Sermon Tone Analysis

Philippians 4:2–9 (ESV)

Exhortation, Encouragement, and Prayer

2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 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.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.

The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 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.

9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Paul calls his readers to 4 things from our passage today.

Let’s observe a few things…He calls for Unity in order for his readers to REJOICE, RELAX, PRAY, and Put these things into PRACTICE.

Point 1...

1.

A Call for Unity [vvs.

2&3]

Philippians 4:2–3 (ESV)

Exhortation, Encouragement, and Prayer

2 I entreat [plead] Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.

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 had previously warned against 2 external conflicts which could threaten the church there at Philippi—the Judaizers [legalists] and the Libertines [liberals in their inhibitions].

And now he focuses on an internal conflict which could threaten the church.

He mentions two women by name—Euodia [YOUDIA] and Syntyche [SIN-TICKY].

These two women are having some sort of dispute.

This is the only place in Scripture where they are mentioned.

If I were mentioned in Scripture, I would hope that it would be for a positive occurrence…and not a reprimand by the Apostle Paul.

Now the details of the dispute are not revealed for us and Paul doesn’t point out which one is at fault.

However, Paul is even-handed in his appeal to them—His only counsel is to urge them to live in harmony.

Maybe he had these 2 women in mind as he wrote the harmony portion found in Chapter 2…BE LIKE CHRIST—HAVE THE SAME MINDSET AS JESUS CHRIST… have the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

That is the Harmony that Paul expressed in this letter to his readers.

We read in the Gospel of John in Chapter 17, where Jesus prayed that His disciples would experience unity--- modeled after the same unity that Jesus experienced with His Father (John 17:11, 21–23).

We later read in the Book of Acts, that Jesus’ prayer for unity was realized in the life of the earliest church.

The first believers were together in one place; they shared their possessions and were of one heart and soul (Acts 2 and 4).

But the Bible is clear— sin can threaten unity.

Remember from the Book of Acts, the selfishness of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1–11),

Remember the neglect of those disciples who wouldn’t feed the Greek-speaking widows (6:1),

Remember the Judaizers and their rigid, legalistic demands that claimed Gentiles had to become Jews before becoming disciples (15:1)

—all of those examples threatened the unity of the church.

And Paul says, “I am pleading for you two women to get along and be unified in Jesus Christ.”

Paul understood the unity of the church reflects the unity of the Godhead: one God, one Lord, and one Spirit.

These Christian women were reflecting the Church and The Lord to the rest of Philippi.

What kind of example were they showing?

They were definitely Christians…as they had labored side-by-side with Paul in the work of the Gospel....along with some other Christians there.

Their names are written in the Book of Life---along with other Believers there.

Paul knew they had shared in that work of the Gospel together.

They had shared in Christ together as Sisters in Christ.

So, Paul knew they shared common ground.

But, we all know Christians aren’t perfect.

Sometimes this happens....this happened in the First Century Church and it still happens today in the 21st Century Church.

Sometimes, there are other Believers who you can’t stand to be in the same room with.

But for the sake the Gospel—we are called to put our wants and needs aside—we are called to put our self-interests aside...

We are called to humble ourselves…we are called to die to ourselves... and to forebear with one another....to carry one another’s burdens…to serve one another…love one another…and forgive one another.

And to make certain these women can reconcile their differences, Paul calls someone in that church to assist these women in resolving their conflict.

Paul doesn’t mention this person by name, but rather refers to him as “true companion” or “loyal yokefellow”.

This person was to serve as a mediator to assist these 2 women in reconciliation.

He may have been a pastor or overseer there.

Now, what causes conflict?

If you think back from our series in James; James Chapter 4 verses 1 & 2 state that conflicts occur due to selfish desires.

We want something that we can’t have—and that results in conflict.

The remedy for selfish desire, which lead to conflict—Paul has already addressed in Chapter 2:

Do Nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit---but in Humility, consider others better than yourselves.

Live your life worthy of the call of the Gospel.

So, unity and harmony are required to live in peace with each other.

And sometimes, it may require mediator to help resolve the conflict.

But the GOAL is Restoration.

Galatians 6:1-2 “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.

Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

So, Paul pleads with these women to set aside their desires—set aside their feelings—for the sake of the Church—for the sake of the Gospel, because their division can hurt the Church—can damage how the World on the outside views Christ.

So, there needs to be Reconciliation and Restoration.

They need to find Peace with each other.

They have a mediator to help bring Restoration.

Now, we don’t know the outcome of that situation.

I want to believe these two women made amends, with the help of their Pastor, who served as mediator.

As we see from here, and from what Tim shared with us earlier from Matthew 18—there is a way to resolve issues and conflict between one another.

Forgiveness also plays a big role in conflict resolution.

That’s why I wanted Tim to read from Matthew 18.

Remember Peter’s question to Jesus?

“Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?

As many as seven times?”

Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

It’s not the number of times that matter—what matters is you forgive the other person.

And forgiveness is for your well-being also—because a grudge can become bitter and rot you from the inside out.

It’s about forgiveness and humility.

We know conflicts will continue to occur--So, Paul gives us 4 ways to find peace with each.

This Peace comes from God.

To have peace with each other, it must come from God.

So, Paul says we need to REJOICE, RELAX, PRAY, and Put it into PRACTICE.

REJOICE, RELAX, PRAY, and PRACTICE.

POINT 2...

2. A Call for Joy & Peace & Prayer [vvs.

4-7]

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.

The Lord is at hand;

6 do not be anxious about anything,

but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

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

Paul gives his readers a practical way to be peaceable people.

a] He first calls them to REJOICE.

Remember—the Philippians were more than likely discouraged to hear that Paul was in prison—so they sent him support through Epaphroditus.

Next, the Philippians were discouraged to hear that Epaphroditus became sick and nearly died.

The Philippians were also discouraged because of these outsiders trying to influence the church.

And they are experiencing strife and conflict inside the church, because of Euodia and Sinticky.

SO, Paul calls them to rejoice—not once, but twice.