Philippians 4:5 Gentleness

Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. [Philippians 4:5 NKJV]

Many of us are familiar with the King James version of this verse; "Let your moderation be known to all men." I have heard sermons preached on moderation based on this verse, with the conclusion; don't go to extremes. Anything is okay as long as it is not done to excess. And be spiritual, but not too spiritual.

The problem is that the meaning of the word "moderation" has changed since the 17th century. While we define moderation as being middle of the road, and without extremes, that is not the intent of the original language. The Amplified Bible describes the meaning of the word;

Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near. [Philippians 4:5 AMP]

Jesus gave us a good example of this when the woman caught in adultery was brought to Him. First, he addressed the crowd, saying, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” [John 8:7 NKJV] The crowd slowly dissipated leaving Jesus and the woman alone;

When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” [John 8:10-11 NKJV]

Although she had been caught in sin, and was condemned by the law, Jesus was gentle, merciful, and gracious toward her.

Remember the context of today's verse. Two women in the Philippian church were having a conflict. Paul didn't take sides or tell them how to resolve their conflict, but he did offer some principles that, if followed, should help them come together; "rejoice in the Lord" and "let your gentleness be known to all men." That is, let your "graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience" be known to all men.

If there is a conflict in the church, and it causes a division, the reputation of the church (and Jesus) will be compromised. But if the world sees a conflict resolved by the gracious behavior of both parties, then the church's reputation will be enhanced.

This should be our attitude at all times; not just in conflict resolution. Paul said "to all men." So don't limit your gentle behavior to church time, or to your friends or family. Include your enemies. It works the other way; don't just be nice to strangers. We have all heard of men who are well-respected, upstanding people in public, but they go home and beat their wives and children.

Examine your life. Are you constantly in conflict? Are people afraid of you? Don't be like the servant who beat his fellow servants;

“the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, “and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [Matthew 24:50-51 NKJV]

As Paul reminded us; "the Lord is at hand."

Lord, please give me the grace to always represent Your best before all people. Please work out Your fruit in my life. 

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! [Philippians 4:4 NKJV]

This verse may be a follow-up of the previous passage about the disagreement between Euodia and Syntyche. He has told them to "be of the same mind"; in other words, "Work it out." While settling the issue, rejoice in the Lord. It is hard to feud in the flesh when you are rejoicing in the Spirit.

At the time of this writing, the Philippian church was enduring persecution;

...and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me. [Philippians 1:28-30 NKJV]

Writing to them from prison, Paul says, "Rejoice!"

This is not a positive affirmation. Offices love to hang posters with positive affirmations. "Be happy." "Happy Happens." "You are the best." "You are loved." I'm sure you've seen them. 

When Paul says "Rejoice in the Lord," He is not giving a mere affirmation. Affirmations are us trying to use the flesh to affect our spirit. If I say "I am happy" enough times, maybe I will feel it. If I say "I am loved" enough times, maybe I'll believe it. 

I am not against having positive affirmations as reminders, but they are not what we live by. And if we trust in them, then we are trusting in the flesh, which cannot please God.

He does not expect them to work up an emotional display. We are to rejoice "in the Lord". He is the source of our joy, and we rejoice in Him by seeking Him. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit;

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. [Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV]

You don't receive more of the Spirit by acting loving, joyful, peaceful, etc. You become more loving, joyful, peaceful, etc. by walking in the Spirit of God; acknowledging Him as your companion all day long in every circumstance. Rejoicing is a by-product of being filled with the Spirit.

Seek God and you will find Him.

Regardless of the circumstances, it is always good to rejoice in the Lord. If you are struggling, suffering, or being persecuted, you can find Joy in the Spirit of the Lord, and rejoice. If you are at odds with another Christian, you can find common ground by rejoicing in the Lord together.

Father, I delight myself in You! You are the reason I exist. You are my hope, and my goal. You alone are worthy of all praise, glory and honor; and I give it all to You! And in You, I rejoice! 

Philippians 4:1-3 Disagreements

Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 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. [Philippians 4:1-3 NKJV]

Philippi was a colony of Rome, a predominantly Gentile city, with very few Jews. There were not enough men in the city to form a synagogue since it required a minimum 10 men who are heads of household. Since there was not a synagogue, the Jewish women would meet outside the city by the Gangites River for prayer.

Paul's pattern, when reaching a new city, was to preach first in the synagogue, and when the Jews rejected his message, he went to the Gentiles. On his second missionary journey, he came to Philippi. Since there was not a synagogue, he went to the women outside the city. Luke describes this;

And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us. [Acts 16:13-15 NKJV]

Euodia and Syntyche are not identified anywhere else in the Bible, but it is generally agreed that they were probably among the women to whom Paul preached by the river. All we know of them is what Paul includes in this passage; that they labored with Paul in the gospel.

Apparently they had some kind of falling out or disagreement, serious enough that Paul felt compelled to address it. His method of handling a disagreement between mature Christians was very succinct and to the point. To paraphrase, he said, "Handle it!"

