PHILIPPIANS 1-2 1:27-2:42006 Teaching by Jerry B Simmons

Teaching Transcript: Philippians 1-2 1:27-2:4

You are listening to FerventWord, an online Bible study ministry with teachings and tools to help you grow deeper in your relationship with God. The following message was taught by Jerry Simmons in 2006. So we're back in the book of Philippians. Now, of course, the theme of the book, as we've been talking about, is joy. And we've learned over and over again how to have joy. Do you remember? You follow the acronym. J stands for?

O stands for? And Y stands for? And when you live life in that order, Jesus first, others second, and yourself last, you will find joy in your life. I know it's contrary to our opinions and our thoughts and the philosophy of the world, but as Jesus said, you have to lose your life

Now, as we've been studying through the first few verses there in chapter 1 the past couple weeks, we've been looking at Paul and he's been demonstrating over and over again the Jesus first principle.

I mean, over and over he's talking about the Lord. He's putting the Lord first. We see it's all centered around Jesus Christ. But today, as we begin in verse 27 of chapter 1 and continue on, Paul begins now to focus on the O.

of the word joy, which stands for others. He's been focusing on Jesus, but now he's turning his attention, teaching us to focus on others, how we are to relate to others, how we are to treat others, the way that we are to be towards one another.

And so in verse 27, he says, only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel so that whether I come and see you or I'm absent, I may hear of your affairs that you stand fast in one spirit with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel.

Now, last week we were at the park and Pastor Tom shared with us about ministry and the importance of us ministering to others and being involved in the ministry. But two weeks ago, we finished off in chapter 1 and we finished off in verse 26.

Now, Paul, as he was writing those last few verses of what we studied, in verse 23 of chapter 1, we studied two weeks ago, he says, For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Verse 24 says, Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. So we finish off with Paul going through this conflict, wanting to be...

Be absent from the body and with the Lord, but at the same time, knowing that God, you've got a calling for me and you've got a purpose for me here. It's more needful for me to be here in the flesh. And so I'm going to continue to serve the Lord and I'm going to be serving you, Philippians. It's for your joy that I will remain because God has promised.

appointed it that way. But he ends in verse 26 with even a next statement, which was saying, even though I'm in prison, I hope to make your joy even more full as I come to visit you, as I get to come and see you again, anticipating that he would be released or he would be set free and then he would be able to come and visit the Philippians.

So as he begins now in verse 27, he's saying, I'm doing my part. I'm sticking with it. I'm continuing on in the ministry, serving the Lord with my life and hoping to be able to go there once again and to meet with you there in Philippi. But he's telling the Philippians now, but you need to do your part. I'm doing my part and I'm continuing on. But there's a part you have to play as well. And you need to be doing that.

He says, only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ. I hope to come see you soon. I hope to be there that you would rejoice again. Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ. I was on the freeway a couple of days ago and I saw this bumper sticker. It was a guy driving a big truck and the bumper sticker says, yes, this is my truck.

It says, no, I will not help you move. If you've ever owned a truck, you know that's the truth. As soon as you own a truck, everybody that ever needs to move is your best friend. At work, it doesn't matter if they don't know you that well. At church, it's just when you have a truck, you always get that, hey, you have a truck. That's your truck right there, right? Hey, can you come help? I have a couch that needs to get moved. Or I'm moving from this place to that place. When I owned a truck, I would always have people

asking me and you kind of get used to it and the first couple times it's exciting and then you know after 10 or 12 or 15 16 you know it's like man there's a lot of people moving i never knew people moved so much and you know if you learn to or if you help people move a lot you learn to speak like the apostle paul does here adding some conditions you know i'll come and do my part but

You need to do your part too. I'll come and help you move, only make sure you have everything packed first. You know, there's nothing worse than showing up and helping someone pack their underwear drawer. You know, it's not what you want to do when you're helping people move. I'll come, but have it all boxed and then we'll move it together.

Paul says, hey, I'm hoping to come see you again. I'm hoping to be there with you, but here's your part. Here's what you need to do in preparation for this. And that is let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ.

This word conduct, it describes our behavior, the way that we live. It's a lifestyle. It's not just something we put on or act out when we're here or around other Christians, but it's the way that we live our life. And Paul is saying, let your conduct, your behavior, your lifestyle be worthy of the gospel of Christ.

