Title: A Challenge to Fulfillment
Text: Phil. 4:1-9

A challenge to fulfillment. That word challenge seems to find its way into our sermons on a regular basis. As we have used it a challenge is anything that calls for or demands special effort or dedication. In that sense Christianity is a challenge because it demands from its followers special effort and dedication. It is a challenge because it demands we be distinct from the world in both character and conduct. It's a challenge because it demands submission and obedience to the will of another. Distinction from the world submission and obedience all require special effort because it's easier to go with the current than against it.

Paul is a teacher, he's also an encourager. Sometimes he teaches the basics in his letters and other times he teaches the more complex things of God. But whether it is basic or complex he is always encouraging believers to accept and meet the challenges of their faith.

As we have seen the past few Sunday's Paul challenged believers to get their priorities in order concerning the worth of worldly things in relations to eternal things; he challenged them to genuine worship; he challenged them to experiential knowledge; he challenged them to press on or to continue to live by faith; he challenged them to stand firm. He also encouraged them by reminding them in verses 20-21 of chapter 3 of the promise of God and the sure hope of Jesus Christ.

Because of his love and concern for the Philippian believers, he further challenged them to live godly lives in order to experience the peace of God. Through a series of exhortations Paul challenges us and encourages us to live up to what we have attained, standing firm in the Lord. The result of such godly living will be the peace of God in our hearts and the abiding presence of the God of peace in our lives. We must not only hear but heed Paul's exhortations, apply them in their lives in order to obtain the full measure of God's peace.

Why does Paul challenge us? We get a glimpse of his heart in verse1. It is the Christ-like love of a shepherd for the flock. Paul invested his life in following the example of Jesus. His was a genuine love for the people of God, not just emotional involvement but a total commitment. He loves them, longs for them, appreciates them. They are his joy and his crown.

He's not just building them up. His was a selfless love and devotion that was an extension of his love and devotion for his Lord. It's this personal bond which gives added force to his message. Even though Paul considers himself a shepherd to them he doesn't set himself above them. Rather he sees himself as one of them. One who has experienced deliverance and freedom through the grace of Jesus Christ just like they had. He has that same love not just for the Philippians, but for all believers, and for all through all time who will read and hear the message he has been given by God, so he challenges us as well.

The challenge is two-fold. First there is the general challenge to stand firm in the Lord. Paul issued this same challenge in 1:27 and 2:2. It is a challenge to continue to stand firm with a common purpose. To stand firm with a common moral disposition created by the presence of the Holy Spirit which draws believers together with one desire as one soul being true to Christian ideals and their profession of faith both defending and advancing faith in Jesus Christ.

The second part is a six-fold challenge to godly living. It begins not with a call to doctrinal soundness, but a call to unity. There is a specific incident Paul uses to call them to unity. A disagreement of some type between two women in the church. He doesn't elaborate on what this problem is. The members of the church there no doubt knew what the problem was. Whatever the reason these women were believers and fellow workers that needed to be reconciled to each other.

A church can be sound doctrinally and yet be rendered ineffective because of relational problems within the body. Anger, jealousy, hurt feelings, misunderstandings do as much, if not more, harm to the body of Christ than doctrinal errors. Relational problems weaken the witness, and effectiveness of the church, and the thing is there is no excuse for believers to remaining unreconciled. Forgiveness and reconciliation are the central theme of the gospel message. It must be actively practiced within the body to ensure unity. Unity strengthens and encourages believers especially in the face of enemies and trials which will come about because of their stand for Christ.

There is the challenge of Joy - he repeats himself to further add to the impact of this challenge. Christians are not immune to sorrow or hardship nor are they insensitive to the trouble of others. Henri Nouwen a Jesuit psychologist says, "Our life is full of brokenness - broken relationships, broken promises, broken expectations. How can we live with that brokenness without becoming bitter and resentful except by returning again and again to God's faithful presence in our lives." As Christians we find our highest and most complete joy in the will of God and in our relationship to Him and our fellowship with Him. We again remember joy is found not in circumstance but relationship.

There is the challenge to develop within ourselves a forbearing spirit- That means we are to develop a spirit or attitude which yields personal rights in favor of consideration and thoughtfulness to others. You can see why this is such a challenge to American Christians. We have ingrained in our culture the desire for the insistence on personal rights and unlimited freedom. Gordon McDonald said, "[T]he freest person in the world is the one with an open heat, a broken spirit, and a new direction in which to travel. That is certainly a challenge for most of us.

All of this is to be covered by thanksgiving; for past, present and future response to our prayers. The key to being anxious for nothing is to be fervent in prayer. I speak from personal experience when I say as Christians we spend far, too little time in genuine heart felt, spirit guided communion with the Lord. We must begin to make special determined effort to become effective prayers.

Proper thoughts are the subject of the 5^th challenge. One of the chief concerns of the Christian community is what we perceive as a liberal bias in the entertainment and media industry which uses it's influence to desensitize people to immorality and sin. What we put in our minds determines what comes out in thoughts and words and actions and Paul urges believers to allow God to control their thoughts by centering their minds on those things which are morally and spiritually pure and excellent, those ideas, ideals and principles found in God's Revelation.

Lastly believer are challenged to put all this into action. Here is a good verse to reconcile James and Paul. "The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things." (4:9, NAS) " It is not enough to simply hear or read the Bible or even to know it well. We must also put its truth into practice. It's easy to hear a sermon and forget what was said. It's easy to read the Bible without thinking how to live differently. It's easy to debate the meaning of a passage or a particular book and never be concerned with living out that meaning. James said faith without works is dead faith. Paul said the things we have seen and heard and learned are to be put into action. Faith must lead to obedience.

The results of meeting the challenge of living in fulfillment of the faith to which we are called is found in the words of encouragement revealed in verse 7 and the latter part of v. 9. First "the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (NAS) Paul uses a military term which means that as faith is applied to daily living the supernatural peace of God will stand watch over our hearts and minds. True peace is not found in positive thinking, good feelings or the absence of conflict. Those who have found peace with God as Paul says in Rom 5 will experience peace from God which is a calm assurance in the face of any and every circumstance that God is in control.

Not only that, but he says, "the God of peace shall be with you." That means that in direct proportion to the yielding of our lives to God in obedience particularly in those areas of challenge which in fact cover all aspects of our lives, we will experience the indwelling presence of the living God both empowering and enabling us to further yielding and greater obedience. Paul is not writing about an abstract principle, he's writing from personal experience. He has given us an example to follow. He's met the challenge, he's experienced the reality of indescribable peace.

Are you willing to face the challenge? Are you willing to give your life completely to the Lordship of Jesus Christ to experience complete fulfillment and not only His supernatural presence, but also His supernatural peace. Are you willing to Live for Jesus?

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