Spiritual Stability through Resolove

Living the Christian life is like walking upstream against the current of a strong river. Of course, the river we walk against is the world, the flesh, and the devil, and these combined currents are strong. If we lose our stability, we can get swept away by the current, much like people do when they get caught by a riptide in the ocean; therefore, God's people need to have the stability to keep moving against the current. We need stabilizers to keep us stable.

Several years ago, I was on a flight from Isreal back to the United States. Somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, we hit some turbulence, and it felt like the plane dropped about fifty feet. One of the flight attendants picked up the in-cabin radio, yelled for everyone to get back in their seats, and said the airline would not be responsible for injuries sustained while out of a seat. The plane navigated the turbulence because of the horizontal and vertical stabilizers on the back of the plane.

We see illustrations of instability all around us. This past June, we witnessed the collapse of an unstable apartment building in Miami, Florida. If you follow business news, it seems that we are constantly experiencing an unstable economy. We live in Arkansas; therefore, we can experience unstable weather within the next few hours.

When life becomes like waking against a strong current or hitting turbulence in an airplane or unstable, we need stabilizers to help us withstand the pressures and life's instability.

The apostle Paul had spiritual stabilizers to help him through dangerous circumstances and conditions. He wrote the letter to the Philippians from a Roman prison. He suffered many trials, hardships, persecutions, and calamities yet remained spiritually stable.

Paul calls us to spiritual stability in Philippians 4:1 “1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.” The command to stand firm reveals that spiritual stability is expected of God’s people. The Greek word “stekete” is the word that we translate “stand firm.” It’s a military term that means, “Stand your guard” or “stand your post in battle.” It has the idea of having unwavering and uncompromising resolve in the Lord.

This is not the first time Paul commanded to stand firm. In Philippians 1:27 “27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,” Paul understands the importance of spiritual stabilizers.

The fourth chapter will help us, as believers, to experience spiritual stability. This whole chapter will give us principles to help develop spiritual stability in our lives and in our church. As we look at the first three verses of chapter four, we will notice that spiritual stability can only be experienced through resolve. Three commitments in these three verses that serve as spiritual stabilizers. First, we must resolve to pursue intimacy with Christ and Christlikeness to develop stability.

Resolve to pursue intimacy with Christ and Christlikeness.

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

We are commanded to stand firm in the Lord. The qualifier of the command is the phrase “in the Lord.”

It means that God’s people must have an unwavering resolve and commitment to their relationship with the Lord, which means we must resolve to pursue intimacy with Christ and Christlikeness.

What does it mean to pursue intimacy with Christ and Christlikeness?

The word “Therefore” helps us answer this question.

It takes us back to Philippians 3:10-21.

Resolve to know Christ more Philippians 3:10-11 “10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”

Resolve to make Christ your one thing in life Philippians 3:12-13 “12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,”

Resolve to have a big picture vision for life: Philippians 3:20-21 “20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”

I like how The Message translates verse one: “Don’t waver. Stay on track, steady in God”

James Calvert was a missionary to the cannibals on the Fiji Islands many years ago. He demonstrated an unwavering commitment to his relationship with the Lord. Just before Calvert departed the ship that took him to the Fiji Islands, the captain of the ship tried to stop him. The captain told him that he would die and if he went to live among all the savages. Calvert replied to the captain, “I died before I came.” Calvert’s life verse was Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me, and the life I live, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and died for me.”

That’s resolve. We must resolve to pursue intimacy with Christ and Christlikeness. We must also resolve to surrender to the Lordship of Christ.

Resolve to surrender to the Lordship of Christ.

You can’t pursue intimacy with Christ and Christlikeness without surrendering to the Lordship of Christ.

We read in Philippians 4:2 “2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.” One translation reads, “live in harmony in the Lord.”

In our study of Philippians, I have pointed out, on more than one occasion that there was division in the church.

In chapter one, the command to stand firm in unity.

In chapter two he spent the first half of the chapter dealing with keeping the unity of the church.

Here, in chapter four, he actually directly confronts the problem of division and disunity.

The two ladies involved were prominent and influential, helping Paul spread the gospel.

