Introduction

I.                  CHRIST—THE TRAITS OF HIS LIFE IN US, 2:1-4

A.    THE TRAIT OF CONSOLATION

B.     THE TRAIT OF LOVE

C.    THE TRAIT OF FELLOWSHIP IN THE SPIRIT

D.    THE TRAIT OF COMPASSION

E.     THE TRAIT OF CONCERN FOR ONE ANOTHERS JOY

F.     THE TRAIT OF HUMILITY OF LOWLINESS OF MIND

G.    THE TRAIT OF CONTROLLING SELF-INTEREST OR CONCENTRATION UPON ONESELF

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I.                  CHRIST—THE TRAITS OF HIS LIFE IN US, 2:1-4

(2:1-4) Introduction: the Philippian church was a very strong church, always working out a strategy to carry out the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

1.      The more activities a church has the more emphasis it must put on unity.  Why?

2.      Because wherever there a people there are going to be problems and the more the people the more the problems.

3.      Therefore, as young adults it is important to learn “unity.”

A.    (Verse 1a) THE TRAIT OF CONSOLATION

1.      The word “consolation” means encouragement, comfort, exhortation, & strengthening.

a.       Note: this trait is a characteristic of Christ Himself.

b.      Jesus wants us to be in unity, one spirit, with one mind (v.2), busy about the business He has for us.

c.       He does not want us to murmur grumble, and complain which weakens the unity in the church (2:14-16).

B.     (Verse 1b) THE TRAIT OF LOVE

1.      The love “agape” of Christ stirs a person to keep the unity with other believers (2Cor. 5:14; 8:9).

a.       Apape love is selfless and sacrificial love & depends upon the giver not the receiver.

b.      Agape love loves a person even if he or she does not deserve to be loved

c.       Agape love loves the person who is utterly unworthy to be loved

1)      We are unworthy & undeserving of Christ’s love toward us!

2)      Christ gave Himself up & demonstrated His love by His sacrifice (Rom. 5:8).

2.      Jesus said in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you (unconditionally), that you also love one another.   “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

C.    (Verse 1c) THE TRAIT OF FELLOWSHIP IN THE SPIRIT

1.      Once a person has trusted Christ as his Lord, God’s Spirit does two significant things to him.

a.       The Holy Spirit enter the believers heart and life to comfort us, guide us, teach us, equip us, and use us as a witness for Christ (1Cor. 12:13).

b.      The Holy Spirit creates a spiritual union between the new believer and other believers.

1)      Believers become one in life and purpose

2)      Believers are not to share bad news; gossip, rumors, nothing whatsoever that would tamper or disturb the fellowship of the Spirit, (v.2-being of one accord). 

Illustration of unity:                A football team or Army Training not everybody is a quarterback

                                                            To win a game or war there must be uniformity!  Harmony Illustration.

D.    (Verse 1d) THE TRAIT OF COMPASSION

1.      Compassion is the trait that stirred Christ to reach out for us.

a.       Jesus knew the only way for man to be saved was for Him to die in our place.

b.      Matthew wrote in his gospel, “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd (Matthew 9:36).

1)      The Bible says in Isaiah 53:6, All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

2)      Jesus paid a debt He did not owe, because we owed a debt we could not pay, Jesus paid the price for us having compassion on us.

c.       Jesus even had compassion on a multitude after finding out John the Baptist was beheaded (Matthew 14:13-14)

2.      We must let the compassion of Christ flow in us and through us & when this happens…

a.       We will reach out to others who are in need, Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; (1 Peter 3:8 NKJV)

b.      We must be like Paul, when he longed for the Philippians with the affection of Jesus 1:8.

E.     (Verse 2) THE TRAIT OF CONCERN FOR ONE ANOTHER’S JOY

1.      Paul’s joy in Christ would be fulfilled by only one thing—the unity of the Philippian church.

a.       Unity brings joy to a church quicker than anything else does.

b.      Joy can be disturbed when there is criticism, dissatisfaction, grumbling, murmuring, opposition, and many other things that are negative.

