MAKING SENSE OF THE “SINSES”
PHILIPPIANS 2:1-2
PHILIPPIANS 1:27-2:2 ONLY CONDUCT YOURSELVES IN A MANNER WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, SO THAT WHETHER I COME AND SEE YOU OR REMAIN ABSENT, I WILL HEAR OF YOU THAT YOU ARE STANDING FIRM IN ONE SPIRIT, WITH ONE MIND STRIVING TOGETHER FOR THE FAITH OF THE GOSPEL; 28 IN NO WAY ALARMED BY YOUR OPPONENTS—WHICH IS A SIGN OF DESTRUCTION FOR THEM, BUT OF SALVATION FOR YOU, AND THAT TOO, FROM GOD. 29 FOR TO YOU IT HAS BEEN GRANTED FOR CHRIST'S SAKE, NOT ONLY TO BELIEVE IN HIM, BUT ALSO TO SUFFER FOR HIS SAKE, 30 EXPERIENCING THE SAME CONFLICT WHICH YOU SAW IN ME, AND NOW HEAR TO BE IN ME. 1 THEREFORE IF 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, 2 MAKE MY JOY COMPLETE BY BEING OF THE SAME MIND, MAINTAINING THE SAME LOVE, UNITED IN SPIRIT, INTENT ON ONE PURPOSE.
PROPOSITION: IT IS IMPORTANT THAT BELIEVERS LIVE IN HARMONY WITH EACH OTHER
INTRODUCTION: WHEN WE CONCLUDED OUR LOOK AT THE END OF PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER ONE LAST WEEK, WE NOTICED THAT PAUL WAS APPEALING FOR OUR ONENESS AS FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST. HE OPENS CHAPTER TWO WITH FOUR REASONS WHY WE SHOULD LIVE IN HARMONY – CLOSE HARMONY WITH EACH OTHER.
IN OUR TIME TOGETHER, WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THESE FOUR REASONS WE SHOULD EMBRACE HARMONY AND ONENESS.
THESE FOUR REASONS ARE MOTIVATORS OF UNITY, OR AT LEAST THEY SHOULD BE! EACH ARE INTRODUCED BY THE PHRASE, “IF THERE IS”. WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE, IS THAT HERE, AND IN MOST OCCURRENCES IN SCRIPTURE, THE WORD “IF”, BEING A FIRST CLASS CONDITIONAL, CARRIES WITH IT THE MEANING OF SINCE. PAUL IS NOT STATING A PROBABILITY, BUT RATHER, HE IS GIVING A STATEMENT OF FACT. EACH OF THESE REASONS AND MOTIVATORS IS IN OUR POSSESSION ALREADY AS FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST, AND AS SUCH, SHOULD BE USED TO DEVELOP, ENHANCE, AND SUSTAIN OUR HARMONY AS BELIEVERS.
IF YOU NOTICE IN CHAPTER TWO AND VERSE ONE, THE WORD, “THEREFORE”, IT IS A WORD DIRECTING US BACK. IT POINTS US BACK TO THEPREVIOUS VERSES WHERE PAUL SPEAKS OF UNITY AND ONENESS. WE LOOK BACK TO THE ISSUE OF ONENESS AND FORWARD FOR THE REASONS WE CAN HAVE ONENESS.
I. SINCE THERE IS ENCOURAGEMENT IN CHRIST
a. THROUGHOUT HIS ENTIRE EARTHLY MINISTRY, CHRIST HAS BEEN ENCOURAGING HIS FOLLOWERS
b. THE WORD “ENCOURAGEMENT” COMES FROM THE GREEK WORD – PARAKLESIS THE ROOT MEANING OF COMING ALONGSIDE SOMEONE TO GIVE ASSISTANCE BY OFFERING COMFORT, COUNSEL, OR EXHORTATION
c. THE BEST EXAMPLE OF THIS IS FOUND IN THE WORDS OF CHRIST
i. JOHN 17:21 THAT THEY MAY ALL BE ONE; EVEN AS YOU, FATHER, ARE IN ME AND I IN YOU, THAT THEY ALSO MAY BE IN US, SO THAT THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE THAT YOU SENT ME.
