​As we come to the close of Philippians, Paul gives this final encouragement.

​Remember that the Philippians sent a gift with Epaphroditus.  So the entire book of Philippians is, in a sense, just one long thank-you note.  It was Paul’s response to that generous gift.  But in true Paul fashion, he didn’t just talk about his gratefulness for their generosity.  He used the opportunity to encourage and teach them a multitude of things.   
 
I’m sure you’ve heard the term, “It is better to give than to receive.”  In a nutshell, that’s what Paul is expressing in this closing remark.  He wasn’t seeking the gift, but the credit that increases in heaven for gifts given to God.  In other words, when we give to God and His work, it not only makes a physical impact but an eternal one.  God credits all these things to our eternal account as valuable and having eternal impact. 
 
So let us be encouraged to be like the Philippians who gave generously, that God may increase our eternal credit and use us to bless others.  And may we always remember that God will provide for our needs to the glory and praise of Jesus Christ!

​We have now come to the end of our time in Philippians.  It has been a wonderful journey, full of great nuggets of truth and encouragement!  I hope you have enjoyed studying this amazing book as much as I have.
 
While we never really looked at the topic of joy specifically very often, I hope you were able to see this common theme throughout the book and the various ways it manifests itself.  Here’s some of my takeaways about joy.
 

• Joy is unaffected by circumstances
• Joy is unaffected by behavior
• Joy is unaffected by results
• Joy is unaffected by material possessions
• Joy brings true contentment no matter the situation
• Joy brings life
• Joy is unceasing and irrepressible
• Joy is undaunted by spiritual battle
• Joy motives us to keep going in the race of faith
• Joy stands out in this dark, perverted world
• Joy comes by looking to Jesus

 
This is God’s irrepressible joy that can be ours.  It is the type of joy our world desperately needs to see and we desperately need to possess.  There’s no way around it, life is hard.  However, if we have the joy of the Lord, we can not only survive the difficult times but also thrive.
 
Thanks for joining me on this journey!  I pray this study through Philippians has been a blessing to you.  Now, as you go study a book or a passage of Scripture on your own, may the Word of God become alive to you and may it teach you many great and wonderful things you did not know.  God bless!

​As 21st century Americans, most of us have not struggled with not finding food for our next meal or not knowing where we’ll stay tomorrow night.  We think it’s difficult when we open up the refrigerator and have to put various kinds of food together to make something “edible.”  We grumble when the microwave goes out, and we have to eat our food cold, or when the beautiful homes we live in are cold on those frosty mornings.  However, many don’t have the luxuries we enjoy.  Around the world, people are struggling just to survive.  And this was also true in 1st century Rome.

​Life wasn’t easy.  Sure, there were rich people who had innumerable slaves and servants to provide their every wish, but the average person didn’t have such luxuries, not to mention a traveling missionary.  Paul faced various challenges as a traveling church planter and missionary.  Not only was he rejected and persecuted for his faith, but he also had the daily problem of finding his next resting place or tomorrow’s meal.  Nothing was a guarantee.  Paul had times when he was hungry, really hungry.  There were mornings when he probably woke up cold and stiff from sleeping on the ground. 
 
But through it all there was one thing that Paul learned.  Contentment.  It was a lesson realized by tough circumstances, but in the end, it carried him through even more challenging times.  And it’s a lesson he wanted the Philippians and all of us to fully acquire.  As he shares in Philippians 4:

​What a powerful testimony Paul shares!  Through the various trials of his life, Paul had learned to be content in whatever situation he found himself.  When nothing went according to plan, Paul was content.  When his own people threw him in prison and beat him, he was content.  When after pouring out his heart and preaching till his voice was hoarse and no one accepted his message, Paul was still content. 
 
How did he do it?  How could he face hunger, need, discomfort, or pain with total contentment?  We have a hard enough time being content in luxurious America!  So how can we learn what Paul did?
 
There is a secret to contentment.  A truth known and acknowledged by many, but only tested and proved by a few.  That secret is that there is no circumstance or situation that Christ’s strength will not sustain us through anything.  Catch that?  Anything.  No matter the trial or how deep the hurt, Christ will strengthen.  No matter how hard the situation is or how bleak tomorrow looks, Christ will sustain us. 
 
Many believers acknowledge and quote Paul’s declaration, “I can do all things through him who gives me strength.”  But few actually put it to the test.  Few step out in faith and wait for God to give them His strength at their weakest moment.  And therefore, few—especially in America!—have found the secret of contentment.
 
So I challenge you to test God’s promise.  Go out in faith and see how God will provide for you.  Trust Him with the unknowns of tomorrow or the lack of abundance and see if you will not find the secret of contentment.  Our world and culture is constantly looking for more--more stuff to fulfill us, more money to provide for us, more love to sustain us.  However, the answer to all our needs is not more of what this world offers, but more of Christ. 
 
