Questions and Answers from Philippians 4:4-7

What this episode covers

Blank Outline Completed Outline Philippians 4:4-7 Philippians 4:4-7 All right, thank you for your singing. If you’ll stand, we’ll read our scripture this morning, and this is Philippians chapter 4, 4 through 7. Here’s what Paul writes, Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, rejoice. Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Here’s the promise. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. All right. We’re in the homestretch here in the book of Philippians. So, if you want to turn to your Bibles to Philippians chapter 4, you can just follow along with the outline on the screen this morning. We’re in the homestretch. And as you know, Paul’s writing this thank you letter back to the church. He’s in Rome. He’s in prison. He’s awaiting a trial. He doesn’t know if he’s going to live or die. And he makes wise use of his time, doesn’t he? He spreads the gospel. And some of Caesar’s household comes to faith in Jesus. And he writes four letters, four prison epistles. This is one of them, primarily a thank you note, because the church has sent a gift through Epaphroditus to Paul. So, this morning in the first seven verses of chapter 4, we’re going to answer five questions. And you have them on their outline. And so let me just review those questions. Here’s what we’re going to answer. What does it mean to stand firm in the Lord? That’s found in verse 1, Paul’s admonition to stand firm in the Lord. What does that mean? Number two, who are Euodia, Syntyche, and my true companion that’s mentioned in verse 2? Who are these people? Number three, what’s the book of life that’s mentioned in verse 3? What’s the book of life all about? Number four, what does it mean to rejoice in the Lord always, as Paul writes? And then he says, and again, I say rejoice. Do we have to have a smile on our face all the time and just always choose joy? What does that mean to rejoice in the Lord always? And then lastly, we’ll finish with this. This is one I need every day. How can I have victory over worry and anxiety in my life? How can I have victory over worry and anxiety? So, the book of Philippians is Paul’s most personal book. Chapter 1, he says, I have you in my thoughts. I have you in my prayers. I have you in my heart. And look how he starts out verse 1 of chapter 4. He gives six enduring terms. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, we’re part of God’s family. You’re my brother and you’re my sister in the Lord. You whom I love, who I long for, you’re my joy, you’re my crown. One translation says, you’re my beloved or you’re my dear friends. And so, Paul has this intimate, close relationship with the church at Philippi. He was their founding pastor and he loves these people and they love him. And so, Paul begins by just reaffirming his love and his relationship with the Philippian believers. 1. What does it mean to “stand firm in the Lord”? But let’s get to our questions here and then we’ll answer these and think about three applications from the first seven verses here. Here’s question number one. What does it mean to stand firm in the Lord? Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love, I long for, my joy, and my crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends. So, it’s a command. It’s an imperative. It says, I want you to stand firm. And so that command, that imperative, I believe can apply to two areas of our life. Number one, he’s telling them to stand firm in truth, to stand firm in doctrine. Secondly, stand firm in your duty. Stand firm in your belief. Know what you believe. Stand firm in your behavior. And so, the apostle Paul tells the believers in Philippi, I want you to be grounded in truth. You heard the story of the pastor that the elderly couple th

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