Philippians 4:1-7

Christianity engages your heart and mind. It is what we see in Philippians 4 – the reality and truth of who Jesus is changes our whole being. The power of Christ transforms us. Christianity changes us. In this passage of scripture we read the phrase, ‘In the Lord.’ I have four simple points for this. Christianity Engages all of us. We need to respond with heart and soul:

1. Stand firm in the Lord.
   “Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.” (Philippians 4:1). Resist the issues, resist the lies, resist the sins of the world. Chapter 4 begins with ‘therefore.’ ‘Therefore’ what? Paul says, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21). Verse 1 is in light of that – the power of Jesus Christ, the Saviour who is coming again, who will renew our bodies, the Saviour who has accomplished all at the cross. Stand firm in this Saviour.

People often say Paul is a genius, but a little bit cold, someone who doesn’t engage with his emotions. This is absolutely false. Never let our minds be full of theology and our hearts empty. Paul longs for his brothers (v1). Because of what he knows about Jesus Christ, this has changed the way he thinks of other Christians. We should pray to see more of Jesus and become more like Jesus. Paul is filled with a great love for these people. Paul’s message to those he loves is to stand firm. We too are to stand firm – in work, in schools, in every situation.

There will be resistance to the gospel but stand firm in the gospel, stand firm in the Lord. When the waters of life are raging stand firm in the Lord, in His promises, in His truth, in what He has done. Be rooted in the Lord. Are you standing firm in the Lord?

•  Agree in the Lord.
  “I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.” (v.2). Paul says we, as Christians, should agree in the Lord. In verse 2 we read of two ladies who clearly had had a disagreement. Paul is aware of this. This disagreement among Christians has become well-known. It is dark and depressing when Christians bear bad witness to the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul urges them to agree in the Lord.

Paul doesn’t take a side, or even address what they’re arguing about. He simply says, ‘Agree in the Lord.’ Reconcile with one another. Paul speaks to address this disunity. Paul is not saying everyone should think the same way or dress the same way. As Christians, we disagree with all sorts, such as what colour the church is painted, theology, baptism, the way the Lord is going to come again. These are secondary issues. We can have different opinions. Paul is seeking to remind these women that what unites them in Jesus Christ is greater than what divides us. Our desire is to be united in the truth of the gospel, in the reality of the deity of Christ. Present the gospel and live for Jesus Christ.

Paul continues to talk about these women, “Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have laboured 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.” (v.3). Although the two women had had such a public disagreement in the church, they are faithful Christians. It shows me as a Christian, I can make mistakes. We can slip, stumble and have disagreements. It is a reminder for all of us to look within. These are not godless women but faithful servants of Jesus Christ, who are not perfect. We all fail. We can say the wrong thing, wish we had been softer in our language.

Paul mentions in verse 3 a man called Clement. Can you imagine what it would be like to be mentioned in the Bible? Have you been mentioned in a book? Clement has made it! But there is a better book Clement has been mentioned in, “Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.” It doesn’t get better than that! If your name is in there, you are safe, you are kept, you are redeemed, part of His chosen people. Agree in the Lord because we are accepted in the Lord, because we are all in the same book of life.

• “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” (v4).

This is an incredibly famous verse. Did you know Christians can be joyful! For some Christians the joy is almost lost it is so deep. They have engaged their heads but not necessarily their heart. There is a joy in the Christian faith. When was the last time you rejoiced in the Lord, in who He is?

How are we to ‘rejoice always?’ Jesus wept over Jerusalem. He cried in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was not happy all the time but had joy in the Lord at all times. There is a clear difference. How can I rejoice in great grief? Remember the context Paul is writing in – he was probably in chains, writing to many Jews who had been scattered, who had been persecuted for believing in Jesus Christ. Yet to those people Paul says, ‘Rejoice always.’

If your joy comes from your job and you retire or lose your job, your joy is broken. Our joy is in something imperishable, rooted in the Lord. If your happinesses found in material things, you are in for a hard time. But if your source of joy stems from the fact that you are a child of the King, you have joy forever more. You will always have a rejoicing hope. Rejoice in the Lord because there is always something to praise God for.

• “Guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (7b)

This is what we ought to do – to engage our heart and head. Both reason and intellect, and emotion must all be guarded. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (v6). Nothing is too small or too big to bring to God. There is a difference in general anxieties in life and clinical anxiety. We, as Christians, worry so much about so little because we have forgotten how big God is. Magnify your view of Jesus Christ, in the light of who He is, in what hope we have. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (v.7). Go to Him first, turn to Him in everything, whatever you are struggling with. Go to Jesus Christ and pray. You can pray to God about everything. You can request of God. That’s amazing! Turn to him. Pray to God and our God responds.

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (v.7). Because we are in Jesus Christ we can know and experience the peace of God. You can’t have peace from God if you are not trusting in Jesus. You can know the boundlessness of God’s peace. In the painful moments we can have peace with God. Come to Jesus and you will never have to worry how God sees you, you will never have to worry about what happens when you die. You can have peace. Jesus Christ will keep you safe. Our mind and heart is to be fixed on the Saviour. Do everything in the Lord.