STAND FIRM – BE OF THE SAME MIND - REJOICE “IN THE LORD” Philippians 4:1-4

STAND FIRM – BE OF THE SAME MIND - REJOICE “IN THE LORD” Philippians 4:1-4

As we have been learning about the ‘Church’ every Sunday during the past two weeks, I thought it is appropriate to mention what we have been learning in our Wednesday Bible Study. We have come to the last chapter in our study of the epistle of Philippians. The first 4 verses of Chapter 4, the words “In the Lord” occurs 3 times.  And in each instance it is followed by a command.

Firstly mentioned in Verse 1 “…stand firm in the Lord” : It is only in Jesus Christ can each one of us resist the temptations and challenges that come our way. The word used for standing firm or standing fast is in the context of a soldier standing in the midst of a battle with the enemy about him. We all face challenges, and our only safety against the temptations and forces of evil around us is to ‘Stand firm in the Lord’. To choose to be in His presence, and know He is with us always. The Church and a Christian can stand only when we are ‘In the Lord’.

Secondly apostle Paul mentions 2 women, “I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.” Vs 2. There can be no true unity unless it is in Christ. It is Christ, the Head of the Body the Church who unites the members to Himself and to one another through the Holy Spirit. In many cases the church is united because of a leader or a program. The danger is, when the leader fails or leaves, the church tends to disintegrate. Of after the program they are scattered. The apostle insists that people should be of the same mind ‘In the Lord’. People can never love each other unless they love Jesus Christ. We can never be united unless we recognize the Lordship of Christ.

Thirdly “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Vs 4: Joy has nothing to do with material things or outward circumstances. Since a Christian is in the Lord, the greatest of all friends, nothing can separate the Christian from the presence of Jesus Christ and so nothing can take away his or her joy.

Final thought: This passage focuses on 2 women who quarreled, and the Apostle mobilizes the Church to see that these two women are reconciled. When Christians quarrel in a Church, it’s not at all a Church, because Jesus is shut out. And no one can be at peace with God and have a quarrel with people. Every matured Christian has a task to reconcile those who are quarreling.

 It’s sad that apart from the fact that they contended along with Paul in the Gospel, we know of Euodia and Syntyche as women who quarreled! Imagine your life was to be summed up in one sentence, what would that sentence be?

Dear friends the only way to stand firm ,keep up the unity and rejoice as Christians is ‘IN THE LORD’. 

May we strive to be in the Lord always.