Preaching From Philippians #4

He also wanted them to know that his being in jail might bring about his death, but if it did, they were not to let it shake their faith in the Lord Jesus.

He did not want them to feel sorry for him or for themselves, because Paul let it be known that for him “TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN.”

They were not to allow his death or anything else stop them from pressing forward in the Christian life.

Illus: In Columbia, South Carolina, there was a church where the pastor spent many years laboring for the Lord. Through his burden for souls, the church grew from a handful of people to running over six hundred in attendance. Then two things happened to this church:

(1) The pastor died unexpectedly, which left the congregation in deep sorrow.

(2) A new pastor was called in to fill the vacancy. Everything went great for a while, then he got into an immoral situation with a woman in the church.

After two devastating things happening to this church that had over six hundred in attendance, it has now dwindled down to a handful of people.

This sad story is something that has happened to many churches in other cities in this nation. As a church, we have to be ready to FACE TOUGH TIMES!

Illus: Listen, a good strong church is like the old Timex watch, “They can take a licking and keep on ticking!”

This is what Paul desired the church in Philippi to do.

The church in Philippi was a strong church, you will see that as we continue to study the book of Philippians. But Paul knew the greatest threat in the church was not on the OUTSIDE, but on the INSIDE!

Illus: That’s like a boxer who knows he is fighting an opponent who has a strong RIGHT HOOK and he keeps looking for it and his opponent hits him with a strong LEFT JAB.

Most churches suffer defeat from WITHIN, not from WITHOUT! WHY? The devil is always using someone to sow DISCORD AMONG THE BRETHREN to bring about DIVISION.

But you would be surprised how ignorant many Christians are when it comes to how the devil works.

For example, they can hear someone gossiping or bellyaching and they will think nothing of it. It never crosses their minds that Satan is using that person to try and sow some DISCORD among the brethren.

In this passage of scripture, Paul shows the Philippian church how they can protect themselves and have unity in the church.

He does this in chapter 2, and I hope you will be here for every sermon as we talk about the subject, “HOW CAN WE HAVE UNITY?”

Illus: Some churches call their church “Unity … Church”. But hanging a sign outside with that name does not mean that a church will have unity. A church having the name “Faith …. Church” doesn’t mean their church has faith, or “ Charity …. church” doesn’t mean they have love.

God’s Word shows us how we can have UNITY among the brethren. Paul lists seven things we want to go over briefly, such as:

I. WE MUST HAVE CONSOLATION

Look at verse 1, we read, “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ…”

Look at the word “consolation”, this is the word “paraklesis” which means encouragement, comfort and strengthening.

Notice, this passage starts off with an “If”. That is, if you do not have CONSOLATION, encouragement, comfort and strengthening in Christ”, there is no need to go any further.

Illus: It is kind of like playing baseball. If you hit the ball and do not tag first base, there is no need to tag 2nd, 3rd, and home plate. And if you do not have Christians in the church trying to:

• Console each other

• Comfort each other

• Encourage each other

• Strengthen each other

The church will not go any further.

HOW CAN WE DO THIS?

We can only do this through Christ. Notice, the scripture says, “Consolation in Christ.”

That is exactly what He would do if He was here, and that is exactly what He expects us to do.

But also-

II. WE MUST HAVE LOVE

Look at verse 1 again, we read, “If there therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love….”

The word “Love” here is the Greek word “agape”.

Folks today have some weird ideas about love.

Illus: They make us think of some of the young folks who are madly in love with someone this week, but the next week they can not stand to look at them.

There are folks who claim to love the Lord today, but next week they put NASCAR, baseball, football and soccer ahead of the Lord. There is something seriously wrong with this kind of love.