'A Strange Fellowship and an Uncertain World' (4/3/09 Bible Study - Philippians 4:2-9)

Almost there with Philippians...not much left in volume, but considerable depth!  Paul begins to wrap things up with three directions for the Philippians:

1. When there are divisions in the church, there is a core to keep (vv2-3)

It has often been said, 'The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing' (variously attributed, but said to me most often by UCCF staffworkers in my CU Committee days).  That is the essence of what Paul is telling the church here.  It seems that Euodia and Syntyche are Christians - they are, after all, co-workers, partners in the gospel, and the passage seems to indicate that their names are written in the book of life.  As far as Paul is concerned, they have not gone so far as to be regarded as heretics or currently destructive to the church.

However, the problem seems to be that they have allowed some issue of secondary, tertiary or lesser importance cloud out the major issue, the main thing.  That is a problem for the church - when a minor issue gets so much airtime that it distracts the church from the core issue - the progress of the gospel.

Think of it like this.  Sally and Jake go on a roadtrip from New York to Seattle - a journey of some 2400 miles.  They have consulted Google Maps, installed their SatNav, mapped out their route and take off.  Everything is progressing fine, and for days they are on target - the plan is to take a week to get there.  However, on day five, at about four in the afternoon, they decide to stop for coffee.  Sally wants to go to Starbucks, and Jake to Dunkin Donuts.  Apart from the fact that Jake is far wiser, they quickly become heated in their discussions.  So much so that they miss their exit from the interstate, and end up heading south to Salt Lake City by mistake.  Whilst they agreed on the essentials, they allowed a minor decision to cloud that goal, and so got pulled off target.

Paul tells the Philippians to 'get their head on' ... the other members should get alongside Euodia and Syntyche, in order to help them back on track, and the focus on the fact that the core to keep is the gospel - it's a helpful flag for us that if we're distracted from this task, from the centrality of the gospel, then minor issues have undoubtedly become too major!  The command for the other members to help them out rings with last week's command to walk closely with those who imitate Christ, as it's the best way to expose where we aren't thinking with the mind of Christ.

2. When the World Seems Uncertain, There is One to Trust (vv4-7)

The key truth Paul wants them to remember here is this: Jesus is not far away.  This is true in at least two senses:

• He is not unimportant or insignificant to everday live
• He is not disinterested in this world, nor will he be away long before he comes back as Lord of all creation

It might seem that Jesus' work and word are far removed from real life today, but nothing could be further from the truth.  In an uncertain world, there are two ways to go:

• Live as if Jesus is far removed from rela life, and so be anxious and uncertain all the time
• Live recognising that Jesus is significant for every feature and moment of life ... and so pray, ask God and give thanks to him with regards to all the things that would otherwise make us anxious!

How much we pray as individuals and churches show how much we trust that Jesus is significant to our lives.  How much we worry as individuals and churches shows how much we assume that Jesus is irrelevant - we can be verbal Christians and practical atheists!

the result of living in trust that Jesus is significant and involved in everyday life will mean the peace of God will set up camp all aroudn our hearts and minds to protect us from uncertainty - it will transform our affections, decision making, the things that make our hearts flutter or swell - they will all be surrounded by an impregnable wall of certainty, and so protect us not from the things that make us anxious in this world, but from anxiety itself.

3. When you become a Christian, there is a life to live (vv8-9)!

Paul sets up two features of the Philippians' lives that should be lived in a particular way:

• Think Character-forming thoughts.  The things the Philippians are to focus their minds on (compare 3:19) are not eight individual thoughts, but a character of things to think about - thoughts that will shape a type of person, a Christ-like person.  thoughts that will bring a church together, because they mark the mind of Christ.  Thoughts that will focus the church on the things of the gospel.  They are a means to an end, not an end in themselves - so fix your mind on things that will shape your character this way!
• Live the habit-forming gospel.  The Philippians have received the gospel, essentially Jesus Christ, from Paul et al - and they are to make these an everyday habit.  The gospel is passed on to transform lives, not merely produce changed status.  Again, we see the gospel is not informational but transformational.  What are our habits?  Are they gospel habits?  Do we every day attempt to put into practice the truth of the gopsel?

Essentially, Paul wants it said of the Philippians what was said once of John Bunyan: 

'Prick him anywhere; and you will find that his blood is Bibline, the very essence of the Bible flows from him.  He cannot speak without quoting a text, for his soul is full of the word of God.'

If they live this life, there is a great guarantee.  Just as the peace of God would guard them as they trust that Jesus is significant to and interested in the world, then the God of peace will be their constant companion as they live gospel-transformed lives.  What a blessing!