Sermons

Pursue Loving Unity

Philippians 4:1-3

 

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus says that if we are on the way to a church gathering, and remember that someone is holding something against us, we should turn back from the church gathering, and first go and be reconciled with them (Matthew 5:23-24).

 

So Jesus is very concerned when we are not walking in love and unity.  So when it comes to loving unity, how are we doing here at Mercy Hill?  Is there anyone in your home group with whom you do not have loving unity?  Is there anyone outside your home group with whom you do not have loving unity?

 

So how can we tell?  We are no longer in loving unity with someone if --

• we feel anger toward them.
• We avoid them.
• We are bearing a grudge against.
• We speak negatively about them.
• We enjoy having others speaks negatively about them.
• We are bothered when others speak positively about them.
• We replay in our minds why we don’t like them.
• We are glad when they are not around.

 

So if this is going on, Jesus would say – stop everything and seek reconciliation with them.  That should be your highest priority, because as long as you are at odds with them --

• your faith will be undermined,
• our worship will be weakened,
• the work of the Spirit here will be quenched,
• and Christ will be dishonored.

So Jesus is calling you to do everything you can to restore loving unity.

 

And to help us do that let’s turn to Philippians 4:1-3.  If you need a Bible, please raise your hand and we will bring one to you.  Philippians 4 is on page 982 in the Bibles we are passing out.

 

Paul has two main concerns in this letter.  One is that some of them have let fear of persecution make them less bold in telling others about Jesus.  The other is that some of them are divided from others, and are not walking in loving unity.

 

And in Philippians 4:1-3 we see more clearly what’s behind some of this division.  Look at what Paul says –

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

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.

 

Notice the word “therefore” at the beginning of verse 1.  So here Paul is drawing a conclusion from the previous chapter.  In that chapter he said that if we fight the fight of faith to keep treasuring Christ then we will gain Christ, be found in Christ at the final judgment, and be raised from the dead.  And so now in verse 1 he says therefore – because of those reasons – stand firm thus in the Lord.

 

But that isn’t all that he says.  Notice that in this verse he repeats over and over how much he loves them.  So let’s dig more deeply into that by asking how does Paul describe his love for fellow-believers?

 

To answer that, read verse 1 again --

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

 

In this one verse he describes his love for them four times.  Let’s look at each one –

                           

First, he says “therefore, my brothers.”  Almost 100 times in Paul’s letters he describes fellow believers as “brothers.”  This word is generic and refers to both brothers and sisters.  And the point is that we are family.

 

This doesn’t always happen, but usually when brothers and sisters grow up and share common experiences, they love each other.  They feel affection for each other.  Paul felt brotherly affection toward other believers.

 

Second, he says “whom I love and long for.”  He loves them, which means he cares deeply about them.  And because he cares deeply about them, he longs to be with them.  He says No to other things so he can spend time with them. 

 

Third, he says they are his “joy and crown.”  That’s puzzling, because in the beginning of chapter 3 he says Jesus is our joy.  But this is not a contradiction.  They are his joy, because when he spends time with them, he is helping them trust Jesus as their joy.  which brings him joy. 

 

And fourth, he calls them “my beloved.”  If Paul made a list of what he loves and delights in, other believers would be in the top part of his list, because of the joy he has in Christ as he loves and encourages them.

 

So four times in verse 1 Paul emphasizes his love and affection for fellow believers.  But notice something else.  He’s not just describing his love and affection for certain believers in this church.  He is describing his love and affection for all the believers in this church.

 

This is how he felt towards those who were older than him, and those who were younger, including the children.  This is how he felt towards the wealthy, and towards the poor.  This is how he felt towards those who were cool, and those who were not.  This is how Paul feels towards all the believers in the church.

 

So why does he emphasize this?  Why does Paul emphasize his love and affection for all these believers?

 

One reason might be to explain to them why he has spoken so strongly.  At the end of chapter 3 he wanted to motivate them to fight the fight of faith to keep treasuring Christ.  And to motivate them he used strong words, talking about those who walk as enemies of the cross of Christ (18), and those whose gods are their bellies (19).

 

So maybe he’s saying – the reason I used such strong language is because I care so much about you.

 

But I think there’s also another reason.  Notice that in verses 2 and 3 Paul talks about division in their fellowship.  And so I think here in verse 1 Paul is describing his love and affection for fellow believers so that Euodia and Syntyche, and the whole church, can learn from his example how they should have love and affection for everyone in the church.

 

So ask yourself – do you have love and affection for everyone in the church?  Or is there someone you are at odds with?  Is there someone you don’t like very much?  Is there someone you are bearing a grudge against and are divided from?

