Turn back, if you will, to Philippians
chapter four. Philippians chapter four. Paul, as is obvious from the
first verse there in chapter four, tells us that these believers
at Philippi were especially dear to Paul. And he was dear to them. He was the preacher. He was the
preacher that God sent to them with the glorious gospel of Jesus
Christ. You remember that. It's recorded
in Acts. Lydia is converted, then the
Philippian jailer, and then others. The church heard that Paul was
in prison, so they sent their pastor with an offering, a gift
to take to Paul. And after that, while that man
was there, their pastor from Philippi, Paul, perhaps the pastor,
Paul dictated this letter, this epistle, and he took it back
to the church at Philippi. I found this in my studies this
week. Brother Henry Mahan in his Bible
class commentaries gave seven reasons why Paul sent this epistle,
this letter. And I'm just going to tell you
what they are. Henry said one was this, to express his love,
Paul's love, and affection for them, for that church. And to
give an account of his imprisonment and the results of it, it has
fallen out to the furtherance of the gospel. Did you notice
there in the last verse or two that I read that Paul said, those
of Caesar's household salute you? Paul's in prison, but even
there, the gospel of God's grace is not bound. Some of Caesar's
own servants, household, believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. Here's
a third reason. Paul wrote this epistle to encourage
them under affliction and persecution. Now that's always timely, isn't
it? We always need that. Number four,
to excite them to love and unity and peace among themselves. The
fifth reason, to caution them against false teachers who were
trying to mix Moses and the law. They're still around. Law and
grace, the gospel with works. It won't work. It won't work.
They do not mix. It's all of one or it's all of
the other. The sixth reason, to exhort them
to a holy life and behavior. And the seventh reason, to give
thanks to them for their care of him, for the gift that they
sent Paul. I would like to consider the
third one there that Brother Henry gave, and that's the very
third one, to encourage them under the affliction and persecution. to encourage them in the Lord. Let's begin by reading verse
1 again of chapter 1. Just this first verse, and then
we'll go back. Verse 1 of Philippians 4. Therefore,
therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved, and longed for my joy
and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. Stand fast in the Lord. That's
the title of the message. That's the subject. Stand fast
in the Lord. Being in Christ, being in Christ,
they must stand fast in Him. Stand firm. Stay put, so to speak. Be even and steady in their walk,
in the way they live. Have close and constant communion
with the Lord. Stand fast. in the Lord is to
stand fast in his strength and by his grace. Paul says don't
stand fast in your own strength. Oh no, no, no. Without me, Christ
said plainly, without me you can do nothing. But Paul said
I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. Stand fast
in the Lord in his strength and his grace, not trusting in ourselves,
not thinking that there's any sufficiency in us. Oh my soul,
pride cometh before a fall, doesn't it? When we think we stand, what
are we told? Be careful, take heed, lest ye
fall. We must be strong in the Lord
and the power of His might. That's what Paul told the believers
at Ephesus. So stand fast, so as ye have
done thus far, Paul says, just keep doing that. We just sang
that a minute ago, didn't we? Here I raise mine Ebenezer, hither
by thy grace I'm come. I've come this far, up to this
very moment, this very second, by the grace of God, and only
grace shall lead me on." Paul says, stands firm. Remember what
our Lord said? His disciples one time, as they
left the temple for the very last time, perhaps that was the
last week of our Lord's earthly journey, I believe it was, but
in Matthew chapter 4, the disciples said, look at this temple, Lord,
did you notice Have you noticed the temple? Have you noticed
these beautiful things? And our Lord said, there won't
be left here one stone upon another. And they said, Lord, when will
this be? And what will be the sign of
thy coming and of the end of the world? And the thing that
he repeated over and over again was, beware, beware, be careful
of false prophets. In verse 11 of Matthew 24, Hear
the Lord himself speak. Many false prophets shall rise
and she'll deceive many. Beware. And because iniquity
shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall
endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Yes, God preserves
his people. Thank God for his keeping, preserving
grace, but his people also by that grace must persevere until
the end. Only those who do so shall be
saved. Stand fast. Stand fast in his
gospel. Stand fast in the gospel of God. The glorious gospel of God concerns
his blessed son. Don't let it go. Don't let it
slip. Hold it firmly. Listen to what
Paul said to the church at Ephesus. Chapter 4, verse 14, that we
henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro. I've known
folks, preachers, who jump from one thing to another. One thing,
make issues, lay the gospel aside and make issues of insane things. Oh, God give us grace never to
do that. Don't be tossed about. Don't
be carried about with every wind of doctrine. with everything
that comes down the pike, by the slight of men and cunning
craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive. Be not carried
about, Paul wrote in Hebrews 13, be not carried about with
divers and strange doctrines. Was it the Athenians Paul encountered
in Acts that he said they spent their time in nothing else but
to learn or to tell some new thing? That's all it was. Paul said, oh, no, no, no. Stand
firm. Let the heart be established
with grace, not with meats, not with that profited them not that
have been occupied therein. Stand fast in the doctrine of
Christ, the teaching of scripture. I'm sure I've shared this with
you before. I don't think I've been here long, a year or so. Some lady called me and wanted
to know what our confession of faith was. I answered her, I
said, it's the Bible, the Word of God. That didn't satisfy her.
