Stand Firm in the Lord
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Stand firm in the Lord DIG: What can we expect from the world? How did the Philippians show their love for Paul, and how did Paul show his love for the Philippians? How were they Paul’s crown and joy? How does Paul explain what it means to stand firm?
REFLECT: How are you standing firm these days? On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being rock solid, are you the rock of Gibraltar, or a jellyfish? If you are not where you want to be, which of the seven basic principles below can you start with?
The Lord Yeshua Messiah is our perfect example of standing firm.
As John MacAthur relates in his commentary on Philippians, the congregations of God are under attack, just as Yeshua predicated it would be. He warned: In this world you will have trouble. But take heart; I have overcome the world (John 16:33). Paul echoed the Lord’s warning when he said: It is through many persecutions that we must enter the Kingdom of God (14:22), and wrote to Timothy: Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Messiah Yeshua will be persecuted (Second Timothy 3:12). Not surprisingly, the Church has faced persecution from the very start (see Acts, to see link click Au – The Apostles are Persecuted).
The assault on the Church comes from three sources. The world (First John 2:15-16) with all its charms tries to entice us away from obedience to the Word of God and a godly lifestyle. It also persecutes the Church, both openly and subtly. The Church dares not to compromise with the world (see the commentary on Revelation Bd – The Church at Sardis) because whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God (James 4:4), and if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him (First John 2:15). Our old sin nature is another source of attack (see the commentary on Romans Br – The Significance of the Messianic Mikvah). Yeshua exhorted: Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41). Even after Paul was saved, he could still cry out: Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death (Romans 7:24)? Energizing both the world and the flesh is the devil, who prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour (First Peter 5:8). The world is tempting, the flesh is vulnerable, and the devil is lion-like in his aggression. As a result, we, as believers, face a great amount of instability.
Paul was so concerned about spiritual instability of the churches under his care that he wrote to the Thessalonians: Now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord (First Thes 3:8), and so brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold onto the Word of God that you were taught (Second Thessalonians 2:15). James 1:8 describes the person lacking spiritual stability, being double-minded and unstable in all his ways. As he closed out his first letter, Peter pleaded: I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it (First Peter 5:12)! In his second letter Peter warned of false teachers who were enticing unstable souls (Second Peter 2:14). He also cautioned believers to beware of untaught and unstable false teachers who distort [Paul’s inspired letters], as they also do to the rest of the Bible, to their own destruction. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness (2 Peter 3:16-17).
Spiritual instability leads to disappointment, doubt, discouragement, and ineffective witness. Unstable people are likely to be crushed by their trials. They are so susceptible to temptation. An example of an unstable person from the Torah who fell into sin is Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn son. In his patriarchal blessing of his sons, Jacob said of Reuben: Unstable as water, you shall not excel, because you went up to your father’s bed; then you defiled it – he went up to my couch (Genesis 35:22). Reuben’s instability led him to sleep with one of Jacob’s concubines (see Genesis Ik – Reuben Slept with His Father’s Concubine Bilhah). As a result, he lost the birthright that should have been his as Jacob’s firstborn son (First Chronicles 5:1).162
In this passage, Paul addresses the vital question of how we can be spiritually stable. The passage opens with the traditional word therefore, which indicates that what Paul is about to write builds on what he has just written. The previous file described the believer’s pursuit of being conformed into the image of Messiah, which is both the goal in this life and the prize in the next (see Bi – Pursuing the Prize). Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends (4:1)!
The Lord Yeshua Messiah is the perfect example of standing firm for us to await our prize of perfection. He faced persecution, but never compromised; He endured . . . hostility by sinners against Himself without wavering (Hebrews 12:3). He was tempted in all things as we are, but without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Facing a trial that was more severe than any of us will ever endure, Yeshua . . . for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2). Yeshua Messiah is the perfect model of standing firm that we are to follow.
The phrase my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown expressed Paul’s love for the Philippians (1:3-9). The apostle’s loving concern for the Philippians’ firmness caused him to send his coworkers Timothy (see Bc – I Hope to Send Timothy Soon) and Epaphroditus (see Bd – Send Epaphroditus at Once) to Philippi. The bond between Paul and the Philippians was strengthened by their faithful financial support (4:15).
Not only did Paul love the Philippians, but they were also his joy (cf. 1:4, 2:2 and 17, 4:10). Paul’s joy didn’t come from circumstances because when he wrote Philippians he was under house arrest in Rome, chained to a Roman soldier (Philippians 1:12-13; Acts 28:16,20, and 30). Not only that, some teachers, motivated by jealousy for Paul, were preaching Messiah out of selfish ambition, thinking that they could stir up trouble for him while he was in chains (1:17b). But that didn’t steal Paul’s joy or love for the church he had founded. To the Thessalonians he wrote: For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Yeshua at His coming? For you are our glory and joy (First Thessalonians 2:19-20). Later, in the same letter he added: For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account (First Thessalonians 3:9). The joy of seeing his beloved Philippians grow to be more like Yeshua Messiah motivated Paul’s exhortation to stand firm.
The Philippians were also Paul’s crown. Stephanos (crown) does not refer to a royal crown, but to the laurel wreath, the interlocking branches and leaves of the bay laurel tree, given to victors in athletic events (First Corinthians 9:25). Or given to those honored by their peers, much like the trophies or plaques given today. A person receiving such an honor would have a feast held in his honor where he would receive his wreath. The Philippians were Paul’s trophy or wreath of honor; they were the evidence of his ministry (First Cor 9:2).
The question naturally arises as to how Paul’s command to stand firm was to be applied. The apostle’s answer, introduced by the phrase in this way, unfolds in verses 2-9. He lists seven basic, practical principles that lead to spiritual stability: (1) living in harmony (4:2-3), (2) maintaining a spirit of joy (4:4), (3) maintaining a gentle spirit (4:5a), (4) being calm in every situation (4:6a), (5) reacting to problems with prayer and petition (4:6b), (6) thinking about godly virtues (4:8), and (7) obeying God’s standard (4:9).163
Dear heavenly Father, praise You for being such a wonderful heavenly Father, who lives within those who trust in Him. Standing firm is important for me to do. How encouraging it is to be able to read the many stories of Your children who stood firm for You despite many hard trials and temptations. David is an excellent example of standing firm, when he had to flee to the wilderness because his life was in danger. He could feel at peace because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise You. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands (Psalms 63:3). Praising You often, as Paul encourages me to do and as David did is very wise. Praising not only blesses You, but it also encourages me. Praising is meditating on all Your wonderful character traits and on what You have said. By doing this, I will be like a planted tree over streams of water, producing its fruit during its season. Its leaf never droops, and I can have confidence that I am on the right path (Psalms 1:3). In Messiah Yeshua’s holy Name and power of His resurrection. Amen
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