A Study in the Book of Philippians
“5 ESSENTIALS FOR FINDING PEACE”
Philippians 4:1-9
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1. STAND FAST – V.1
Paul commands the Philippians to “stand fast in the Lord.”
There were problems in Philippi. Paul has already mentioned that the Philippian’s needed to “beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation” in Chapter 3, verse 2.
There were people in Philippi who were trying to influence the Christians to adopt a legalistic form of religion. These “evil workers” as Paul calls them were telling the Philippians they had to follow the laws of Moses to be saved.
These false teachers were causing problems.
Then there was the situation where Epaphroditus got sick and nearly died. This traumatic experience created stress and concern on both Paul and the church at Philippi.
Paul tells them that there are many enemies of Jesus Christ.
With these kinds of problems the people of Philippi needed to be encouraged not to give up or give in.
These kinds of problems would be discouraging for anybody. So Paul says, “Stand fast…don’t give up. Keep keeping on.”
Now this is important because ‘peace’ is one of the main themes of this chapter. These kinds of problems present a challenge to a church family having peace.
All of these problems would have created unrest rather than peace.
But Paul doesn’t want the people to be anxious or panic.
PEACE PRINCIPLE #1: I’ll never have peace unless I remain committed.
The kinds of problems I’ve mentioned would be enough to cause some Christians to throw up their hands and give up on their faith.
Some people would use these situations as excuses for why Christianity doesn’t work in practice or why it’s too difficult or demanding to live the Christian life.
These kinds of problems were testing the Philippian Christian’s commitment to the Lord and their faith in Him.
Let me ask you, “What problems did you bring in here with you tonight?” What problems are testing your commitment to your faith right now?
It might be people problems. It might be money problems. It might be health problems. What is it in your life?
For the Philippians it was a combination of people problems and health problems.
And Paul says in verse 1 of chapter 4, “Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.”
Notice the word ‘therefore’. Whenever you read the word ‘therefore’ in scripture, you need to ask yourself, “What is it there for?”
That one word has a purpose. What is that purpose?
Well, in verse 1, it connects Paul’s thought in verse 1 with a previous thought he was sharing chapter 3, verse 20-21.
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” – Philippians 3:20-21 (NKJV)
Paul gives 4 reasons why these Philippian Christians should stand fast and not give up.
Why should I not give up on my faith in Christ?
1. Because heaven is waiting for me.
“For our citizenship is in heaven…” – Phil.3:20a (NKJV)
Earth is not our final destination. Earth is a temporary residence on the pilgrimage to our eternal home in Heaven.
2. Because Jesus is coming for me.
“…from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…” – Phil. 3:20b (NKJV)
3. Because transformation will happen to me.
“the Lord Jesus Christ…who will transform our lowly body that it may be comformed to His glorious body…” – Phil.3:21a (NKJV)
4. Because God is in control.
“…according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” – Phil.3:21c (NKJV)
The same Jesus who subdued the winds and the waves can calm the storms in your life.
He can subdue the problems you’re facing and make them calm and return peace to your situation. He’s in control.
And these 4 reasons, amount to hope. Hope solidifies our commitment to Christ.
We don’t give up on Jesus because we have hope in Him.
Unless we remain committed we’ll never have peace.
So the first essential for peace is to STAND FAST.
2. STAND TOGETHER – V.2-3
“I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.” – Philippians 4:2-3 (NKJV)
So, here’s the story of a lovely lady, actually two lovely ladies, Euodia and Syntache. Evidently these two women were members of this church.
Apparently these two ladies were having a disagreement; either they were disagreeing with each other or the two of them had teamed up and were in disagreement with the leadership of the church.
Because Paul calls on a leader, the identity of which we don’t know, to help these women resolve their conflict.
Whichever scenario it was, this was definitely a problem at Philippi and maybe one of the major contributing factors to their disunity.
We don’t know what the fight was about. We don’t know what the issues were. God leaves it very general to us.
And that’s good. Evidently God felt we didn’t need to know details. That way as you and I read this passage we can’t take sides.
We can’t read this and say, “Ahh, Euodias was right. Syntache was wrong.”
We simply don’t have enough information. Instead, we are left to apply what is a general principle in God’s family, the church.
PEACE PRINCIPLE #2: I’ll never have peace until I resolve conflict.
It’s clear from this passage that God wants conflicts resolved.
The question is what does it mean to ‘resolve’ a conflict?
When is a conflict resolved?
The resolution Paul was hoping for in this case was “to be of the same mind in the Lord.”
In other words, this conflict would be considered resolved when Euodia and Syntache were “of the same mind”.
What does that mean? What does it mean to “be of the same mind”?