I don't know how many calls. And then she began to email me.
Can you just send me your confession of faith? I said, lady, it's
the Word of God. It's the Word of God. It's what
thus saith the Lord. You know, it's not this confession.
Those are man-made things. This is not. This is the God-breathed,
inherit Word of God. That's our confession of faith.
It's sad. It's sad. I think her and her
husband came once or twice and that was the end of that. Oh,
therefore, Paul says, don't turn away. Stand fast. Don't be turned
to fables. Remember what he said to Timothy,
his beloved Timothy. These are some of Paul's last
words. I charge thee therefore before God. and the Lord Jesus
Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing
in his kingdom. Preach the word. Preach the word. I remember years
ago, Brother Henry Mahan saying, if there was one place you dare
not preach the gospel today, it's in the average church. Huh? He said, it's not the winos and
the harness that keep the word out of the churches, it's the
pastors. We're living in that time, brothers and sisters. I
charge thee, therefore, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ,
who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing in
his kingdom, preach the word. What else, Timothy? I mean, how
are you going to get a crowd? What about spaghetti dinners
and puppet shows and entertainment? Preach the word. Preach the word. Be instant, in season and out
of season. My brother told me one time,
the best time to fish is when it's raining and when it's not.
Paul says the best time to preach is when it's in season and when
it's not, all the time. Reprove, rebuke, exhort with
law, longsuffering, and doctrine. For the time will come when they
shall not endure sound doctrine. But after their own lust shall
they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears, and we will
pay you to tell us what we want to hear. They shall turn away
their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables,
fairy tales. But don't overlook here the first
word of our text, therefore. Therefore, that points us back
to what Paul said before. There's a foundation for what
Paul said here when he says stand fast. It's built on something. He just doesn't throw it out
there. It doesn't stand alone. It has a basis, a sure and solid
ground on which he rests this exhortation. I think often that
people can get into a habit of speaking in just religious slogans,
don't you? Never give no thought of what
they mean. They're spoken without any thought,
just something to say. Remember, like when we were young,
Billy, and we thought we were cool, and we'd say, see you later,
alligator. Remember that? After a while,
crocodile. Remember that? We thought that
was cool. Today, folks, just the other day, went through the
checkout at Walmart. Have a blessed day. Have a blessed
day. Everywhere you go, have a blessed day. Sometimes I wonder
what people would say if you asked them, what do you mean
by that? What is a blessed day? What is
it to have a blessed day? Why should I have a blessed day?
Who's going to bless me? Well, they wouldn't have a clue.
It's just something folks say. Have a blessed day? Paul, when
he tells believers, therefore stand fast in the Lord, he has
a foundation, a basis for telling them that very thing. And it's
back in verses 20 and 21 of chapter 3. That's where the therefore
came from. For our conversation, citizenship,
is in heaven, verse 20. For whence also we look for the
Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body.
Oh, aren't you looking forward to that? That it might be fashioned
like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby
he is able. He is able. Nobody else can,
oh, but he can. He's able to subdue all things
unto himself. What a contrast in that description
to those Paul described in verses 18 and 19. It would profit us
to look at that as well. Well, verse 17 of chapter 3.
Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk
so as ye have us for an example." Everybody that comes down to
the pike with a Bible in their arms is not a preacher. They
might be daddy called, mama called, cemetery called, but they're
not called of God. Paul said, be careful, don't
follow them. Verse 18, for many walk, many
walk. Look at how they live, look at
the fruit. Don't listen to just what they say, listen to what,
look how they act. For many walk of whom I've told
you often, and I tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies
of the cross of Christ. Listen to this. This describes
the majority of preachers on TV. whose end is destruction,
whose God is their belly. They never get enough. We've
got miracles with your name on it. Just send us some cash and
we'll see that you get it. Whose God is their belly, whose
glory is their shame, and who mind earthly things. Earthly
things. God wants you healthy. God wants
you wealthy. God wants everybody to be healthy
and wealthy. Paul was speaking here of religious
people, especially false prophets and preachers. but also anyone
who professes to know Christ, but whose life and walk gives
no evidence whatsoever of it. How they act, live, is completely
contrary to what they say. Paul says, now I've told you
before, now I'm telling you again. And I tell you with tears in
my eyes, don't follow them. Beware. They glory in the flesh. They make merchandise of the
souls of men. They're more interested in what
you have than who you are or what you really need. They're
more interested in the gifts than the giver. They turn the
grace of God into a license to sin. Someone said, God created
us to love people and to use things, but sinful men love things
and use people. Paul said, from such turn away.
Their end is destruction. Their God is not the living God,
but their own desires and passions. What they glory in is really
what they ought to be ashamed of. Isn't it a sight the day
we live in? I mean, I never thought in a
million years that I would live to see the insanity that's going
on today. Oh, I don't want to get started.
Just absolutely insane. The things that go on, and put
God's name on it. Oh, God, give us grace not to
follow that. We all know, we all know some,
sad to say, I take no delight in this, I wish it wasn't so,
but we know some who profess to know Christ whose entire life
and walk deny that profession. No evidence of it whatsoever.
I know some personally that I, who profess to know Christ, I
have never, and I don't mean a casual acquaintance, people
I've known for years know well, I have never heard one word out
of their mouth about God. about Christ, about grace, about
salvation. Not one word. Brothers and sisters,
there's something wrong with that picture. There is something
wrong with that picture. Christ came by his cross to crucify
the world to us and us to the world and every believer by the
grace of God wants it that way, don't they? They wanted that. Oh, we look forward to the day
when Christ shall subdue all things, even this flesh by his
power unto himself. When we shall be made like in
him, the son of God, when we shall see him and be like him. That's our longing. That's our
desire. Makes no difference whether there's
a mansion or a heart or the streets are made of gold or gravel. It
doesn't matter. I'll be with Christ where he
is. Paul says, follow them. or follow
me as I follow Christ. An old Puritan by the name of
John Aerosmith said, it ill becomes an air of heaven to go licking
up the dust of this earth. So it does, so it does. As the
Lord said in Matthew chapter 6 in his Sermon on the Mount,
lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust
doth corrupt and where thieves break through and steal, but
lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. where neither moth
nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through
and steal, for where your treasure is there, there is where your
heart is also." Now, unlike those Paul describes in verses 18 and
19, he tells the true children of God to stand fast and also
why we should. Why we should. Three things,
and I'll be brief. In verses 20 and 21, Paul gives
three things, three reasons why therefore we should stand fast. Look at the first phrase of verse
20. The first thing, our conversation
is in heaven. The word again is citizenship. We're citizens of the heavenly
kingdom. Our interest is in heaven. We're
not tied to this world. In Christ were the sons now seated
with him, heirs of eternal glory, and we're waiting patiently for
him to return. Christians, even while they're
here on earth, have their citizenship in heaven. I'm already a citizen
of heaven. I'm waiting to move upstairs,
but I'm already a citizen of heaven. As if he said we stand
related to this world and are citizens of the new Jerusalem
even so. This world is not our home, but
that one is. That one is. That one that Christ
has prepared. That's where our greatest privileges
and concerns are. Because our citizenship is there,
that's where our interest is. That's where our heart is. The
life of a Christian is in heaven, where his glorious head is. His
bridegroom is. That's his home, where he hopes
to be shortly. Very shortly. Oh, isn't that
something to think about? Isn't that something to think
about, Billy Cobb? Shortly, when a few days are come, then we
shall go the way from whence we shall not return and wouldn't
want to, would we? Wouldn't want to. Oh, that's
where we are. Set your affections on things
above. That's where the real treasure
is. That's where our heart is also. We're bound for a better
place. We're bound for a better place.
We're not scratching and calling to get there. No, we're bound
for a better place. There's no question about it.
That heavenly city, the New Jerusalem, that God has prepared for the
many brethren that Jesus Christ, the captain of their salvation,
is going to bring there. That's why they need many mansions.
Oh, he'll have many, many a multitude of redeemed sinners. I say we
are bound for the promised land Bound by the purpose of God.
