Standing Firm in Gospel Peace

Philippians 4:1 “Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.”

Brothers and sisters, every believer knows what it feels like for life to press in on all sides. The pressures of relationships, the weight of worry, the noise of our thoughts — they all seem to chip away at our peace. And yet Paul writes, “Stand firm in the Lord.”

He’s not telling weary Christians to tighten their grip in their own strength. He’s saying, “Because you belong to Christ, you can stand firm in the peace He provides.” This peace isn’t fragile or fleeting — it flows from the finished work of Jesus.

As Paul closes his letter to the Philippians, he shows us what gospel peace looks like in every area of life — in our relationships with one another, in our hearts before God, and in our minds as we think and live in the world.

First we see that the gospel is the basis of peace in the church…

Gospel Peace in the Church (1-5)

Paul is nearing the end of his letter and he wants to say a few more things. And one of the things he wants to talk about is the unity of the church at Philippi.

Philippians 4:2 “I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.”

This is a major topic in the church. Unity—peace—love amongst one another. It is a most grievous thing for the relationships among believers to fall apart.

It is a most grievous thing for there to be back biting, gossip, unkindness, and a lack of reconciliation amongst believers.

The church is not perfect but it is supposed to be different!

How? Not different in that there is no conflict in the church.

Conflict is going to happen in the church because we are not yet glorified—we are all still in the fight against our sinful flesh. See Romans 7.

So in the church—someone is going to do something that upsets you. Someone is going to do something that you disagree with. Or it may be more direct—someone is going to sin against you—that happens in the church.

So if the church has to be different because no one gets upset with each other then we’d have to have a church with no people—which is impossible because the church is the people.

So how is the church supposed to be different? The church is different in how we reconcile.

The church is to be marked by forgiveness—lasting frustration with one another in the church should not be.

Let me tell you what happened in my first church. As soon as I arrived—people started to come visit us and bring watermelons and cakes and things like that. But also, my new congregation started to tell me who I couldn’t trust in the church. One lady would come and tell me I couldn’t trust so and so. A guy would come and “warn” me about another guy. And so and so on. And guess what—they were all warning me about each other. At the end of the day I was more than a little discouraged.

Talk about a welcoming committee. Let it not be so at our church dear friends. Reconciled, gospel relationships should be a clear mark of the church—the world should see the difference the gospel makes in our relationships. It’s really important. Look how important it is to Paul…

Paul—in a letter to the whole church—calls these two women out by their names—that’s how important this matter of their disagreement is to Paul.

And he says to them, “I entreat you”—I am calling you to earnestly listen and heed my call to agree with each other. He even calls another to get involved—biblical scholars aren’t sure who this “true companion” is but it’s someone who is also a part of the church in Philippi. This disagreement is serious business to Paul. And we shouldn’t make light of what the Bible takes seriously.

So Paul says, “I entreat, implore, insist that you find agreement.” And here’s the rub—what is the basis of agreement that Paul is calling them to?

Is he saying— “You have to see it the same way?” “You have to agree on all details of your disagreement?” No—Paul says, “I entreat you to agree with one another IN THE LORD.”

Notice in verses 3-5 how many times the gospel is brought up or referenced.

Philippians 4:3–5 “Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.”

Verses 3-5 are pointing to the gospel again and again.

Paul is saying—sisters, you are bonded to one another in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. You are both covered in the same blood. You both bear the same name of Christ. You are members of the same body. It is because of this—gospel-family bond that I call you to agree with one another.

The body doesn’t work if the different body parts are fighting one another.

Imagine seeing a man whose left side of the body was fighting the right side of the body—among the many words you may use to describe him—functional is not one of them.

Lasting disagreement brings dysfunction into the body of Christ. How many people do you know friends—who have left the church because of disagreement that could have been solved? There are reasons to part ways with a church but I’m not talking about that—I’m asking how many people have you known personally that have left a church because they had a lasting disagreement with someone that was never resolved?

I know you know people because I’ve known people—you may have been that person. Let me ask you another question: how many times did that take up the energy of the church—distract the mission of the church—hurt the worship of the church? 10 out of 10 times.

And I’m not trying to sound harsh here church. I’m doing the work of a shepherd. A shepherd is gentle, and cares for the sheep, and binds their wounds—but he also warns the sheep of danger. And I’m saying to you this morning beloved—danger! Look out for the danger of lasting disagreements in this body of Christ. They will poison the church, slow down the mission, and hurt our worship.

Hear the words of Jesus himself in his prayer for his people.

John 17:20–21 ““I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

Unity, loving relationship in the church speaks to the world about the truth of Christ. If that is true—and it is—then what does turmoil and fighting in the church speak to?

