Philippians 4:1

Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. (Philippians 4:1–3)

When the enemy's favorite weapon is division, joy is found only in our connection with God and one another through the cross.

The Right Word at the Right Time

When we open our Bibles, we recognize that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and because it has been given to us by God, it is useful. It teaches us what is true, and when we begin to recognize what is real, it helps us realize what is wrong. We quickly see, in light of the truth of Scripture, the areas where we have fallen short. But the awesome thing about the Bible is that it doesn't leave us despairing over how wrong we are—it also corrects us and provides further instruction to show us how to walk in righteousness.

Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3:16–17 that all of this is given so that we would be mature, complete, ready for every good work. God has given us this inspired Word to make us mature, to make us more like Him. Every page is important. I'm convinced that in every verse God wants to teach us about Himself, about who we are in light of who He is, and about how we are to live.

We're also told in Hebrews 4 that the Word of God is living and powerful. Because it is a living word, there are certain times when certain passages are more applicable than others because of what we're going through. God has an awesome way of directing us to the perfectly right passage at the perfectly right time. As I studied this week, I believe we're at one of those passages—the right word at the right time for our church.

A Very Real Spiritual Battle

As I put together the teaching schedule earlier in the year, my plan today was to cover Philippians 4:1–9 and look at what it says about a life without anxiety. How many of you would like that? Come back next week—we'll talk about it. But as I was reading, I got stuck on verses one through three, because I think it's the right word for us at the right time.

A few weeks ago I got together with a friend, Victor Marks, for a time of prayer that was very clearly a season of genuine spiritual warfare. The next day, some of our staff members found a basket in our parking lot with a dead chicken inside, its head cut off, a couple of dead fish, and some other miscellaneous weird things. A couple of days after that, I had to call the Escondido Police Department to file an incident report about wild accusations made against me on an online social media platform. Over the last three weeks, it has been very clear that we are in a very real spiritual battle.

I'm not a hyper-spiritual person, but I recognize, as we studied in Ephesians 6:12, that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places. If you've been a Christian for any length of time, you understand there is a spiritual dynamic to the life we're in. You didn't experience this before you were a Christian, but now you understand it to a greater extent.

The Weapon of Division

That spiritual battle is always happening. I describe it like a cold war—always going on under the surface, but at times it comes up and gets a little hotter for a season. Over the last three weeks, I've seen that in a big way.

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians that we are not ignorant of the devices and schemes of the devil. They're the same things over and over—well-worn tools and weapons. The problem is that sometimes we arrogantly let down our guard, thinking we can handle it. Take heed when you think you stand, lest you fall.

One of the most effective weapons in the enemy's arsenal is the weapon of division. Our leadership has seen this in a greater way over the last three weeks. Only consider how many churches over the last 2,000 years have been rendered useless and ineffective—some even destroyed—by division. As the people of God, we need to be on guard and not ignorant of the schemes and weapons of the enemy.

I'm convinced that by His sovereign direction, God had it be that we would land in this text for such a time as this. So before we even read it, here is point number one: division destroys joy.

My Joy and My Crown

In the previous 82 verses of Philippians, Paul has written great encouragement to the Christians at Philippi—much about joy, rejoicing, peace, and contentment. That's why this book is often called the letter of joy. Among Paul's thirteen New Testament letters, this one is unique in that it's primarily joyful, with very little caution, challenge, rebuke, or correction. Many of his letters were corrective, because we're imperfect and need correction. But this letter is unique—and yet nestled in this opening passage of chapter four are one or two words of corrective rebuke.

Notice how Paul begins: "Therefore my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and my crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved." In this one verse Paul uses five terms of endearment, revealing his heart for these people. He calls them his beloved, his longed-for brothers and sisters, his joy, and his crown—a prize in his ministry. When Paul thought of the Philippians, he was filled with joy.

This is not to say he didn't love the Christians in Corinth, Ephesus, Thessalonica, or Galatia. But in Corinth he had nearly nothing but trouble. In Ephesus he was constantly in contention. In Galatia they dragged him outside the city, stoned him, and left him for dead. Yet whenever Paul thought of Philippi, he said: they are my joy, my crown, my longed-for brothers and sisters. If I get out of this prison, I'm coming to see you. You can sense the special place this church had in his heart.