Bound by the purpose of God. It's your father's good pleasure. Little flocks fear not, Christ
told them. Don't be afraid. It's your father's
good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Now if he's not God
Almighty, Is he not God over all? That doesn't mean anything,
but if he's the mighty God, and he's pleased to give me the kingdom,
this sinner's gonna end up in the kingdom of God Almighty with
the captain of my salvation I'm bound to. Bound also, not only
by the purpose of God Almighty, bound by the precious blood of
Jesus Christ. We're not our own, we've been
bought with a price, and blessed be his name, he'll have what
he paid for. Like Moses told Pharaoh, we're
not leaving a hoof behind, we're getting plum out of here. There's
going to be nothing left behind bound by every attribute of the
triune God. His everlasting love, His omnipotence,
His wisdom, His grace, His mercy, His promise are all engaged bound
for the glory of God to bring us there. Listen to what God
said by the mouth of His prophet Isaiah 48. Verse 11, for my own
sake, even for my own sake, will I do it? For how should my name
be polluted? And I will not give my glory
unto another. God's glory is wrapped up in
the salvation of his people. Remember the former things of
old, Isaiah 46 and 9. Does this sound like that pitiful,
weak God that can't have his way that we hear about today?
Remember the former things of old, for I am God. There's none
else. I am God and there's none like
me. There's none like me. Declaring
the end from the beginning and from ancient times the things
that are not yet done saying my counsel shall stand and I
will do all my pleasure. Wow, how you like that? Isaiah
46 and 10, my counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure. and his good pleasure is to give
us the kingdom. Ask Nebuchadnezzar if God shall
do all his pleasure. You remember that proud king? Daniel chapter 4, we have the
record of it. He's walking around his palace,
popping his suspenders. He says, man, look what I've
done. Look what my hands have made. It's all my doing. And that's
what he said. That's what he said. Then Spachian
said, it's not this great Babylon that I have built for the house
of the kingdom by the might of my power and for the honor of
my majesty. It's all about me. I'm the big
guy, the big guy. You know the story. God Almighty
from heaven said, I'm going to change your tune, Nebuchadnezzar.
I'm going to teach you a different tune." And you know, shortly
after that, God brought him down to the next site, the next picture
you have of that great king. He's not walking around on the
balcony of his palace popping his suspenders. He's down on
all fours, eating grass like an animal, like an oxen. What
do you say now, Nebuchadnezzar? Is he the God of heaven? Does
he rule over all? the tune that this king now sings,
at the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes unto heaven,
and my understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most
High, and I praised and honored him that liveth forever, whose
dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation
to generation, and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing,
and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and
among the inhabitants of the earth and none can stay his hand
or say unto him, what doest thou? Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise
and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are
truth, and his ways judgment, and those that walk in pride
he's able to abase." Oh, what a God. What a God. Every believer
is a child of that great God. A citizen of his everlasting
King. Our conversation, our citizenship
is there. And our affections have already
gone before, haven't they? Set your hearts, your affections
on things above. We may live below, but our hearts
above. We now breathe the heavenly atmosphere,
don't we? Robin wanted to go visit her
son, and she was going to stay longer than I could. That's why
I didn't go with her. And she was just sort of homesick
to see her son. I can understand that. I can
understand that. We all can identify with that.
It reminded me of a hymn by old John Newton. He wrote, when the
weary traveler gains the height of some overlooking hill, his
heart revives if across the plains he eyes his home though distant
still. While he surveys the much-loved
spot, he slights the space that lies between. His past fatigues
are now forgot, because his journey's end is seen. Thus, when the Christian
pilgrim views, by faith, his mansion in the skies, the sight
is fainting, strength renews, and wings his speed to reach
the prize. The thought of home his spirit
cheers, no more he grieves for troubles past, nor any future
trial he fears, so that he might safely arrive at last. Here's the second thing. The
second part of verse 20, Paul says, from hence also we look
for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the icing on
the cake, isn't it? Our Savior. Our citizenship is
there, and so is our Savior. He who is the Lord of that better
country, even the Lord Jesus Christ, we are always on the
lookout for Him, who shall shortly come to take us to glory, either
in the air or when we die, to take us to be with Him, that
where He is there we may be also. As old brother Donnie Bell said,
in the meantime, we just keep looking out the window. Just
keep looking out the window. And soon, oh my son, very soon,
faith will give way to sight. We won't need faith. We'll see
Him. We'll be with Him where He is.
Note what Paul says there. In verse 3 of chapter 4, he speaks
of some whose names are written, whose names are in the book of
life. Verse 3. Names are in the book of life.
