10 - Paul's Positive Outlook 2012 By Pastor Jeff Wickwire Notes

Philippians Series

Part 10

“Paul’s Positive Outlook”

Last time we looked at Paul’s exhortation to “forget what lies behind” and “press on” to what lies ahead. We learned that sometimes we must forgive ourselves as God has forgiven us. We also explored Paul’s meaning in the words, “that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me” (3:12).

We all have a “that” for which Jesus apprehended us. Wrapped in “that” is all the will of God, including our salvation, sanctification, personal calling, and so forth. Paul refused to allow anything to prevent his attaining “that.”

Now as we enter Chapter 4, we see again Paul’s unquenchable joy and positive attitude in all things. He begins by mentioning his positive thoughts about the Philippians.

4:1 “Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.”

Paul didn’t just like them, he loved them. He longed to be with them. He was homesick for them. In his mind’s eye, he remembered their facial expressions and their gestures. He visualized them at home and at work. He could feel the bear-hug of the jailer and the friendly handshake of Lydia. He had birthed them in Christ Jesus as his spiritual children and he missed them.

They were his “joy and crown.” As he thought of them, the drabness of the prison walls melted away. Picturing himself answering to his name at the roll call of the judgment seat of Christ, he heard the Lord’s “Well done!” and saw himself receiving a crown. Emblazoned on the gleaming sides was the word Philippi.

Next, he remembers the one sad report brought to him by Epaphroditus from Philippi. His concern about two women at odds with each other reminds us of how keenly Paul understood the fact that Satan is ever prowling about God’s church looking for an entry way.

If we give any ground to Satan, he will press his advantage. If we allow a little indulgence here, a little carelessness there, battalions of evil thoughts and ungodly impulses will seize our imagination and entrench themselves in our soul. So Paul exhorts, “Stand fast in the Lord.”

Now for the two women:

4:2 “I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche (SIN-tih-kee) to be of the same mind in the Lord.”

Brought out in the open at last is the disagreement between two sisters in the assembly. He needed no further explanation. The situation was all too familiar. Words pass between two people over something fairly inconsequential; a difference of opinion about the color of the carpet in the sanctuary, for instance. Soon the two are not speaking. They avoid each other. Spouses are drawn into the squabble. Sympathizers are recruited from within the church to take sides.

The fire spreads from there. Soon a large slice of the congregation is at odds. It’s testimony suffers as the unsaved witness the trivial argument. “These are the people of love?” they ask. The work of the church begins to limp because nobody can agree on anything.

The more mature members of the church make a few attempts to bring order, sanity, and charity, all to no avail. Hard feelings have developed. To stop such nonsense at Philippi, Paul named names. Sometimes the only way to deal with some of these problems is to name names and force the two people causing the trouble to face their personal responsibility for what is happening.

The local church has authority to deal with three issues: sin, false doctrine, and factions (those who sow discord). So Paul is no longer sending hints, appeals, or suggestions. He very bluntly confronts the parties involved. After eighty-two verses he finally nailed the problem down.

Can you imagine the scene when this letter was read? Everyone was there. The place was packed. Epaphroditus has been welcomed back home, and has called the meeting to read the letter. He’s already read it and knows what’s coming.

Here and there were hints that Paul knew about the squabble. Euodias and Syntyche cast quick, uneasy glances toward each other, then looked away. They darted angry looks at Epaphroditus. Had he ratted them out?

Then like a bolt out of the blue, the two ladies heard their names being read: “I beseech Eudoias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.” Like a flash of lightning out of a calm blue sky the squabbling pair were named. Bluntly, inescapably, irrefutably.

Every eye was on them. They felt like curling up and digging a hole into China. The atmosphere in the meeting room was electric with tension. Perhaps one of the ladies flushed deep red and burst into tears. And the other may have bit her lip and turned white as a sheet.

But it wasn’t intended to destroy. The pleading voice of Paul echoed the voice of the Lord Jesus. Mercifully the reference to the two women was brief. Though he quickly changed the subject, how accurate was his aim!

And his words apply to us as well as to the Philippians. We don’t have to agree on politics, or diet, or sports, or music, or books. But we do have to be of the same mind in the Lord. This doesn’t mean we are to tolerate doctrinal error for the sake of unity; or put up with immorality or some other sin in the church for the sake of “keeping the peace.” But it does mean we cannot squabble and sow discord over our differences.

Next, we see Paul’s positive thoughts about his partners:

“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.”

Paul was realistic enough to realize that his few brief words would not fully settle the issue between the two women. And their feelings of shock and embarrassment at having their names read to the whole congregation would need some help in getting over it.

So Paul asks Epaphroditus to do what he could to soften the blow. He remembers the good things about the two women, mentioning their labors with him in the work of the gospel.

Having dealt with this difficult issue, Paul now moves the readers to higher ground, taking their minds off of this difficult event.

4: 4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

Paul’s answer to all of life’s problems is the Lord Jesus. When rejoicing in Him, all discord dies. In the midst of some of life’s most crushing experiences, Paul’s answer is always the same: think about the Lord.

The Lord can restore the years the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25). He can bind up the brokenhearted (Isaiah 61:1). He can make evil become a means of grace. “As for you,” said Joseph to his brothers, “you thought evil against me; but God meant it for good” (Gen.50:20). We can realistically and courageously “rejoice in the Lord” in the midst of our storms.

Not only were they to rejoice, Paul wanted them to be holy:

4:5 “Let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.”

The word “moderation” can also be translated “yieldedness.” It speaks of selflessness, of a spirit ready to yield in anything that is of “self”—for the Lord’s sake. We must remember here that the context of 4:5 is the conflict between Eudoias and Syntyche. Paul was urging them to be selfless. And he added, “The Lord is at hand.”

Who would want to be caught away in the rapture in the middle of a fight with a fellow believer? While rejoicing in the Lord is the recipe for a happy life, expecting the second coming of Christ is the recipe for a holy life. Paul always made “The Lord is at hand” his watchword, the guard he set at every door.

NEXT TIME: “DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT!”