February 7th, 2021 (Sunday Main Service Sermon) Rev. Sung-Jick Kim
Stand Firm in the Lord [Passage]
Philippians 4:1-7 (NIV)
Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity
1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!
2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Final Exhortations
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
[Introduction]
Hallelujah!
Today, we are going to look at the book of Philippians.
The book of Philippians is a letter from Apostle Paul as a reply to the letter from the Philippian church.
To Paul who is prisoned in Rome, the Philippian church sends a letter of comfort and support article through a person named “Epaphroditus.” As a reply to this letter, Apostle Paul writes a letter, or the book of Philippians, to the Philippian church. This Philippian church is the church that was first built during Paul’s 2nd mission trip when he went to the land of Europe to evangelize. Starting from this Philippian church, the gospel gets spread around the entire Europe. The region of Philippi was located near Bulgaria, which is currently located in the north side of Greece, and there, the Philippian church was located in the way that connects to the main land of Europe. The place where the Philippian church first started is very precious. From the house of the fabric merchant named “Lydia,” the first church of Europe, or the Philippian church, started. Also, another precious thing is that in this Philippian church, all the people in the household receive baptism and meet God instead of just one person. First, Lydia and everyone in her household get baptized, and then, even the prison officer of the Philippian prison gets baptized through the words, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your
household.” The precious grace of all the households receiving baptism and meeting God took place in the Philippian church. The first church of Europe, the church that started at the house of a woman, where everyone in the household believed in God, and the first-built church of Philippian goes through trouble inside and outside the church as time goes on. There was persecution of the Romans from
outside. Also, there was trouble among the church members inside the church. In addition, their spiritual father, Apostle Paul, whom they trusted and relied on, is imprisoned in the Roman prison. At the time of today’s scripture, there was a darkness in the Philippian church. As Apostle Paul is writing this letter to the Philippian church, he is giving them an encouragement like in Philippians 4:1.
1. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends (Philippians 4:1)
He is saying that even though there are a lot of troubles inside and outside the church, he is telling them to do not fall down, do not give up, and “Stand firm in the Lord” and defeat all the troubles! The church that was built through the blood of Jesus Christ never falls down!
Hallelujah!
For us too, as we are going through this pandemic for almost 1 year, we are facing a lot of difficulties.
However, God, who is our strength when we are weak, will lead us, our family, our workplace, and our church to the most kind and good way when we hold onto this scripture, “Stand firm in the Lord.”
Then, how can we stand firm in the Lord? Let’s look at the book of Philippians to share this grace.
[Main Sermon]
1. Be of the same mind in the Lord!
Firstly, verse 2 states, “Be of the same mind in the Lord!”
2. I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. (Philippians 4:2)
Earlier, I mentioned that the book of Philippians was a reply. Apostle Paul probably heard what was happening in the Philippian church in detail through Epaphroditus who brought the letter from the Philippian church. One of the situations that he told Apostle Paul was that the people of “Euodia” and the people of “Syntyche” were not being of the same mind in the Lord and were in conflict with each other. Here, Apostle Paul directly mentions the names of the two people and specifically points at them,
“I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche…” Apostle Paul is not only pointing at one person but is giving both of them an encouragement, “Both of you, please be of the same mind in the Lord.”
There are many different opinions on which part they were not of the same mind specifically. These two people were women, so some people view their conflict as an emotional fight between two women.
Some people view it as the argument between Jewish Christians and foreign Christians that was common in the Early Church at that time. I also view it as the problem of the church that spread to become an argument between those who support “Euodia” and those who support “Syntyche.” These two women were not just ordinary women, but they were like leaders who helped Paul to build the Philippian church. In verse 3, Apostle Paul calls these women as “those who contended at my side in the cause of the gospel.” “Euodia” and “Syntyche” were the two women who were the leaders who were loyal to support the church for the gospel and the kingdom of God when they were with Paul at first. As we saw, the Philippian church was built by the fabric merchant woman “Lydia,” so it seems like the women have leadership in this church. Like this, “Euodia” and “Syntyche” worked together following their spiritual leader Paul. They were of the same mind in the Lord at that time, but they became apart
after Paul left and time passed. Now, they are of the different mind in the Lord. Thus, this was not just an emotional battle, but it was the difference between the two opinions. As we have looked at
previously, the two different minds that were common in the Early Church at that time was the different minds of the Jewish Christian and the foreign Christian. They are both Christians who believe in Jesus.