Live in such a way, in other words, that Christ would be able to point out you and say, look at Richard if you want to see the gospel message in action. Or look at Pastor Cisco or Harvey or anyone else. Live in such a way that you are declaring and pronouncing the gospel message. That you're an example of

Of what the gospel message does in the life of a person. It's like God did with Job. Remember in Job chapters 1 and 2. As Satan comes before him and God asks him, hey, where have you been? Well, I've been, you know, roaming here to and fro. And God says, have you considered my servant Job? There's no one like him. He's righteous. He's upstanding. He's a man of integrity.

God pointed to him and said, look, he's living in such a way, his behavior is such that he's worthy of the gospel of Christ. Now, of course, there's much that we could look at here, really challenging ourselves. Are we living in a way that brings honor to the name of Christ?

But there's another aspect that I think we should look at this morning and focusing on that through this portion together, even though there's lots of things. And I would encourage you to read through this passage that we're studying today on your own and just meditate and ask God to speak to your heart about your life and the way that you act because, man, there's a lot of convicting and challenging things here.

But the perspective and the aspect that I want to focus on this morning is taking into consideration and us remembering that Paul is writing to the church. He's writing there to the church in Philippi. And so the question could be asked, as a church, are we behaving in a manner worthy of the gospel?

Does our church proclaim the name and the gospel message? Does our church behave in such a way that others can see the gospel message being lived out, being shared, being raised up and proclaimed? You know, the way that we relate to one another and talk about one another, the activities that we do and the events that take place here, are we representing, are we worthy of the gospel of Christ?

Now, what type of behavior is it that we are to exhibit? Paul tells us. He tells us two things specifically here in this portion of Scripture. The first one we find here in verse 27, and it's the idea of unity. If we are to let our conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, there is going to be unity within our body, within our fellowship. He says in verse 27, He says,

That you stand fast in one spirit with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel. He says, look, I want you to conduct yourselves in a manner that's worthy of the gospel. And I'm hoping to come be there, but whether I come or not, this is your part. This is what you're to do, to conduct yourself this way in unity. Standing fast in one spirit with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel.

I find it interesting that the first thing that Paul mentions in connection with conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel, I find it interesting that the first thing he talks about and makes reference to is unity.

If you remember back in Ephesians chapter 4, as we studied through that portion, verses 1 through 6, Paul deals with this similar subject. In verse 1 of chapter 4 of Ephesians, he says, I therefore, prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called. And then he goes on to tell them how. How do you do that? How do you walk worthy of the calling?

In verse 3 he says, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. And then he goes on in verses 4 through 6, talking about the one body and one faith and one Lord and one baptism. And the emphasis on unity as a result of or in keeping with walking worthy of the calling or walking worthy of the gospel. Walking worthy of the name of Jesus Christ absolutely.

As a church, as a body, unity should be the chief characteristic. Paul tells us to stand fast in this unity. He says, stand fast in one spirit with one mind.

You know, there is much division within the body of Christ. We see it all over, the different denominations and different segregations. And this group doesn't associate with that group, and this group badmouths that group, and back and forth they go in striving, all kinds of things. But God has not called us to that. We are called to unity as the body of Christ, as a whole, universally, but also universally.

Corporately here, we're called to be united in Jesus Christ. You know, there can be much division within our body too if we do not stand fast in unity. There's always that potential. There's always that danger. You know, the enemy knows if he can divide the church, it will cease to be effective.

Because it will no longer be conducting itself worthy of the gospel. As soon as we begin to divide and take sides against one another or cease to communicate or fellowship or be united together, no longer are we walking worthy of the gospel and the effectiveness of our message, the power of the gospel that's going forth is broken.

It's not effective any longer because we are not walking worthy of the gospel message. So the enemy will often bring in division because he knows it's so effective. We see it throughout the word. Remember in James chapter 2 verses 1 through 13 says,

James dealt with a type of division based on the social class, the rich versus the poor, and the favoritism that takes place there, and how it brings division within the body of Christ. And they group around one group of people or group around another group of people, won't associate with the lower class or the upper class, and there's this animosity and division between the two.

