Joy in Conflict
Notes
Transcript
Last week:
We saw Paul encourage us in the attitude of looking forward and upward, not back
He would also warn us of those who are enemies of the cross, whose appetite is their god, who glory in their shame, and set their minds on earthly things
Today, Paul is going to pull everything that we have seen up to this point in this letter to the Philippians, and apply it to a specific situation, that could very well be the reason Paul wrote this letter in the first place.
Illustration:
There was a small church in the midwest. The church had two prominent families in the community that attended, the Harrisons and the Driscolls. Nearly every single member of that church was part of either of the families. So when Grandma Harrison and Grandma Driscoll were asked to redecorate the foyer of the church, they started to argue about what color to paint it. Everybody became on edge. Both these women were very strong willed and extremely opinionated. The young pastor of the church had only been there a couple years, and he had never seen them argue like this before. In fact, he was so scared to intervene, he thought it best just to leave it alone. So one Thursday afternoon, Mrs. Harrison came into the church and told the pastor, “If we end up painting that foyer the color she wants, I am leaving this church.” The next day, Mrs. Driscoll came in and said the same thing, “If we paint that foyer the color she wants, I am not coming back to this church.” Both ladies were so mad and quite irrational, the pastor was happy that he decided to stay out of it. It was just paint none the less. So on Sunday morning, the pastor showed up, a full sermon ready to go, one he had been looking forward to preaching all week, a powerful message about the love of God. When it came time for church to start, the pastor stepped up into the pulpit, and as he gazed across all the seats, he saw his wife and 3 children sitting right in the middle of the room… and no one else. You see, his decision not to step in ended up with both families leaving the church and a bunch of empty pews.
The sad part is that we deal with that same idea, that I’m just going to stay out of it. Its not my problem. But today, this is the same type of issue that Paul is encouraging the Philippians to tackle head on, and we will learn that we can actually maintain our joy in the Lord even in helping others resolve their conflicts.
V.1
1 Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
My joy and crown:
We already know why the Philippians are Paul’s joy
Participants in the gospel
Philippians 1:6- The faithfulness of God working to complete what He has started in them
Why were they Paul’s crown?
Paul planted this church, he labored among them.
This crown is a victors crown, a wreath one would wear after winning. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:24-25
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.
25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
Then, he tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:7-8
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
He ran as to win, to win people to Christ, to bring people to the true knowledge of Jesus Christ. And now, the Philippians are part of that crown
In this way:
Having the same attitude as Paul, pressing on, not looking back to the flesh, knowing our citizenship is in heaven.
Stand firm in the Lord:
Not just stand firm in the Lord, but pressing onward, looking upward as citizens of heaven.
Think of Hebrews 11:13,16
13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.
V.2-3
2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord.
3 Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Euodia and Syntyche:
What we know:
shared in the struggle in the gospel
names are in the book of life
live in harmony:
or, “be of the same mind”
We don’t know the details, but these two women are having trouble, and it appears to be effecting the whole church.
Why is it effecting everyone?? They have been active members, those who have worked with Paul.
Remember when Paul first came into Philippi, in Acts 16:13
13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled.
These two could very well be those who were there from the beginning.
What we know, is there is conflict within the church, and it is these two ladies who are creating a lot of noise.
True companion:
We don’t know who specifically this “true companion” is, but Paul tells them…
help these women:
This is what Paul says in Romans 15:14
14 And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.
To admonish, or, counsel, these women.
It isn’t to stay out of it, nor figure it out for thor let them figure it out, it is to help.
The word for help means to apprehend, arrest… or gather together
Gether them together, help them work this problem out. And everything we have learned so far, is exactly what these women need to know and remember.
To consider others interest as more important than yours, to put on the same attitude of Christ Jesus, to have the attitude of not looking back, but moving forward, and looking upward, taking no confidence in the flesh.
Why is it important to help these women?
I think of Matthew 5:9
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
I also think of what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:1
1 Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints?
Then as he goes on in 1 Corinthians 6:5-7
5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren,
6 but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?
7 Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?
We should take no hesitation to helping one another solving our disputes or disagreements. There is no shame in having people help us who are filled with the Spirit, who are gifted by God to build us up
But… How should we go about helping in these situations? How do can we find joy in the Lord when we have to help people resolve their problems? When there is conflict in the body of Christ?
V.4
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!
Number 1: REJOICE
Rejoice in the Lord. It is so important, he says again, I will say, Rejoice.
When conflict arises, it can take all the wind from our sails, but what Paul says, is to rejoice.
This is what we see in James 1:2-4
2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
No matter what you are going through, whether it is, whether something you are dealing with, or you are trying to help others reconcile, we can rejoice. Why? Because the Lord is using that to transform you, to shape you, to strengthen your faith and build in you patience.
How can we rejoice, in the context of helping two sisters figure out their conflict?
“Lord, I rejoice in you… because no matter what happens, You are still God, and You are doing a work that you are completing, not just in them, ut in me also. I can take joy knowing that You are the One who is working.”
V.5
5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.
Let your gentle spirit be known:
Conflict can bring out the worst in people, but how should we resolve conflit with others? Gently.
Think of Proverbs 15:1
1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
Its what Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:24-25
24 The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,
25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,
You want to help people resolve conflict, be gentle.
The Lord is Near:
Or, the Lord is at hand.
A motivation for all of us, that the Lord is near. Our time here is only temporary, and I don’t know how near the Lord is to coming, but I know this, we are getting closer every day.
So, to have joy in helping people resolve conflict: Rejoice, be gentle, know the Lord is near.
V.6
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Be anxious for nothing:
Don’t worry, don’t have a care for
When there are trials or conflict, it is usually the first thing we do, is to worry.
But don’t be anxious. Don’t worry about the results, don’t worry about how this will look, don’t be anxious for how you will help people. Don’t be anxious.
And I know, that goes against everything in our nature. Instead…
In everything by prayer and supplication:
So instead of being anxious, we are actually praying. And not just mourning and crying, but, with thanksgiving.
Why thanksgiving? Because we know what we read in Romans 10:12-13
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;
13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Let your request be made known:
Pray for the people you are helping, pray for yourself, because you know you need it. Pray for wisdom.
Remember James 1:5
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
V.7
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Peace of God:
Why pray? Why make our requests be known with thankgiving in our hearts? Because the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
When we pray with thanksgiving in our hearts, it turns us away from the anxiety of our problems or conflict, and it turns us to the One who is able to bring peace in the darkest of places.
In the context of what we are reading here, helping Euodia and Syntyche live in harmony, we need that peace to guard our hearts and minds.
We have no control over how they will respond, whether they will respond in a negative or positive way. But Paul has already given the Philippians all that they need to know in this letter how to help these ladies, we just need peace from the Lord about this, and that will come with prayer, not anxiety
V.8
8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Dwell on these things:
not the what-ifs, not the things that have already happened, not the things that could be or should be.
But whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely (or the word means lovable or gracious) whatever is of good repute, or anything that is of excellence or worthy of praise.
You see, our instinct is to dwell on things that steal our joy and make us anxious, but rather, these things will help you keep your joy.
5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
V.9
9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Practice these things:
Don’t just hear them, but practice them.
We know what to do, now, it is putting it to work.
Again, we read in James 1:22-24
22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