2.      To have joy in the church, we must…

a.       Be like-minded

b.      Have the same love

c.       Be of one accord, of one mind

3.      The Key Verse to do this is: Philippians 2:3; Romans 12:3—others is the key to this chapter.

F.     (Verse 3a&b) THE TRAIT OF HUMILITY OF LOWLINESS OF MIND PART 1

The Enemy of Unity

1.      Two ugly problems an active church will have: strife [selfish-ambition], vain glory [conceit]

a.       Some people are just going to strive with others by…

1)      Talking about differences, jealousy, envy, desire for position, desire for recognition, opposition, loving flattery, etc.

2)      If they do not get there way or what they want, they strive against others, and the result is disunity, which is a terrible sin against God.

b.      Some people are going to seek glory within the church.

c.       They want people seeking their advice and their opinions

d.      They want to be acknowledge as a leader of the church, being on major committees

2.      The spirit that must prevail in a strong church is that of humility or lowliness of mind, walking day-by-day in the spirit of humility.

(Verse 3c) THE TRAIT OF HUMILITY OF LOWLINESS OF MIND PART 2

1.      Humility is…        To offer oneself as lowly and submissive; to walk in a spirit of lowliness;

To present oneself as lowly and low-lying in mind;

To be of low degree and low rank

Not to be high minded, proud, haughty, or arrogant.  

2.      A humble person may have a high position, power and authority, but he has a spirit of humility and submission.  Jesus has a high position {creator}, power & authority, yet He humbled Himself.

a.       He or she denies him or herself for the sake of Christ and in order to help others

3.      Men have always looked upon someone who is humble as a coward or someone to be stepped on. They feel humility is a sign of weakness and will make them the object of abuse.

a.       This is very tragic, because God’s idea of humility is not weakness or being a coward

b.      And most importantly, a spirit of humility is necessary for salvation (Matt. 18:3-4).

c.       Jesus said to, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:29 NKJV)

3.      Do you want to be great in God’s kingdom?  Learn to be the servant of all!

a.       The true path to greatness is the path of humility Luke 18:9-14.

b.      Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up James 4:10

c.       Philippians 2:7 says that Jesus took the form of a servant…and humbled Himself v.8.

d.      Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, (1 Peter 5:5,6 NKJV)

e.       If you do not humble yourself, beware God is able to humble you Himself Daniel 4:37.

4.      Contrary to what the world thinks, humility reaps unbelievable benefits.

a.       Humility results in a person coming to Christ and learning of Him.

b.      Humility results in conversion, assuring our entrance into the kingdom of heaven.

c.       Humility results in our being exalted by Christ in that glorious day of redemption Phil 2:9.

d.      Humility results in healthy relationships and in community and social benefits.

Rom. 12:16; Eph. 4:1-2; Phil. 2:3-4; Col. 3:12-13; 1 Pet. 5:6

5.      Christ demands that His followers walk in humility and practicing humility demands two things.

a.       Humility requires an honest evaluation of yourself

1)      It takes courage and honesty to look at ourselves to see ourselves as we really are.

2)      Self-centered, self-love, self-admiration.

Illustration of self-centered                When you look at a class picture who is the first one you look for?  YOU, RIGHT?

b.      Humility requires courage

1)      Again, it takes courage to be honest about our self-centeredness, and to come to Christ as a small child (Matt. 18:3-4).

2)      It takes courage to become others-centered not self-centered, giving ourselves to the cause of Christ and others.

G.    (Verse 4) THE TRAIT OF CONTROLLING SELF-INTEREST OR CONCENTRATION UPON ONESELF

1.      A Christian believer must forget himself, and quit looking upon his own things and interests

-ambition                     -being neglected                      -not being recognized                                      

-desires                        -being overlooked                   -not being honored

-position                      -being by-passed                     -not being given the position

-wants                         -being ignored

2.      We are to be focused upon Christ and His ministry to people and reaching the world with the glorious gospel of salvation. 

a.       The world is to needful for any believer to be focused upon himself

b.      We must focus upon others and their needs.

c.       CAN YOU GIVE JESUS A DRINK TODAY!  YES, Jesus said, ‘for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;   ‘I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’   “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?   ‘When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?   ‘Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’   “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ (Matthew 25:35-40 NKJV)

3.      Are you thirsty?  Are you hungry? 

a.       Jesus offers you today Living Water that is, everlasting life!  Jesus said to the woman of Samaria, whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst again.  But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life (John 4:13-14).

b.      Jesus also said,  “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. (John 6:35 NKJV)

d.      Jesus Christ said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.  “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?   “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels. (Luke 9:23-26 NKJV)