 

Or – do you know of others in the church who are at odds?  Who are bearing grudges against each other?  Who are divided?

 

If so, we need to hear what Paul says in verses 2-3.  So let’s ask – how does Paul respond to division in the church?  Look at what he says in verses 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.

 

So Euodia and Syntyche were at odds.  So who are these two women?  From verse 3, we know that they had labored side by side with Paul and Clement and others in advancing the gospel.

 

Now notice that women are actively involved in advancing the gospel.  Here’s why I want to point that out.  The Bible clearly teaches that men and women are equal.  But the Bible also teaches that in some areas men and women have different roles.  Women are called to be submissive to their husbands, and it’s male elders who shepherd the church.  But God calls women, just as much as men, to advance the gospel.  And notice how Paul honors and celebrates women who have labored side by side with him in the gospel.

 

So don’t think women have a lesser role in advancing the gospel.  If you are a woman, don’t hold back from telling others about Jesus, from studying God’s word, and from sharing God’s word.

 

So these two women had been actively involved in advancing the gospel.  But they ended up disagreeing with each other, and this disagreement caused division between them so they no longer loved each other, they no longer felt affection for each other, and they were not fellowshipping in the Lord together.

 

So what does Paul do?  I noticed four key principles --

 

First, he entreats and appeals and pleads with them.  Notice verse 2 – “I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.”  So he doesn’t just let it go.  He doesn’t say – “I will just let them work it out.”  No.  Jesus said our loving unity is of crucial importance.

 

So if you are at odds with someone else, then I want to entreat you, and appeal to you, and plead with you – don’t let it go. 

• Take some time today to pray about what you should do. 
• Maybe it’s something that can be resolved between you and the Lord.
• But maybe you will need to go and talk to them. 
• But if you do, it’s not to point out all the ways they have hurt you.  It’s not to have them own up to what they have done.  It’s to confess how you have wronged them, and to ask for their forgiveness. 

 

Second, he entreats them on the basis of the Lord himself.  Verse 2 – “I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.”   Whatever their disagreement is, they can agree in the Lord.  But what if one of them thought she should have become a deacon, and instead the other was chosen?  Or what if one of them thought the special offering should go for a church plant in Spain, and the other thought it should go to poor believers in Jerusalem?

 

It doesn’t make any difference.  The Lord Jesus is bigger than those differences.  But the fact that they have let their differences separate them shows that they have let their differences become bigger than Jesus.  And that’s why Paul urges them to agree in the Lord.  He urges them to see that Jesus Christ is far more satisfying than becoming a Deacon, or getting your way about the special offering.  He’s urging them to look past their disagreements to see all that they have in the Lord.  He’s urging them to lay aside their disagreements and come together in the Lord.

 

Third, he asks a church leader to help these women agree.  Paul knows that Euodia and Syntyche might not respond to Paul’s appeal.  He knows that they might decide to continue to let their disagreement divide them.

 

But that is unacceptable to Paul.  That would weaken their walks with the Lord, it would undermine the unity of the church, it would quench the work of the Spirit, it would compromise their evangelism.  So look at what Paul says in verse 3 –

3        Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women…

Paul asks a church leader to help them – to humbly come alongside them, pray with them, talk with them, urge them to agree in the Lord.

 

Fourth, he reminds them that both their names are written in the book of life.  That’s the clincher.  That’s why they should agree in the Lord, and that’s why any of you who are at odds should agree in the Lord.  Let’s read verse 3 again –

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.

 

If you are at odds with a fellow believer this morning, think about this.  Both your names are written in the book of life.  What does that mean?

 

The book of life contains the names of everyone who has been saved from their sins and will be welcomed into the new heavens and the new earth to enjoy the presence of God with all the redeemed forever and ever. 

 

So if you are at odds with anyone in the body of Christ, then the fact is that both of your names are in the book of life.  And when you understand that both your names are in the book of life, your heart will be changed so you, at least from your side, will be able to agree in the Lord.

 

So how does that work?

• It’s because the fact that your names are written in the book of life is infinitely more important than whatever has gone on between you. 

• It’s because the fact that your names are written in the book of life is such a joy that whatever loss you have caused each other will be more than compensated, now and forever.
• It’s because the fact that your names are written in the book of life means you will be friends in heaven forever.  You will be.  You will be on your knees before Jesus together.  You will be dancing on the streets that are golden together.  You will be leaping and dancing and praising God together.  You will be.

 

So -- stop being at odds with each other.  Take steps to forgive each other, love each other, be reconciled with each other.