This letter is full of joy. It is in contrast to the letter to Corinth. It is about spiritual health and wealth. It is not about the material as it cannot last. The founders of the church were Lydia, Philippians’ jailor and the girl whom had been demon possessed. They were all very different! What testimony would you go to hear? We tend to go for the more sensational. It is not enough to just be a follower of Christ. We are to progress spiritually if we are going to have a healthy spiritual life.

1. Individual relationships (vs. 1-4)

• It is about people. The human condition has not changed since sin came at the fall in Genesis. There are always relationships with each other and God. God is in the business of building good relationships. Are you?
• We are to be in the Lord. It has been said that “Love may be blind but marriage is an eye opener!” Our Christian faith is personal but we must live with one another in all relationships and not just in marriage.
• We are to have fellowship. We are to not go through the motions. We are not to fall back. We are to abide in the Lord and more forward. Paul saw the Church at Philippi as family. They were the fruit of his work and were to produce fruit. God praises them for their firmness. They were to be boarded close together to prevent leaks. They were to agree and not fall out. The best of churches will have its problems. The best of people can fall out. Two ladies fall pit. We are to live up to our names. Do we live up to the name Christian? The best of advice can be ignored by the wrong attitude by people. Paul pleads for a compromise in the Lord. It requires action! Our preferences, points of view, personal conviction or principles of scripture can lead to conflict. What man can understand women!? God blesses people we do not agree with. Let God deal with it.
• Abound in fellowship. Don’t fall down. Don’t let the joy go! We need to take an inward look and an upward look. The picture is of pulling well in harness like oxen pulling together to plough a field. We are to pull together for the sake of the gospel. The ministry of ladies in the Church was in danger. Euodia and Syntyche were in conflict and are urged to love one another in the gospel.

2. Personal renewal (vs. 5-7)

It’s about our anxieties.

• The gentleness of our manner. This is how we relate to other people. It is about moderation, considerate and gentle. It is a sweet reasonableness. What influences our lives? Our background is a factor. Some of us have come from foster homes and don’t get the concept of father. Our temperament is a factor and this is not always changed by conversion. (E.g. Quiet or extrovert). Our education is a factor. (E.g. all boys’ school). Our Christian faith is a factor. The spiritual man should rule but the natural man and carnal man is never far away. We react rather than respond to situations.
• The nearness of our Master. The Lord is coming again. This is a comfort. His presence is very near. It’s a challenge. In dark times how do we cope?
• The uniqueness of our minds. Don’t worry about anything but instead pray about everything. Don’t hurry, worry and bury. Worry is a serious thing. Hope lifts us but fear grips us. The word “worry” means “to strangle”. Worry is a senseless thing. Worry is a sinful thing. We distrust God’s faithfulness. See Hebrews 13:5 and 1 Peter 5:7. The sparrow knows God is faithful. Worry is detrimental. 1 Corinthians 6:19. Worry is damaging. See Philippians 4:2. Worry is deadly. Don’t give in to it. It doesn’t achieve anything to worry.

3. Spiritual realities (vs. 8-9)

It is about our thinking. How do we overcome worry? Only 8% of what we worry about is a genuine concern. If we don’t stop bleeding we will die. If we don’t stop worrying we will die. No quick fix. There are five ways to help.

• Prayer. This should be the first response. Be still and know I am God. We need to step out of the traffic. We are slack to pray. Take your hands off and let God take control.
• Petition. We are to ask. We are to tell God what we need. We are to be specific. We are to knock as a friend. We have confidence. God does not explain when He says “No”.
• Praise. How you think is so important. It is important because how you think forms your character. A sure way to experience renewal is to have your thoughts on things that are worthy of praise.
• Presentation. We need to work on what we present to God. Don’t dwell on the negative, but rather on that which is true, honourable, right, pure, beautiful, of good repute, excellent and praiseworthy. For most of us, this does not come naturally; it is a skill we must gradually develop. With few exceptions, our worries concern things that are untrue, cannot be changed, or will never happen. Instead, Scripture calls us to cultivate the skill of seeing life from heaven’s side, which requires the process of renewing the mind described in Romans 12:1-2 (cf. Ps. 19:7-9).
• Practice. The inward has to become outward. Paul not only taught the truth, but modelled it and encouraged those who heard it to do the same. The Word accomplishes its purpose when we go beyond the level of hearing to that of doing.

Categories: Philippians