What makes you want to give up? Is it too long, too hard, or too much? Is it too lonely or too unappreciated? We often fill our excuses with many “toos-toos!” The church is called to stand firm and persevere.
STAND FIRM (4:1)
Paul begins this section of scripture conveying his deep love for these converts with whom he has personally invested with prayer and discipleship. Paul uses two Greek words to convey this deep personal emotion: “beloved” and “longed for.” The term “beloved” is used 27 times in his epistles. The term “longed for” is also a repeated theme throughout Paul’s letters to various churches, although translated with varying words in the King James Version translation. Consider these examples: Phil. 2:26; Rom. 15:23; II Cor. 7:7, 11. (Source: Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges)
Paul demonstrated a deep personal love for the church, the people of God. I Corinthians 13:4-8 describes this love as kind, patient, not quick tempered, believes the best about others, and much more. John 13:34 reminds us that God loves us in these ways. John 13:35 goes on to reveal we are not only to possess such love for others, but we are to be known by such love! This love of God for us not only impacts our love for others, but it also encourages us to “keep on keeping on.” So, Paul calls to remembrance the love of God, via his own personal love for them, as he calls them to persevere.
People of God…
o Since repeating truth is good for us… (Phil. 3:1)
o Since Jesus is the truth that exposes false teaching… (Phil. 3:2-3)
o Since Jesus has forgiven you of your past sin… (Phil. 3:13)
o Since Jesus is the aim of your present target… (Phil. 3:14)
o Since you have such a glorious hope in Jesus… (Phil. 3:20-21)
…stand firm and persevere!
Take a moment to remember the context of this book and the history Paul has with these believers.
o As brand-new believers, they watched as Roman soldiers arrested Paul and Silas, beat them, and put them into the “inner prison” (a place reserved for the worst or most dangerous criminals).
o Paul and Silas were eventually released, however, these new believers remained in Philippi with that same gospel antagonistic atmosphere.
o Paul was now writing this letter to the Philippians while under a different Roman confinement.
o Paul was unjustly arrested for both of these Roman arrests. Paul’s Roman citizen rights were ignored at the time of his first arrest in Philippi. At the time of his second arrest, Paul was minding his own business having just finished worshiping in the Jerusalem synagogue. He was then suddenly and violently attacked…and then arrested because he was attacked (Roman soldiers believing only a heinous criminal would be beaten in such a manner)?!
It is in the context of so many unjust actions with the absence of bitterness among them, and the view of a heavenly hope in Jesus, that the believers are called to stand firm and persevere.
Though he would later be acclaimed as one of the greatest inventors of history, Thomas Edison’s school career lasted three months. The teacher believed he was incapable of learning anything and sent him home. Edison’s mother taught him, and he was on his way to a lifetime of overcoming what seemed to be insurmountable obstacles. Among his most famous inventions were the commercial incandescent light bulb, the phonograph, and the fluoroscope. Most of his inventions required months if not years of dedication to overcoming obstacles before seeing any results.
In a 1921 interview, Edison described his persistence this way: “After we had conducted thousands of experiments on a certain project without solving the problem, one of my associates, after we had conducted the crowning experiment and it had proved a failure, expressed discouragement and disgust over our having failed to find out anything. I cheerily assured him that we had learned something. For we had learned for a certainty that the thing couldn’t be done that way, and that we would have to try some other way.”
Very few things of lasting significance and value are achieved without overcoming serious obstacles. The story of almost every “overnight success” is actually the story of someone continuing to persevere in the face of great difficulty and disappointment. (Source: Thomas A. Edison and the Modernization of America, Martin V. Melosi)
Paul did not accomplish great things for God because he never sinned or never made a mistake. Paul accomplished great things for God because he walked in humility, kept on getting back up, sharpened his focus on the prize (Phil. 3:14), and persevered to the end. We must stand firm and persevere continually rehearsing our faith in God, our love of God, and our hope in God! So, when you have been beaten unjustly (physically/emotionally/verbally), accused unjustly, and/or struggled with forgiveness over past sin – this is when we must cast our view on Jesus. Remember, He is the truth…He is ready to forgive…He is the target we must aim for…He is our glorious hope of the future!
CHOOSE UNITY (4:2)
While this exhortation is brief, the Holy Spirit does direct Paul to call out two within the church who had become known for an argument between them. No other details are given in scripture about the quarrel between these two ladies, but Paul pleads with them (“I beseech”) to reconcile and pursue unity.
I believe we all take our turn thinking our preference or opinion about something is vital and we are willing to go to war over it. Sometimes the war is public, and things get ugly quick. However, more often the war is either private (ignoring those who disagree…gossip about those who disagree) or the war is only within our own thought life (rehearsing resentment and bitter words against those who disagree). The truth is a negative thought life will eventually result in negative words or actions. Believer, if you find yourself in this position of strife, the call is to “stop it!” Be of the same mind in Jesus! Pursue unity in what is true: the Bible is the Word of God…Jesus is God…Jesus and His Word are truth…the Bible is the standard for faith and practice…Jesus died for all mankind…Jesus is ready to forgive…Jesus cannot love you (and those you disagree with) more than He does right now.
HELP OTHERS (4:3)
Paul asks the Philippian believers to help those who were gospel co-laborers with him. He reminds them they are part of the family of God!
The pick-up basketball game at the gym was a weekly highlight for many men; however, one week was different. One of the teams was struggling. They were yelling at each other, and one player even pushed another teammate in frustration. One thought he should be playing more, and another thought he should be given the ball to shoot more. They were fighting with each other and losing the game because their team was playing like enemies.
The church is on the same team! Treat fellow Christians like family – because they are part of the family of God…just like you are!
When I was growing up, my family would watch “Channel 6 Action News.” Every time there was a big storm on the coast, the same reporter would always be on camera at the eye of the storm on live TV. With the wind blowing everything around, she would stand her ground because she was committed to the work of giving breaking news. Child of God, stand firm and persevere because of your commitment to God…and you come to that position as you cultivate deeper relationship with Jesus!