Time to Grease the Fifth Wheel

Chapter 1 ends with Paul’s insistence upon us, who are Christians, to live a life worthy of the Gospel

Both the gospel and the church are firmly established in the idea of togetherness, and both the gospel and the church are advanced by togetherness. Togetherness is about connections.

Sin severed every humans connection with God, but God, through Jesus’s humble sacrifice on the cross, did something about that severed connection.

God’s intended result of the gospel is transformation and reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:17 TEV

Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come.

2 Corinthians 5:17

- “in Christ” - the old is gone and the new has come

2 Corinthians 5:18–19 CSB

Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

These 2 verses are telling you - If you profess Jesus as your savior, you profess to be in Christ, no sin burden to bare. The only thing God has encumbered you with is the GC, the task of reconciliation - bringing other lost sinners together with God through Christ by the gospel proclamation wherever you go.

That task is the reasoning behind the verses we are about to read. It is the need for what Paul insists upon.

STAND AND HONOR OUR HOLY GOD WITH ME AS WE LOOK INTENTLY INTO HIS WORD.

Philippians 2:1–4 CSB

1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

PRAYER

Chapter 2 begins with Paul continuing to insist that we live the worthy life and come together for the gospel.

“Therefore” or “If then” builds for us a bridge from backwards to , and is Paul’s blueprint of practicality. This is the application of his exhortation because he knew the GC task of reconciliation is of too great importance to be obstructed. He knew the near impossibility of its accomplishment in a church that struggles to come together.

Growing up as the son of a semi-truck driver I had one job, greasing the fifth wheel.

The fifth wheel is that disc shaped piece of metal that sits in the center of the semi's rear frame used to connect the truck together with the trailer filled with whatever load set to be delivered. It has a wide slot going from one side of the disc to a hole in the center. Underneath the trailer, to which the truck must come together with, is a protruding coupling, which fits into that space and securely connects in that center hole.

It has a wide slot going from one side of the disc to a hole in the center. Underneath the trailer, to which the truck must come together with, is a protruding coupling, which fits into that space and securely connects in that center hole.

The reason I had to grease the fifth wheel each weekend the truck was home, or during the trip, is because the truck and trailer don't always line up together 100% correctly. The trailer often times will make a horrible noise, or the truck can jerk a few times while the two are trying to come together. The purpose of the Grease is to help the two necessary instruments can align themselves better and slip into place together with ease, so that the intended work can be done.

King David, after the turmoil caused by his son’s rebellion, writes:

Psalm 133 NASB95

A Song of Ascents, of David. 1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard, Even Aaron’s beard, Coming down upon the edge of his robes. 3 It is like the dew of Hermon Coming down upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forever.

Psalm 133:1 NIV

1 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!

Unity is the necessary element of making together happen and of maintaining togetherness.

Psalm 133:2 NIV

2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe.

David declares how precious unity is among God’s people. Paul stresses the utter importance of unity. He declares the gospel message is at stake.

Unity is the grease that aligns us and brings us together for the purpose of delivering the gospel.

Transitional sentence and keyword: Paul’s words here give us 3 motivations that should lead and funnel us toward unity in our church.

Someone asked another pastor, “Does this if in v.1 mean if these things happen, or does it means since these things happened,”

Someone asked another pastor, “Does this if mean if these things happen, or does it means since these things happened,”

Someone asked another pastor, “Does this if mean if these things happen, or does it means since these things happened,” which means these things exist in Christ.

“if” - not being possibilities but realities/certainties. Much like saying:

If you play with fire and gasoline you will get burnt

If I wake up in the morning I will still be in love with and married to the most beautiful woman in the world.

Several commentators and preachers suggest vs. 1 is a dual message from Paul. He is speaking to people who come to church because of religion and rituals, yet are lost, worshipping false gods of their flesh, like the enemies of the cross Paul describes in , and the people he warns Timothy about in .

2 Timothy 3:5 CSB

5 holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people.

He is also addressing those who come to church because of a relationship they have with God - “In Christ.”

V.1 contains 4 blessings or benefits that are a reality for those having a relationship with Christ and His church.

If you play with fire and gasoline you will get burnt

If I wake up in the morning I will still be in love with and married to the most beautiful woman in the world.

V.1 contains 4 blessings or benefits of having a relationship with Christ and His church.

When you are depressed or discouraged what would it take to lift you up out of despair? Encouragement - is there anything more encouraging than having a relationship with Christ Jesus established the Church to further our encouragement - through a connection with fellow believers who can pick you up with their words and lift you up in their prayers?