1. CHRIST IS PRAYING IN THE GARDEN AND IN THE MIDST OF THAT PRAYER PRAYS FOR OUR UNITY AS FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST
2. THE REASON – THAT EVEN TODAY OUR HARMONY IS MEANT TO REVEAL TO THE WORLD THE VALIDITY OF THE COMING OF CHRIST.
ii. LUKE 10:30-35 JESUS REPLIED AND SAID, "A MAN WAS GOING DOWN FROM JERUSALEM TO JERICHO, AND FELL AMONG ROBBERS, AND THEY STRIPPED HIM AND BEAT HIM, AND WENT AWAY LEAVING HIM HALF DEAD. 31 "AND BY CHANCE A PRIEST WAS GOING DOWN ON THAT ROAD, AND WHEN HE SAW HIM, HE PASSED BY ON THE OTHER SIDE. 32 "LIKEWISE A LEVITE ALSO, WHEN HE CAME TO THE PLACE AND SAW HIM, PASSED BY ON THE OTHER SIDE. 33 "BUT A SAMARITAN, WHO WAS ON A JOURNEY, CAME UPON HIM; AND WHEN HE SAW HIM, HE FELT COMPASSION, 34 AND CAME TO HIM AND BANDAGED UP HIS WOUNDS, POURING OIL AND WINE ON THEM; AND HE PUT HIM ON HIS OWN BEAST, AND BROUGHT HIM TO AN INN AND TOOK CARE OF HIM. 35 "ON THE NEXT DAY HE TOOK OUT TWO DENARII AND GAVE THEM TO THE INNKEEPER AND SAID, 'TAKE CARE OF HIM; AND WHATEVER MORE YOU SPEND, WHEN I RETURN I WILL REPAY YOU.'
1. TAKING THE TIME TO TAKE CARE
2. TAKING TIME TO SEE THAT CARE IS GIVEN
iii. JOHN 14:16 "I WILL ASK THE FATHER, AND HE WILL GIVE YOU ANOTHER HELPER, THAT HE MAY BE WITH YOU FOREVER;
1. PROBABLY THE GREATEST EXPRESSION OF COMFORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT – THE INDWELLING PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR LIVES!
2. THE WORD USED TO DESCRIBE THE HOLY SPIRIT – HELPER – IS A FORM OF THE SAME WORD PAUL USES.
3. NOTICE THE EXTENT OF THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – FOREVER
VISIBLE EXPRESSION OF UNITY
ILLUSTRATION: WHEN CHARLES EVANS HUGHES WAS APPOINTED CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, HE MOVED TO WASHINGTON AND TRANSFERRED HIS MEMBERSHIP TO A BAPTIST CHURCH THERE. HIS FATHER HAD BEEN A BAPTIST MINISTER, AND HUGHES HAD BEEN A LIFELONG WITNESS TO HIS OWN FAITH IN CHRIST. IT WAS THE CUSTOM IN THAT BAPTIST CHURCH TO HAVE ALL NEW MEMBERS COME FORWARD DURING THE MORNING SERVICE AND BE INTRODUCED TO THE CONGREGATION. ON THIS PARTICULAR DAY, THE FIRST TO BE CALLED WAS A CHINESE LAUNDRYMAN, AH SING, WHO HAD MOVED TO WASHINGTON FROM SAN FRANCISCO AND KEPT A LAUNDRY NEAR THE CHURCH. HE STOOD AT THE FAR SIDE OF THE PULPIT. AS OTHERS WERE CALLED, THEY TOOK POSITIONS AT THE EXTREME OPPOSITE SIDE. WHEN A DOZEN PEOPLE HAD GATHERED, AH SING STILL STOOD ALONE. THEN CHIEF JUSTICE HUGHES WAS CALLED, AND HE SIGNIFICANTLY STOOD NEXT TO THE LAUNDRYMAN. A CHRISTIAN WHO ONLY ASSOCIATES WITH PEOPLE OF THE SAME INTELLECTUAL, ACADEMIC, OR PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS IS NOT LIVING UP TO WHAT SCRIPTURE MANDATES. WE ARE TO BE A BLESSING AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO ALL BELIEVERS. IF WE HAVE THIS ATTITUDE, IT WILL HELP KEEP OUR CHURCH TOGETHER.
**WE CAN AND SHOULD EMBRACE HARMONY AND UNITY THROUGH ENCOURAGEMENT BECAUSE CHRIST HAS TAUGHT US, PRAYED FOR US AND PROVIDED THE HOLY SPIRIT AS A LIVING EXAMPLE.
