Living Like the Lord Is Near (Philippians 4:1-5)

Introduction

We’re going to talk about the church in Philippi and the Apostle Paul’s ministry to them. He loved them so very much. He called them “brothers, whom I love and long for.” He called them “my joy and my crown.” He said all of that because of the Lord’s great love for them and the Lord’s work in them.

But we should be careful to note that the work was far from perfected. It was good work. It was godly work. It was from heaven, manifested here on earth. But it was far from perfect. The church in Philippi had conflicts, just like every other church of the New Testament, and like every church that gathers for worship around the world this morning.

They had external pressures. They felt the pressures of the world around them, just as we do. And of course, they had internal strain as well—just like our church and every other church.

One of the things I’m so glad and grateful for is that by God’s grace, our church has weathered storms and challenges. Yes, we carry the scars of past struggles. We still care for wounds from some of those troubles. But we are also experiencing the healing that God’s Spirit brings. And so even amid our imperfection, we rejoice that we have a perfect God who loves us, cares for us, is moving us forward, and gives us confidence that even when we face challenges, we can persevere.

We are going to live with a joy that is greater than our challenges.

Our Source of Joy Is Fixed, Not Fragile

This morning, that’s what I want to talk about: our source of joy in Christ is fixed, not fragile.

Our experience of joy, or of the happiness of ministry, can feel fragile at times. Things happen in our lives or in the church that rattle us. But Paul encourages the Philippians—and us by extension—that the source of our joy is anything but fragile. It is fixed. It is strong. It is Christ.

If we mistake the experience of God’s grace for the source of God’s grace, we will set ourselves up for disappointment. If we say, “I’m joyful today because the worship service went smoothly,” or, “I’m joyful because my kids are getting along,” or, “I’m joyful because I still have my job,” then our joy is contingent on experiences. And if that’s the case, then all it takes for our joy to be disturbed is for those circumstances to change.

That’s a fragile balance. In fact, it’s impossible to maintain. If we rest our joy on such things, we are only one phone call—or one loud crash from downstairs—away from having our peace destroyed.

Paul commands something deeper in this passage: “Rejoice in the Lord always.” In other words, whether the kids are getting along or not, whether you like your job or not, whether the church is full or not—rejoice in the Lord. Not in circumstances, but in Christ himself. If that’s the source of our joy and peace, it will never waver.

That kind of joy is unflappable. It is settled in the sovereignty and goodness of God.

Reading the Passage

Let’s open our Bibles to Philippians 4:1–5:

“Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 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. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand.”

1. Stand Firm in the Lord (v. 1)

Paul begins with a “therefore,” which connects back to what he has just said in chapter 3: “Our citizenship is in heaven, and we await a Savior from there.” Because of that certain future—because Christ will return and transform our lowly bodies into glorious ones—we can stand firm now.

This kind of life doesn’t just happen automatically. You have to decide: will you live a life tossed back and forth on the waves of changing circumstances, or will you rest on something solid enough to bear the weight of your soul? By God’s grace, in faith, you must lay hold of what God has already laid hold of for you. Your enjoyment of communion with God depends, in no small measure, on whether you choose to stand firm in him.

The phrase “stand firm” (στῆκετε) is a military term meaning “hold your position under fire.” It’s not passive—it’s a deliberate, disciplined, steadfast refusal to abandon your post. And notice carefully: Paul does not say “stand firm in your own strength,” but “stand firm in the Lord.” Our stability flows from union with Christ, not our own stubbornness or performance.

What are we standing firm against? Paul knew the Philippians—and we today—would face false teaching, external pressures, persecution, mockery, even the threat of violence or death. He also knew we would face internal divisions and struggles within the church. And yet, because our hope is in Christ’s return and our citizenship in heaven, Paul says we can stand firm.

And then notice his language: “my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown.” For a man not often thought of as sentimental, these words are striking. They reveal Paul’s deep affection for this church—not because they were perfect, but because they were beloved in Christ. They were his joy and crown, his reward, his evidence of God’s grace. Yet even here, Paul reminds them: stand firm not in yourselves, but in the Lord.

2. Pursue Unity in the Lord (vv. 2–3)

After calling the church to stand firm, Paul turns immediately to a very specific challenge: division in the church. He writes, “I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.”

These were not fringe members. Paul says they “labored side by side” with him in the gospel. They were faithful women who had served the church well. Their names, he reminds everyone, “are in the book of life.” He is not questioning their salvation, their loyalty to Christ, or their importance to the church. But now, something has come between them.

