THE HEART OF UNITY

PHILIPPIANS 2:1-8

 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

6     Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

7     but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8     And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!

I.                   The Hearts Cry of All Believers

A.     The Natural Desire of All Who Are In Christ

B.     The Same Unity That Is Functioning In the Godhead

C.     Because We Are All A Part of The Same Vine

II.                Living It In The Church

A.     Not Striving To Have It ‘Our Way”

B.     Not Seeking To Exalt Self

C.     Being More Concerned About Others Than Ourselves

III.             Thinking Christ-Like

A.     Who Recognized Who He Was

1.     What His position Was

2.     What His Authority Was

3.     What Power He Could Exercise

B.     Who Willingly Took On the Form of A Servant

1.     Who Was Obedient To His Father To The Full Extent

2.     Who Put our Needs Above His Own

IV.            God The Father Exalted The Son

A.     It is Better to Have The Approval of God Rather then Men

B.     God Lifts Up Those of Humble Heart

C.     God The Father Will Carefully and Lovingly Place Us In The Correct Position Within The Body