Let's Keep the Peace! - Philippians 4:1-5

 Let’s Keep the Peace!

Philippians 4:1-5

Introduction: Another election day is history, democracy at work! Hopefully the results will be certified, and the transition will go peacefully. The intensity of the rhetoric leading up to the election, and even the violence and threats of violence we have seen, may make us echo the words of the song writer, “There is no peace on Earth, I said…” We pray for order, but we are not surprised by the tribulation around us. After all, our Lord said, “In the world you will have tribulation.” But what about in the church? I am not talking about theological crises and reformation. Why in the church, among evangelical believers, do we see disagreement and conflict? Can we live together peaceably even when we disagree? What do our neighbors see, on the outside looking in? Remember Paul’s exhortation back in Phil 1:27, 

“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the Gospel…”

Mary Ann and I enjoy watching reruns of a Canadian television series based in Toronto, called “Flashpoint!” The sergeant always says to the team as he sends them out, “Let’s keep the peace!” Sometimes, when a member of the team comes home, someone from their own family will also ask, “did you keep the peace today?” Post-election day, may I ask, did you keep the peace this week? In interaction with family and neighbors, on social media, what attitude showed up? One translation (NLT) renders Romans 12:18, “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.” Let’s determine, as far as it rests with us, to keep the peace! 

      Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). We can be “peacemakers” in society by sharing the message of Christ with gentleness and respect. We certainly want to be a voice for righteousness, but we also know that social evils will be soonest changed by transformed lives. Jesus is the Prince of Peace after all, knowing Him is the only way to peace with God! Our hope is in the King of Kings, not in men. And as far as it rests with us we should be at peace with everyone, especially those of the household of faith. Above all, let’s keep the peace at home, and in our family, in the church. That is part of our manner of life that speaks clearly to the world. 

The BIG Idea: Let’s joyfully stand firm in the love of Christ, and seek to be peacemakers until He returns. We’ll consider that from three perspectives: 1) A Firm Foundation for faithful living (1); 2) A Visible Outworking of Authentic Faith (2-3); and 3) The Enduring Fruit of a Faithful Life (4-5).

I. A Firm Foundation for faithful living (1).  

"Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved."

       I am starting with v.1 with this message, where we left off last week, because it establishes a connection with Paul’s teaching in the preceding context. “Therefore my brothers [and  sisters]….” Just to be clear, the Greek word translated “brothers” in the ESV can refer to men and women in a mixed group. Clearly in this context, where Paul explicitly will mention two women, that is his intention here. He is talking to the believers, men and women, in Philippi. He says, “therefore,” that is, in light of the promise of His coming and the positive examples He has given us, in light of the Gospel and of our sure hope in the resurrection, he exhorts them passionately, as his family, his beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, to stand firm in the Lord. We are in Christ, and He is our Rock and Salvation.

       He says, “…who I love and long for, my joy and my crown….” Paul had a heart for the Philippians, he loved them, they were his family, he longed to see them. They brought him joy, now, and they were his “crown,” in the Greek context, the word used, “stephanos,” referred to the victor’s wreath presented after a race. Paul says they are the trophy, the goal and fruit of his life and ministry. The church is about people – as we love one another we show Jesus to the world! (Jn 13:33-35). Notice how Paul begins and ends this verse: “Therefore my beloved brothers… my beloved.” Twice in this verse, at the beginning and at the end, he calls them his agapetoi, his “beloved ones.” He is going to bring up what may have been a difficult or embarrassing issue for them, so first he affirms the relationship. What does love look like? Paul said it eloquently in I Corinthians 13:4-8…

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant  5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;  6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  8 Love never ends... 

       “…stand firm thus in the Lord my beloved…”  Last week I mentioned the common greeting at our seminary in Sao Paulo, Brazil was a simply one-word question, “Firme?” It was an abbreviated way of asking, “Are you standing firm in the Lord?” The text here makes a connection, it is in community, as God’s family, loving one another, bearing each others burdens, forgiving one another, that is how we can stand firm in the Lord. Remember how He loved us, and have this mind in you which is yours in Christ Jesus. We can stand firm in the Lord, because, as followers of Jesus we have peace with God, and we have a sure hope, the promise of peace on earth. Now, we are called to be agents of peace. *Let’s joyfully stand firm in the love of Christ, and seek to be peacemakers until He returns. 

II. A Visible Outworking of Authentic Faith: Unity, and a Heart to Maintain Unity (4:2,3).

 2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.  3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

       Paul begins verse 2 by addressing by name two women, calling on them to be at peace, “to agree in the Lord” (4:2). The repetition of the verb “entreat” implies that Paul is not taking sides in whatever led to a dispute between these two sisters in Christ. They are coworkers, true believers, yet somehow there had been a significant falling out between  them.  Paul directly and specifically urges them to come together, to be at peace, “to have the same mind in the Lord.” Paul used that same word several times already in this letter, for example in 2:2 where he says, “complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.” Just a few verses later, he says in 2:5, “have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” Will we always agree? Of course not. But because we are a family, because we have the same Father, we love each other, we treat each other with respect and patience. The psalmist said, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity!” (Ps 133:1). That is as true in the church as it was in Israel. Whatever would divide us can’t separate us, if we remember our common faith.

       Let me get personal for a minute, is there someone in the church family with whom you need to reconcile? Perhaps you know you need to apologize for something and ask forgiveness. Perhaps you have drifted apart and are not even sure why anymore – you are a citizen of heaven – choose to live like one! Reach out! It won’t be easy, and it might not work, but at least for your part you will have taken steps to make peace. Sometimes we need help to do that, 4:3 speaks to that.