Notice how Paul handles it. He does not simply say, “I entreat Euodia and Syntyche.” He repeats himself: “I entreat Euodia, and I entreat Syntyche.” Why? To make it crystal clear that he is not taking sides. Both women are addressed with equal weight and equal care. His tone here is not harsh but fatherly. The verb he uses has the sense of a loving appeal: “Come here, let’s talk about this.”

But Paul also knows this is not a private matter. This is a public conflict, significant enough to make its way to him in prison. In an honor-shame culture, naming them in a letter read aloud in church was risky. It could have crushed their reputations. But Paul takes the risk because the gospel is at stake. Division in the church, left unchecked, dishonors Christ.

And so Paul is careful. He calls them to “agree in the Lord.” Not necessarily to agree on every detail of ministry, or on every personal preference, but to agree in Christ—on what matters most. He is telling them to keep the main thing the main thing, and to hold everything else with an open hand.

Paul also wisely enlists help. He appeals to a “true companion”—an unnamed but respected leader in the church—to come alongside these women and help them work toward reconciliation. Unity is worth the effort. Sometimes we need mediation, an outside voice, to restore peace.

The principle here is just as urgent today. In every church, people come from different families, backgrounds, vocations, and stages of life. There are many things that can divide us. But what holds us together is not that we all share the same tastes, politics, or preferences. What holds us together is the Lord. And because we are in the Lord, we love him, and therefore we must love one another.

That means holding secondary issues with an open hand. It means resisting the temptation to let personal preferences disrupt the unity of the body. And it means trusting that God can restore relationships, just as he did with Euodia and Syntyche, when we keep the main thing central: the gospel of Jesus Christ.

3. Rejoice in the Lord Always (v. 4)

Paul then returns to the theme of joy: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”

This is not casual advice—this is a command. The verb “rejoice” is in the present imperative, which means it is something believers are to keep on doing, over and over, until it becomes a daily orientation of the heart. In other words, rejoicing in the Lord is not a one-time choice; it is a continual discipline.

Notice also what Paul does not say. He does not say “rejoice in your circumstances.” If joy depends on things going smoothly—your kids getting along, your job being secure, your Sunday school class running just the way you wanted—it will crumble the moment those things change. Joy rooted in circumstances is fragile. But joy rooted in Christ is fixed. It is unshakable, because Christ does not change.

And remember where Paul is as he writes this. He is in prison, possibly facing execution. If joy depended on environment, Paul would be the least qualified to tell others to rejoice. But because joy depends on the Lord, Paul is the most qualified. He has learned, as he will later tell the Philippians, “the secret of contentment in all circumstances.”

That “secret” is this: rejoice in the Lord always. Not in your own performance. Not in your reputation. Not in things turning out the way you hoped. Always in the Lord.

This is not “don’t worry, be happy.” It is not therapy or self-help. It is a theological commitment—a command rooted in faith. And here’s the challenge: you cannot learn this in easy places. You can only learn it when God leads you into the hard places.

Paul knew that. He had walked through shipwreck, persecution, hunger, loneliness, and loss. Yet he writes with confidence that joy in Christ is possible in all circumstances. And so, when you are walking through the crags and dark valleys of life, don’t think the Lord has abandoned you. Quite the opposite. He is teaching you to trust him more deeply.

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” That is how Christians learn contentment—not by avoiding trials, but by walking with Christ through them.

4. Let Your Gentleness Be Known (v. 5)

Paul concludes this section with another command: “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand.”

The word translated “reasonableness” (ἐπιεικές) is notoriously difficult to render into English. It carries the sense of gentleness, graciousness, forbearance, even mercy. In classical Greek, it was used to describe leaders who had every right to enforce strict justice but chose instead to temper justice with compassion. They had the power and the prerogative to punish, but they extended mercy.

That’s what Paul is calling for. He wants believers to be known—not for being trigger-happy with judgment, not for always demanding their rights—but for being people who show grace when they could just as easily bring down the hammer.

Think of the impact that makes on others. When someone could have blasted you but didn’t—when they had you in their sights but held their fire—that leaves a mark. That’s gentleness. Not weakness, but strength restrained by grace.

And Paul says, “Let it be known to everyone.” This is not just for insiders within the church. Outsiders should see it too. Christians should be known in the wider community as people who are gentle, patient, and merciful.

