Sermons

Paul’s Loving Exhortation

Philippians 4:1-3

Have you ever wondered what makes the difference
between a spotlight and a laser beam?
How can a medium-power laser burn through steel in a
matter of seconds, while the most powerful spotlight can
only make it warm? Both may have the same electrical
power requirements. The difference is unity.

A laser can be simply described as a medium of excited
molecules with mirrors at each end. Some of the excited
molecules naturally decay into a less excited state. In the
decay process they release a photon, a particle of light. It
is here that the unique process of the laser begins.
The photon moves along and “tickles” another molecule,
inviting another photon to join him on his journey. Then
these two photons “tickle” two more molecules and invite
two more photons to join the parade.
Soon there is a huge army of photons marching in step
with each other. It is this unity that gives the laser its
power.

A spotlight may have just as many photons, but each is
going its own independent way, occasionally interfering
with other photons. As a result, much of its power is
wasted and cannot be focused to do any useful work.
However, the laser, because of its unity, is like an army
marching in tight formation and is able to focus all its
power on its objective.

Today we are going to look at the first three verses of
Philippians 4.

Philippians 4:1-3

In the last few verses of chapter three Paul encourages
the believers at Philippi to imitate him and through tears
mentioned the enemies of the cross.
Today we read of Paul’s loving exhortation for the church
to remain united.

Philippians 4:1

Paul’s Philippian Affection

Paul loves the Philippian church.
There is no doubt he is writing to believers.
In chapter 1 he addresses the letter to the saints in
Christ Jesus who are at Philippi.
Throughout the letter he refers to them as brothers.

The ESV says My brothers whom I love. Some other
translations use beloved.
Beloved is the same word that God used to speak of
Jesus at His baptism. “This is my beloved Son, with
whom I am well pleased.”

He longed to be with the Philippian church.

Paul didn’t know if he would leave prison alive or not, but
he longed to be with the believers at Philippi.

You stay in touch with the people you care about.
Paul wrote this letter to let the church know he was
thinking about them and praying for them.
He is grateful for them and longs to be with them.

Paul finds Joy in the Philippian church.
The tone of Philippians is different from the tone of
Corinthians.
Paul had multiple issues with the believers in Corinth.
We only see this one issue with the church at Philippi.
Paul finds joy in the Philippian church because they are,
for the most part, living in a manner worthy of the
gospel.

The Philippian church is Paul’s crown.
Paul has heard of the spiritual growth among the
members of the church. He refers to them as his crown
because he knows they are his spiritual children and God
will approve of them in the day of the Lord. The crown
Paul refers to is the reward in heaven, one that will not
wilt and never fades.

Before we leave verse one we need to talk about Paul’s
challenge to the Philippian church.

Philippians 4:1 stand firm thus in the Lord

Paul seeks Philippian Adamance

The word for stand firm is the Greek word Steko and it
can mean to literally stand, but it is also used figuratively
meaning to stand firm in the faith, persevering or
remaining steadfast.

The word is in the present imperative which means Paul
wants them to continually stand firm.

Paul encourages the believers to stand up and be ready
to fight. He’s talking about the enemies of the cross that
he mentioned back in Philippians 3:18-19.

Back in Philippians 1:27 Paul wrote for them to stand
firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for
the sake of the gospel.

Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus to put on the full
armor of God and stand firm against the schemes of the
devil.

Paul also exhorted the Corinthians to be steadfast,
immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
I Corinthians 15:58

Paul did not expect the Philippian believers to stand firm
in their own strength.
He urged them to stand firm in the Lord.
As Christians, most of the things God wants to do
through us requires us to depend on the Lord.

We don’t have to depend on our own strength to fight
against the spiritual forces of this world. God wants to
fight for us.
We have to stand up and do our part, but like the
Israelites when they entered the promised land, God
gave them the victories as they followed His direction.

Paul’s point is that it takes unity in the church to be able
to stand firm in the Lord.

The church has enough enemies on the outside without
needing any disharmony on the inside.
Satan likes to start within the church to cause strife and
disunity to keep churches from depending on the Lord
and striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.

Philippians 4:2-3

Paul urges Philippian Agreement

There is no mention of what disagreement there was
between Euodia and Syntyche, but Paul entreats them
individually to agree.

Here again he uses the phrase In the Lord.
When it comes to getting along in the church, we often
have to depend on the Holy Spirit to help us do what God
wants us to do.
Paul knows that these two women will not be able to
agree in the flesh. They have already proven they can’t.

So, Paul enlists this true companion or yokefellow to
assist in reconciling these women.
The Scripture doesn’t provide a name, so it’s best not to
speculate on who it was. But the person was certainly a
trusted person of Paul, and likely a leader within the
church.

What do we know about the two women?

They Labored side by side with Paul in the gospel.
These women may have beef with each other, but they
served right next to Paul and Clement in the sharing of
the gospel.

They are True believers. Paul writes that their names are
in the book of life. Only those who trust in the Lord for
salvation have their names written in the lamb’s book of
life.
They may be in a dispute, but they are not unbelievers.

Paul is calling for the spiritual members of the church to
go and restore the two women back into fellowship again.

It’s how church discipline should work.

APPLICATION

Stand Firm Together, not Alone

In Romans 12 Paul calls the church to rejoice with those
who rejoice and weep with those who weep.

We are meant for relationship and to encourage one
another.
Together we are stronger than we are individually.

Let’s be there for one another as we go through life
together.