However, they are of different minds. (1) First, the main characteristic of the Jewish Christians is that they focus more on the words of the Old Testament since they are Jewish. They lean more towards the
“words” considering the words, or the law of God, important and follow the words exactly. (2) On the other hand, the main characteristic of the foreign Christians is that they lean towards really believing only in Jesus rather than the law. They lean more towards the “faith” rather than the words of the Old Testament or the law. Actually, it is not like one is right or the other is wrong. As true Christians, we need to focus on both the Old Testament and the New Testament, or the entire words of the Bible, and firmly believe in Jesus Christ, the center of all the words. “Words” and “faith” can never be separated from each other. We need to have “words” inside us to have “faith,” and also, we need to have “faith”
in us to realize or understand “words.” However, because they separate these two and lean more on one thing, the wrong conducts are manifesting in the Early Churches. As we have looked at Revelations previously, the church like Ephesus was confident at “words” that they were into the wrong teachings of the Nicolaitans, but they became weakened at the passion of “faith,” or the passion of the first love.
On the other hand, the church like Pergamon had a great passion of “faith” that they even produced many martyrs, but they followed the wrong teachings of the Nicolaitans and became a church that is weak at the part of “words” that distinguish the right from wrong. The two different minds of “Euodia”
and “Syntyche” inside the Philippian church do not seem to differ from the churches of Ephesus and Pergamon. Even those who were following the two women became one-sided and fought against each other having two different minds inside the church that is supposed to serve one owner, Christ. Their image was a “division” that could not stand firm in the Lord. About this problem of the Philippian church, Apostle Paul gives them a resolution to guide them to “do this.” In verse 3,
3. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, (1) help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, (2) along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. (Philippians 4:3)
The solution of this problem that Apostle Paul is saying is that to get rid of the division inside the
community and to have the same mind in the Lord, they, the members of the Philippian church, need to help the two groups.
The two groups are:
(1) Firstly, they need to help the two women, “Euodia” and “Syntyche.” (2) Then, they need to help
“Clement and the rest of Paul’s co-workers.”
(1) When the division between “Euodia” and “Syntyche: becomes deep, they need to help them to get back to the same mind they had at first, when they both worked for the gospel with Apostle Paul building the Philippian church at the beginning. (2) The second group, “Clement and the rest of Paul’s co-workers,” is the co-workers and the main leadership of the church that Paul set up himself.
“Clement” seems to be the main leader as the name appears in front. The position of “Clement” is not an easy position. This position is the big position in place of Apostle Paul, which was very burdensome position. It maybe because they could not bear this burdensome leadership that there was a conflict like the one between “Euodia” and “Syntyche.” To “Clement and the rest of Paul’s co-workers,” Apostle Paul is giving some weight on them. At the end of verse 3, Paul stated pointing at the members of the
Philippian church by saying “names are in the book of life” and testifying. He is telling them to “firmly build the church being of the same mind in the Lord following the main leaders. As all of us help each other and build the kingdom of God together to make “faith” and “words” harmonized, focusing on one leader that God has set up, that community in families, workplaces, or churches will stand firm in the Lord.
(1) “To stand firm in the Lord,” we need to “be of the same mind in the Lord, following one leader and harmonizing words and faith. We need to help each other to be of same mind.”
2. Rejoice in the Lord always!
Secondly, Apostle Paul is saying, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” In verse 4,
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)
This verse emphasizes to rejoice in the Lord twice. Not just that but also states to rejoice “always.”
This “joy” or “happiness” is one of the essential things of the people of God. Even in the three things of the kingdom of God, “righteousness,” “peace,” and “happiness” or “joy” are included. Also, if the Holy Spirit resides in us, the fruit will manifest. Among the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit, the second fruit that comes after the first one, “love,” is “happiness” or “joy.” Thus, there is no “joy” in us who are Christians, and there is no delight in our life and there is only sadness, that means that there is something wrong in our spiritual life. then, as Christians or as the people of God, how can we be joyful and happy? The example can be found in the Old Testament. Habakkuk 3:17-18 sings like this,
17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior. (Habakkuk 3:17-18)
Just like verse 4 of today’s scripture, Habakkuk confesses “I will rejoice in the Lord.”
Even though there is nothing to us and we continue to have nothing, “We rejoice in the Lord always. We are joyful in God our savior.” Singing like this is the true confession of the people of God.
