“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ,
so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel and not frightened in anything by your opponents” Philippians 1:27-28
Paul desires to see his spiritual children stand firm in a way that is worthy of the Lord they serve. Paul, who is sitting in prison, knows they must walk worthy and, if they do, they will be tested, just as he is now tested. He has given them a command to stand firm.
Now Paul begins to describe what it means to stand firm when one is
attacked from the outside or from within.
I may hear of you Paul is concerned about the consistent behavior of the Philippians. Whether he sees it or not (the Lord always does), he knows worthy behavior is only effective when it is consistent and persistent. Standing firm is not a ”flash in the pan” behavior. Paul knows sporadic obedience is not worthy of the One we serve.
That you are standing firm Again Paul knows the Christian life is not a playground but a battle ground. Standing firm is required but it will be severely tested under battlefield conditions so he provides four characteristics of what standing firm does when the enemy attacks.
In one spirit The first characteristic that is necessary to stand firm is to have one spirit. The word “spirit” is the Greek word “pneuma” which is used in the New Testament to refer to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. It is also used to refer to the human spirit, demonic spirits, or even the general concept of wind or breath. The first time the word is used in the New Testament is Matthew 1 where Mary is found with child by the Holy Spirit. Paul uses it here to refer to the Holy Spirit’s influence in the believer’s actions. There are at least two dimensions to consider when standing firm in one spirit.
First, remember that Paul is speaking to the body of believers in terms of standing firm against attacks. In order to stand the church must be unified which means they must have a common standard around which the coalesce. This is the role of the Holy Spirit. The Lord told the disciples in John 16;13 “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth”. He also told the disciples in John 14;17 “Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, \for he dwells with you and will be in you”. In other words to stand firm requires following the Holy Spirit and ordering their behavior around the truth which the Holy Spirit teaches them. “The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things”. Standing firm requires a standard of truth.
There can be no standing firm if all the children of God are not aligned in their hearts to His truth as revealed by the spirit of God in His word. Second, believers cannot stand firm if they do it in their own strength. The Lord told the disciples “without me, you can do nothing”. When He ascended into heaven He assured them “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you”. Standing firm is not something individual believers or churches can do in their own strength. Standing firm requires the power of God acting in the believer..
What can we learn? Paul wants the body of believers in Philippi to stand firm for the Lord against the trials and tests they face. He knows tests will come. Those tests of faith cannot be successfully endured if one is not abiding in the Lord and allowing the Spirit of God to guide the believer’s actions. Standing firm requires being led by the Holy Spirit.