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Philippians Chapter 4verse 1 – Therefore my brothers – stand firm. His brothers were also his friends!

Therefore – as a consequence of all that has gone before – stand firm!

What has he been sharing with these dear brothers in Christ – because of my chains – this imprisonment – because of what you have experienced in Christ – have the mind or attitude of Christ – because you are watching for those who would come along and mislead you – and remember, have no confidence in the things of the flesh or the things of men – press on to know Christ – and remember too that you are a citizen of heaven.

This first verse is like a hinge. So stand firm in the Lord, dear friends! You are a source of joy to me. You are my crown - wreath – a victory wreath – a victory crown. That is what you mean to me. This is what you are to me.

So stand firm in the Lord, or else you will become my sorrow and shame. Paul is not complacent. He is aware of how quickly a church could collapse and how a how a fellowship of believers can crumble and split.

How does this passage help us serve Jesus Christ and live as disciples of Jesus?

Philippi had a crack in the wall and that could allow the evil one to get through. Deal with that crack and he names the two culprits. He makes it public because he knows it could rock and ruin and destroy the whole building.

Paul pleads and appeals with both parties. Sort it out, whatever it is that is bothering you. Sort it out in the Lord – in the family. It is our attitude or outlook towards the Gospel which can resolve these and all other issues – the mind of Christ.

If you belong to the family, you cannot walk out!

Your partnership in the Gospel, and your joy, have been spoken about before and this is at stake here. Agree with each other. This is his remedy.

Paul also realises that they are going to need help. Help them to sort it out. Help them to get it together. He says positive things about Euodia and Syntyche. They are colleagues. They have worked for the cause of the Gospel. God has not written them off. You are no longer what you once were!

Detect the crack. Get in and repair it. They were failing as to Chapter 2verse 2.

Facilitators were needed. We have to be careful that we do not allow something to destroy previous achievements. Have the mind of Jesus Christ.

The answer lies in our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Take a penny – hold it near your eye – and it occupies your whole horizon.

Disunity travels faster than unity. This could affect the whole church at Philippi.

He cannot say this in person or meet with them, so he has to write this in his letter.

Do you see what he is trying to do here – to move them to a deeper level!

There is a difference between pastoring and meddling.

Verse 4 – Rejoice in the Lord always. How do we do it? We just do it – there is no other way – just rejoice in Christ. Be gentle and not aggressive. Be patient.

Always have something to enjoy in the Lord. Have good reasons for rejoicing in the Lord. Rejoicing is by-product of our being in Christ. Is there not another way? No!

We are to enjoy the Lord and to expect the Lord to come near us and among us in our gathering – and with us every day.

Is it right to say that only joyful rejoicing people can be patient?

Do not be anxious about anything. That is something to say to anyone!

Remember he is writing this from prison in Rome.

Does God care more for His pets and His plants than His people? No! No!

Verse 6 - In everything, by prayer, and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

“Lord God – faithful Father – help us in our praying – help us to pray – encourage us so that we might pray – and pray specifically regarding what You place in our hearts and minds – knowing that if we do not pray it is unlikely that we will be able to stand firm. Lord Jesus, hear us when we pray – strengthen us as we pray – we want to stand firm and be that salt and light in this world where You have placed us. Hear our praying, Lord Jesus Christ.” Amen.

We are here encourage to be specific with our prayers – to spell it out – to take it to the Lord in prayer – where we are talking specifically with our heavenly Father in the Name of Jesus and led by the Holy Spirit – and we are to do so with thanksgiving – please, for this – and thank You for that.

Thanksgiving is an important matter when it comes to praying.

Paul gives us such complete advice here.

What is the result – the peace of God acts like a sentry speaking to a garrison town.

Paul is teaching that the enemy will not be allowed through that defence. This is not easy. It can be easier to read than experience, but this is all possible.

There is a flowing in these verses.

v.8 – We are told on what matters we are to concentrate.

Fill your mind with strong positive thoughts, and we have these guidelines.

We are bombarded with a world that concentrates on the opposites.

Can you imagine a newspaper where it was said that nothing must go in unless they fulfil these conditions?

There comes a time when we have to guard our mind and when we have to filter what we allow into our mind.

Will this help my growth in Christ? Will this enable me to become a more fruitful and faithful disciple. What will this do to me? Is this a waste of time?

Of what value will it have in my life in a week from now?

What does God wants us to fill our minds with?

Here is the answer in His Word.

Our thought life is so vitally important – what we think about – what we dwell on, and o how we are assailed and attacked by the enemy. He will go for the heart and mind to rob us and undermine us and then attack even the body.

Paul moves on from meditation to imitation and again it takes a brave courageous godly man to write in these terms. And yet, God places His seal on these words, making them part of His word.

We model ourselves on other people – and there is nothing wrong with that – provided we choose the right ones.

Whatever – that is broad and wide – covering so many areas – put into practice.

The writer to the Hebrews gives us that list of those who lived by faith – those who had real living obedient faith – and we are to learn from them – but we are also told to fix our eyes on Jesus.

The God of peace shall be with you. He speaks earlier of the peace of God – now Paul writes that the God of peace shall be with you. God will be with you. We need to hear that. We need to be reminded of that. God will be with you.

The God of peace – even when we find it hard to receive and experience the peace of God? I raise that as a question.

He had received a gift from these disciples of Jesus and he is so grateful. Did he need the fit – well yes and no! Yes, he needed the gift to meet his physical needs – but he had also learned to be content – gift or no gift – and again that is difficult!

To be content when you have nothing – when you have little – when you are in prison – and let’s not simply limit this to money gifts.

Sometimes God sets us tests and exams and they are more than two three hour papers.

Paul had been a Pharisee and in Luke 16:14 we learn that they were lovers of money. They were covetous. They did not know how to be content.

Paul had received this gift. This was a token of their concern. He had learned the hard and difficult lesson of the secret of being content in any and every situation.

Paul has had a variety of experiences over these past years in his ministry in the front line of the Kingdom of God.

He testifies to these in other places too – 2Corinthians 11verses 32f.

“I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”

Jesus will never ask us to do anything without supplying the required and necessary strength.

All this is not said at a time of tremendous spiritual high – but when in prison – limited in so many ways – yet able to speak and teach and preach and write.

There is a secret revealed here – and we can learn it – “of being content in any and every situation”.

"Point of Reference" from Fred Price

A Broken Spirit And Contrite Heart