In Christ Jesus VI

Stand firm In the Lord

Stand Firm in the Lord

I would like to finish our series on Philippians.

This letter was written as from a friend to another friend, the tone of this letter was of extreme joy, even though Paul was in prison.

Paul wrote this epistle To all God's holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi,

Paul was brought to Rome to appear before Caesar.

While Paul was in Rome for 2 years, he was able to rent his own quarters, but he had to be chained to a guard 24hours a day. What he counted as a great opportunity to share the Gospel with the elite roman soldiers protecting Ceasar, many came to know Christ.

This was his first imprisonment in Rome,

Paul's imprisonment in Rome during the next two years is surprisingly fruitful, as he writes four of his fourteen epistles (Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians and Philemon). He is ultimately acquitted of all the charges against him and is freed in 63 A.D.

Paul is once again a prisoner in Rome in 67 A.D. Tradition states that he is martyred (marderd) through being beheaded (a method of execution allowed citizens of the Empire) in the spring of 68. The last year of Nero.

Jerome, and Eusebius, the two earliest writers who mention the date of his death.

From Rome he wrote this letter to his faithful and beloved friends in Philippi, They sent him an offering and he was responding to them.

We are in the 4th chapter of Romans

Let’s pray

Stand firm in the Lord

Php 4:1 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!

Paul loved them with the Love of Christ, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, Paul describes his Agape for them the unconditional love of God.

My Joy Paul’s great delight in seen them walking with Jesus, and Crown an allusion to the victors at the Grecians games and refers to Paul’s exultation in the Philippians conversion.

Stand firm in the Lord in this way.

1 Be of the same mind.

Php 4:2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.

Two women who had worked with Paul were in conflict with each other

So he called their attention and the church.

Now, let’s not argue, let’s not fight, let’s not create division within the body. Let’s be of the same mind in the Lord.

James says this about fights and quarrels.

Jas 4:1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?

Jas 4:2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.

Jas 4:3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

Jas 4:4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

This is for Christians and non-Christians, we struggle with the same things, as Christians we have the choice to have the same mind of Christ Jesus, just because someone who is a little more stubborn than you is forcing an idea doesn’t make them right, is not about us being right , but us submitting ourselves our will to His will, embracing The will of the Lord.

I have to do the same thing that I’m telling you, and is not ways easy. Most people don’t like conflict, I don’t like conflict

Php 4:3 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.

No doubt they were Christians but struggling with each other. Two women, creating drama and division, we don’t know who’s Paul companion was, but as Paul was asking him to help, we need to help those who are in conflict, to wake up, there is a greater work to be done, The Lord is near.

2 Rejoice in The Lord

Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Again rejoice in the Lord! A choice that we have to make every day, it does not depend on the right circumstances or happy occasions. Paul talks about Joy and rejoicing 14 times in this epistle and he was in prison.

Php 4:5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Gentleness (Moderation and patience) let it be evident to all. Don’t react quickly to things, or conflicts, take to prayer present your request to God, be patient, and He will show you what to do.

Php 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Sometimes we forget to request with thanks giving, and our prayers sound more like a pity party, we can’t see the good in anything, what God is doing in us and around us, Our Heavenly Father is always working with us He loves us.

As we wait to see the deliverance of the Lord, or the provision of the Lord, there is always a process taking place in us, our faith our gratitude our love for Him, we are humans, just like the people of Israel we forget the blessings and the miracles of the Lord and we want to go back to Egypt.

But when by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, we present our request to God will give us His peace.

Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Shalom is a Hebrew word meaning peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare and tranquility.

Jesus said

Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

My peace I give to you. Shalom " That kind of peace that He had when the boat was sinking, and He was sleeping. That peace that comes through perfect confidence that the Father is in control of everything that surrounds my life. God’s in control. The peace. "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

His peace is supernatural.

3 Think about what is good and excellent.

Php 4:8 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.

Our minds are always thinking about something, sometimes great things sometimes not, amoral things, like a nice flower arrangement, or moral things like God’s law and his love for us, other times immoral like criticizing or judging someone, fantasizing about what is not yours.

Do you know that We can guide our thoughts? Change our minds, we can switch from thinking of a flower to a car in a second. Just like that.

This is what Paul is telling us.

Rom 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Do you want to hear from God? renew your mind with His words.

If we turn our tv on or our computer, in 5 min we know where social media is leading us, these guys have done a great amount of research and studies to learn how to manipulate your mind, and your emotions, their goal is to connect you to your needs, and if you don’t need anything they will get you with something you can’t live without.

Lust is the name of the game, creating in you a intense desire for something you don’t need, is not always sexual, but whatever you need to replace God they will find for you.

Php 4:9 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.

4 Be content in every situation.

Php 4:10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.

Php 4:11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

Php 4:12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Php 4:13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

This verse is one of the top verses among those taken out of context from the bible.

Paul was sharing about being content when he was in need, and also being content having plenty, as he would pursue his calling in the Lord, he was not talking about worldly success.

This is what Paul was referring to.

2Co 11:23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.

2Co 11:24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.

2Co 11:25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,

2Co 11:26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.

2Co 11:27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.

2Co 11:28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

This is the context of I can do all things through Christ who strengths me

Php 4:14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.

Php 4:15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;

Php 4:16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.

Php 4:17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.

Php 4:18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

Php 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Php 4:20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Stand firm in the Lord

In this way

1 being of the same mind

2 Rejoice in the Lord

3 Think about what is good and excellent.

4 Be content in every situation.

If you never asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior let me give you an opportunity to do so.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Joh 3:16

To receive Him we need to accept Him as God’s son, repent from our sins and a life of selfishness, asking Him to be your Lord and savior, not that you deserve it, but is a gift from God.

If this is your desire today, please repeat this prayer after me?

Heavenly Father I’m sinner, I’m sorry for my sins, I’m willing to turn away from my sins.

I receive Christ as my savior,

I confess him as Lord

from this moment on I want to follow and serve him,

in the fellowship of his church,

In Jesus name. Amen!