The word Paul uses here for the word ‘mind’ is the Greek word phroneo.
It’s a Greek word that means “to think.”
This word is in contrast with another word used in the Bible for the mind, nous.
The one word, nous, refers mainly to the mind as an object, the psyche.
This word Paul uses refers to “the action of thinking, of having an opinion, of making up one’s mind on something.”
It implies the affections and will of the people involved.
So, what’s Paul urging these women to do? Is Paul urging them to “have a debate to see who is right and who is wrong; And then whoever is decided to be right, both adopt that position or way of thinking?
In that scenario there’s a clear winner and a clear loser. Someone wins and someone loses.
Whoever wins, their way of thinking is what is accepted by the other side.
But I wonder if there is something else Paul is after here in this passage?
What if Paul is not asking these two women to agree on the issue?
What if what Paul is asking has nothing to do with who is right or wrong on the issues?
Perhaps, in this case, God left out the details of what the issues were because in His mind it doesn’t really matter.
Paul says, “Be of the same mind” toward the issues? No. Paul says, “be of the same mind in the Lord”. In other words, “be of the same mind not toward the issues but towards each other.”
Not that you have the same opinion but that you share the same affection for each other.
Paul didn’t want the issues to mean more than the relationship. To Paul the relationship between Euodias and Syntache was more important than who was right or wrong on the issues.
Paul was more concerned about how they treated each other than how they treated the issues.
And I think this is what Paul is getting at. We certainly won’t agree on everything but we can agree to treat one another according to God’s standard of love and respect.
This has to do not so much with your position on the issues but with your disposition, your attitudes.
It’s the spirit in which you carry on your disagreement.
Whatever these two disagreed on, Paul wants them to stand fast and stand together.
3. STAND TALL – V.4-5
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.” – Philippians 4:4-5 (NKJV)
Here in verses 4 and 5 Paul talks about what kind of disposition a Christian should carry around.
A joyful one. He says, “Rejoice in the Lord always.”
Everyday, consciously and consistently, consider who God is and what He has done for you, and be glad in Him.
PEACE PRINCIPLE #3: I’ll never have peace unless I rejoice consistently.
One word that sticks out to me in verse 4 is that word “always”. Rejoice “always”.
How often is “always”?
The idea is establishing a pattern in your life. It’s like starting a new habit. Experts tell us it takes 21 days to establish a new habit in our life.
Paul says, “You need to start a new habit in your life; the habit of rejoicing.”
If joy, for you, is an ‘on again off again’ thing, then you’re going to struggle with inner peace.
You’re going to live on a roller coaster.
To rejoice is a choice. Make a choice enough times in a row and it becomes a pattern. Form a pattern enough times and it becomes a habit.
Rejoicing is a habit, a choice of your will.
Like “This is the day the Lord has made I will rejoice and be glad in it.” The Psalmist says, “I will”. In other words, “I choose.”
So stand fast, stand together and stand tall, rise above your problems and choose to rejoice in the Lord’s love for you.
4. STAND STILL – V.6-8
We are busy people. Very busy. We’re people of action. But there are times when we need to stand still. Instead of saying, “Don’t just stand there, do something” we need to say, “Don’t just do something, stand there.”
Be still for a little while. Think. Pray. Ponder. Reflect.
PEACE PRINCIPLE #4: I’ll never have peace until I remove confusion.
One of the greatest sources of a lack of peace in people’s lives is confusion.
People don’t have peace because they feel confused.
And confusion is the result of trying to do too much at one time.
The opposite of confusion is clarity. When I’m clear on something I stand more of a chance of feeling peace than when I’m confused about it.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” – Philippians 4:6-8 (NKJV)
Paul offers two commands in these verses. Request and Meditate. Pray and ponder. Ask and analyze.
The twin towers of inner peace are: right praying and right thinking.
“When we give our hearts to Christ in salvation, we experience “peace with God” (Romans 5:1); but the “peace of God” takes us a step farther into God’s blessings. This does not mean the absence of trials on the outside, but it does mean a quiet confidence within, regardless of circumstances, people or things.” – Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary
When we pray right and think right we have the peace of God to guard us and the God of peace to guide us.
Right praying involves 3 different kinds of prayers.
1. Prayer – General requests and issues
2. Supplication – Pouring out of our pain and problems to God.
3. Thanksgiving – Praising the Lord
Right thinking involves meditating on true, pure and lovely thoughts.
5. STAND UP – V.9
I’ll never have peace unless I risk courageously.
Most people think peace comes from staying in our cave and not putting our self out there. Don’t risk and you’ll be safe. Not true. If you play it safe all the time, you risk missing your potential. You risk rewards and benefits.
