Paul's Epistles – Philippians - Part 10:
Appeal for Unity
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org
SERMON INTRODUCTION
Paul’s epistle (letter) to the Philippians
is very important to the Gentiles. It was written to the first church founded
in Europe (Acts 16:9-40).
Though not generally considered one of the
most remarkable or deepest books of the bible, it is considered one of the
sweetest of Paul’s writings.
It is more in the nature of a love letter
to the Philippians, who had excelled all others in devoted attachment to Paul.
Throughout this letter we get a glimpse into the apostle’s heart.
THE CHURCH
The Philippian church was noted for its
generosity. It had repeatedly ministered to Paul (6:15 & 16).
Hearing Paul was imprisoned in Rome they
sent help again by the hands of Epaphroditus (6:10 & 18), who,
however, was struck down on his arrival by an almost fatal illness. Somehow
news of this illness had reached Philippi, to their dismay, and on his
recovery, Epaphroditus was anxious to reassure them in person (11:25-28),
so Paul write this letter for him to take.
So this letter was written by Paul while
in prison in Rome, and given to Epaphroditus to be taken back to the church in
Philippi.
UP TO THIS POINT
Paul focuses his letter on Church unity
He thanks God for all of them as one body
He tells them not to worry about his being
in prison for it advances the gospel
Paul tells the believer to live a life
“worthy” of the gospel
Paul says we must live imitating Christ
and His humility
TODAY’S SERMON
Paul appeals for steadfastness, unity, and
gives final exhortations
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE Philippians 4:1-9
Therefore, my brothers and
sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand
firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!
2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same
mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have
contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the
rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let
your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not
be anxious about anything,but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And
the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble,
whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such
things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in
me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Paul opened his letter with a
salutation to all, reminding the church they were not 2 factions, there was no
“real” division, only a perceived one, created through sin.
The overall
message of this epistle to the church is;
“Christian unity to be maintained at all
costs”.
I. PAUL’S
APPEAL FOR UNITY
a. Paul names the
two women arguing in the congregation
i. Yoodeeah and Soontookay
b. Therefore my
Brothers and Sisters
i. Speaking directly to the saved congregation in Philippi
ii. You whom I love (all of them – unity)
1. Paul did not pick sides in the fight between the
two people in the church
2. This proclaims his love for THEM
3. Calling them his joy and crown stated he took great
pride in this church and their accomplishments for the Lord
iii. Stand firm in the Lord in this way
c. I plead
(beseech, desire, pray) that Yoodeeah and Soontookay be of the same mind in the
Lord
i. Paul addresses them both because their rupture had affected the entire
church
ii. Does not mean they were to blindly agree with
everything the other says and does
iii. However it DOES mean that they were to have unity
and peace BECAUSE they were congregation members, followers of Christ, and were
commanded to love one another as I
Corinthians 13 states, putting the other before themselves.
iv. If two are fighting, two are wrong, this is why
Paul would not take a side.
d. Yes, I ask my
true companion (who is not
identified in the scripture)
i. Help these women since they have contended at my side in the case of
the Gospel
ii. Along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers
iii. Whose names are in the Book of Life (Heavens
roster, the only membership in the church that matters)
1. Paul calls on friends and co-workers to help the
ladies resolve the issue
2. The resolution was simple
a. As Paul explained in earlier verses, stop being
selfish and self-centered
b. Be Spiritually Mature
c. And love others with a I Corinthian love
d. Putting their needs before your own
II. REJOICE
IN THE LORD ALWAYS, I WILL SAY IT AGAIN, REJOICE
a. Let your
gentleness (moderation) be evident to all
i. The Lord is near (referring to the Rapture)
ii. Not meaning to rejoice for all things that happen,
rather rejoice no matter what is happening
1. Paul is preaching Emotional Well-Being
a. Being of stable mind regardless of events around
you
2. This emotional well-being
begins with Rejoicing in the Lord!
iii. GENTLENESS should have been translated “moderation”
1. Meaning being satisfied
with less than what you are due
a. Or, being humble
b. Not “requiring” from others
what you believe is due to you
c. This is self-centered
behavior
d. Our humility should be made known to all
b. Do not be
anxious (LIT. careful:
worry) about anything
i. But in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving (what
God HAS done for us, and shall continue in the future)
ii. Present your requests (Material, Physical and
Spiritual) to God
1. CURE FOR WORRY: believe in prayer
c. And you will
have the peace of God
i. The peace of God
ii. Which transcends (goes beyond or exceeds) ALL
understanding
iii. This guards your HEARTS and MINDS in Christ Jesus
III. FINALLY
BROTHERS AND SISTERS
a. Finally
Brothers and Sisters
i. Whatever is TRUE
ii. Whatever is NOBLE
iii. Whatever is RIGHT
iv. Whatever is PURE
v. Whatever is LOVELY
vi. Whatever is ADMIRABLE
vii. Anything that is EXCELLENT
viii. Anything that is PRAISEWORTHY
b. Think about
such things
i. This CAN be done! Providing we allow the Holy Spirit to work within us
and we do NOT quench His work!
ii. To change their “thinking”
iii. So they too could have a “Mind like Christ”
iv. To rid their thoughts of;
1. Lies
2. Unsocial
3. Wrong
4. Impure
5. Ugly
6. Very bad
7. Blameworthy
v. This NEGATIVE thinking is what causes bickering, fighting, this wrong
way of thinking only leads to discord and division in the church
vi. Paul wants to remind us to have a mind like Christ,
to change our thinking
c. Whatever you
have learned, received, heard from me or seen in me
i. Put into practice (DO)
1. James 1:22 “Do not
merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
ii. And the Peace of God WILL be
with you!
CONCLUSION – the peace of god
The Peace of God can be explained in Philippians 4 as this;
·
We come to God
(meaning we already belong to Him, obtained Salvation)
·
We come to Him
in every situation
o
By Prayer and
Petition
o
With
Thanksgiving in our hearts
·
We present our
REQUESTS
BECAUSE we do
this;
·
We obtain the
Peace of God
o
Which removes
ALL anxiety, worry, fear, stress about an issue
·
This Peace of
God WILL go BEYOND and EXCEED ALL understanding
·
And it guards
our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus
o
The Heart
symbolizing the center of hidden emotional/intellectual/moral activity
o
The Minds
symbolizing expression/action/choices
In other words, when we are stressed, worried or
anxious about any situation, we turn to God with prayer, petition, thanksgiving
and request (in that order), and we WILL receive the Peace of God, and it will
protect our hearts and minds and give us peace beyond comprehension.
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