"I Can Have a Joyful Christian Life Through the I AM"

Philippians 2:1–5 (KJV 1900)

Philippians 2:1–5 KJV 1900

1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

I. In the I AM there is consolation. vs.1

Thousands of people each year visit the Winchester Mansion in San Jose, California. This massive structure was built by Sarah Winchester, the widow of the gun company owner. For thirty-eight years, from 1884 until her death in 1922, the house was under constant construction. Teams of carpenters, masons and other workers were employed around the clock. Various stories have been told about the reason for this unusual practice. Most center on Mrs. Winchester’s belief that she either was haunted or would be haunted by the ghosts of those killed by her husband’s weapons unless she kept building her house. Others claim that she thought she would not die as long as building continued.

Whatever the reason, she continued ordering more renovations and construction as long as she lived. There are more than 10,000 windows in the Winchester Mansion, doorways and stairs that lead to blank walls, and some 160 rooms in total. It is estimated that she spent more than $70,000,000 in today’s money on largely pointless construction—all in a desperate search for peace that was ultimately doomed to fail.

Many people today are seeking peace through equally fruitless means. They turn to pleasure, drugs, alcohol, immorality, wealth and other dead end avenues. Like the staircases that lead nowhere in the Winchester Mansion, pursuing such paths will never bring peace. Instead we find peace when we follow the path that God has given us in His Word. Those who keep the law of God in their hearts and obey it in their actions add peace to their lives. Rather than seeking peace as an end, we should seek to follow Christ. When we do we will find that peace comes as a side effect that we receive from Him.

Philippians 4:7 KJV 1900

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

John 14:27 KJV 1900

27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

A. In the I AM there is love.

John 15:13 KJV 1900

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Galatians 5:14 KJV 1900

14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

B. In the I AM there is fellowship.

Mark 12:31 KJV 1900

31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

1. With fellow believers.

2. With family.

3. With friends.

II. We need to fulfill the I AM’s Joy. vs.2

Romans 5:11 KJV 1900

11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Psalm 35:9 KJV 1900

9 And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: It shall rejoice in his salvation.

1 Peter 1:3 KJV 1900

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians & Philemon Commentary

Paul mingled military imagery with athletic when he used the word sunathlountes [4866, 5254], which means “to struggle alongside someone” (see BDAG 964) and carries with it the idea of athletes or soldiers competing as one man for a common goal. (In Hellenistic times, the Olympic games and other athletic competitions were organized largely to promote military prowess. Thus, there may not be much of a distinction between athletic and military competition.) The verb is extremely rare in classical Greek and in the New Testament (used only here and in 4:3). Its usage in 4:3 helps our understanding, where Paul commends Euodia and Syntyche for having struggled together with him in advancing the gospel. In Hellenistic times the image might evoke thoughts of “the arena, where the gladiatorial struggle was one of life and death”; it also might evoke the thought of “the phalanx, consisting of a body of trained spearmen who fought in closed ranks” (Martin 1987:88).

In war or athletic competition, it is important that the unit be cohesive and unified. Internal wrangling degenerates the effectiveness of the unit. Thus, Paul urged the Philippians to advance the gospel against its enemies by being unified. The key to unification is the one Spirit, who unites a group of Christians into one body (2:1–2), enabling them to overcome small differences among individual members and to strive toward a common goal. Paul encouraged the Philippians to “think the same thing,” to, literally, “be co-souled ones” (i.e., united souls), and even to be “thinking the one thing” (literal rendering of 2:2). Later in the epistle, Paul elaborates on this “one thing”: to pursue the goal of knowing Christ Jesus. If any of the believers had a different goal, Paul prayed that they would be enlightened (see 3:12–15). Like a team of athletes, the Philippians were called by Paul to focus on one goal only—that of knowing Christ. This kind of thinking would unite their minds.

A. In the I AM I can love like Christ. vs.2a

Romans 5:7 KJV 1900

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

1 John 3:16 KJV 1900

16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

B. In the I AM I can be in agreement with others. vs.2b

Romans 12:18 KJV 1900

18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

1 Corinthians 12:12–13 KJV 1900

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 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.

1. Wife.

Proverbs 19:14 KJV 1900

14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: And a prudent wife is from the Lord.

Proverbs 31:10 KJV 1900

10 Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.

2. Family.

Colossians 3:21 KJV 1900

21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

Ephesians 6:4 KJV 1900

4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

3. Children.

Proverbs 22:6 KJV 1900

6 Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Psalm 127:3–5 KJV 1900

3 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: And the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; So are children of the youth. 5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: They shall not be ashamed, But they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

4. Church members.

5. Teens.

C. I Am able to be unified with my fellow believers.

Ephesians 4:1–5 KJV 1900

1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

III. In the I AM all can be done peacefully and selflessly. vs. 3

Matthew 5:5 KJV 1900

5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

James 4:10 KJV 1900

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

A. I Am able to be humble.

Proverbs 22:4 KJV 1900

4 By humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches, and honour, and life.

B. I Am able to to put others first.

Romans 15:1 KJV 1900

1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

1 Peter 5:5 KJV 1900

5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

C. I Am able to serve others.

Luke 6:31 KJV 1900

31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

Proverbs 19:17 KJV 1900

17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; And that which he hath given will he pay him again.

IV. I AM enables me to think of others first. vs. 4

A. The I AM puts other first.

John 3:17 KJV 1900

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

B. The I AM’s example shows me how to put others first.

Romans 5:7–9 KJV 1900

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.