It is inappropriate for Christian brothers and sisters to hold grudges against one another. And if you are in one now—I beg you to repent and reconcile. For the sake of Christ and for the good of your own soul.

Paul is saying come together and reconcile. Because Christ has made you his own and because you do not belong to yourself but to Christ—so do away with lasting contention amongst His body.

And here’s the good news—you really can. The devil will tell you there’s no reconciliation to be had but Christ says there is. Because you have been saved you can forgive—you can ask forgiveness—you can live in humility before your God. The Holy Spirit in you will help you to do this work in your heart.

And if you need help doing that then ask for it—there is no shame in seeking peace amongst the body of Christ—that is only an admirable thing to desire.

So the gospel helps us to firmly fight for unity in the church. Paul wants us to stand firm in the Lord in this way. But now Paul moves from the community of the church to focusing on the individual hearts that make it up by addressing something we all struggle with. Read verses 5b-7 with me.

Philippians 4:5b–7 “The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Gospel Peace for our Hearts (6-7)

First, let me just point out that when the Bible talks about anxiety it’s not always negative. In a positive since being anxious means caring deeply for others and being concerned for their good.

We saw this in Philippians 2:19–20 when Paul said about Timothy that he is “genuinely concerned for the welfare.” of the believers in Philippi.

But what our text has in mind—is negative anxiety—that doesn’t trust in God’s goodness in our lives.

This kind of anxiety is a terrible feeling—we’ve all experienced it.

And some struggle with it greatly. If you really struggle with anxiety these verses can feel a bit like someone trying to speak into your life when they don’t know your life.

Isn’t it the worst when someone gives you advice on a topic that they know nothing about? Moms—how open are you to hearing from a man in your life about how you should give birth? Not very, I bet. Fellas, just don’t. Young men—just trust me, don’t.

I don’t care if they ask you straight to your face—the most loving thing for you to do is go deaf and get a phone call.

But that’s not what’s happening here. Paul has the life experience to speak on anxiety.

Paul has been in some really anxious situations in his life. He tells us about it in 2 Corinthians 11

2 Corinthians 11:24–27 “Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.”

And Paul is in one now—he’s currently as he’s writing this letter to the Philippians—sitting in jail for preaching the gospel.

Paul knows what it is to face anxiety—he was in constant danger and so there was constant temptation for him to be anxious about what would happen to him in the future. So Paul has been there—he’s not speaking into a situation that he doesn’t know about.

Also, recognize that this is God’s word—he used Paul to write it, but Paul communicated everything God meant to communicate through Paul. More than Paul and his experience—trust the God behind Paul who is calling you to fight your anxiety.

Also—I want you to notice that while God in his word calls us to fight anxiety—He says, “Do not be anxious”—he doesn’t condemn those who are anxious.

Like a loving Father he calls you to a better way because He loves you.

If you struggle with anxiety there is a great temptation to think that God is angry with you because of your anxiety.

You can get caught in this circle where you feel anxious —>know that God doesn’t want you to feel anxious —> so you feel guilty for your anxiety —> which makes you feel anxious. And the circle starts over.

Everyone experiences anxiety sometimes—sometimes the fear of a situation causes us to not trust God—we think the situation is bigger than our God.

And some people struggle with anxiety a lot—for them it’s a chemical reaction in their brain that constantly pushes them toward worry and anxiety.

Sin has done to this world—exactly what God said it would do—it has brought death and brokenness and this has touched our bodies too. But whether your anxiety is common or clinical God is still calling us to take responsibility for it and fight against it. And again—here’s the good news..

The gospel means that you really can fight against anxiety. If you have placed your faith in Jesus God’s word says you are no longer dead in your sins, but you are alive in Christ. You are a new creation and God the Holy Spirit resides in you and is helping you to become more and more like Christ.

This doesn’t mean that saved people don’t experience anxiety but it means that you really can move more and more in obedience to the command here and elsewhere in scripture to not be anxious.

And once again—we see that the gospel is key. Look at the verses again—really the command starts at the end of verse 5.

God isn’t saying—just don’t be anxious—pull yourself up by your boot straps and stop it! He’s saying, “I am at hand—I am near—I am with you and I will be always—because I am with you; do not be anxious.”

Why does a child want their parent to sit with them in the dark while they fall asleep in bed? Because if Dad is there I don’t have to worry and I can rest in his presence.

That is what God is saying to you this morning. Yes, there is hardship in the world, yes bad things can happen, but I’m right here with you. Rest in me and do not worry—there is peace in my great love for you.