The secret to contentment is reliance on Christ.  So in the good times and the hard ones, let us always remember to fully rely on Jesus and in that find true contentment.  

​Have you ever seen a dance execute an unimaginably difficult maneuver or seen a musician perform a difficult piece of music perfectly?  Or maybe you watch sports and are always amazed how the professional players are able to get the ball across the field.  No matter what you’re into—art, music, sports, or dance—there are people in those fields who can do everything perfectly.  Why?  Because they have practiced their craft for hours and pursued excellence and perfection in their chosen vocation.
 
These individuals garner our awe, and rightly so for they have devoted their lives to being the best.  They become our heroes and we look up to them.  But why do we lift these people up as heroes when their pursuits have been of things that are fleeting and temporary?  Why do we strive for excellence and perfection in things like art, music, dance, and sports when at the end of the day these things have no eternal value?  

​It’s not that becoming proficient in a skill is wrong; it’s just that we are first and foremost called to be excellent in our Christian life.  Before we pursue excellence in physical abilities, we must first pursue it in our spiritual life.  And to excel, become proficient, and perfect at anything requires practice.  Lots of practice.  Countless hours of practice.
 
We are willing to devote hours of time to the practice and perfection of our chosen hobby or vocation.  Are we also willing to devote hours of time to the pursuit of spiritual excellence?
 
Paul exhorted the Philippians to pursue excellence (among many things) and to practice the things that had been taught to them.  He writes:

Our actions stem from our thoughts.  Therefore, Paul’s exhortation to think about or dwell on things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, and excellent is crucial.  For our thoughts shape our actions and our actions form our character. 
 
When Paul says “think about”, he doesn’t mean when you have spare time, or while you’re in the shower.  This “think about” is intentional.  The Greek word here literally means “to take an inventory.”  We are to deliberately take inventory of these things and see whether we have them in our lives or are lacking them.  It’s time-consuming and not something that can be done in five minutes. 
 
Have you ever inventoried a store?  It’s tedious, time-consuming work and the crazy thing is that it has to be done on a regular basis.  Stores don’t inventory just once.  They do it repeatedly and on a scheduled basis.  Likewise, we need to take stock or think about our spiritual life in the same way, in a methodical, non-hurried, regular way.
 
The next thing Paul encourages us to do is to practice these things.  What are these things?  The things that are excellent, true, just, honorable, etcetera.  These things require practice!  Because we’re not perfect, it’s difficult for us to master excellence.  We don’t get there overnight.  It takes repeated attempts and failures and reattempts until we finally attain our goal. 
 
So the question for us is…are we willing to practice excellence?  Are we ready to take inventory of our spiritual lives, to ponder and think about the things that are true, just, lovely, and pure?  When we come up short, will we give up or will we continue to pursue excellence?
 
We can never attain perfection in the Christian life on our own.  However, through Christ we can get closer and closer until we reach that day in eternity when we will stand before the throne of God spotless and perfect.  But until that day comes, God calls us to take inventory of our lives—regularly and methodically—and then to practice those areas that are not up to par.   
 
So will you join me in the pursuit of excellence?

​Do you remember our key theme for Philippians?  Joy.  More specifically, joy that is irrepressible.  While we have not done too much studying of joy specifically, we have looked at a lot of things that help us grow in joy, and also things that can suppress it.  For example, strife suppresses joy.  It’s hard to be joyful when we’re fighting with someone.  On the other hand, having our minds set on eternity and our citizenship in heaven fills our hearts with abundant joy. 
 
Joy cannot coexist in our lives if we’re harboring anger or bitterness.  Therefore, throughout our day, we must choose joy over anger, joy over discouragement, joy over bitterness, joy over hurt, joy over depression, and the list goes on.  But the one thing that we’re going to study today is that joy cannot exist with anxiety.

​You’ve probably discovered this already in your own life.  When worry creeps in and the stress levels increase, you’re probably not the most joyful person.  However, did you realize that joy can eradicate anxiety?  It’s true.  Today, we’re going to look at how joy is the antidote to anxiety’s powerful toxins.  

Rejoice always.  That’s a tall order.  But it’s important.  In fact, it is so crucial that Paul repeats himself.  But if you think that rejoicing always is tough, the second command Paul gives is even harder to follow:  do not be anxious about anything.  And these aren’t just suggestions; they are commands.
 
