Sunday Night || September 4th 2022 - Philippians 2:1-2

Participation in the Spirit - to share in act of partaking in

Church tonight for all of us let it be said their is an encouragement for us always in Christ Jesus our Lord:

As our text is from Phil 2:1-4

Philippians 2:1–4 ESV

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

These verses titled - “Christ’s Example of Humility”

What is an example? - An example is something to be imitated.

For instance: When I see Ezra peaking his little head over the counter at 6 a.m. when he’s supposed to be sleeping. And he sees me with the candle lit, my bible open having time with the Lord, so this is me setting an example for him.

I pray him seeing me have time with the Lord, is doing something for him in those moments!

I pray I am setting an example for my Son’s that their Father sits with the Lord early in the morning (not matter how long he stayed up) and one day they will be living my example!

As this is what I want him to do as he gets older!

As I’ve learned over the years that this is where our nourishment comes from!

And as he will learn to read and sit with his Bible, so I pray the Holy Spirit would reveal to Him the Truth of Jesus just like he did to me.

So someone who sets an example; means they are showing us how to live, or what to do.

We all love to talk about Paul, and mentioning Paul’s ministry right?

But why?

I believe this verse right here can tell us why - 1 Cor 11:1 “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” - Paul Says

We as Christians are not longing to be closer to sin, and the world (even though at times it can seem like it’s our only love) But we are being sanctified by the Spirit and the Word of God to look more like Jesus

That’s True for every born again Christian.

See we are so attracted to the ministry and study of Paul, not because he is Paul; but because in Paul’s letters we get to hear His heart and how He longs to imitate Christ In all things.

Tonight I believe Paul’s letter to the Philippian Church can be a great encouragement to us all As we seek to imitate Christ.

Context:

Before we get to chapter two it’s important for us to know that Paul has called out the Phillipian Church who is under a little difficulty as he is writing this letter — Philippians 1:27 “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,”

So under these circumstances, they are to walk in a manner worthy, not just when Paul is present (as he is in prison as he writes them in our context) but in his absence.

For it’s when no one is watching; what really reveals where our treasure lies.

And Paul hear mentions the Philippians to “stand firm in one Spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the Gospel.”

See Church this all is for the unity of the Gospel: Christ set the example of humility so as we learn from this text too light I pray we are convicted, encouraged or challenged To follow His example to the end:

Let us stand for the reading of God’s Word

Philippians 2:1-4 “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Pray

Philippians 2:1 “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,”

Paul is putting the Philippians on the spot, as we read his words “So IF” (IF used as an argument)

Or it’s like someone saying “since you are Christians.” - Which often times means someone is not doing and living as they should be; in any case when someone speaks this way

And often times with this language it would spark the listener and set a fire under them to get moving

If these ways are who Christ was, and is, then Paul saying “so if” meaning he wants to bring to these Philippians minds and our minds and hearts to remind them of who Christ is and his example and how they are to live out their faith “for the faith of the Gospel”

And what are these encouragements in Christ?

Comfort, love,

Pratcipation in the Spirit - to share in act of partaking in

Affection and Sympathy

We could all agree that Christ demonstrated and lived all these examples

Christ is the very foundation of all of these characteristic:

So Paul is in a sense not ok where the Philippians are at right now in their Church

Becuase if Christ is all these things; well right now Philippian Church you are not being a good example for one another and others looking in.

For us: tonight

Maybe it’s a call to love more and in ways that truly shows people (because examples are often physically lived out Right?)

Maybe it’s a call for you that you’ve just been praying but but not in the Spirit…

Warren Wisbree “What does it mean to pray in the Holy Spirit? It means to pray according to the leading of the spirit. It has well been said, prayer is not getting a man’s will done in heaven, it is getting God‘s will done on earth.” This agrees with…1 John 5:14-15 “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” As Christians, we may pray in solitude but we never pray alone.; the Spirit of God joins with us as we pray because He knows the mind of God and can direct us.

Or maybe the hardness of sin and habitaul patterns of it have numbed your ability to be affectionate and sympathetic to those in pain or struggling in some way.