Then, how is this possible? There are no fig fruits, no grapes, and no cattle, then how can we rejoice in the Lord always?
In the book of Habakkuk, the answer appears in chapter 3 verse 19.
17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.
For the director of music. On my stringed instruments. (Habakkuk 3:17-19) Amen.
The reason is because the Sovereign Lord is my strength. Because the Lord is my treasure, He is my everlasting firm, even if I do not have anything right now, the Lord is my strength when I am weak. The Lord makes my feet like the feet of a deer, enabling me to tread on the heights, so “I rejoice in the Lord always.” Hallelujah!
When the Lord is our only foundation of strength, then we can rejoice in the Lord always. The joy is always in us when the foundation of our strength is the everlasting, unchanging God.
If we live on something else as our foundation of power, our joy, sadness, anger, and pleasure change depending on that something.
If “a fig tree” is our strength, we cannot be joyful and pleasant when “the fig tree” does not bud.
If “money” was our strength, we cannot be happy when we do not have “money.”
If “our children” are our strength, we are not happy when “our children” do not listen and cause troubles.
If we try to find our foundation of strength in something else, we can never be joyful. However, if we find our foundation of strength in the Lord only, He will make our feet like the feet of a deer and enable me to tread on the heights, so we will rejoice in the Lord always.
(2) “To stand firm in the Lord,” “we need to rejoice in the Lord always,” finding our foundation of strength in the everlasting God only rather than in something else. We need to live the life that we rejoice in the Lord always.
3. Pray with thanksgiving!
Lastly, “to stand firm in the Lord,” “we need to pray with thanksgiving.”
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)
This is about our prayer. To stand firm in the Lord, we need this “prayer.” In this verse about a short prayer, the expression “prayer” appears many times. “Prayer” and “petition” and “requests” and
“present”…. The verse emphasizes all of our prayers that the expression about prayer appears four times. Especially in this verse, the one thing that we need to get rid of and the one thing that we need to have when we pray are stated. (1) The thing we need to get rid of is “anxiety.”
“Do not be anxious but pray.”
This “anxiety” originally means “to focus on something else.” When we focus on something even though we have other more important thing to focus on and focus on different things that are not important, anxiety and worry build up inside us. Even in the time of praying to God, we need to first focus on God instead of saying out our list of worries. Focusing on the will of God, we need to pray that His will and His words will be fulfilled inside us. About this prayer that should not have “anxiety,” Jesus says this in Matthew 6:31-33:
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:31-33)
Amen!
Instead of praying for what to eat or what to wear like the foreigners, pray for “the kingdom of God and His will” because He knows what we need already. As we pray for His kingdom and will (the prayer of the life of His children), He will sincerely add all these things to us. Hallelujah!
“Do not be anxious, get rid of the anxiety inside us, and do not focus on something not important, but seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and pray.”
(2) Also, what we need when we pray is “thanksgiving.”
“With thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
This does not mean, “After praying to God and He listens to my prayer, then give thanks.”
It means, “Give thanks first as we present our requests to God.” Why do we give thanks to God first?
The reason is stated in Matthew 7:11. Jesus says,
11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:11) He is not God who only gives what we want when we ask, but He, who is the almighty who knows our everything, gives us the best gifts, the “tov,” fulfilling our life. Hallelujah!
This is why we should give thanks first when we pray. Because God will always give us the best and lead us, His children, to the best path, I hope that we can give “thanks” first and pray this true prayer with thanksgiving. Then, God will give us the best thing, that we couldn’t have imagine, in our life.
[Conclusion]
Dear beloved Hope church members,
Today, we looked at “Stand firm in the Lord,” and looked at how we can stand firm in the Lord in three parts.
*“Stand firm in the Lord!”
1. “Be of the same mind in the Lord!”
: Be of the same mind, helping each other and harmonizing words and faith inside us following one leader
2. “Rejoice in the Lord always!”
: “God is our strength.” Place the foundation of our strength on God, and walk in joy led by our sincere God.
3. “Pray with thanksgiving!”
: “Do not be anxious in anything, with thanksgiving,” getting rid of anxiety and focus on His kingdom and will. Pray to God, who fills us with the best thing, with thanksgiving.
I pray that all of us would walk in faith following the words in the path of our life, standing firm in the Lord, praying with thanksgiving, and rejoicing in the Lord always in our family, our workplace, and our church.
