I. Introduction
A. Do you remember when you were younger, one of the first things you had to learn was to get along with siblings / cousins / classmates? With some, this was easy, even effortless most of the time. For others, the best you could do was just stay away from them… but that was often hard to do you they lived in the same house!
B. In a similar way, our nation is comprised of groups of people who are all stuck here together.
1. We don’t think the same way
2. We don’t believe the same things
3. We don’t even worship the same God
4. And even among those who worship Jesus, there is often division on truth or biblical interpretation
C. Paul is teaching us that while we walk this path with each other, it is not to “go along to get along,” but much more importantly, to learn to “get along so we can go along."
II. Stand Firm (v.1)
A. Paul reminds the Philippians of his family-like relationship and yearning
1. "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,… (1:3)
2. "It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart…" (1:7a)
3. “Long for”—Greek: “whom I long to see”; deep pain of separation from loved ones
4. “My joy and crown”—not from circumstances, but their contending for the faith alongside him
a. “Crown”—refers to laurel wreath given to an athlete who wins a race
b. They were proof of the success of Paul’s ministry
5. "because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now." (1:5)
B. Paul commands them to stand firm in the Lord
1. “Stand firm”—describes a soldier at his post; a military command; could mean either:
a. Stand fast in Christ (i.e., our walk with Him)
b. Stand fast in Him (i.e., His provided grace and power)
c. "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might." (Eph. 6:10)
2. Making a stand is much easier if you know what you’re making a stand for (lots of weak, non-eternal motives that distract the Church and believers these days)
III. Stand Together (v.2)
A. Paul is referring to two specific women
1. Two women—female names
2. “Entreat”—Gr., to urge or appeal
3. Clearly, Paul knew them, even by name
4. Apparently leading two factions within the church, which is why he addressed them directly
B. He commands them to end an argument
1. “agree”—Gr., “live in harmony”
a. Paul is not telling them to “resolve the matter,” he is commanding them to get along
b. Agreement for the sake of ending a fight is good; agreement for the sake of accomplishing a mission is better
2. We know nothing of the disagreement; Paul doesn’t refer to it, so it is probably a personal matter
3. How many times have we seen dissension in the church over things that have nothing really to do with the Church?
IV. Stand United (v.3)
A. Paul invokes a third participant in this spat
1. “loyal Syzygus”— this may be the third person’s name
2. “yokefellow” = "syzygy": an alignment of stars that creates a united gravitational pull (so long observed even from ancient times that when something like this occurs, space is observably warped—it’s where we get our concept of “when the stars align”)
3. Used to describe oxen pulling the same load
B. Paul mentions their past effectiveness
1. They worked with Paul “side by side,” like oxen pulling a plow
2. They’ve shown the ability to partner with others (“Clement and the rest of my fellow workers”)
C. Paul emphasizes their common destiny
1. “book of life”—those whom God foreknew would receive the gift of salvation
2. Romans 8:28-30--"28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified."
3. God has not just called us to work for Him, He has called us to work together for Him
4. Solving particulars is secondary to accomplishing the mission—but dividing us on the particulars is the easiest way Satan has of weakening the effectiveness of the Church
V. Conclusion
A. If we keep in mind Whose we are and in Whose power and authority we work, our ministry will be so much more effective
B. Disagreements happen because people are different. It is okay to disagree with someone, so long as it does not inhibit the Gospel. If it does, it needs to be because someone is wrong about the Gospel; any other reason is a completely dispensable squabble.
C. Work to draw fellow Christians into service together. There really is no such thing as “Lone Ranger Christians;” we are all part of one mission—the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
