Love And Long For

Philippians 4:1 - Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!

Philippians 2:1-2 - If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

Philippians 3:19 - Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.

Philippians 1:27-30 - Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

1 Corinthians 15:58 - Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Conclusions:

• Stand firm in the midst of present struggles for the sake of the gospel
• To be in Christ is to be saved
• To be in Christ is to be in intimate personal relationship with Christ the Savior
• From this relationship flow all the particular benefits and fruits of salvation, like encouragement
• Comfort from His love is the comforting knowledge and assurance that come from God’s love in Christ, demonstrated especially in Christ’s death for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life
• Fellowship with the Spirit is the fellowship among believers produced by the Spirit, who indwells each of them
• Christians are to have intense care and deep sympathy for each other
• All these benefits—encouragement, comfort, fellowship, tenderness and compassion—are viewed by Paul as present realities for the Philippians
• Destruction is the opposite of salvation
• Their god is their stomach represents a deep self-centeredness; their appetites and desires come first
• When Christians are persecuted for their faith, this is a sign of the genuineness of their salvation
• The Christian life is to be a “not only…but also” proposition; not only believing but also suffering
• Because of Christ’s resurrection and ours, we know that serving Him is not empty, useless activity.

Application:

• Are you standing firm in the midst of present struggles for the sake of the gospel?
• Do you have intense care and deep sympathy for others?
• Have you set your mind on the things of this life?
• Are you persecuted for your faith?
• Are you suffering as well as believing?
• Are you giving yourself fully to the work of the Lord?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible