The Power of Agreement Part 3A
Scriptures: Philippians 2:1-5; 13-15
Introduction
A long time ago in a land not too far from here, there was this group of people who decided to leave their land in search of a place where they could have religious freedom. They packed up all of their belongings, loaded it on a ship and set sail. They sailed for many days until they came to a place where they could start all over again and practice their religion the way they wanted to. You see, they were Protestants and the country they had left was primarily Catholic. Well, in their new country things were progressing nicely until their old King decided that he still need to have some contact with them by way of charging taxes on goods they received from his country. This really offended these people because taxes are used to support a government’s spending habits. Since they had left that country, they were no longer a part of his kingdom and did not feel the need to continue to support his government when they had their own issues to contend with in the new land. As you can imagine, this made the king very angry and he told them to pay up or prepare for war. So the people had to make a choice and they decided to fight for their right to have religious freedom without being penalized with taxes. When the fight started, it appeared the king would win, but at last we find that the king’s army could not kill the human spirit seeking freedom. When things finally settled down, these words were written in a document:
"When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle…..We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
From the Constitution of the United States of America
In this document, we find that a group of people came together in agreement, focused on one common goal. When you read this document there is a reference to the unity for which they were taking their stand. The writers of the document used the word "people." This was not an individual taking a stand against the King, but a whole group of people. The term "we the people" demonstrates unity; a coming together of a group of separate individuals who are united with one goal. When these people decided that enough was enough and they wanted to separate themselves totally from the King, they came into agreement and chose their course of action. When I think of the starting of our country, I wonder sometimes where we would be today if these individuals did not come into agreement. What would have happened if half of them wanted to remain loyal to England? What would have happened if when the fighting started, they held up their hands and surrendered never to take this type of stance again? What would have happened is this – we would still be ruled by England today. We should all give God the praise that they did not walk away from their unity or their dream for freedom.
This morning, while your minds are reflecting on that little bit of history, I want to talk with you about the second agreement that we need to have. In my previous two messages, I told you about what could happen when we come into agreement with one another. I also shared with you that I would focus on two key areas of agreement that we need to come into. The first was agreement with God which I shared with you last week and this week I want to focus on the second agreement, our coming into agreement with each other.
I. One Plus One Equals One
If I were to stand here today and tell you that one plus one equals one, would you believe me? I consider myself to be great at basic math, you know the math where you can add, subtract, divide and multiply. I am not talking about geometry, calculus or the "new" math, but the old fashion math. In the old fashion math, one plus one always equals two; but not this morning. This morning one plus one equals one. When you look up the word agree you will find this definition: "to be in accord; to be of the same opinion; to arrive at an understanding." The definition of agreement is "an agreement between people." As it pertains to us coming into agreement, one plus one equals one. Let me use the example of marriage. When two individuals decide to get married, before they say "I do", in the eyes of God and man, they are still two separate individuals. However, once they marry, (come into agreement with each other), they cease to be two, but one. Now whatever they do carries double impact because two people are now operating as one. When God looked at the people building the Tower of Babel He said they are "one people." When agreement takes place, where once two were separated, they are now joined. Consider what Paul says in Philippians 2:1-2.
"If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose." Philippians 2:1-2 (NAS)
When Paul evaluated everything that he had been through, he encouraged his brethren by asking them to become one, in mind; love, united in spirit and intent on one purpose. This is agreement. Paul knew that for this Church to move forward and become a force in the world they had to be in agreement. They had to have one purpose. Seeing the brethren come into agreement was very important to Paul. Paul used the word "if" four times in those two verses. He said "if there is any encouragement in Christ; if there is any consolation or love; if there is any fellowship of the spirit; if any affection and compassion…" What he was saying was if all of these things were present, his joy would not be complete "yet". For his joy to be complete, he asked them to be of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, and intent on one purpose. In other words, because of the investment he had in these people, his joy would be complete when they had come into agreement.
II. How To Come Into Agreement
Have you ever wondered what it would take to come into agreement with someone else? It sounds easy. You sit down; you talk; and finally you end up agreeing on something. I wish it were that easy. In order for anyone to come into agreement with someone else they must agree internally. You see, someone can do something that you ask them to do, but that does not mean that they are in agreement with you about what you are requesting them to do. For complete agreement to take place, the kind we need to walk in as Christian brothers and sisters, it is an external manifestation of an internal decision. True agreement is something that happens internally. Turn with me to Philippians 2:3-5; 13-15 where Paul tells us how to come into agreement with each other.
