Practice What You Know Series

Phil 4:2-9 PRACTICE WHAT YOU KNOW

Having urged the believers to PRESS ON and STAND FIRM in the Lord, the example he has set for them, Paul gives some practical exhortations to the church as he ends the letter.

• As in other epistles, Paul gives counsel to the needs specific to the church.

In today’s text, we see 3 clear paragraphs of practical exhortations:

• 4:2-3 - the first one has to do with maintaining the unity in the church.

• 4:4-7 - the second is an encouragement to stay joyful always. And to entrust their anxieties to God in prayer.

• 4:8-9 - and lastly, to think more about the truths of God that they have come to know and not be distracted by what they see and hear around them.

Paul ends with 4:9 “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me – practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

• This is very much PAUL, right? He does not talk about what he does not do. He lives the talk.

• He has been challenging the Ephesians and now the Philippians to walk the talk because he does. The truth of God changes the way we live.

I’ve entitled today sharing: PRACTICE WHAT YOU KNOW.

• The end goal of God’s truth is to change our lives and make us holy like Christ.

1. MAINTAIN UNITY

4:2-3 2I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche (sync tege) to agree in the Lord. 3Yes, 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.

Paul highlighted a disagreement that he knew about and urged the two women who were at odds to “agree in the Lord”. That is, for the sake of Christ, live in harmony.

• Euodia and Syntyche (sync tege) were not new believers but former team players with Paul, Clement and the rest of the co-workers.

• They were mature Christians but with a disagreement. The fact that Paul raised it openly and naming them indicates that the conflict might get worse if not resolved quickly.

As former co-workers of Paul, they would have an influence and following in the church.

• Paul urged them directly, personally, and by name, to “cool it down” and reconcile.

And then he turned to his “true companion” and urged him to help them reconcile.

• No name was given so we do not know who this companion is. It could be Timothy, Luke, Epaphroditus, or a female co-worker.

• He would likely be someone known to the church and the two sisters to play mediator.

Paul asked him to be the peacemaker and help bring the two together.

• By inference, reading this letter, the church is to stand behind him and support him in this.

• As Christians, we are called to make peace and, if we are not the party that quarrels, to be peacemakers.

• Matt 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

Noticed that Paul was quiet about the nature of the conflict or his take on the issue. No comment on what were quarrelling about or who was right or wrong.

• We see Paul’s wisdom here. His words carry lots of weight and any comment from him would potentially create more strife and aggravate the situation.

• He was careful not to take sides unwittingly and cause a deeper problem.

MAKE PEACE. That’s all Paul wants to see. Keep the unity in the Body of Christ.

• Let me repeat what Paul wrote in Eph 4:1-3

1I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

• These are the traits we need to maintain unity - humility, gentleness, patience and love.

Knowing Paul, this disagreement cannot be a doctrinal issue because if that is, he would have confronted it and corrected them.

• So this quarrel was likely an issue of personal preferences or choices.

And then Paul added this line, saying their “names are in the Book of Life.” (4:3)

• “We are all redeemed by Christ and our names are written in the same book. We are brothers and sisters in Christ.”

• Set that perspective right and learn to live in peace. We are one family.

Unity is not a given. It is difficult but possible, in Christ. We have to make an effort to keep it.