When the attacks are coming from all angles and areas, the one thing that can bring you consolation is the knowledge of Jesus’ love for you learned from the experiences of his people loving actions to you.

What connects brothers and sisters in Christ together is this koinonia - this fellowship with (and by) the Spirit. The help of the Holy Spirit is spiritual but the conduit of His help is physical flowing through believers. He covers our weaknesses with God’s and each other’s strengths - (interdigitate).

Affection and mercy do not exist apart from Christ, and our connection to Him is intended to have a steady current of both flowing to one another.

Because of these 4 and many others, Joy comes to the believer through his/her connection with Jesus and with other believers. So many commentators say that begs the question:

If indeed encouragement, consolation, and fellowship can be found in Christ, then why can’t Christians get along with each other? Then commentators say:

What if Paul had re-framed the conditions as yes/no questions? Would that have the same effect? Take a look:

What if Paul had reframed the conditions as yes/no questions? Would that have the same effect? Take a look:

Is there encouragement, loving consolation, fellowship of the spirit, and affectionate mercy for in Christ? Well yes - Bible says so.

Is there encouragement, loving consolation, fellowship of the spirit, and affectionate mercy in Christ?

Is there Unity in your church?

If answer is No. - the solution is either repentance leading to salvation for those who are in the church because of religion. They can’t get along with Christians because they are not in Christ.

Or the solution is repentance leading to restoration of broken relationships. Some Christians can’t get along with other Christians because they have forgotten these benefits that make Christian unity possible.

Paul’s goal was to remind them of these benefits of being in Christ as the promotion of unity and pastoral joy.

I have the same goal.

Psalm 133:1 HCSB

1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!

Greasing the fifth wheel was not easy. it was not a clean job. Some bumps, bruises and scraps were inevitable, but my father was happen when he went to couple truck and trailer together and found a smooth connection.

Another translation of reads, “How good it is when brothers and sisters live together in harmony.”

Mildred and Alice were sister with a 30 year feud. On Mildred’s 70th birthday, Alice almost visited her because she felt a pang of remorse, but it quickly passed. Later on, after hearing Mildred had fallen gravely ill, Alice decided it was time to visit. Mildred, with a weak voice from her death bed, says, “Alice, I just want you to know, if I don’t make it, your forgiven, but if by chance I pull through, then things stay just like they are.”

That is an example of a non-harmonious, unrepentant and unforgiving family relationship. But should never be said about a church.

God’s intention for his church is a harmonious existence together, and is achieved through what is the only main verb in the rest of the passage - is found in v.2 - “be like minded” so that we “think the same way” about God’s intentions for His church.

Why would Paul ask for the church to complete his joy through like-mindedness? Why didn’t he ask them to give more, do the Great Commission more, to serve better, to worship differently?

1st- He asked this because he was their pastor, and a pastor’s well-being is always tied to the unity and growth of the church. The former affects the latter. Unity the numbers increase, disunity the numbers decrease.

Any pastor with a heart for the Lord and a love for His people/church has the same goal and pastoral desire as Paul does here in his insistence on Unity.

I have the same goal.

Greasing the fifth wheel was not easy. it was not a clean job. Some bumps, bruises and scraps were inevitable, but my father was happen when he went to couple truck and trailer together and found a smooth connection. And I was.

2nd - He asked this because giving, going, serving, worship, soul-winning and discipleship all flow from harmony lived out in the church. Disunity becomes the hair-ball that clogs the pipes of each.

I have the same goal.

The rest of v.2-4 deals with a very specific threats to unity.

Greasing the fifth wheel was not easy. it was not a clean job. Some bumps, bruises and scraps were inevitable, but my father was happen when he went to couple truck and trailer together and found a smooth connection.

That is an example of a non-harmonious, unrepentant and unforgiving family relationship. But should never be said about a church.

Think of the word Congruence - synonym of harmony. Congruence is the reality of the outside matching the inside because one’s words and actions line up with what’s in one’s head. Church becomes a congruence of Christianity when what we hold in our hands (Bible) is in harmony with what we do with what we hold in our hands.

Unity, is a matter of action and is lived out through Christlike humility among our church membership.

This is a spiritual matter.

physical one.

Paul writes v.3-4 to reveal what unity looks like when acted out. He describes like-mindedness in action.

Here he presents 2 sets of paired statements, don’ts and dos. Paul intends for you to examine that if the positive actions are absent, why?

We can make application of these two verses in many areas of our life.

