Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way (Philippians 4:1, NIV)
In Chapter 3 of Philippians, Paul says, “Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are in front, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Aged 90, I’m not living in the past, but in the future – in the future of my ministry, and beyond that, to when we will meet the Lord in the Kingdom. Like Paul, I’m looking forward to the coming of Christ! I’m following his example.
But Paul ends Chapter 3 with a strong warning, “Many walk, of whom I have told you often and now tell you weeping, as enemies of the cross of Christ.” There are people who are Christian, even teachers and leaders of whom Paul says with tears, “Their end is destruction. Their God is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.” But, “Our fellowship is in Heaven, we are looking for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who at His coming, will change our vile [lowly] body, that it may be made like His glorious Body.” We all have a flawed, weak, fallible body. We have to admit, all of us are subject to temptation, to evil influences. Yes, we have lowly bodies, subject to weakness, sickness, hunger, thirst, and temptation – of course we do! Who is not subject to temptation? But when we receive our heavenly body, it will be a resurrection body – absolutely free of all these limitations!
“Therefore,” Paul continues in Phil 4:1, “my brethren whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, STAND FAST in the Lord!” This question of ‘standing fast’ is a reminder that despite our weaknesses, we must remain true to our faith. I’ve been working in the former Soviet Union for more than 60 years, 30 under communism and 30 since the freedom. I found that, in those days under communism, under persecution, the Underground Church remained ‘purer’ than the Church in the West, because they ‘HELD FAST’ to what they had – just as Christ said to the overcoming Church in Revelation 2:25, “HOLD FAST to what you have till I come.”
In Phil 4:2, Paul moves on, “I beseech Euodias and Syntyche to be of the same mind.” It seems there was disunity between these two in the Lord, some disagreement. Paul pleads with them to come together. Disunity is one of the things that troubles me most about the Church today. Terrible disunity. It troubles me so much, that in some countries I am attempting to call national days of prayer, bringing together all the denominations on two things, that they all accept that the Bible is the only Authority in the Church, and Salvation is only in the Name of Jesus. It’s one of the hardest things I have ever attempted to do, to bring brethren – who preach the same Gospel, and believe the same Bible and are saved with the same Salvation – together in unity, even in prayer!
And in Phil 4:3 Paul continues, “I entreat you, help those women who laboured with me for the Gospel, along with the rest of my fellow workers whose names are written in the Book of Life.” Paul needed so much support in his fight to preach the Gospel in Philippi, and now they need help… But their names are in the Book of Life! What other reward is there? Paul doesn’t talk about financial reward, how much are you going to pay me, what about this or that? The reward for their labour is that their names are recorded in the Book of Life!
Paul continues to encourage, v4ff, “Rejoice in the Lord always, rejoice! Let your moderation be known to all men – the Lord is coming! Be careful, anxious, for nothing! But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” There is something very deep here; in the Spirit I sense is that we, as labourers in the Gospel should not be overly concerned about material issues. Instead, in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, we should let our requests be made known to God. After all, it is God who supplies, and we should not look to men first, but trust God. When we do, v7 is fulfilled in our lives, “The peace of God which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” You know, when we trust God, it’s an implicit trust in Him and it brings peace!
Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles… And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Philippians 4:14-20, NIV)
Paul says, it’s good for you, to share in our troubles, this is not just an expression of your love for us, but your love for the Lord, so that we might preach the Gospel. Your gift, he says, v17, will be credited to your account, it is pleasing to the Lord, v18. You will receive spiritual credit for what you give to the Gospel – and this is the wonderful thing – as you give sacrificially, Paul says, “My God will supply all your need according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus!”
What a wonderful promise! My God will supply all your need! When you are committed to and support the Gospel – then stand on this promise – that when you give to the extension of the Kingdom, God will supply all your need. Wow! Paul calls this a matter of ‘giving AND receiving’, v15. When you give, stand by faith, God will take the responsibility to supply ALL your need. God bless you. Thank you for your support. Amen.