We learned in 1 Corinthians chapter 1, verses 10 through 12, and other portions as well throughout the book of Corinthians, that there was division within the church of Corinth based on their favorite teacher, or the one that they believe was the inspired leader that led them to the Lord, or really taught the right doctrine, and so on and so forth. And some say I'm of Paul, others say I'm of Apollos, others say I'm of Cephas. And so they have all this division,

based on who their favorite teacher was. But it wasn't just, I like this guy, but it was, I'm not going to associate with you because you like this guy and I like this guy and he's my favorite and I don't agree with everything that he says. And so there's division within the body, different groups and cliques within the body based on their favorite teacher. Paul warned that there would be division between

based on false teaching in acts chapter 20 verses 28 through 30 he warned the the leaders at ephesus that hey there's going to be brethren who rise up from among you they're false brethren they're going to teach false doctrine and they're going to lead people astray and gather people to themselves and they're going to bring division within the body of christ within your church and so guard against that watch out with that even here in philippi as

As Paul is writing to them to be united and to come together in this way, to stand fast in unity, there is a situation going on in Philippi. We read about it later in chapter 4, verses 2 and 3, about two ladies who have what we might call a personality clash. They just don't get along.

They both serve the Lord and they both have helped out Paul a lot, but they just don't get along. And Paul says in chapter 4, I plead with you, just get along. Be of the same mind in the Lord. And then he calls the church, help them, guys. Help them, church, to get along with one another and to love one another and to get past this. Our effectiveness as a church is based on our standing fast in unity.

To the degree that we are united together, we will be effective in sharing the gospel with others. You know, I would like to give you this challenge on your own time. Read through these two portions of scripture. Colossians chapter 3 verses 12 through 17. That's Colossians chapter 3 verses 12 through 17. And 1 Peter chapter 3 verses 8 through 11.

1 Peter 3, 8-11. Read through those two portions of Scripture and ask the Lord. Really allow God to search your heart and see if that describes you and your relationship with others, especially here at Living Water. There's a need for us to be united together, to stand fast together in unity.

He goes on now, though, to give us another aspect of unity. Not only do we stand fast in unity, but we strive together in unity. There in verse 27, he says, striving together for the faith of the gospel. There is no place in unity for striving against each other. Competition, competition.

animosity, bitterness, anger, hatred, all the things that can brew between us as believers in Christ. There's no place for that in unity. We must put all those things aside and come together united without those things dividing us. If something does come between you and someone else,

then you need to take care of it. You need to apply Matthew chapter 5, verses 23 and 24, where Jesus says, hey, if you go to offer something to the Lord and there remember that your brother has something against you, go and take care of it. Go and fix it.

And then come back and give your offering. And as you come here to serve the Lord, to offer to him your sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving and your worship and joy fellowship. Listen, if you come here and you realize as you sit down to worship or as you begin to serve or as you drive onto this property, there's someone that has something against you.

There's something between you and someone else, some division, some take care of it promptly, take care of it right away. Don't even serve in that area. Don't even worship in that way until you go and take care of it and then come back and do the things that God has called you to do.

We need to be striving together for the faith of the gospel and not striving against one another and allowing things to come between us that would keep us from being effective in sharing the gospel message. This word striving together, in the Greek it's the word sunathleo. Now the prefix sun, it means together with, but athleo, it means

Maybe it sounds familiar to you. We get the word athletics or athlete from this word. It's the idea of competing together as a team.

We're coming together to work together for a common goal, to make the touchdown, to make the basket, to have more points than the other team, whatever illustration or example you want to use. But for us, we're competing together, and the finish line, the goal that we have is the faith of the gospel.

to see others come to the faith, to see others come to believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, or to see the gospel message spread to our whole community, to our state, our nation, and the world. That's our goal, and it's not done yet, and so it's not time for us to stop striving together and stop working towards that. It's time for us to be more united than ever.

Even as we see in the Middle East all that's going on and what potentially could be the coming of the Lord. The end times are upon us. There's nothing left that needs to be done before the church can be raptured up and the tribulation begins.

We need to be aware that the time is running short and be united together. Come together to strive together. Let's get the gospel message out there. Let's teach people about faith in Jesus Christ. Let's share with them the love of Jesus Christ. Let's reach them. That's our goal. And so let's strive together, work together, competing together to meet this goal.

