Stand Firm: Cultivating A Christ-Confidence For Living
Stand Firm
Cultivating A Christ-Confidence For Living
Pastor Carlie Weir
What we know about human behavior is that we are skeptical of methodologies until proven profitable. You have to stick with a new method long enough to experience the profit.
Philippians 1-3 outlines 3 ways to Stand Firm in any type of environment or setting.
Chapter 1: Cultivate a Christ-Confidence and Christ-Courage by believing God always finishes what He starts no matter what the circumstances look like.
Chapter 2: Become a humble active part of Christ’s body. There is “stand-firm” strength in unity.
Chapter 3: Stand Firm by living with a future focus not a past anchor. We stand firm in Christ, not our reputation or status, good or bad.
Chapter 4: Stand Firm by Perfectly Practicing Peace.
Philippians 4:1-9 NIV Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! 2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
4:1 AMP Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!
5 ways to Perfectly Practice Peace
Perfectly Practice Peace through Desiring and Pursuing Relational Reconciliation
Philippians 4:2-3 AMP 2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree and to work in harmony in the Lord. 3 Indeed, I ask you too, my true companion, to help these women [to keep on cooperating], for they have shared my struggle in the [cause of the] gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
Many people’s tendency is to recoil in relational conflict (to strike or to run). Aggression & Avoidance aren’t peaceful practices.
Achieving “stronger together” is rarely achieved. Why? Because few have been coached in practicing peace in relationships. These don’t just happen on their own. Perfect practice requires knowing what to do, how to do it and why it matters.
Practice the desire for reconciliation.
Practice humility.
Practice self-sacrifice.
Practice speaking the truth in love.
Practice making more relational deposits than withdraws.
2. Perfectly Practice Peace through Rejoicing through Everything
Philippians 4:4 AMP “4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again, I will say, rejoice!”
3. Perfectly Practice Peace through Responding to People with Gentleness
Philippians 4:5 AMP “5 Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people.” The Lord is near.
Coach Paul is encouraging peace’s potential energy with in us to be transformed into the kinetic actions of grace, service, mercy, love, patience.
4. Perfectly Practice Peace by Replacing Anxious Thoughts with Thankful Prayers.
Philippians 4:6-7 AMP “6 Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. 7 And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].”
Paul is coaching us to leverage our worry and anxiousness to shape our prayers and not sink our emotions.
“With Thanksgiving” is a nod to using a past experience to fuel a present confidence. When we go to the Lord with prayers and petitions we are to do so with thanksgiving for His faithful character and His past faithfulness in mind. Praying with thanksgiving is a perfect peace practice.
5. Perfectly Practice Peace by Redirecting Our Thinking to Praiseworthy Thoughts.
Philippians 4:8 AMP 8 Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].
Philippians 4:9 AMP 9 The things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things [in daily life], and the God [who is the source] of peace and well-being will be with you.
Recap:
Standing Firm is dependent on perfectly practicing peace. We perfectly practice peace by…
Reconciling relationships not recoiling from them.
Rejoicing in the Lord not “re-morsing” in circumstances.
Responding to people with gentleness.
Replacing anxiousness with “thanksgiving-shaped” prayers.
Redirecting our thinking to praiseworthy thoughts.