betrays us. And that is where God’s abundant, peaceful, protection is to be felt!
Shut Down
We can learn a lot not only from Paul’s words but from his tone.
He is not
angry,
bitter,
dismissive,
or
patronizing.
He does not try to coddle hurt feelings nor does he reprimand Euodia and Syntyche like children.
He spoke to them like adults expected the response of committed, faithful, disciples.
We love Jesus. We are formed by the Word and filled with the Spirit. The hard part is that we are always surrounded by people and people can be hard.
There were competitive cliques in the band of Jesus’ disciples.
Paul’s ministry was constantly plagued by some who disliked his methods, his message, and even his looks. And there in his beloved Philippi human nature reared its malicious head creating unnecessary tensions. My guess is that GFCC has had that tension, in both the distant and recent past. It is likely going to be present in the future. Then and now we have been instructed how to behave in light of what we believe.
When you come to Christ, your humanity is not discarded, it is redeemed. Yet even we redeemed humans have our moments. Nerves get frayed. Personalities clash. There are tensions. Only in Jesus can diverse humans all find wholeness together. That is the invitation.