You know, if that is our goal, then we will be able to put aside our differences and forget the wrongs that have been done to us so that we can keep working toward the furtherance of the gospel. Don't you know that? Even enemies can work together if they have a common enemy. The Pharisees and the Sadducees, they hated each other. But we see them coming together in the gospels. Why? Because they both hated Jesus.

They both wanted to get rid of him. And so they're able to work together to get rid of Jesus, even though for hundreds of years they've hated each other. And so it doesn't matter our relationship or what people have done to us or the things that we've been wronged. None of that matters. Put it aside. We have a common goal. We have a common enemy, the destroyer of souls who's sending people to hell.

Let's come together and get the gospel message out and stop being concerned about our petty differences. Now is not the time to be divided, to be nursing grudges, harboring bitterness, or fighting each other. There's still much to do. Many need to hear the gospel message. And every team that begins to fight within itself or each other will lose.

And so let's put aside our personal goals and desires and the things between us. Let's let love cover a multitude of sins and strive together. Now notice what Paul says what we're striving together for. He says we're striving together for the faith of the gospel. We're in a spiritual battle. Our goal is to get the gospel message out that people would know what Jesus Christ has done for them.

We are competing and striving for them to know, for them to hear, for them to grow in the faith of Jesus Christ. Our mission is to share the gospel, to preach it, to live it, to share it, to demonstrate it, to walk worthy of this message. Our mission is not to strive together for some political cause or some social cause. There's a lot of good causes out there and we could circle around them, but let this be clear in our minds.

Our goal isn't the election of some president. Our goal isn't the passing of some legislation. Our goal is for people to hear the gospel message. That is what we're striving for. That is what God has called us to. That is what we are to be concerned with and consumed with and focused on. Let our conduct be worthy of the gospel message, the gospel of Christ. So unity, we're to stand fast and we're to strive together.

Continuing on though, verses 28 through 30, it says this, Paul says, And now here is in me.

So the two things Paul says, if you are going to let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, the first thing is unity. You need to stand fast and strive together. But here in verses 28 through 30, he gives us the second thing. The second way that our behavior is worthy of the gospel is boldness. We need to have unity, but we also need boldness.

Unity and boldness are key elements of the church. Man, we see them over and over together in the book of Acts. You can read through, just read through that. There's the church's beginning in Acts chapter 4 and 5 and 6 and 7 and 8 as they continue on and spread the gospel and the unity that is there. The one accord mentioned over and over again, being of one mind, but having boldness to share the gospel message as well.

Unity and boldness are both key elements of the church. Now, the boldness referred to in the book of Acts is usually connected with the persecution that they were experiencing. And that's what Paul is referring to here. Not in any way terrified by your adversaries. Having boldness. Not being afraid of them. Now, for us...

Persecution is something that's foreign. As Americans, we really don't understand persecution. It's hard for us to comprehend. In fact, verse 29 for us doesn't make a whole lot of sense. He says, Now, even as Roy shared during the worship, we have such an honor, a privilege,

to have the freedom of worship in this country.

To have the freedom to gather together like this, publicly and openly, and profess our faith and share with others the love of Jesus Christ. We have no concept of what it means to suffer for Christ or to die for our faith in Jesus Christ. But you know, most of the church throughout the world does experience this type of persecution. Most of the church throughout history has experienced this type of persecution.

And they have a better understanding of this concept of verse 29. What do you mean it's been granted for me to suffer on behalf of Christ? Not just to believe in him, but to suffer for his sake? That doesn't make sense. I don't understand that. But, you know, the apostles understood it. They were threatened and they were persecuted. They were beaten by the Jewish leaders.

And in Acts chapter 5 verse 41, it says that they departed from the presence of the council after having been beaten, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. It's an element that we need to have that's important within the church, a boldness to share, to stand up for the truth, to stand up for the gospel message, for what is right, to stand up and proclaim Jesus Christ regardless of what may come.

The mark of boldness in the midst of persecution is a characteristic of those who have received the gospel message. That's what Paul is saying. Verse 28 again, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries. They have boldness. Remember when Peter and John were on trial, the Sanhedrin had gathered together, the Jewish rulers, and just like they had done to Jesus, they had put them on trial.