A Christian’s blueprint for “Working with Others” - Unity in the Workplace

A blueprint for “Working with Others” - Unity in the Workplace

A Christian’s blueprint for “Worshiping and Serving with Others” - Unity in the Church

A Christian’s blueprint for “Learning with Others” - Unity in the Classroom

A Christian’s blueprint for “Living with Others” - Unity in the Home

Here he presents 2 sets of paired statements. As a matter of emphasis, he places the don’ts before the dos forcing us to think about what we should do. Paul intends for you and every Christian to reconcile your actions with your beliefs, and too examine that if the actions are absent are the beliefs of the Bible present.

2 foci of Paul here: Pride vs. Humility

Pride is carnal and pride destroys relationships

Because pride stands between a person and a relationship with Jesus

Because pride stands between a person and a relationship with Jesus’ people

Pride is the plug in the pipe of Christian unity, because prideful people put I before U.

Rick Warren writing on v.3 says - Every conflict that you go through in a relationship has an element of pride mixed into it. What is the middle letter of the word “pride”? I. What’s the middle letter of the word “crime”? I. What’s the middle letter of the word “sin”? I.

We have an “I” problem! “I” want what “I” want and “I” want it now, and that causes all kinds of problems. In any relationship, never let pride be your guide, because pride is the root of every other sin.

Paul lists two products of pride which create conflict and destroy relationships: One of them is selfish ambition and the other is vain conceit.

Paul says that there are two products of pride which create conflict: One of them is selfish ambition and the other is vain conceit.

** A minister, a Boy Scout, and a computer expert were the only passengers on a small plane. The pilot came back to the cabin and said that the plane was going down but there were only three parachutes and four people. The pilot added, “I should have one of the parachutes because I have a wife and three small children.” So he took one and jumped.

The computer whiz said, “I should have one of the parachutes because I am the smartest man in the world and everyone needs me.” So he took one and jumped.

The minister turned to the Boy Scout and with a sad smile said, “You are young and I have lived a rich life, so you take the remaining parachute, and I’ll go down with the plane.”

The Boy Scout said, “Relax, Reverend, the smartest man in the world just picked up my knapsack and jumped out!”1075[1]

Selfish ambition says, “It’s all about me”

** A conceited person is someone who does a crossword puzzle with a ballpoint pen.

Vain conceit means, “I’m always right.”

Selfish ambition causes all kinds of problems. says, “Where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”

James 3:16 NASB95

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.

When you find confusion and chaos at your workplace, your church, your home, in your marriage, and even in the government, you can know that pride through selfish ambition and jealousy are causing it.

Selfish ambition causes all kinds of problems. says, “Where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” When you find confusion at your workplace, your church, your home, in your marriage, and even in the government, you can know that selfish ambition and jealousy are causing it.

** A conceited person is someone who does a crossword puzzle with a ballpoint pen.

Vain conceit means, the attitude of “I’m always right.”

The Living Bible translation of says, “Don’t live to make a good impression on others.” We do this in every area of our lives, but especially on social media. It’s a great temptation to make yourself look better on the Internet than you are. Just humble yourself before God and others and you will make a good impression.

In Galatians, Paul lists about 17 effects of living with pride, and most of the things on the list are actually relational sins. says, “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear ... quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy.... Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God” (NLT).

He tells them and us to not allow any conceit, meaning empty glory, take hold of us and motivate our actions.

** A minister, a Boy Scout, and a computer expert were the only passengers on a small plane. The pilot came back to the cabin and said that the plane was going down but there were only three parachutes and four people. The pilot added, “I should have one of the parachutes because I have a wife and three small children.” So he took one and jumped.

The computer whiz said, “I should have one of the parachutes because I am the smartest man in the world and everyone needs me.” So he took one and jumped.

If you want to be happy in your relationships and have unity in our church, you’ve got to have harmony. And if you’re going to have harmony, you’ve got to have humility.

The minister turned to the Boy Scout and with a sad smile said, “You are young and I have lived a rich life, so you take the remaining parachute, and I’ll go down with the plane.”

The Boy Scout said, “Relax, Reverend, the smartest man in the world just picked up my knapsack and jumped out!”1075[1]

Rick Warren writing on v.3 says - Every conflict that you go through in a relationship has an element of pride mixed into it. What is the middle letter of the word “pride”? I. What’s the middle letter of the word “crime”? I. What’s the middle letter of the word “sin”? I.