I don’t know which one might be heaviest on your heart tonight; but since were not yet glorified with Christ I can imagine maybe one if not many the Holy Spirit is convicting you in and nudging you in.

But we can know from Paul’s next words somethign in him *(writing to the Philippians) is not complete…

Him not referring to his salvation. (But reffering to what he is hearing about the Philippians Church who is suffering )

Phil 2:2 “complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.”

The problem Paul sees that we can see from this text is everyone in the Philippian Church might not be on the same page.

Paul want’s his joy to be complate (well yes His joy in Christ is complete)

But we know as Paul is writing his epistles; so he has a heart for the Churches a deep affectionate and desire to see them flourish

And so Paul is saying Philippians “complete my joy” - and in his next verse his lists for them how to do so:

“Being of the same mind…”

Often time’s my first few questions to new members or visitors wanting to join the Church revolve heavily around theology

As A.W. Tozer said ““What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”

So the Philippians; as Paul is lacking Something so there seems to be an error in Theology

What I am not saying: As J. Vernon McGee says “He’s not asking them to be carbon copies of each other. In most churches there are two groups of people one group for the pastor and one group against the pastor. The folks that compromise these groups or not thinking for themselves but are carbon copies of the group leaders.

To be of one mind is to let the mind of Christ be in you. That permits differences of expressions, differences in gifts, differences in methods of service, even differences in minor doctrines. We won’t be beating each other on the head because we disagree on these things. If we have the mind of Christ, we will agree on the major tenets of the faith.”

So “if” we are Christians and are true followers of Jesus major theological doctrines are something the whole Church should have in common

For instance believing in The Trinity

Believing Christ is the only way to the Father

Believing that we are not our own but have been ransomed by the Father

What belief we would call out in love quickly:

Is this belief that it doesn’t matter how you believe you just have to believe their is a heaven and a God

And how you get there is anyway you choose (if this is you we have some talking to do)

See

Matthew 12:25 “Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.”

We here at FBC Ben Wheeler stand on the Word of God; and for some this brings studies and topics of doctrine that you may never had a discussion with someone before but let me encourage you, we are not two flower stems crossing each other in wind but…

Prov 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” (I guarantee you there is heat and sparks in this process; but this comes down to how we handle this “theology and doctrine)

See My prayer is that we would be way more like Minded than we think we are; and what I’ve grown to learn from Ted’s teaching at this Church and mine well we have no problem letting the Bible step on our toes and into our hearts.

So what else does Paul mention?

“…having the same love…”

Let it be said from 1 Cor 13:1 “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.”

Church members I don’t care if you can quote 100 theologian’s; If you goal behind knowing more about God is not love then I would call you to repentance of your pride and arrogance

We are following Christ’s example and yes Christ did flip some tables; but how many times do we read him do that?

Be discerning in moments when converastions of theology are going on; and if your motiavtion isn’t love; watch out because you can wound the dog out of someone.

What is this same love then?

Christ like love

And what did Christ do for us (as we are to follow Him as our ultimate example)

He died for us. (Are you wiling to first fight and die for your brother or sister in Christ?) What a thought to ponder.

John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

So how are we loving when sharing our mind; and thoughts on theology?

“…being in full accord and of one mind…”

Paul now bringin the two into one

See this word “in full accord” in the greek means - where it is used to encourage unity and love amongst belivers

Harmony!

Philippians 2:3-4 “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Don’t be selfish and conceded and full of pride but in your aim to help other Brothers and sisters see the Word of God and theology in the same light love them, and strive to encourage them in the right direction

And that right direction is Chrit’s example of humility

So what is humility? And what does Christ’s example of humility showcase?

Comfort, love,

Pratcipation in the Spirit - to share in act of partaking in

Affection and Sympathy

Let it be said we do learn from Christ’s example of humility in our text and live it out in this Church and in our life.

But let it also be said that humility is not weakness; but strength under control.”

May we be Church members who:

Strive for one mindedness (not saying bring all kinds of different view points of the Bible in; no if your lense isn’t through Christ then we can show you the way)

Who love one another

And who are in full accord - unified under Christ; who is our life And will forever be!.