Why live this way? Because “the Lord is at hand.” That phrase carries a double meaning. First, the Lord is near to us now—present with us in our worship, in our suffering, in our ordinary, workaday lives. Second, his return is soon. Because he is present and because he is coming, we don’t have to grasp for control, defend ourselves, or demand our way. We can trust him to set all things right.

This is exactly what Christ himself modeled. He could have called down legions of angels in judgment. He could have silenced Pilate, Herod, or the Sanhedrin in a word. He had every right and ability to do so. But instead, he bore the cross. He entrusted justice to his Father to deliver mercy and grace to us. And because he did, we live.

Biblical gentleness, then, is not wishy-washy compromise. It is principled strength under Christ’s control. It is the refusal to hold grudges, to live reactively and turbulently in response to every challenge, and to take vengeance into our own hands – all because we know the Lord is at hand.

Conclusion: The Lord Is at Hand

So how do we flourish together as God’s people?

• Stand firm in the Lord.
• Pursue unity in the Lord.
• Rejoice in the Lord always.
• Show gentleness, because the Lord is near.

We can be glad and grateful because our joy is anchored to Christ, not to fragile circumstances.

Again, when Paul says, “The Lord is at hand,” he means both that Christ is with us now and that he is coming soon. And when he comes, every wound will be healed, every scar will tell a story of grace, and every tear will be wiped away.

Let’s not anchor our joy in fragile things. Let’s anchor it in the one fixed, unshakable foundation: Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

Reflection & Discussion

Use these questions for personal reflection, journaling, or group conversation.

Where do you feel tempted to give up instead of standing firm?
Paul tells the Philippians to “stand firm in the Lord” (4:1). What are the pressures or discouragements that make you want to retreat? How might remembering your heavenly citizenship (Philippians 3:20–21; 1 Corinthians 15:51–58) help you hold your ground?

How do you usually respond to conflict in the church?
When Paul pleads with Euodia and Syntyche to “agree in the Lord” (4:2), he reminds us that even faithful servants can clash. Where are you avoiding reconciliation? Who might you need to seek peace with? (Ephesians 4:1–3; Matthew 5:23–24)

Who has helped you pursue reconciliation?
Paul calls on a “true companion” to come alongside these women (4:3). Who has been that kind of peacemaker in your life? How might you step into that role for others? (Galatians 6:1–2; Matthew 18:15–16)

What does “rejoice in the Lord always” look like for you this week?
Paul commands joy in every circumstance (4:4). Where do you tend to tie joy to circumstances instead of Christ? How might you practice reorienting your heart toward him? (Habakkuk 3:17–18; 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18)

How do you normally use your power or rights?
Gentleness (4:5) means strength under control—choosing mercy when you could demand justice. Where might you need to show restraint or forgiveness this week? (Titus 3:1–2; James 3:17)

How does remembering “the Lord is at hand” change your outlook?
Paul anchors his exhortations in the nearness of Christ—both his present presence and his coming return. How could that truth bring you peace in your daily pressures? (Psalm 145:18; James 5:8–9; Revelation 22:12)

Related Scriptures for Further Study

• Philippians 4:1–5 – Stand firm, seek unity, rejoice, be gentle—the Lord is near.
• Philippians 3:20–21 – “Our citizenship is in heaven… he will transform our lowly body.”
• 1 Corinthians 15:51–58 – Victory over death; “be steadfast, immovable.”
• Ephesians 4:1–3 – Walk in humility, gentleness, patience, eager to maintain unity.
• Galatians 6:1–2 – Restore one another in gentleness; bear one another’s burdens.
• Matthew 5:23–24 – Be reconciled to your brother before offering your gift.
• Matthew 18:15–16 – Seek reconciliation privately, then with others if needed.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 – Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in everything.
• Habakkuk 3:17–18 – Rejoice in the Lord even in loss and lack.
• Titus 3:1–2 – Show perfect courtesy and gentleness toward all people.
• James 5:8–9 – Be patient and establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
• Psalm 145:18 – “The Lord is near to all who call on him.”
• Revelation 22:12 – “Behold, I am coming soon.”

These sermon summaries are solely intended for the personal devotional use of church members and friends. They are not transcripts or academic works and should not be reproduced or distributed without permission.

Originally prepared by Kevin Labby during his vocational service at First Evangelical Free Church of McKeesport. Used with permission. Copyright remains with the church. Please do not reproduce or distribute without written consent from both the church and the author.