Paul isn’t giving the Philippians or us any wiggle room here.  He didn’t write rejoice in the Lord most of the time or when you feel like it; he said rejoice always.  Period.  It doesn’t matter what situation you’re going through or what you feel like, our call is to rejoice in the Lord no matter what.  The same is true with the second command.  We are not to be anxious about anything.  Not declining health, the loss of a job, or a down turn in the economy.  Nothing. 
 
But how can we do this?  How can we live our lives anxiety-free?  The answer is simple.  If we’re obeying the first command to rejoice always, we will automatically be obeying the second, to be anxious about nothing.  Because our hearts can’t have joy and anxiety at the same time.  They are two opposite attitudes. 
 
Joy remembers all the ways God has provided in the past and shows gratitude for those things.  It also praises God for who He is and never forgets His greatness and sovereignty.  Joy is a posture of trust.  On the other hand, anxiety does the exact opposite.  It worries about the future, wondering if and how God will show up.  Anxiety focuses on the situation or circumstance rather than the greatness of God.  It makes things so big that it can no longer remember how God has proved Himself faithful in the past.
 
This is a dangerous place to be in.  And a position that can cause a lot of havoc in our lives.  We serve a God who has all things in control from the greatness of space to the smallest detail of our everyday lives.  He’s got it all.  As Jesus taught in Matthew 6:25-27:

Jesus encourages us to look at the birds of the air.  Have you seen how they swoop and swerve to and fro?  And their song…how beautiful it is!  They seem like very joyful creatures, and they don’t worry about where their next meal will come from.  They merely live out their lives, day by day.  So the next time you’re feeling anxious about something, go outside, find some birds, and watch them.  Ponder the words of Jesus, and remember that you are of much more value than they are.
 
Anxiety and worry never helps us in life.  It doesn’t add time to our lifespan--if anything it will shorten it by high blood pressure!  So let’s not worry about the future or the present but trust in His sovereignty and rejoice in Him always.  

​Have you ever said something and then regretted it?  Or maybe you said a whole string of words and had an ongoing argument with someone that should never have happened.  At some point or other, we’ll stick our foot in our mouth and say something we regret or get in an argument with someone over something unimportant. 
 
Sound like something you can relate to?

​Sometimes, we realize our mistake right away and can fix it, but at other times we don’t realize when and where our words led us into trouble until someone else points it out to us.  Or if we’re in an argument, we’ll hold fast to our side and won’t budge no matter what the opposite side says and does. 
 
Why do we do this?  Why does it seem to happen on a nearly daily basis at times?  We forget the power of our words and the impact they can make on others. 
 
The Bible has a lot to say about taming the tongue and warning us about the power of our words.  A great resource on this topic is James 3.  If you’re struggling in this area, take a look at that powerful and blunt passage.  But what do words and the use of our tongue have to do with Philippians, our study book? 
 
In Philippians 4, Paul mentions something that always reminds and encourages me to watch my words and be careful with what I say!  Here’s what Paul wrote:

​I am so glad I’m not Euodia or Syntyche!  To go down in history as two arguing women would be horrible!  This is why this passage always reminds me to watch my words.  You never know who will hear about what you said.  Who knows, your next argument might go down in written history for generations upon generations of people to read and know about.  That’s the power and impact of words!  They have a way of being heard by lots of people. 
 
Now let’s take a look at Euodia and Syntyche.  These were probably ordinary women who were either working together on a project or serving in the church.  No matter what they were doing their personalities clashed, they exchanged some words, and then decided to keep the argument alive.  Nothing unusual or out of the ordinary, really.  It happens all the time in our own lives.  However, the argument you had with your sister, co-worker, or friend won’t be heard about by the Apostle Paul! 
 
Most likely, when Epaphroditus (remember, the guy who delivered the Philippians’ gift to Paul) gave updates on the health and progress of the church, mentioning the various members, this conflict came up.  Paul remembered it when he began writing the letter for the Philippians and felt the Spirit prompting him to address this issue specifically.
 
Imagine Euodia and Syntyche, they go to church one day and are excited to learn that Paul—their beloved spiritual father—has written the entire congregation a personal letter.  Epaphroditus gets up to read this precious gift.  And lo and behold, towards the end Paul mentions them—by name!—and asks them to agree.  What an embarrassing moment!  I’m sure they got up right then and worked out their argument.  While these two women might have felt that it was bad enough that Paul knew and wrote about their little spat, how much more embarrassed would they be if they knew that generations of Christians have read about it too!
 
This is why the story of Euodia and Syntyche always reminds me to be careful about what I say.  So the question of the day is, did Paul write about these two women for their benefit or ours?  Was it to settle their disagreement or to warn us about the disunity that stems from argument?  Something to ponder…
 
Either way, Paul repeatedly encouraged unity, like-mindedness, and harmony within the church.  But arguments, strife, and disagreements definitely don’t foster these things!  So let us remember the story of Euodia and Syntyche, the two women who have gone down in biblical history for having an argument (not something positive to be remembered for, by the way).  And let us never forget the power of words.  After all, you never know who all may hear them!