CHRIST SOUGHT HARMONY WITH US -- ROMANS 5:8 BUT GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS OWN LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US.
II. SINCE THERE IS CONSOLATION OF LOVE
a. AGAIN THE MEANING OF THIS WORD IS CLOSE TO THAT OF ENCOURAGEMENT
i. TO SPEAK CLOSELY, TO GIVE COMFORT AND TO HAVE GENUINE CONCERN
ii. WE HAVE A DUTY TO LOVE EACH OTHER
iii. THE PATTERN IS GOD’S LOVE FOR US
JOHN 13:34-35 "A NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE TO YOU, THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER, EVEN AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, THAT YOU ALSO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
35 "BY THIS ALL MEN WILL KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES, IF YOU HAVE LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER."
JOHN 15:12 "THIS IS MY COMMANDMENT, THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER, JUST AS I HAVE LOVED YOU.
JOHN 15:17 "THIS I COMMAND YOU, THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
iv. SHOWING LOVE TOWARDS OTHERS IS OUR EXPRESSION OF GRATITUDE FOR THE LOVE WE RECEIVED FROM CHRIST
v. 2 CORINTHIANS 5:13-14 FOR IF WE ARE BESIDE OURSELVES, IT IS FOR GOD; IF WE ARE OF SOUND MIND, IT IS FOR YOU. 14 FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST CONTROLS US, HAVING CONCLUDED THIS, THAT ONE DIED FOR ALL, THEREFORE ALL DIED;
1. PAUL IS SAYING THAT THE EXTENT OF HIS AFFECTION AND LOVE TOWARDS OTHERS, AS A RESULT OF GOD’S LOVE TOWARDS HIM SEEMS TO SOME TO BE INSANE!
vi. THE EXTENT OF GOD’S LOVE IS SEEN IN THE PARABLES TAUGHT BY CHRIST
1. THE LOST SHEEP – CHRIST WILL SEARCH UNTIL HE HAS FOUND THE SHEEP THAT WAS LOST
2. THE PRODIGAL SON – THE SON GETS TO THE POINT THAT HE WILL GO HOME, SEEK FORGIVENESS AND OFFER HIMSELF AS A SLAVE. THE CONCERN OF THE FATHER – HE HAS RETURNED. AND EVEN HAS A PARTY TO BOOT!
b. AND LETS NOT FORGET THE WORD LOVE – AGAPE!
i. AGAPĒ LOVE IS THE LOVE OF CHRIST, THE LOVE WHICH HE SHOWED WHEN HE GAVE AND SACRIFICED HIMSELF FOR US. WE DID NOT DESERVE IT AND WERE UTTERLY UNWORTHY OF SUCH LOVE, YET CHRIST LOVED US DESPITE ALL.
UNITY AND HARMONY COME FROM LOVING THE SAME THINGS!
IMAGINE THE SPIRIT OF UNITY THAT WOULD EXIST WITHIN A CHURCH IF EVERY MEMBER WOULD LET THE LOVE OF CHRIST FLOW THROUGH HIM. THERE WOULD BE NO BITTERNESS, ANGER, OR STRIFE—NO ACTION THAT WOULD HURT ANOTHER PERSON WHATSOEVER. IF THE PERSON WAS WRONG AND DESERVED PUNISHMENT, THE CHURCH'S MEMBERS WOULD SACRIFICE AND GIVE THEMSELVES FOR HIM.
III. SINCE THERE IS FELLOWSHIP OF THE SPIRIT
a. THIS IS A FELLOWSHIP CREATED BY GOD BETWEEN HIMSELF AND BELIEVERS
i. OUR BODIES ARE NOW HIS TEMPLE
ii. HE HAS RESIDENCE – FELLOWSHIP WITH US.
b. THIS IS A FELLOWSHIP GOD HAS CREATED BETWEEN BELIEVERS
i. EACH BELIEVER HAS THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
ii. THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS EVIDENCE OF OUR ONENESS IN CHRIST
c. 1 JOHN 1:6-7 IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM AND YET WALK IN THE DARKNESS, WE LIE AND DO NOT PRACTICE THE TRUTH; 7 BUT IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT AS HE HIMSELF IS IN THE LIGHT, WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS HIS SON CLEANSES US FROM ALL SIN.
