10. LOVING DEMONSTRATED IN STEADFASTNESS (Philippians 4:1-3)

Philippians 4:1 "Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved."

"Therefore" (Philippians 4:1 KJV) links the previous chapter - steadfastness necessary in view of false professing and the Lord's coming.

Five terms of the strongest affection - strongest ties bind them.

	"Brethren" - same family, same Lord.
	"Beloved" - loved of Christ: Paul follows his Lord.
	"Longed for" - yearns to renew fellowship.
	"My joy and crown" - fruits of his toil - Now and in eternity his rich reward.
	"Beloved" - closes his words of encouragement with this repeated term of endearment.

10.1. BE KNOWN FOR STEADFASTNESS (Philippians 4:1)

"So stand fast in the Lord" (KJV) (Philippians 4:1 ). Not to retreat from a firm stand for God. Nothing is to be allowed to push them back into the life from which they were redeemed. "So" - stand. "So" may refer to the example of Paul's own steadfastness.

1 Corinthians 16:13 "Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong."

Today it is unpopular to hold convictions about eternal verities. Our faith is "once for all delivered to (us) the saints," and no change can be tolerated. It is a God-inspired revelation, timeless in its application to mens' needs. For our own safety and the salvation of others, we must "contend for the faith" (Jude 3 ). Refusing to submit any point of truth to the onslaughts of modernism, rationalism, humanism, compromise.

"Stand fast in one spirit" (Philippians 1:27 KJV). Many subtle schemes are devised by the enemy to move us apart from our united front for the Lord. Infiltrated into our ranks are emissaries of the evil one for this purpose. Much power is lost through fighting among ourselves. The power of the early church is revealed in the words "with one accord." Because she maintained a united front before the world, the church moved the world for God.

Galatians 5:1 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

Liberty from the bondage of the flesh is given us through the cross. Vigilance is needed to safeguard our liberty.

10.2. BE KNOWN FOR LIKE-MINDEDNESS (Philippians 4:2)

Women played a prominent part in the work at Philippi.

Acts 16:12- 15 "... to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. 13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; ... 14 And a certain woman named Lydia, ... whose heart the Lord opened ... 15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there ..."

Laboured with Paul. An estrangement had taken place which threatened to breed distrust and division. No knowledge of the cause. Both wrong in allowing self to come in to make a cleavage - and endanger the cause by dissension. Paul makes an individual appeal (Philippians 4:2 ), taking no sides, urges them to unite in the things of the Lord. Without directly mentioning, the ground has been prepared for this closing appeal. He has taught them they have the same message for which to strive in one spirit.

Philippians 1:27 "... that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;"

Same model to conform to:

Philippians 2:2-4 "fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others."

Same high calling to attain:

Philippians 3:15-16 "Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind."

Surely then, they should put things right. Falling out is doing incalculable harm today. Wrong or wronged - not to put it right is to foster distrust and division. We should move quickly to put things right.

Matthew 18:19 "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven."

The power of unity but, if two of you DISAGREE, it is destructive power. Great havoc is wrought by our selfish stubbornness.

10.3. BE KNOWN AS HELPFUL (Philippians 4:3)

Philippians 4:3 "And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life."

"True companion". The identity is unknown so there is no profit in conjectures. Perhaps this person was an overseer. There is no omission of identities in the heavenly record.

"My fellow workers" represent multitudes of the unnoticed and unrecorded faithful ones. Paul reminds them they are not unnoticed in heaven.

"Whose names are in the book of life." God keeps true records. Antipas not in church annals - but God does not forget him.

Revelation 2:13 "... Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. "

God has an ever up-to-date record. We are to do all we can to reconcile believers who are at variance.

"Help these women" - knowing his co-workers' sincerity and sympathy, Paul requests that they makes every effort to bring these two women together, before great harm is done.

Self disinterested love may heal the breach.

Galatians 6:1 "... ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; ... "

Be repairers of the breaches. Help fellow believers to see the course of reconciliation. We are to do all we can to relieve our brethren in the burden of the ministry.

Help "Clement also". This true yokefellow had teamed up with Paul for the furtherance of the gospel. Now Paul is willing to render every assistance to Clement.

The work of the ministry would be easier for more co-operative effort. Professional jealousy and other prejudices sabotage many an effort for Christ. How pitiful is the help that some give to their spiritual leader. We must be helpers together. God calls us to stand fast in the gap, and so present to the world a united front.

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. What attacks on the faith are taking place today, and in which way are you making a stand? (Philippians 4:1; 1 Corinthians 16:13 ).

2. When estrangement has taken place, what action should you take? (Philippians 4:2; Matthew 18:19 ).

3. In which way can you give help to the ministry of reconciliation, and assist fellow workers? (Philippians 4:3 ).