​Remember back to a couple of weeks ago when we talked about “Citizen Behavior?”  We discovered that for the Philippians, citizenship was a prized possession and something they were gifted with.  However, they were not only citizens of the prestigious Roman Empire, but were also citizens of heaven. 
 
As Paul writes:

​Did you notice the three letter word at the beginning of this passage?  But.  This is such an important word and yet so easy to miss.  But is a contrasting word.  It gives the impression of “wait, there’s more.”  So in the context of this passage, what does the but contrast or compare? 
 
The verse that precedes the one quoted above is Philippians 3:19:

​Here, Paul is specifically referring to the Judaizers and false teachers who are out to destroy the church.  But in reading Philippians 3:19, this could also describe anyone living for the world.  So ultimately, Paul is comparing those who live for this world—those who glory in their shame and have their minds set on earthly things—with us, citizens of heaven.
 
We are different.  We are meant to stand out and be completely opposite.  The rest of the world is ending in destruction and have their belly as their god, but our citizenship is in heaven.  We don’t belong to this world.  We are merely sojourners, travelers. 
 
This is the glory of the gospel!  That through Christ, we have been gifted citizenship in the best kingdom.  And not only do we belong in heaven, but we will also be given a new body that will befit our place in the kingdom.  This is an amazing promise and glorious hope that helps get us through the tough things we experience on this earth.
 
So when life gets tough.  When our world continues to get torn apart by the rampant brokenness we see each and every day.  When we get discouraged by all the people living for the here and now, remember that our citizenship is in heaven. 
 
And because we are citizens of a different place, let us stand firm in the Lord.  Even though the world is falling apart and getting darker, we shall stand strong—rooted and grounded in Christ—because we know that we are merely passing through and our eternal home is waiting for us.  

​Have you heard this saying? “Imitation is the highest form of flattery.”  While it may be true in most cases, imitation in the Christian life is not mere flattery.  It’s necessary for survival. 
 
God never intended us to live alone.  We were created for community and fellowship with other people.  Therefore, our spiritual walk also needs the fellowship and community of other believers.  We can’t do it alone.  

​But not only do we need like-minded people in our lives to keep us going, we also need excellent role models and leaders we can be encouraged by and inspired.  Paul knew this and warned the Philippians to be wise and discerning in who they followed.  His words of warning and instruction are just as important for us today as they were over 1,000 years ago.

​Imitate.  Follow after.  Mimic.  Ever been around a copycat?  Sometimes it can be really annoying, but if you look beyond the bothersome aspect you may be blessed by the action.  Many times young children or preteens will pick up the mannerisms, looks, behavior and posture from those they admire.  They will start mimicking them in speech and action.  While it may be annoying at first, we should be blessed that these youngsters so highly revere us as to imitate our actions. 
 
In a similar way, Paul encouraged the Philippians to imitate him.  He didn’t necessarily mean that they needed to talk the way he did or use the same hand gestures (if he used any at all!), but he wanted them to imitate his spiritual life.  Paul was okay with his sons and daughters in the faith to watch how he lived his Christian life and then patter theirs in a similar fashion.  He didn’t get annoyed by it as some may, but rather encouraged it. 
 
Why?  Because he knew the crucial importance of imitation in the Christian life.  However, he warns the Philippians to be careful about whom they mimic.  Not every person is worth imitation! 
 
Paul gives the Philippians and us an example of those not to imitate, those who are enemies of the cross.  These individuals come into the church and appear to be Christians, but then try to lure away the faithful with lies.  This is why we must be vigilant and extremely careful about whom we pattern our lives after!
 
As a side note, Paul’s irony in this passage is humorous.  For generations the Jews called the Gentiles dogs.  They felt that they were superior and better than everyone else.  So therefore, they called those not Jewish (Gentiles) dogs because that’s the value they put on them.  However, here Paul, a Jew and former Pharisee, is calling the Jewish false teachers dogs to a Gentile audience!
 
But back to imitation…. 
 
Imitating mighty men and women in the faith is not only important for the Christian’s success, but it’s vital.  Without fellowship and strong leadership to follow and imitate, we probably won’t make it to the finish line.  While Christ is the ultimate example we are to imitate, His perfection is something we cannot attain.  Therefore, it is helpful to pattern our lives after those who gone before and successfully completely their race of faith. 
 
So let us heed the words of Paul and remember this short, but powerful exhortation he gave to the Corinthian church that echoes the command here in Philippians.