He did not take sides, but asked them to work it out between themselves, and come to an agreement. He trusted in their maturity to be sufficient, without telling them how they were to work it out. He did, however, ask another believer to help them.

There will occasionally be differences and divisions in the church. How we handle them is a measure of our maturity it Christ. If we lack maturity, there will be schisms, churches will split, denominations will be formed, and some will even go to war.

If we are mature, we will find common ground. After all, if we are all believers, then we all have Jesus in common. Don't be afraid to ask for help from a trusted mediator. The mediator may be a pastor, but any willing, mature Christian who is mutually trusted will do.

Paul said, "be of the same mind." We are one body in Christ, and there should be no division. We may not have the power to undo the divisions in the church, but we can choose not to perpetuate division. If we are truly seeking God, and not our own interests, then we will be able to find agreement.

Lord, please help us to heal the divisions between us in the church. Give us the wisdom to find our common faith in You. 

Philippians 3:20-21 Heavenly Minded

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. [Philippians 3:20-21 NKJV]

This passage is a follow-up to Paul's previous comment, "...whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things." [Philippians 3:19 NKJV]

When I was younger there was an expression that was common in the church. They would say of a person that "he is so heavenly minded, that he is no earthly good." It's an unfortunate phrase that was true only of those who exhibited false piety. It helped to teach a generation of young people to keep their minds on earthly things.

As citizens of heaven, our minds should be set on heavenly things. Paul told us;

that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. [Romans 8:4-8 NKJV]

As citizens of heaven, though we walk on the earth, we live in the kingdom of heaven now, if we walk in the Spirit. We also look forward to the time when we trade our hope for reality. We will stand before Jesus in a transformed body. Paul said;

So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. [1 Corinthians 15:42-44 NKJV]

Whether we die in the flesh and are resurrected, or are "changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet," [1 Corinthians 15:51-52 NKJV] We will receive a glorified body, in the image of Jesus. John described his encounter with Jesus in Revelation;

Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. [Revelation 1:12-17 NKJV]

The take-away is that Jesus' glorified body is so stunning, that to see him is to faint dead away. We are promised a glorious body in His image.

After running all the races in this life, our ultimate prize is our own transformation. Keep that goal in mind. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Keep your mind set on the things of heaven. There is no such thing as being too heavenly minded if you are truly seeking the things of God. Regarding earthly things, Jesus said, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." [Matthew 6:33 NKJV]

Father in heaven, thank You for the promise of glory for Your children. I pray for the grace to keep my mind steadfast set on You. 

Philippians 3:17-19 An Example

Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. [Philippians 3:17-19 NKJV]

Having just told us that he has not "arrived", and is not perfected, Paul then goes on to say "follow my example". Paul has the confidence to tell people to follow him; not so that he can be a spiritual leader, but as he follows Jesus. He has also said, "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." [1 Corinthians 11:1 NKJV]

It takes confidence to say "follow me". Paul also just wrote, "For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." [Philippians 3:3 NKJV] His confidence is not in his own flesh, but in Jesus;

Clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God. [2 Corinthians 3:3-5 NKJV]

If you trust in your own abilities as a leader, or your experience in prayer, or the life of holiness you have lived in the past, that is a false confidence, and will fail. Your trust must be day by day, minute by minute, trusting the Holy Spirit to guide you. We are not sufficient in ourselves, but God is sufficient for all things.

We should live our lives with the confidence to say "Follow me, as I follow Christ." It doesn't require perfection, but it does require faith.

It is not wrong to follow a person who is following Christ. By their example, we can learn and grow.

At the same time, we need to take note of those whose example is not holy. They may be church leaders, but their words and actions betray that their minds are set on earthly things. They care about their position, their reputation, money, or the praise they receive for their service. Avoid these people.

It is our responsibility as believers to discern the difference between a righteous man, and a selfish man. We are responsible for who we follow.

At the judgement seat of Christ, a Christian man may find that he has no reward. The Lord will say, "In your life you served the church. You received recognition from your pastor, the elders promoted you, and the congregation patted you on the back. You have already received your reward." The man will answer, "But, I only did as my pastor taught. I followed his example. Is there no more reward for me?" Jesus will answer, "By My grace, you have been saved, and will receive eternal life. But you have made your choices, and have not been faithful to Me. There is no more reward for you."

You must live your life wisely. It is your choice who you will follow, and how you will lead. If your pastor teaches something that doesn't ring true, study if for yourself in the Bible, praying for the Holy Spirit to guide you, so that you know the truth. Don't expect to agree with anybody 100% of the time. But if he shows a pattern of being concerned for the things of this world, rather than the kingdom of God, then I suggest that you find a different church.

If you lead, the responsibility is great. Your words and actions may affect the eternal souls of those who follow you.That doesn't mean that you shouldn't lead, but you can't trust your own ability to lead. Put your trust in the Spirit of God. He will lead you into all truth. He will show you the way; as you follow and as you lead.