d. THE WORD FOR FELLOWSHIP IS “KOINONIA” AND EMPHASIZES THE VALUE OF BELIEVERS BOUND TOGETHER BY FAITH AND TRUST IN GOD.
i. OUR POSITION WITH EACH OTHER
ii. OUR PARTICIPATION WITH EACH OTHER
OUR FELLOWSHIP TOGETHER IS THE VISUAL EXPRESSION OF OUR UNITY IN CHRIST
IV. SINCE THERE IS AFFECTION AND COMPASSION
a. IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST, COMPASSION IS WHAT DRIVES THE LORD TO GO AFTER US AGAIN AND AGAIN, EVEN WHEN WE FAIL – PETER IS A GREAT EXAMPLE!
b. COMPASSION COMES FROM OUR AFFECTION – A DEEP SEATED EMOTION FOR OTHERS THAT SHOULD DRIVE US TO ONE ANOTHER, A SENSITIVITY TOWARDS THE OTHER PERSON.
c. WHAT IS INTERESTING IS THAT THE WORD TRANSLATED COMPASSION IS ALWAYS DIRECTED TOWARDS GOD
i. SINCE THERE IS THE COMPASSION OF GOD IN MY LIFE, I AM TO BE THIS WAY TOWARDS OTHERS
ii. BECAUSE GOD HAS BEEN MERCIFUL TO ME (THE MEANING OF THE WORD) I AM TO BE THIS WAY TOWARDS OTHERS.
V. PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
a. WE ARE ALWAYS TEMPTED TOWARDS DIVISION – A MAJOR TOOLS OF SATAN
i. STARTED IN THE GARDEN
ii. CONTINUED THROUGH THE NATION OF ISRAEL
iii. POPPED UP IN THE EARLY CHURCH
iv. STILL VISIBLE TODAY IN THE BODY OF CHRIST
b. WE ARE ALWAYS TEMPTED TOWARD DIVISION BECAUSE:
i. WE HAVE THE PRESSURE OF SIN – WE ARE DEAD TO OUR NATURE, BUT NOT IMMUNE TO ITSD INFLUENCE
ii. MUST BE OVERCOME DAILY
iii. CAN NEVER BE ALLOWED TO BE OUR FOUNDATION
c. SINCE WE HAVE THE EXAMPLE OF ENCOURAGEMENT, CONSOLATION, FELLOWSHIP AND AFFECTION WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO LIVE AS PAUL DESCRIBES
i. ONE MIND – ATTITUDE
1. MIND OUR MIND
2. NEGATIVE ATTITUDE PRODUCES RESENTMENT
3. POSITIVE ATTITUDE PRODUCES LOVE
ii. ONE LOVE – BASED ON THE LOVE OF GOD
1. LOVE BASED ON ME IS SELFISH
2. LOVE BSED ON GOD IS GIVING
iii. ONE SPIRIT – THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. IT IS THE EVIDENCE OF OUR ONENESS IN CHRIST
iv. ONE PURPOSE – WELL THAT’S NEXT WEEK, ….
AS WE CLOSE, THINK ABOUT THIS:
THERE IS AN IMPLIED NEGATIVE SIDE TO ALL FOUR OF THESE POSITIVE ADMONITIONS, NAMELY, THAT FAILING TO SEEK AND PRESERVE SPIRITUAL UNITY WEAKENS CHRIST'S CHURCH. EVEN MORE SIGNIFICANTLY, SUCH FAILURE TO PURSUE UNITY IS A SIN. IT IS THE ULTIMATE ACT OF INGRATITUDE TO GOD. IT IS TO BE WILLING AND EAGER TO RECEIVE EVERY BLESSING THAT THE LORD OFFERS, BUT UNWILLING TO OFFER HIM ANYTHING IN RETURN. LIKE EVERY OTHER SIN, THAT INDIFFERENCE IS A VIOLATION OF GOD'S REVEALED WORD. IT ALSO DESPISES THE GLORIOUS TRUTH THAT THE
2 THESSALONIANS 2:16 NOW MAY OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF AND GOD OUR FATHER, WHO HAS LOVED US AND GIVEN US ETERNAL COMFORT AND GOOD HOPE BY GRACE,
