Defending the High Ground
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Paul's loving encouragement to stand firm in the Lord.
Text: Phil. 4:1
Date: 01/19/2025, the Evening service.
Series: "Evenfall; Sunday Evening Worship" Part 28
Description:
Nestled in a statement that simply exudes Paul's great love for the church at Philippi, we find his oft-repeated command to stand firm. We will learn that this reflects Paul's view of the church's role in spiritual warfare. Even though we are commanded by our Lord to be proactive and bold in our evangelism and missional work, in Paul's view, the church is not on the offensive when it comes to spiritual warfare. After delighting in the depth of Paul's loving encouragement, we will consider what it means to "stand firm" in the Lord. Paul regularly included in his letters the command to stand against the onslaught of evil that he knew would constantly attack the church. For our Lord has already won the spiritual victory over sin, death and the devil. The job of the church in this age is to tenaciously protect the exalted position our Lord has won for us. In short, our job is to defend the high ground!
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Options:
I. Introduction, Matt. 28:19.
II. Exposition of the text, Phil. 4:1.
A. Context
B. Paul's loving encouragement.
1. A transitional verse.
a. Looking backwards and forwards.
b. Revisiting the promises, Phil. 3:20.
c. A skillful transition.
2. Paul's love for the Philippian church.
a. Looking at the words.
i. "my beloved"
ii. "longed-for"
iii. "brethren", Gal. 3:28.
iv. "my joy", Hab. 3:16; Phil. 1:3-6.
v. "crown", 1Thess. 2:19-20.
b. Paul's love letter.
3. Standing firm.
a. Looking at the words.
i. What it means to "stand firm", Phil. 1:28, 2:2, 3:16,18,20.
ii. The source of Christian strength.
b. Paul's emphasis on standing firm, Rom. 14:4; 1Cor. 16:13; 2Cor. 1:24; Gal. 5:1; Eph. 6:13; Phil. 1:27; 1Th. 3:8; 2Th. 2:15.
c. Standing firm in spiritual warfare, Eph. 6:10-13.
i. Christ is the Aggressor, 1John 5:19; Luke 2:13.
ii. The church must defend the high ground.
III. Conclusion, Hab. 3:19.