There Is No Joy Without Connection

Point number two: there is no joy without connection. We were created to live life in connection with God and one another. When God fashioned us in His image in the book of Genesis, He created us to live in unhindered relational connection with Him. Humanity is unique among all creation because He took the time to make us in His image, connected with Him.

But He also intended that we live in connection with one another. In Genesis 2, God beheld His creation and said, "It is not good that man should be alone." Adam didn't yet realize this, so God caused the animals to pass before him to be named. As they passed by, Adam observed part and counterpart—lion and lioness, bull and cow, stallion and mare—but there was not found a helper comparable to him. So God caused a deep sleep to come upon Adam, took from his side, and fashioned woman. From one, God made two, with the intent to join them together as one, and from that oneness to multiply.

But in Genesis 3, things change. The deceiver who causes division comes in as the serpent, and through his deceptive work sin entered the realm of man, and through sin, death. Death means separation and division. Connection was lost—with God, who came down asking, "Adam, where are you?" and with one another, as shame and fear entered. Ever since, all humanity is born into a broken world, and at the deepest core we all recognize it. We see division everywhere—racial, economic, educational. That is the reality of this fallen world. Yet we were created for connection, and there is joy in that connection.

Cross Connection: Reconciled Through Christ

All of this is why our church is called Cross Connection, and why our vision is life in connection with God, one another, and the world through Jesus. In Ephesians 2:13, Paul writes: "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." You were alienated and separated, but He brought you near. "For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation."

Jesus abolished in His flesh the enmity, that He might create in Himself one new man from the two, making peace, reconciling them both to God in one body through the cross. He came and preached this good news of peace to those who were far off and to those who were near, "for through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father." And in verse 19: "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God."

We were once disconnected from God and from one another because of sin and death. But Jesus took all that sin upon Himself. On the cross He bore the judgment for it, He was buried, and three days later He rose from the dead. Through His resurrection He claims victory over sin and death and makes it possible for warring, far-apart ones to be brought back together. Isaiah, 700 years before, called Him the Prince of Peace—the one who makes separated parties one by destroying the very thing that caused the separation.

Now look around this room: different races, nations of origin, languages, socioeconomic and educational categories. What Jesus does as He reconciles people is the only place you see this. There are people in this room that, apart from Christ, you might cross the street to avoid—yet here we are friends. It's a miracle. The world is constantly trying to develop community and destroy what divides, and most of the time it just causes more trouble, because Jesus is the one who reconciles.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

And He who preached this good news of peace has given us the ministry of reconciliation. In 2 Corinthians 5:18–20, Paul writes that God "has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation"—the word of reconciliation. "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God."

So our mission is life in connection with God, one another, and the world through Jesus. We've been brought back into connection through the cross of Christ—Cross Connection. That's the gospel summed up.

Point number three: we were created for connection. God made us to experience this oneness with Him and with one another. This is why, on the last night of His life, Jesus prayed in John 17, "Father, I pray that You would make them one as I am one with You." That was His last prayer for the church. So what do you think the enemy wants to do? He wants to divide and bring destruction.

Division Must Be Corrected

This connection is found only in the Lord, which is why Paul tells his beloved Philippians to "stand fast in the Lord." The joy of connection is found only in Christ, so stand firm on that foundation; don't be moved. This is a recurring theme in Paul's letters. But the enemy wants to disrupt and destroy it through division—as he did in Genesis 3, and as he has done effectively for thousands of years. Look at the fracturing within the church worldwide. Division causes ineffectiveness; it seizes up the work of God.

So in verse two Paul writes, "I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord." I beg you to be reunited. And I say reunited because verse three tells us these two women used to be co-laborers with Paul, but something has changed, and now there's division between them. After 82 verses of joy, rejoicing, contentment, and peace—no challenge, no rebuke—Paul now comes down to this and uses their names, immortalizing them in Scripture, saying: you need to stop it.