       “Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women…” This is a plea to an unnamed leader in the church, to be a peacemaker! (4:3). It is not clear who this “true companion” is that Paul addresses here. Since the letter is sent to the church, it must have been a specific leader who knew Paul well.  From the evidence in the book of Acts, it has been suggested that it might have been Luke, who perhaps stayed behind in Philippi when Paul was forced to leave. Was he not named because it was not necessary since it was to him Epaphroditus was to deliver this letter? Maybe. Whoever this “true companion” was, Paul urges him to, “Help these women,” that is, to be a peacemaker. God has made us part of a body, the church. We need one another. When there is conflict or disagreement, we may need a brother or sister to mediate, and to guide us through a process of resolution and reconciliation. 

      We are co-workers, brothers and sisters, on the same team, fighting the same enemy, contending for the same truth – we are one – and we’re citizens of Heaven – we should live like that’s true! Let’s let our manner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ (1:28). What should we do when you see conduct inconsistent with our position as Christ followers? Well, if it is in your own life, you know what to do, repent, and ask God to bring you into line with the mind of Christ. But what about if is in someone else? What if someone acts toward you in a way that is unbiblical or unchristian? Will you love them enough to reach out, to encourage reconciliation – to make peace?  Jesus said: “Blessed are the peacemakers, they shall be called the children of God…” That is the Big Idea here, to joyfully stand firm in the love of Christ, and seek to be peacemakers until He returns.

III. The Enduring Fruit of a Faithful life: Joy and Hope in the Lord (4:4-5). This isn’t a complete change of subject with no connection to what came before. It seems to me Paul is offering hope and help in terms of confronting conflict and making peace. 

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand…

      First, we see an imperative, a command: Rejoice!  “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!”  (4:4) Joy is a key theme we’ve seen repeatedly, we saw it at the beginning of chapter three: “Finally my brothers, rejoice in the Lord…” (3:1). Hear Paul says it, the says it again, “Do you hear me now?” Rejoice!

“Rejoice…” But how can we rejoice always? Remember the context, Paul is imprisoned, and the churches in Macedonia are suffering hardship. “Joy” is not merely an emotion or a feeling that we have. Gordon Fee says, 

“…it is a deep-down confidence that God is in control of everything for the believer’s good and for his own glory, and thus all is well no matter what the circumstances.” 

It doesn’t mean that we rejoice because of painful or difficult circumstances – but we know we can trust God in the midst of the storm! Remember the preceding chapters, we are citizens of heaven, we know and are known by the King of all Creation! If God is for us, who can stand against us? That is reason for joy!

We rejoice, “…in the Lord…” It is because we are in Christ, and so a part of the New Creation, that we can rejoice. We have been reconciled to God! We belong to the King of kings, the creator of the universe knows us and we are His. We are secure forever in the grip of His grace!

And yes, he says “…always…” It is not only when things go well that we can have joy – not only when the candidate we voted for is elected - we have peace even in times of chaos, joy that the world cannot understand. What we hope for may be one thing, but who we hope in is Jesus. He will never fail, and He is with us always, even to the end of the age. 

Just for emphasis Paul repeats the exhortation: Again I will say it, rejoice! Even in this chaotic world we can have joy, because the Prince of Peace has invited us to trust Him with our burdens. As we do that we can joyfully stand firm in the love of Christ, and seek to be peacemakers until He returns.

What does that look like?  What kind of attitude do we need to “keep the peace” effectively? Paul says in verse 5, “Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near” (4:5).

       Look at the first sentence, “Let your gentle spirit be known…” This phrase has suffered various translations.  Here The Message is more of a commentary than a translation, but I think it gets at the idea: 

“Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you are on their side, working with them and not against them”. 

We know their deepest need, we want them to find Jesus. John MacArthur suggests the term “gentle spirit” has the idea of “charity toward the faults of others, big heartedness.”  Fee translates, “Gentle forbearance.” There is an interesting play on words here: Later in the verse he’ll say we make our requests known to God — but to our fellow humans – in the church and out – because of our joy in the Lord, we let our “gentle spirit” be known.  People need to know that we care, we are genuinely concerned about them. They need to understand that we really want them to know and experience God’s best.

Why can we have that attitude? Because “The Lord is near…”  Psalm 145:18 says “the Lord is near to all who call on Him.” Whether Paul is referring to the nearness of the Lord’s return (which is true), or the promise of his presence here and now (which is a fact), this statement stands as the motivation to live a life that reflects God’s grace and mercy to our fellow humans. Jesus will return, that is our hope, and He is with us always, that is our confidence to live out the mission He has entrusted to us.

What is God saying to me in this passage? Let’s joyfully stand firm in the love of Christ, and seek to be peacemakers until He returns.

What would God have me to do in response to this passage? How then should we live?

1) I don’t think any of us are expecting any politician to usher in a Golden Age of prosperity. We can hope FOR things to get better, but the One we hope IN is God! Our hope is in the Lord.

2) And so, if you know Jesus, you can have peace. In Christ, we have peace with God. That is reason for joy! Our hope is sure, we are more than conquerors, through Him who loved us!

3) As far as it rests with you, are you at peace with the people around you? As you reflect on that, someone may come to mind, someone that you have drifted away from. Maybe you know of two people that are in conflict, even two believers. Can you try to be a peacemaker, helping them to find peace?

4) Because we have peace with God, because we know the Prince of Peace, we have a part in His Mission. God has committed to us the ministry of reconciliation. So, we urge people on behalf of Christ, to be reconciled to God.

AMEN.