Verse 6 is saying— “child of God move toward your Father who loves you.” How?

The rest of verse 6 says “…in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Your Father is eager to hear from you about everything. You are never bothering your good Father with your prayers and your requests—that’s what supplications are—requests about things you need.

God isn’t saying I wish they would just trust me and stop bothering me with all this prayer. God is saying I want them to pray to me about everything because they trust me. Because they believe that I love them.

And church when you doubt that God loves you—look to the cross—we know that God loves us because He died for us.

It was not obligation that made Jesus stay on that cross—it was not a sense of duty—it was love. Love for the Father and love for you kept Jesus on the cross—he took the penalty for your sin. He rose from the dead to defeat death for all His people. The holy God of the universe is deeply in love with you. Believe it. Believe it and be free.

So, dear friends when you are anxious take it all to God—take it all—and take it as often as you need to.

Do you know what will happen if you do that? If you make a practice of praying about all your anxieties do you know what will happen? God’s Word tells us. Look at verse 7.

Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

That’s a gospel promise from God to you—and I challenge you to put it to the test and watch your anxiety improve.

So Paul is calling us to stand firm in the Lord. And we’ve seen the Gospel helps us firmly fight for unity in the church, the gospel helps us firmly trust in our God, and finally this morning we see…

Gospel Peace for our Minds (8-9)

Philippians 4:8–9 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

There is a bridge from your mind to your heart.

There is a pervasive lie in our culture that the heart and the mind are not really linked—that what you think about and dwell on has nothing to do with your actions and attitudes. But God has been saying the opposite for a long time.

Luke 6:45 “… for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

Romans 12:2 “Be transformed…change your actions by renewing your mind.” I’m paraphrasing.

God’s word tells us that there is a connection between our thoughts and our beliefs.

The point is really simple: what you think about matters. What you decide to set your mind on has an affect on what lives in your heart. God’s Word is plain here.

I like simple math—well the math is simple here. What goes in is what comes out. What you feed on affects how you feel. It determines what you dwell on.

When our minds are anchored in the gospel, our hearts are guarded by its peace.

So if you want peace then fill your mind with what is true, what is honorable, what is just, and pure and lovely and commendable. Set your minds on what is excellent and worthy of praise.

It really is that simple—even if it doesn’t feel like it. God’s word is truer than our feelings—and that is good news.

As you dwell on God and his goodness your heart is filled with honorable, just, pure, and lovely things. And the result is that they will affect your life and give you peace. Why? Because God is there—these are all His attributes—they flow from him—and at the end of them is Him.

And the opposite is true as well. If you fill your mind with worldly garbage—well no wonder you don’t feel peace in your life—at the end of garbage is the dump not God.

Peace comes to those who walk with God actively and go where He is—that’s why Paul says think on these things and practice these things and you’ll feel the presence of the God of peace.

Well what are you saying pastor? I’m saying be discerning about what you set your mind on. God is not going to sit down with you to a meal of garbage—he’s not a raccoon.

Before you were saved by Christ you were dead in your trespasses and sins and you were following the course of this world. That’s what Ephesians 2:1 says.

But now in Christ you have access to a better table—you have a spiritual mind that desires spiritual food.

And God who loves you is saying—come take of these things—come and be where I am.

So what does this mean for you and me? How do we apply this?

Fill your mind with the truth of God’s Word—fill your mind with the truth of all that is glorious about God—dwell on these things. Make a practice of thinking on them. How?

Well first—read your Bible. Reading the Bible is not a to-do list for Christians. The Bible isn’t an obligation it’s a gift.

Your Bible is chock full of excellent and praise worthy things for you to set your mind on.

Listen to good sermons from good teachers.

Study theology—Daily Doctrine by Kevin DeYoung is a theology book everyone can read. Joel Beeke’s Essentials of Reformed Systematic Theology is a book everyone can read.

Put these things in your mind as often as possible by as many means as possible.

Develop a hunger for these good things and get rid of those things you set your mind on that look more like the world.

God wants you to have peace in your life—it’s yours in Christ. So take hold of it.

Conclusion

Church, the peace Paul describes here is not a peace you have to earn — it’s a peace that’s already been won for you.

Because Jesus reconciled you to God, you can pursue peace with others. Because He cares for you, you can lay every anxiety at His feet. Because He is true, good, and lovely, you can fill your mind with the things that reflect His glory.

Standing firm in the Lord doesn’t mean standing still — it means standing steady on the foundation of Christ. And when you do, “the God of peace will be with you.”

And the peace of God will have shape your life for your good and the glory of God. Let’s pray.