My Father, I thank You for the grace you have given that I may live in Your righteousness. I pray for continued grace, that I may be an example to others, bringing praise and glory to You. 

Philippians 3:15-16 Maturity

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. [Philippians 3:15-16 NKJV]

I once had a teacher who loved to say, "When you see a 'therefore', find out what it is there for." Looking back over the chapter, we see that he is referring back to the first three verses;

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, [Philippians 3:1-3 NKJV]

He is warning against legalism, and exhorting the believers to trust in Christ, and have no confidence in the flesh. (The verses in between are parenthetical.)

The mature Christian is to have this mind; that our trust is in Christ alone.

There are a lot of things that we tend to trust in. We trust rules. We have a personal code of conduct, so that we know right from wrong. The problem is that any time we make an effort to live by our own code, we place ourselves under the law. Paul says;

For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) [Romans 2:12-15 NKJV]

Any attempt to keep the law is an act of the flesh, and "those who are in the flesh cannot please God." [Romans 8:8 NKJV]

There are other things that we trust, such as experience, education, the opinion of others and such. They are all replacements for the pure faith that God, Himself, will teach us. We live under a New Covenant, which says;

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.  “None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.  “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” [Hebrews 8:10-12 NKJV]

God has placed His Holy Spirit in our hearts, and He writes His laws into our minds and hearts. It's not a set of rules. It is the Holy Spirit leading us moment by moment as we live and walk out our lives. It requires much more faith than following a code of conduct.

Maturity in Christ has less to do with years of experience than it does with pureness of your trust in Him. It's a given that some of us have different degrees of maturity. But regardless of how mature our faith is we are admonished to "keep living by that same standard to which we have attained." [Philippians 3:16 NASB] 

No matter your level of maturity in Christ, set your mind on this; that you will not trust in your own will, or experience, or any law; but will place your trust entirely on the Holy Spirit to teach and guide you. This is walking in the Spirit. "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh." [Galatians 5:16 NASB]

This is how you live a life of holiness.

Lord, I thank You that You teach us, and that we don't have to rely on a set of rules, or a code of conduct, but only on Your Spirit. Please fill us with Your Spirit, and lead us in all things. 

Philippians 3:12-14 The Upward Call of God

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. [Philippians 3:12-14 NKJV]

Paul teaches with such authority that it is easy to think that he has "arrived" spiritually. I take a great deal of comfort in his confession that he is not perfect. It helps me to know that I am not alone in my imperfection. More practically, his discussion of it gives me direction for handling my own shortcomings.

Paul says to forget what is behind, reach forward (picture stretching your hand forward as far as it will go) for what is ahead, and race, running as fast as you can, toward the goal to collect the prize.

And what is the prize? The high call of God - literally the call from above - in Christ.

Most of us are familiar with Jesus' teaching of grace and forgiveness;

“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." [Luke 6:37 NKJV]

As a normal part of Christian growth, most Christians learn to forgive others. But we have a harder time forgiving ourselves. We are our own worst critics.

But it is essential to understand that God has forgiven you. You must let go of the failures of the past. When running a race, it is necessary to keep your eyes forward, on the goal. The runner who looks behind will slow down and lose the race.

Will you make a mistake? Count on it! But if you keep looking back at your mistakes, you will not be able to reach forward toward the goal. If you focus on your mistakes, they will drag you down, and make you feel unworthy.

What should you do about the mistakes? Forget them. God has forgiven them. Press forward so that you can collect the prize.

It works like this: God calls you. You respond obediently. You receive the prize, which is a higher call. When you obey that call, you receive the prize of a higher call.

An athlete who is hoping to enter the Olympics trains for a race. He wins the local race, and is rewarded by being entered into a regional race. His victory is then rewarded by being entered into a statewide race, then a national race, then an international race. He is then rewarded by having the privilege of entering the Olympic trials, and ultimately, the Olympics. 

Our ultimate prize isn't a crown of gold, but that we may be more useful for Christ. In the parable of the talents, Jesus said;

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. “And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey....After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ [Matthew 25:14-21 NKJV]

The principle is; if we are faithful in small things, he will reward us with greater responsibilities.

In context, Paul is talking about living a life of faith, apart from the Law. Every attempt to live by a set of rules, or a moral code, is of the flesh and is doomed to fail. Every advantage our flesh, or our own will, gives us is considered rubbish. The only valid life is the one in which we are led by the Spirit of God. He defines our righteousness; not the Ten Commandments, not the church bylaws, and not your own set of rules that say "do this" or "don't do that".

Trusting the Holy Spirit for every moral decision is scary, and takes faith. You will make mistakes, but His grace will be waiting. The reward is the upward call of God in Christ.

Father, I thank You for Your calling. I thank You that, by Your grace, You have forgiven all of my missteps and mistakes. I pray for strength to continue the race, that I may win the prize.