Point number four: division must be corrected, because it destroys connection and destroys joy. We don't know what the dispute was. They were women, referred to as "these women." But the Philippian church knew about it, and Paul heard about it even from 800 miles away without text messages or Twitter. It was big enough to cause disruption. At its core, you can be guaranteed it was the work of the enemy trying to destroy the work of God. The New Living Translation reads, "Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement."

The Purpose of the Letter

The phrase "be of the same mind" is striking, because eight times in the previous 82 verses Paul exhorted the Philippians to be like-minded. In 1:27, "with one mind work together for the faith of the gospel." In 2:2, "make me happy by being like-minded." In 2:3, "in lowliness of mind esteem others better than yourself." In 2:5, "be like-minded with Jesus." In 2:20, "Timothy is like-minded with me." In 3:15, a mature-minded Christian leaves the past behind and presses on. In 3:16, "let us be of the same mind." In 3:19, carnally minded people set their mind on earthly things. And now in 4:2, "I beg you, be of the same mind."

Many commentators have noted that this one verse may be the very purpose for which Paul wrote this letter. Eight exhortations to be unified and like-minded, and then: now, you two, straighten up. We don't know the problem, but one great preacher, Ray Stedman, referred to these two ladies as "odious and soon touchy." There may be some wisdom there.

Point number five: division must be eradicated at all costs. In another letter Paul says there should be no schism in the body, because schism is like a cancer that destroys it. And Jesus said in Matthew 12:25, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided will not stand."

Calling for a Mediator

Working by the inspiration of the Spirit, Paul uses the word parakaleō—"I implore you"—coming alongside them and calling them to be restored. Then in verse three he turns from those two women: "And I urge you also, true companion." It's singular in the Greek—he's addressing one individual in the church, unnamed, a true companion, a fellow yoke-fellow. He says, "Help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life."

Sometimes there is the need for a mediator—someone to come in between two warring parties and help fix the problem. That's exactly what happened between us and God. The warring on our end was so difficult that God sent a mediator. As 1 Timothy 2:5 says, "There is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus." So Paul calls on this person to help these former co-laborers fix the issue. The phrase "co-laborers" implies the work has now ceased—division causes the ministry of God to stop.

Whose Names Are in the Book of Life

Look at those last words of verse three: "whose names are in the book of life." I think this is a gentle reminder that these disputes within the body of Christ are among people whose names are in the book of life—so deal with it, because you're going to be with them for eternity.

Nine times out of ten—maybe ten out of ten—when division happens in the church, at the core of it is gossip. Titus 2:3 says gossip destroys, and the Greek word translated gossip is diabolos—the work of the devil. So Paul says this needs to be settled. There ought not be any schism within the body, because you are citizens of heaven and your names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Leave Your Gift at the Altar

How do we deal with it? Jesus gives us great direction in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:23: "Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you"—or you have something against your brother—"leave your gift before the altar, go your way, first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."

If you come to church to serve in children's ministry, to sing worship songs, to give an offering, or to study the Bible together, and you remember there's an issue between you and a brother in the body, leave your gift at the altar and deal with it. Be reconciled—because God created us to live life in connection, and there's no joy apart from it. There's no joy where division is. So division must be corrected. It must be eradicated at all costs.

Closing Prayer

Father God, thank You for Your Word and for this short three-verse exhortation. I pray that we would receive this word of exhortation, even if it is small, and that our lives would be affected for the better because of it. Lord, transform us as we prepare to go from this place today.

Would You bring restoration of relationships, if there is any division here, that no root of bitterness would spring up and defile many. May we not see the work of this fellowship brought to a halt because of the sand of division getting in the gears. Would You pour out the oil of Your Holy Spirit to free any of that up. May we be a church that brings glory to Your name, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace, that You would be honored by the light that shines from this body. Because tomorrow You will carry each of us into places of darkness, to be bright shining lights of Your glory, extending this life and connection we have with You and with one another to those in the world. We thank You and praise You in Jesus' name. And all those that agreed said, Amen.