"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interest, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus….for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing; that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world." Philippians 2:3-5; 13-15 (NAS)
I want to examine these verses one by one in order to ensure that we capture exactly what the Spirit is telling us through the Apostle Paul. In verse 3, Paul says "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit." The first thing that must be done for true agreement to be reach is we must individually put away our selfishness. Consider this example of two individuals coming to a negotiations table. When two people come into the negotiations meeting, both individuals have agendas that they will be operating by. Each has things that they want and things they are willing to give up in order to get what they want. So during the negotiations, as each individual goes back and forth, giving and taking, each knows that there is a cutoff point where they can give no more. During this whole negotiations process, the sole goal of the negotiations is to get as much as you can while giving up little. So in the world, we often come to the table with our own selfish motives, doing our best to get what pleases us versus what may be best for the whole group. Paul tells us that when we come into agreement focusing on those things that God wants done, we must put aside our on agendas and selfishness for the greater good. It does not matter if my suggestion is taken or rejected as long as we are moving forward as one body in the right direction, God’s direction. I am not saying that we should not have a goal when we come to agree, but we need to be totally open to how the Spirit may lead us. Although I may think I have the answer, I must be open to the Spirit for confirmation and be willing to back down if I am not going the way the Spirit is directing. When we put aside our selfishness and our own agendas, we open ourselves us to be led of God in the right direction as one. This is the starting point for our coming into agreement.
The next thing Paul says in the same verse is "but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself." First Paul tells us to put aside our selfishness and then he tells us how to do it. You know it is very hard to drive your own agenda when you think someone else is more important that you. If you have ever worked a new job and were called into a meeting with people who were in pay grades higher than yours and with a lot more experience than you, then you can understand this. When we are new on a job, we defer to those who have more knowledge than we do because we are in the process of "learning the ropes." However, once we are comfortable in the position, we begin to speak up and share out our ideas and suggestions. Paul is asking us to be that person who has the attitude that says "others can contribute to the solution and it is not a threat to me." When we begin to think of others as greater than ourselves, it becomes a little easier to put aside our selfishness. It is not easy, but with the Spirit’s help, it can and often is done. Under our own power we could not do this because of our own "self preservation" mode of operating?
Self preservation says that I must take care of myself because no one else is going to do it for me. On my job I must let the boss know everything that I am doing so that I can get my credit. In school, I must be in every club and be the most popular so that I can get the things I need. In Church I must be out front in order to make sure I am getting mine. Self preservation is something that is instilled within us at birth. It is as natural for us and as much a part of us as own face. Although it is a part of us and was in us when we were born, our self preservation often wars against God. God is telling us to give of ourselves, but self preservation asks "what will I get in return." God says "Allow Me to speak through others" while self preservation says "In order to succeed, I must be the spokesperson." God tells us "I can use anyone" but self preservation says "God I know you can use anyone, but use me first and often." Do you see my point? In order for us to take the very first step in reaching agreement with each other we must put aside our selfishness. We must stop operating in a mode "I must get mine" and start looking at what is best for everyone in the sight of God. If we can accomplish this, then we can move to the next thing Paul says we will need to be able to do in order to come into agreement.
In verse 4 Paul says "do not merely look out for your own personal interest, but also for the interests of others." Once we put aside our selfishness and begin to view others as more important than ourselves, the next thing that will begin to happen is we will begin to look out for the interests of others. I like the way the Amplified Bible reads. It says "Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not merely his own interests, but also each for the interests of others." It is okay to look out for yourself and your interests, but God requires that we also be concerned about the interests and concerns of others. When we come together to agree, if I have your best interest at heart and I consider you more important than myself, I will be attentive to you when you speak and the issues you bring forward. Likewise, if you feel the same about me, you will response this way when I am speaking and bringing my issues forward. Then together we come into agreement on how to more forward because of the level of sensitivity that we have towards one another. If a person truly has the interest of the other person in the forefront of their minds, they will be very attentive that person. If you want to know if a person cares about what you think check their responses when you are having a conversation with them. If they constantly interrupt you, maybe, just maybe, their agenda is more important than yours. If they cannot look you in the eyes or are multi-tasking while you are expressing yourself, maybe they do not place a high level of importance on what you are expressing. This may not be the case all of the times, but there are times when this is the case. When we come into agreement with one another, we begin to place others in a higher position in our minds and through our actions. This comes through in how we talk with people and more important, how we listen to people.
This is the attitude that we are to have within ourselves, that we esteem others as greater than ourselves. This is a crucial point to our ability to come into agreement with one another. Paul said that this attitude was also in Christ who did not regard being equal with God a thing to be grasped but took on the form of a servant in the likeness of men. Jesus was God and could have demanded that He be treated that way while He walked the earth as a man. However, if you analyze His behavior, He made it a point to reach out and help others. He was not about self preservation, but saving the lives of others. He did whatever He had to do to accomplish what God had given Him and this is the attitude that Paul says should be within each of us. This week I want you to pay close attention to yourselves as you are having conversations with other people. Notice whether or not you are being attentive or if you are biding your time until the conversation is over. If you find yourself not really giving the person your undivided attention, stop the conversation, apologize and ask them to start over. Believe me when I tell you that the other party will know that you were not valuing them.
I cannot complete this today, so I will stop here. Next week I will complete this message and prayerfully each of us will have the tools we need to come into agreement with each other. May God bless and keep you.