And it says in Acts chapter 4, verse 13, when they, the Sanhedrin, when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and they perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled, and they realized they had been with Jesus. First, they saw the boldness.

It was a mark that made them stop and think, how are these guys so bold? What do these guys have to be so bold about? And as they go, well, they're not educated. They're not trained. They don't have all the things that we might think would normally give them boldness. But what do they have? They realize they've been with Jesus. They've received the gospel message. It's a mark, an indication.

of a relationship with Jesus Christ, boldness to share the truth, to share the love of Christ with those around us. These disciples here in Acts chapter 4, they conducted themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel because they were able to take note as a result of their actions, as a result of the way that they lived, and know, hey, these guys have been with Jesus. Paul says this behavior, unity,

and boldness, not being terrified, but instead being bold. It proves two things, Paul goes on to say here in verse 28. First, it proves to the persecutors that they will be destroyed. He says in verse 28, not in any way being terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition or a proof of destruction.

Paul says, boldness in persecution is a powerful witness. And you know, if anybody would know, it would be the Apostle Paul. Do you remember the stoning of Stephen in Acts chapter 7? Stephen, he was a guy. He wasn't a super apostle. He wasn't a leader so much in the church. He was a guy who was appointed to wait on tables within the church. And as he's there serving God,

He comes in conflict with some of the Jewish leaders and he begins to share with them and he shares with them and he shares with them. And it says that nobody is able to defeat him, the wisdom and the spirit which he spoke by. And so it comes to a point where the Jewish leaders are so upset with him because he's telling them the truth and they don't like it. And so they drag him outside of the city and they stone him to death.

And as they're stoning him to death, Acts chapter 7, verse 57, I'll read to you a couple of verses. It says, Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord. And they cast him out of the city and stoned him. But it says at the end of verse 58, And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. Now, of course, if you know the book of Acts, Saul, later his name becomes Paul.

He's the one who's writing this letter to the Philippians and did so much for the kingdom of God. But Saul was the one in charge of the cloaks. Saul was the one who they had to hold this for me, Saul. We got to go stone this guy. And so Saul there holds the cloaks and watches them stone Stephen to death.

In verse 59 of chapter 7, it says, They stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. But notice verse 60. Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, Lord, do not charge them with this sin. And when he said this, he fell asleep. He sees Stephen die before his eyes. But he sees him die in such a way, there's boldness.

Lord, receive my spirit. Lord, don't forgive them. The overwhelming love that Stephen is demonstrating and relationship with God that he is demonstrating as he has rocks being hurled at him, as he is being put to death, had an impact on Paul at that time, Saul. In chapter 8, it says then a great persecution broke out. And chapter 8 describes Paul or Saul at that time, how he goes and he just...

He went crazy. He was going from house to house and pulling people out and torturing them and trying to get them to denounce the name of Jesus Christ. And he was doing everything that he could to persecute the church until Jesus got a hold of him in chapter 9. And Jesus says something to him very interesting. He says, it's hard for you to kick against the goads.

Now the goads were, whenever you were plowing with the oxen, the goads would be a stick that protruded from the plow that when the oxen would want to try to do its own thing or go its own direction and kick against the farmer, that it would hit this goad and it would be painful for it and remind it, I got to keep going the same way. And Jesus says, it's hard for you, Saul, to kick against the goads because Saul, you've been fighting so hard.

But you know that I am the Messiah. You know the gospel message. It's true. You've known it ever since you witnessed that stoning of Stephen. That was the turning point in Saul's life because it was true. It was a powerful witness to him. And he tried to fight it. He tried to run. He tried. But to him, it was a proof of perdition. It was a proof of his own destruction, his own false beliefs.

And he tried to eliminate it until finally he surrendered to the Lord and God got a hold of his life. And so Paul says, look, first it proves when you're bold in persecution and you don't fight back, but you just love and you display the character of Christ. It's proof to those who are persecuting that they will be destroyed, that their destruction is imminent.