Conceit competes for the attention of others

Rivalry and Conceit competes for the attention of others

Rivalry and Conceit competes for the approval of others

Rivalry and Conceit conceals your affirmation of others

Rivalry and Conceit condemns the affluence of others (Financial and Spiritual)

Rick Warren writing on v.3 says - Every conflict that you go through in a relationship has an element of pride mixed into it. What is the middle letter of the word “pride”? I. What’s the middle letter of the word “crime”? I. What’s the middle letter of the word “sin”? I.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 2

The oldest manuscripts read, “Not looking each of you (plural, Greek) on his own things (that is, not having regard solely to them), but each of you on the things of others”

We have an “I” problem! “I” want what “I” want and “I” want it now, and that causes all kinds of problems. In any relationship, never let pride be your guide, because pride is the root of every other sin.

Humility is spiritual and radical and Humility Develops Relationships

Unity is about healthy relationships and unity never happens in a church without people in the church walking in humility. More on that next week.

The oldest manuscripts of v.4 - read, “Not looking each of you (plural, Greek) on his own things (that is, not having regard solely to them), but each of you on the things of others”

Unity is about healthy relationships and unity never happens in a church without people in the church walking in humility.

Many times I have fallen short regarding v.4 and it’s easy to do when we: feel sorry for ourselves, throw pity parties, demand respect or recognition, push for our own comfort and preferences, and especially worrying about self-preservation. But...

Many times I have fallen short regarding v.4 and it’s easy to do when we: feel sorry for ourselves, throw pity parties, demand respect or recognition, push for our own comfort and preferences, and especially worrying about self-preservation.

For years I misunderstood and misinterpreted v.4, and that may be the same thing many of you have done.

The oldest manuscripts read, “Not looking each of you (plural, Greek) on his own things (that is, not having regard solely to them), but each of you on the things of others”

Paul never tells us not to look out for our personal interests. He just says don’t let pride cause us to put what we have before what others have.

Caring for ourselves comes natural. Caring for others does not and requires humility.

Conclusion: We can make application of these verses in many areas of our life.

Conclusion: We can make application of these two verses in many areas of our life.

A Christian’s blueprint for “Working with Others” - Unity in the Workplace

A Christian’s blueprint for “Worshiping and Serving with Others” - Unity in the Church

A Christian’s blueprint for “Learning with Others” - Unity in the Classroom

A Christian’s blueprint for “Living with Others” - Unity in the Home

Some of you may have wondered or even said to others, “Why is the pastor continuing to preach/harp on Unity?”

Unity is a matter of affection and happens only when we have a spiritual sensitivity for the care of members.

Unity, is a matter of action and happens when it is lived out through Christlike humility among our church membership.

Unity, is a matter of attitude and happens only through all believers having the same mentality around our common mission.

Some of you may have wondered or even said to others, “Why is the pastor continuing to preach/harp on Unity?”

The emphasis Paul has on together. Togetherness in the church is only possible through unity. The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write in several places here regarding unity, so it must be extremely important and necessary for us to “Get It.”

Lost people believe the gospel when they see the gospel in the church.

The church is to be a source of the Living Water (Jesus) that gives life to all as we proclaim the gospel. Lost people believe the gospel when they see the gospel in the church.

Unity is the very essence of Christianity, the outward display to a lost world.

The unity of our church is our Marquee, our Billboard, our flashing neon sign to the community saying, “Hey, this gospel is worth you listening to, this Jesus is worth you following, this gospel is worth it because it works to change people, just look at us.”

What has God been saying to you about your life and about our church?

Is it time to grease our fifth wheels?

Is our sign working or does it need fixing?

Is it time to grease our fifth wheels?

What has God been saying to you about your life and about our church?

You are driving down the highway when you encounter a sign that reads, “Dangerous Curve Ahead.” Immediately you are confronted with making a choice. One, you can observe the warning and slow down. Two, you can ignore the warning and maintain your rate of speed. Or, three, you can defy the warning and speed up. Whatever response you exercise, you will not change the truth of the sign. The curve remains dangerous, regardless of whether you acknowledge the fact or not.

What choice is God saying you need to make today?

Repent to be forgiven by him and others or Forgive others?

Time to Grease the Fifth Wheel

Time to Grease the Fifth Wheel

Unity in our Church Originates from the Highlights of our Relationship in Christ.

A Pastor is Never More Proud and More Joy-filled than when the People He Loves Serve and Live Harmoniously in the Church.

Unity in Our Church through Christlike Humility Eases in our Individual Connections.

Invitation to Respond

Time to Grease the Fifth Wheel

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Time to Grease the Fifth Wheel

Unity in our Church Originates from the Highlights of our Relationship in Christ.

A Pastor is Never More Proud and More Joy-filled than when the People He Loves Serve and Live Harmoniously in the Church.

Unity in Our Church through Christlike Humility Eases in our Individual Connections.

Invitation to Respond