Philippians 4:1 ESV
Acts 16:1-3 ESV
Acts 16:8-10 ESV
Philippians 4:4 ESV
I have a confession to make.
In some ways standing firm has been natural for me all my life.
When it comes to matters of faith, it’s a ‘given’ for me. I’m not sure why but even when I was young I knew I needed Jesus. I’m not sure if that’s because I knew my dad relied on Jesus or if it was because I’ve always been a silly sort of a girl who was often more involved in playing around than doing what needed to be done and I instinctively knew Jesus would keep me on track.
I do know that I am the opposite of my Mom. She stood firm in a different way.
She is determined, stays on track, and always does what needs to be done.
Me? My head is in the clouds.
Even as a child (as well as today) if you give me a fun art project or a story idea, I forget all about my “to do” list.
I love creativity.
I’ve always loved it.
Because of that when I was a child I was most apt to get in trouble for forgetting to clean my room than anything else. I did not have much trouble getting along with others because I liked doing fun things. I looked for like-minded people who like doing fun things and especially like to laugh. If play time became a struggle or a fight ensued, I slowly walked away and found something fun to do by myself…or with my dog. My dogs have always been my “besties”.
When I was old enough to fully understand (9 or 10 years old) my “go to” became Jesus. When I was 12 years old and I went to a Billy Graham Crusade at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri the Holy Spirit came on me with what I call hurricane force winds. After that, I was ALL in with God. Standing firm took on new meaning for me.
Philippians 4:1 says, “Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.”
After that night in Arrowhead Stadium the Spirit became my guide.
Even when I would get off-track the Spirit would ever so gently call me back to my center.
When Paul told the members of the congregation in Philippi to stand firm he knew they needed encouragement.
The church in Philippi was the first congregation Paul established in Europe and it was established on Paul’s second missionary journey.
Being the first can have special advantages, but there are drawbacks. It meant there was no precedent. The leaders there did have a strong backing and the mention of having deacons leads us to believe there were many members.
We know from Acts 16:1-3, “Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.”
Paul’s connection to Timothy continued to grow and Paul even thought of Timothy as being like a son. In Acts 16:8-10 we are told Paul (and Timothy) while “passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.”
The city of Philippi was located in Ancient Greece in Macedonia.
In addition to their ‘good start’ there is historical record of the church in the Second and Third Centuries. There is record of “the development of Christianity in Philippi in the second century in Polycarpus’ epistle to the Philippians around AD 160.” (www.christian-pilgrimage-journeys.com)
There is evidence of the coins found in a Christian grave that date to the Third Century in Philippi. “Such foundings suggest that the Christian community must already have been a rather large group by the third century. In 313 Constantine allowed the Christians to serve their own God. Archaeological discoveries have demonstrated that the Basilica of Paul a single-naved church was built in Philippi at that religion-free-acting time. This Basilica of Paul, identified by a mosaic inscription on the pavement, is dated around 343 from a mention by the bishop Porphyrios, who was present at the Council of Serdica that year. After religious freedom was promulgated more churches were built.” (https://www.christian-pilgrimage-journeys.com/biblical-sources/apostle-paul-life-teaching-theology/philippi-a-loyal-church-a-long-tradition/)
Evidence of the church continued through the fourth and fifth centuries, however the city was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake in 620 C.E. and the city was not rebuilt.
The church in Philippi had a strong start and lasted for many centuries indicating it would more than likely have had an impact on the region.
Paul wrote the letter to the church at Philippi when he was imprisoned.
Yet in Philippians 4:4 he wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”
Even from a dark and damp prison cell, Paul knew regardless of what’s going on in our lives our joy does not come from our circumstances.
Our joy comes from God, sanctified by Christ, delivered by the Spirit.
Spiritual Practice: Joy
Ask for Joy and STAND FIRM to receive it.
In God, Deborah
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