LET’S STAY TOGETHER
PHILIPPIANS 2:1-4 (NKJV)
Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
PHILIPPIANS 2:1-4 (MSG)
If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care—then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
In the first chapter of the book of Philippians, the Apostle Paul in writing to the believers at Philippi dealt with the PHILOSOPHY OF CHRISTIAN LIVING, and he summed it up in one verse: "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." This one verse highlighted the fact that Christ was at the very center of Paul's life and His existence in Paul’s life governed his existence in the world. However, in this chapter, Paul deals with the PATTERN FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING, which is the mind of Christ, which should be the goal of ever believer.
As we’ve already mentioned, the Philippian church (like the Antioch church) was a strong church—a very strong church. I emphasize that because whenever a church is strong, it is always full of vision and planning, and is always working out a strategy to carry forth the gospel of Jesus Christ. A strong church launches ministry after ministry and program after program. A strong church is never still and never complacent—neither are the minds of the people nor the hands of the people who comprise that church. A strong church is purpose driven and not personality driven. Because a church is all of that, there is ALWAYS the danger of differences of opinion, differences in vision, differences in desires, differences in concern, differences in emphasis, and differences in interest in a strong church. There are ALWAYS different ideas as to what direction the ministry should be heading in or what ministry projects the church should undertake and support.
One group thinks we’re doing too much, another group thinks we aren’t doing enough.
One group thinks we ought to change, another group thinks we are fine the way we are.
One group loves our stadium seating; another group wishes we’d kept the pews.
One group loves our in-person worship, while another group thinks AVC is a Godsend!
The point is this: the more strength and activity a church has, the more attention must be placed on the maintenance of unity. Why? Because where more people are working together, differences are bound to arise.
• THERE’S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DISAGREEMENT AND DISUNITY
“Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress” - Mahatma Gandhi
“Managing dissent is about recognizing the value of disagreement, discord and difference” – Noreena Hertz
2 Timothy 2:20 (NKJV) - But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.
Paul knew how damning and debilitating disunity could be; he knew that his main ministerial mandate was to put the Philippian church on guard against disunity and division. Therefore, in the first verse Paul opens the chapter by saying:
“IF there be therefore any consolation in Christ, IF any comfort of love, IF any fellowship of the Spirit, IF any bowels and mercies [Philippians 2:1]
It’s important to understand that the "IF" which begins this verse is NOT the “if” of condition – Paul is not uttering a conditional clause. When you study the scriptures, one of the things you’ll discover is that many times Paul used the word “if” as a point of ARGUMENT rather than a CONDITION. Therefore, the better translation for verse one would be: "Since there is consolation in Christ, and since there is comfort of love, and since there is the fellowship of the Spirit, and since there are bowels [tenderness] and mercy."
Not “IF” but “SINCE”.
A good example is Romans 8:31:
Paul wrote, “What shall we say to these things? If [since] God be for us who can be against us?”
The text should read like this…
Therefore since there consolation in Christ, since there is comfort of love, since there is fellowship of the Spirit, since there is affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Paul Mentions 4 Keys to Unity: [CONSOLATION, COMFORT, COMMUNION, COMPASSIOn]
I. CONSOLATION
This word "consolation" comes from the Greek word paraklesis which means "a calling to one's aid, comfort, or encouragement."
Paul is suggesting that what Jesus Christ had done for us should be an incentive to pursue unity peacefully and purposefully with others.
We Need to Be Reminded…
The Lord Has Come to Our Aid!
We Have Been the Recipient Of Consolation
2 Timothy 4:16-18 (NKJV) - At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!
II. COMFORT
The word "comfort" is from the Greek word paramuthion which means "to speak closely with someone or to give them comfort."
The tenderness of God's love and comfort should urge all of us to live together in a spirit of unity. The point Paul is stressing is that since God loved them enough to sacrifice His Son for them, they should love one another with the same sacrificial love. THERE IS NO INTERNAL STRIFE WHERE GOD'S LOVE IS
APPRECIATED. The moment the love of Christ ceases to be real to us and in us, we will lose our affection for others! When we get concerned about loving others and encouraging one another, that’s when there will be unity in the church.
2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-7 (NIV) - Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
III. COMMUNION
The word "fellowship" means "joint partnership." Notice what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12.
1 Corinthians 12:13—For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
As members of one body, indwelt by the same Holy Spirit, there must be unity and like-mindedness. The Holy Spirit's indwelling makes us co-partners with Him. Our confession of Jesus Christ as Savior makes us “Partners”.
1 Corinthians 6:19, 20—What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
When the Holy Spirit is in control of us, the by-product is unity. Yielding to His control will help keep your church together.
IV. COMPASSION — 2:1-4
Since we are Christians, we are to live for others and help them. Doing this will produce joy in our lives. Verse one gives a four-fold appeal for unity and humility. In the second verse, Paul gives us a practical approach for accomplishing the appeal. Paul says, "Fulfill my joy" which means "fill it to the full."
How were they supposed to do this?
A. Be Likeminded
They were to think the same things or be unanimous in their decisions. In other words, they were to be on the same wavelength.
B. Have the Same Love
Unity is the result of loving the same things. There must be unity in love for God's word, work, workmen, and God's world of lost sinners.
C. Be of One Accord
The word "one accord" comes from the Greek word that means "to be one in soul." The hearts of every believer in every local church must be knit together and mutually motivated by the same urge and desire.
D. Be of One Mind
Four times in five verses this word "mind" appears." It deals with our mental attitude, especially of those who have a different viewpoint than our views. Christians are not going to see eye-to-eye on every detail. Our thoughts and actions are influenced by heredity, environment, education, or lack of education. It is impossible to find a group of Christians who see everything from the same viewpoint. How then shall we resolve our differences and solve our problems?
Philippians 2:3—Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Being like-minded is what Paul thought, sought, and wrought. At no time and under no condition should believers strive among themselves. Disputing and quarreling ought never to exist among brethren in Christ.
The word "strife" comes from a Greek word which means "selfishness, rivalry, infighting, and carries the idea of building oneself up by tearing down another person."
The word "vainglory" comes from a Greek word which means "empty conceit”. Strife involves tearing down a person and vainglory involves pulling yourself up.
After approaching the problem from a negative point of view, Paul now adds a positive approach. We are to be concerned about others with "lowliness of mind." This means we are to have an attitude of humility or modesty. It involves having an honest evaluation of one's own nature and a proper assessment of yourself. This leads to glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ and will also help keep your church together. If you take the cocky roosters out of the church, you will be amazed at the unity and peace that settles over the congregation.
John 15:5—I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
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Let's Stay Together
Philippians 2:1-4
November 2, 2022 • Pastor Arthur Jackson III
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A Journey through Philippians