But the second thing he proves, he says it proves in verse 28, he says, but to you of salvation and that from God. And so first off, it proves to them that they're going to be destroyed, but it proves to you that you are saved in order to be able to have this boldness and joy and love in the midst of persecution. It's a quality of Christ. It can only be obtained through

By having a relationship with Christ. Jesus demonstrated it on the cross. Stephen demonstrated that at his stoning and countless others have too. You can read their stories. I would encourage you. Check out Fox's Book of Martyrs or the book Jesus Freak by DC Talk, which talks about those who have made a stand and were able to endure such horrendous persecution beyond what we can imagine. Yet they did it with the love and character of Christ because Christ

They had a relationship with him. He had changed their life. They walked worthy of the message, the gospel message of Jesus Christ. In verse 30, he says, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now here is in me. They would have a good example, remembering Acts chapter 16, when Paul was beaten, imprisoned, and yet singing hymns at midnight. They had an example of Paul. They saw it in him. They hear it's now in him still as he's imprisoned in Rome.

This example of being persecuted, being imprisoned and beaten and treated wrongfully, yet having a boldness to share the gospel message. So these two characteristics, Paul says, let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ. First in unity, standing fast and striving together, and in boldness, which proves their destruction and your salvation.

Now Paul, as we get into chapter 2, verses 1 through 4, he reiterates and reemphasizes the importance of unity. In verse 1 he says, We'll stop there for a moment.

He's drawing a conclusion. He uses the word therefore. So since this is true, since you're to have unity and boldness in your conduct that's worthy of the gospel, here's what you need to do. But before he goes on to tell us how we need to live and what we need to do,

he asks some rhetorical questions. He says, if there's any consolation in Christ. And this word, if, it's not exactly the way that we use it. It's more like a rhetorical question. In essence, he's saying this. If there is any consolation in Christ, and there is, if any comfort of love, and there is, if any fellowship of the Spirit, and there is, if any affection and mercy, and there is, then, and he'll go on in verse 2 to say,

Speak some things to us. But what he's saying in essence is these things are parts of a relationship with God. Consolation, comfort, fellowship, affection, and mercy. They're a natural byproduct of our relationship with God. Consolation is a soothing of grief, an exhortation or a strengthening of a soul. The word comfort speaks of freedom from pain or anxiety or fear.

Fellowship speaks of intimacy, of friendship and companionship. Affection speaks of tender attachment and mercy speaks of compassion. All of these things are a part of a relationship with God. They're all found in Christ and a result of our relationship with him.

And you know, as human beings, these are the things that we all need and desire. God created these needs and desires within us, and he fulfills them through relationship with Jesus Christ. You know, I would like to remind you of these things, because many times we have need of a soothing of grief.

Many times we do need to be free from anxiety or fear and these things build up or we feel so alone. There's the lack of intimacy or friendship, companionship in our life. Or we feel like there's no tender attachment. We're not just close to anybody. Nobody really has affection for us or there's no compassion. Nobody cares. But you know, in Christ we have all of these things met. And in the body of Christ, He uses one another.

To meet these needs. He does them himself. He meets them himself. But he also adds upon that with the relationships that he's given to us within the body of Christ. God knows your needs. And he has met them already through what Jesus did for you. And so come and be a part of the body and spend time in relationship with God. He will take care of those things and minister to your heart. Going on to verse 2 though.

The context being, since we have everything that we need in Christ and all of our needs met, verse 2 he says, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. And see here again, he calls us to unity. Now, unity is a very tough thing for us because the reality is that there cannot be unity unless there's a dying to self.

The only way that we can be united is if we die to ourselves. You know, I kind of think this is funny and maybe you don't, but I have no problem with unity if it means that everyone will gather around me and do what I want. Then yes, let's be united. That's no problem. I have no problem with unity or like-mindedness when it means that everybody else must conform to me. But the problem that I have with unity is that's not what God has said. That's not unity.

Because then we would all just be at odds with one another, trying to get our way and our opinion and our thoughts and our things. Unity is dying to ourselves to serve one another, to come together to be like-minded for what God has called us to and the things, the direction, the vision that he pours out among us. Unity is not something that happens automatically, nor is it something that I'm inclined to naturally.

because I have my own opinions. We all do, and we all have our own thoughts as to how things should work and how the gospel should be shared and what should be important and what ministry should be accomplished. But God has called us to love and to be like-minded, to be of one accord, to be of one mind. Paul's saying the same things a few different ways, but he's calling us to unity. We're commanded to be like-minded.

united, but it's not natural to us. So how do we do it? Well, Paul gives us the answer in verses three and four. Three things he tells us to do here in verses three and four, all marked by the word let. Verse three, first one, let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit. Three steps to unity. Step one, death to selfish ambition.