So is every believer's name. Before they were believers, their
name was in the Book of Life, Billy. Before they were ever
born, their names were written in the Book of Life. Their names
are written in the Lamb's Book of Life from Eternity. It's His
book. The Fanger of God Almighty wrote
them there and there's nothing can erase them. Nothing can take
them out. This is a registered book of
those who are citizens of the Heavenly Kingdom. Last time Robin
and I, actually several times, that we were checking into the
motel there in Crossville, Tennessee. I was to preach for Brother Bell
like next Sunday. The last time we were there,
this happened. There was some confusion about
whether I had a reservation or not. They couldn't seem to find
it. They couldn't seem to determine
if I really even had one, if anyone made me one. Of course,
I mentioned that to Donnie afterwards, and he called me the other day
and he said, Larry, I've gone down there personally. He said,
I've been down there. I went up to the desk, and he
even sent me a text with all the info, the confirmation number,
and everything. And he said, it's taken care
of. I guarantee you it's taken care of this time. There was
something mixed up in the changing hands of ownership or something.
But anyway, Jesus Christ has every name of his elect written
in his book. The Lamb's Book of Life, and
there is no possibility of a mix-up. There's no possibility of those
names ever being removed or forgotten or lost. It ain't gonna happen.
Listen to what he told his disciples one time when they came back
rejoicing because they were able to cast out devils. Behold, I
give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions. and over all the
power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you,
notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject
unto you, but rather rejoice, because your names are written
in heaven." Now Billy, that requires faith, doesn't it? Billy Cobb's
name is in the Lamb's Book of Life. His name's first. His name's first. And under his
name, it's his book, are the names of all his elect, his chosen,
his redeemed. They're citizens of that heavenly
kingdom. Old Robert Hawker said this on
that phrase, names written in heaven. He said, here is a subject
surpassing joy indeed. which secures all the blessedness
of the life that now is and that which is to come. The choice
of God to eternal life is special, personal, and particular. Names
written implies persons known and everlastingly secured, so
that the Father's gift, the Son's purchase, and the Holy Spirit's
work of grace are all the result of everlasting love. and render
the event of salvation and happiness as a thing not liable to any
doubt or uncertainty." Thank God. All we are, all we have,
and all we hope for is because of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen? Is that not so? Our citizenship
is in heaven from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord
Jesus Christ. Last two verses of Newton's hymn
says this, well let me repeat one. The thought of home his
spirit cheers, no more he grieves for troubles past, nor any future
trial he fears, so he may safe arrive at last. Tis there, he
says, "'Tis there, he says, I am to
dwell, with Jesus in the realms of day. Then I shall bid my cares
farewell, and he shall wipe all my tears away. Jesus, on thee
our hope depends, to lead us on to thine abode. Assured, our
home will make amends for all the toil while on the road.'"
The third thing, the last thing, verse 21. "'Who shall change
our bowed body, that it might be fashioned like unto his own
glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able to
subdue all things unto himself. He that is able to save to the
uttermost shall also do this. He will complete the work he
has begun by changing our avowed bodies into the glory and majesty
of his own body, exerting the power which enables him to subject
everything, everything unto himself. This is exactly what Paul said
in 1 Corinthians 15 verse 50. Now this I say, brethren, that
flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Neither doth
corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery.
We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. I love
those words. There's a better day coming.
I'm going to be changed. You'll never hear one inhabitant,
one inhabitant among that multitude of citizens in heaven ever cry
out, oh wretched man that I am. Oh no, that's gone, that's gone.
That'll be left in the grave in a moment in the twinkling
of an eye at the last trump. For the trumpet of God shall
sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be
changed. Hallelujah, we shall be changed. This corruptible must put on
incorruption. And this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall
have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on
immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written,
death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting?
O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and
the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth
us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. And just as Paul
did here in Philippians 3, with the certainty of those things
that he spoke of, saying, therefore, Paul does likewise here in 1
Corinthians 15, therefore, in light of that blessed truth,
we shall be changed. Therefore, my beloved brethren,
be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the
Lord, for as much as you know, your labor is not in vain in
the Lord. Therefore, my beloved brethren,
our text, Dearly beloved, and long for my joy and crown, so
stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. Blessed Jesus, every
day, keep us in the narrow way. And when earthly things are past,
bring our ransomed souls at last, where they need no star to guide,
where no clouds thy glory hide. In that heavenly country bright,
need they no created light, Christ its light, its joy its crown,
Christ its sun, which goes not down. Therefore ever may we sing
hallelujah to our king. Therefore ever will we sing hallelujah
to our king. I'll close the message as Paul
closed this epistle, the last verse of chapter four. The grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Amen. God bless you.