Something caused dissension between the two.

Show that anyone can become an instrument of division within the church.

We don’t know what the problem.

Worship styles

Carpet color

They are commanded to “agree in the Lord, “ live in harmony in the Lord.”

It means “to think the same in the Lord.” or “be of the same opinion in the Lord.”

Paul is looking for unity of purpose, not opinions.

This can only happen when there is a resolve to surrender to the Lordship of Christ.

When we are surrendered to Christ’s lordship, we are allowing Christ to live in us and through us.

Philippians 1:6 “6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 2:12-13 “12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

If we are unwavering in our relationship with Christ, naturally we will be committed to the Lordship of Christ in our lives.

St Augustine said, “Jesus Christ is not valued at all until is valued above all.” A commitment to the Lordship of Christ will bring about spiritual stability. In verse three we notice that Christians must be resolved to fulfill the purpose of the church.

Resolve to fulfill the purpose of the church.

Philippians 4:3 “3 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.”

The word translated “companion” can also mean “yokefellow.”

A yokefellow is someone who carries a common load, who is a partner in an endeavor.

Another word that Paul uses is “labored side by side,” or “shared struggle.” It means to cooperate vigorously together in something.

And then there is the word “fellow workers.” These words all reveal that God’s people are partners in fulfilling the task and purpose of the church.

Missionary Purpose

When Paul speaks of the two ladies he says they, “Labored side by side in the cause of the gospel.” The Greek word for gospel “euangellian” is used no less than eight times in the four chapters of this letter. Paul wanted to remind the church that the gospel must be shared to the ends of the earth.

Our purpose, as Christians, and the church, is to spread the gospel. We must testify of the grace of God in Christ Jesus. That is our business as Christians. That is our business as the church.

If we are really resolved to fulfill the purpose of the church we will be committed to the spread of the gospel, to reporting to people what Jesus has done for us.

Not only do we need to be committed to the missionary purpose of the church. We learn from this verse that we must be committed to the ministry task of the church.

Ministry Purpose

Philippians 4:3 “3 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.”

Paul’s request to other members to help these two ladies reveals this task, “I ask you also to help these women…” Paul commended his “true companion” to help these ladies resolve conflict. Helping one another is ministering to one another.

God’s people have been gifted to minister to one another.

Of course, one of the ways that we can minister to one another is by applying the gospel to conflict, that is, dealing with conflict in a Christ-like manner.

Ministry is expressing the love of Christ through action.

When God’s people are expressing the love of Christ through action you will have stable Christians and a stable church.

Motivational Purpose

Paul says, “whose names are in the book of life.” Why should we be committed? I know no greater motivation than the reality of having your name written in the book of life.

Reminds me of a conversation that Jesus had with his disciples as they returned from a ministry outing.

This is big picture resolve. There is no greater privilege or position than to have your name written in the book of life.

This should motivate us to be committed to Christ.

Christ demands our commitment. When we have an unwavering commitment to the Lord we can experience spiritual stability in our Christian experience.

AMG Bible Illustrations (Steadfastness in View of Suffering)

Jesus “steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51, 53). He had a definite destination, and He knew what it held for Him.

It meant Jerusalem with its sorrow, Gethsemane with its travail, the judgment hall with its injustice and shame, the cross with its anguish, and even the hiding of the Father’s face.

For Jesus there was no royal road to the throne of Israel. For Him the only path lay by Jerusalem and Calvary. It was a long and weary road, but Jesus took every step. He was tempted to turn aside from His goal, to be sure, and He was tempted in His sufferings. His friends wished to draw Him aside from His sufferings.

Peter rebuked Him when He spoke of them. Satan tried to perplex Him, and His own soul trembled when the time for His crucifixion came.

Yet, He knew that He had reached “the point of no return,” and He proceeded in the midst of the storms of sin and doubt about Him to go toward the cross where He would be victor once and for all.

In looking at Christ’s life, one thing that impresses us is His steadiness. He was never shifting, or even driven about. The throb of His life was constant and perfect.

Jesus had spiritual stability through resolve. What about you?