We must die to our selfish ambition in order to experience unity. The first thing we must do is die to ourselves and the desire to promote ourselves or advance ourselves. You know, it happens very often and easily in the church where I think I ought to be leading this or doing that or accomplishing this. I should be in this position or taking care of this. You know, we think that

You ever watch someone do something and think, why didn't they ask me to do it? I could do that so much better. And maybe some of you watching me teach, you say, what's up with this? I could do so much better and maybe you could. But you know, it's not about that. It's not about how much better you are.

It's about obedience to Christ. We have to die to ourselves and our selfish ambition. It might be that desire to do this one thing or that thing, but it also might be a desire and a hunger for power or influence. That's what we saw in Philippians 1, verse 16, where Paul says that some preach Christ out of selfish ambition, trying to promote themselves and put themselves at a certain place.

To receive notoriety or to receive the attention. You know, I think of David as a good example of doing nothing through selfish ambition. He was the rightful king over Israel. He had been anointed for many years as king. He was anointed as a young boy in his father's house. Yet, he doesn't become king right away. But he goes and he serves in the king's court. And he's one of the king's servants.

Yet he's the rightful king. Not only that, but God had taken the spirit from Saul, who was the king at that time. And the spirit of God was clearly, evidently, I mean, everybody knew that the spirit of God was upon David. So it's looking pretty favorable. I mean, number one, he's already anointed king by the prophet Samuel. Number two, the spirit of God is gone from Saul and the spirit of God is upon David. Then on top of that,

God gave David opportunities to kill Saul. Several times where David had the opportunity to just one stroke while Saul was unaware. There wouldn't even be a struggle. He wouldn't feel any pain. He would just be put to death instantly and he could take the throne. But David refused. He would do nothing to advance himself. He was content. You know, if God wanted me to be king, then God will make it happen and God will take care of it. But I refused.

will not lay my hand against his anointed. I will not do anything to promote myself or try to raise myself up. Selfish ambition. David said, I'm staying away from it. I'm dying to my selfish ambition. No doubt he wanted to be king. No doubt that was a desire of his and ambition. But he refused to take any action to do it for himself. The first step towards unity.

is a death to selfish ambition. It's not our place to advance ourselves or seek position for ourselves. Let's be content where God has us and let him put us where he wants us to be. Step number two to unity. Number one was death to selfish ambition. Number two is death to self-amplification. He goes on in verse 3,

In lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than himself. Let each esteem others better than himself. Now, please do not take this to the extreme. Paul is not telling us to walk around with our shoulders down and just shuffling our feet on the ground and say, I'm so stupid, everyone else is better. He's not encouraging us to have a pity party and take every opportunity to beat up ourselves and tell everyone how bad we are.

He says in lowliness of mind, lowliness of mind, it's usually translated as humility. But what it means is what it is, is a real estimate of ourselves or an accurate view and representation of ourselves. Just what's realistic, what's real. That's the view that we're to have of ourselves and the view that we're to follow.

represent to others an accurate view of ourselves because our tendency is towards self amplification i think that i'm more important than i really am did you know that sometimes i wonder why aren't i more popular why don't why don't more people know my name i think i'm more important i think i'm more gifted than i really am i think i'm better looking than i really am i think everybody else is thinking about me as much as i think about me

I'm convinced of it. In fact, I think that everyone is talking about me because what else could they be talking about that is more important? And why else would they be whispering or off in a corner if it wasn't about me? It's got to be about... We amplify ourselves and we think everybody else is talking about us as much as we are thinking about us. And Paul's saying, calm down. The universe does not revolve around you. You're not as important as you think you are. Have a realistic...

or accurate view of yourself in the light of the word of God. A realistic view of yourself, again, is not a pity party. But just recognize, I'm just a sinner saved by grace. The only thing that's good in me is Jesus. Anything good that comes from my life, it's as a result of Jesus. I gave my life to him and I'm living for him. And so we must put to death our self-amplification.

