INTRODUCTION
A. Thus Far in Series of Philippians
Last week, we saw that just as Paul was being persecuted from a false tongue, so the Philippian congregation was being persecuted the same way.
Paul’s advice to the church was to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
READ 1.27-28
In these 2 verses, he gave 3 Charges: 1- Stand firm in One Spirit, 2- Stand as ONE, and to 3- Stand Firm knowing that God will prevail.
Verses 27-28 setup chapter 2:
Our Tongue should prove our heart – our ATTITUDE – is different BECAUSE WE BELONG TO CHRIST.
B. PHILIPPIANS 2:1-5
Paul wanted unity so they could carry on the ministry of the gospel & to stand firm knowing that God Was In Control.
And he shows that the only way for the body of Christ to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of Christ was to HAVE THE ATTITUDE OF CHRIST!
Verse 1 – Shows 4 Results from “Being United With Christ”
Verse 2 – Shows 4 “Goals for Harmony” in the Church
Verses 3-5 – Calls for a Humble Spirit – An Attitude such as Christ!
READ FULL PASSAGE
I. RESULTS FROM BEING ‘UNITED WITH CHRIST’ (Verse 1)
READ VERSE 1
a. “if” – Paul is NOT stating doubt but rather a strong affirmation.
The key thought here is not a question of IF but rather the result from being united with Christ.
Better wording: “SINCE YOU ARE UNITED WITH CHRIST” – WHAT?
4 RESULTS From “Being United With Christ”
1. “ENCOURAGEMENT” - When Jesus was talking to His disciples preparing them for His leaving, He used the same word in describing the Holy Spirit.
John 14:16 (NIV)
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor (Comforter) to be with you forever--
Word translated in the Greek is the same word Paul used here. It’s describes ‘one coming along side urgently’ (do NOT expand)
APPLICATION:
Being UNITED WITH CHRIST brings the ENCOURAGEMENT of knowing another is coming ALONG YOUR SIDE URGENTLY!
2. “COMFORT FROM HIS LOVE” – Does Christ’s work on the cross bring you comfort?
1 John 4:16 (NIV)
16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
APPLICATION:
Does your comfort in Christ allow you to give that same comfort to another? (if we don’t live in love, then GOD IS NOT in us)
3. “FELLOWSHIP IN SPIRIT” – We saw the gift of the H.S. to bring a helper along one’s side. But for what PURPOSE is the H.S.?
1st Individually – A deposit until the Lord Jesus comes to claim His church.
Ephesians 1:13b-14 (NIV)
13 …Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession”
His job is to prepare you for presentation! To help you realize perfection!
John 14:26 (NIV)
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
2nd As A Church - ALL Believers are also UNITED by that Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:13 (NIV)
13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body…
1 Corinthians 12:27 (NIV)
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
APPL: God created the church, Jesus paid for the church, and the H.S. ADMINISTERS AND PROTECTS the church – INTO ONE BODY!
4. “TENDERNESS & COMPASSION” –
a. ‘tenderness’ refers to sensitivity of others’ needs.
b. ‘compassion’ refers to sympathy toward another with a desire to help.
Acts 4:32 (NIV)
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.
SUMMARY: What are the Results of ‘BEING WITH CHRIST’?
Being with Christ brings “Encouragement, Comfort, fellowship, compassion”
TRANSITION:
But as AWESOME as that is – on our own we are so VULNERABLE. Standing up to the conniving ways of Satan can really catch us off guard.
Storms still can be so alone and so long. Persecutions, struggles that seem to make no sense and go so long on our own can really BE SO ALONE!
Paul, knowing the church was struggling from persecution now teaches the importance of “HARMONY IN THE CHURCH” and now suggests 4 GOALS FOR HARMONY in the church.
II. GOALS FOR HARMONY in the Church (Verse 2)
READ VERSE 2
4 GOALS:
1. “being like-minded”
Does that mean that being in the church means you will never disagree?
Romans 15:5 (NIV)
5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus,
Work towards a spirit of unity – The same mind – the mind of Christ. Disagree in love and respect and without feeling insecure!
2. ‘the same love’
The same love from the Agape Feast. The Agape feast was a meal in which those of means would prepare and serve for those in need! Everyone was equal!
Being United with Christ should bring a goal for harmony that accepts each other regardless of class, race, status, or circumstance.
3. ‘being one in spirit’
Do you remember when Jesus prayed for all believers just before He was arrested? He prayed in-
READ JOHN 17:20-23a
… that we be one – in separable – as He and the Father are ONE!!
4. ‘one in purpose’
What is our purpose? The church’s purpose is to spread the gospel! Go and Make Disciples!
SUMMARY:
Being With Christ brings ‘encouragement, comfort, fellowship, and compassion’;
Common Goals of ‘being like-minded, the same love, one in spirit, and one in purpose’.
What is being described is the mind of Christ! To be of one mind is to let the mind of Christ be in you. That permits differences of expressions, differences in gifts, differences in methods of service, even differences in minor doctrines.
III. A CALL FOR HUMILITY (Verses 3-5)
He reminds the church that Being With Christ brings us not only into the Same Body BUT Removes the Attention Away From Self and Onto Others! … just as Christ Himself did for us!
READ VERSE 3
‘do nothing out of selfish ambition’ –
Nothing kills the spirit in a church like strife and envy! It’s not doctrinal differences that cause discord and tension in the church, its selfishness! It’s self centeredness! IT’S SELF!
Good time to pause for a Heart Check:
We are together working on the biggest OUTREACH function the church has ever taken on – That of ‘Eager to Meet You’ Day. We are ASKING and PRAYING for God’s anointing of this project:
May I ask a QUESTION:
CAN GOD TRUST US WITH THE UNCHURCHED?
Are WE READY?
‘but in humility consider others better than yourselves’
The goal we are to work towards is a goal that lifts up Christ and we do that by lifting up others!
ILL: The Heart of Worship
There’s a recent song that was written by a young man who lead the worship at church. He was an extremely talented singer, but the preacher there took him aside and told him that he could not lead the singing at church until things changed because he saw that he was more interested in the attention he received than in worshipping the Lord. This young man was angry at first and yet the words of the preacher were true, and he knew it. Six months later he wrote a song and taught it to the church there. The words are these:
I’m coming back to the heart of worship and it’s all about you, it’s all about you Jesus
I’m sorry Lord for the thing I’ve made it! It’s all about you, it’s all about you Jesus!
IT’S NOT ABOUT US – IT’S ABOUT SERVING CHRIST BY SERVING OTHERS!
READ VERSE 4
Of course your/my needs must be met in the ministry of the church. Does the teaching/preaching feed me? Do the ministry programs provide the proper nurture/fellowship/care for the needs of my family!
So many look at the church as WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME? And YES, that’s a part – BUT IT DOESN’T STOP THERE.
The verse continues ‘but ALSO to the needs/interests of others’
Christ enabled you with certain gifts of enablement and you are to use those gifts for another’s nurture.
Remember that not only does your act of service effect another’s growth and nurture but also does your lack of service! Another can look at our lack of service and ‘well john doesn’t do it why must I’!
SUMMARY
So what is the RESULT from your BEING UNITED WITH CHRIST?
Does that unity bring you
encouragement, comfort from His love, fellowship in the Spirit, and tenderness/compassion?
Does that unity allow you to bring another
encouragement, comfort in love, fellowship in the Spirit, and tenderness/compassion?
CHURCH, What should our GOAL for harmony be?
Philippians 2:5 (NIV)
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