Have a realistic view of ourselves and then look around at those around us and think the best of them. Consider them better. Think of them as your ministry. Give them more credit than they deserve and serve others. You know that's what Jesus did. In Matthew chapter 20, verse 28, it says, The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.

We'll go on and we'll see that example next week as we continue on in chapter 2. Jesus Christ being God, but he didn't amplify himself. He humbled himself and came to serve. And so death to selfish ambition, step number one. Step number two, death to self-amplification. And finally, step number three, it's found in verse 4. He says, let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of

of others. Step number three is death to selfish attention. Selfish attention. You know, in essence, Paul is saying, stop thinking about only yourself. Think about others. Consider them. Like the author of Hebrews encouraged us in Hebrews 10, 24, let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.

Stop thinking about yourself and your interests and what you can get out of it and think about the people around you. How can you stir up love and good works in their life? How can you minister to them and demonstrate to them love? How can you do good works on behalf of them and serve them? How can you bless them? How can their interests be accomplished and their goals be reached? You know, the idea is giving someone a piggyback ride to take them to where they want to go.

Maybe there's a position in your place of employment that you desire, but maybe there's someone else who desires it too. Help them get that position. Don't just look out for your own interests. Help them accomplish theirs. Maybe there's things like that in the lives of those around you. Well, I could spend this money on me to accomplish what I want and to get my interests, but you know, there's this guy who leads worship and he doesn't have a guitar and I could help him.

Meet his interests and his goals and his needs. I got Ronnie's attention right there. What? What? No. Don't buy Ronnie a guitar, please. But maybe there's interests and things and people around you that you can help them meet their goals and satisfy their interests. Help them accomplish what God has called them to do. That's what God has called us to. Don't be looking out only for your own interests, but also for the interests of others.

You know, since we were kids, we've learned how to look out for our own interests. Making sure our siblings, you know, they don't get a bigger piece of cake than we do or more candy than us or more favor and attention than us. If our parents are giving them more attention, then we either act up or try to come up with something better to get our attention. We just want to make sure that our interests are taken care of. We know how to look out for our own interests. We're experts at analyzing a situation and saying, what can I get out of this?

Maybe I can meet some goals from this situation. Well, look at this accident. Man, I can, I've been waiting. I could, what's our objective? Are we looking out for our own interests? Are we looking out for the interests of others? Stop thinking about yourself only. Consider the people around you. How can you help them meet their needs? How can you help stir up love and good works within them and help them accomplish the things that God has called them to or that they desire?

Unity. You know, it's a difficult subject. It's a difficult subject not because it's complicated, but it's just contrary to everything in me. To think of others first and prefer others above myself and to try to meet their needs and to die to myself. It's just things that my flesh loathes and hates with a passion. But you know, as a body, if we are to conduct ourselves worthy of the gospel,

Unity should be a chief characteristic. Jesus said in John 13, 35, By this all will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another. Unity is as a result of love, as you'll see as you read the portion in Colossians. Love is the bond of perfection that just knits everything together and solidifies it.

Love is what motivates us to die to ourselves and minister to others and meet their needs. To be more concerned about their needs and their goals and their interests than our own. It's love. And it's by this that everyone will know that we are his disciples. And it's by this that we will walk worthy of the gospel of Christ. Paul's not through with this subject. We'll continue on. He has much more to say next week as we continue on in chapter 2. As he looks at

The ultimate example of these characteristics, and that is Jesus Christ. He tells us in verse 5 of chapter 2, Hey, let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. He's our example. He's our model of humbling ourselves, dying to self, to meet others' needs and to serve them. As believers in Jesus Christ, as a church, let's let our conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ. In unity, standing fast,

And striving together. Letting nothing separate us and divide us. But working together for the common goal, the faith of the gospel. And having boldness. Because there will be persecution as we stand up for Jesus Christ. There will be those who stand against Jesus Christ. But we need to have boldness to share the gospel. The steps to unity for you and for me. Number one, we must die to selfish ambition.

Number two, we must die to self-amplification. And number three, we must die to our selfish attention. Let's die to ourselves and serve one another and watch the gospel spread. Watch people's lives be changed. Watch God do a work through our fellowship. Let's pray. Lord, our sinful nature does not like this message. It doesn't like these principles, God. Help us.

Lord, we know that the fruit of the Spirit is love, and it's love which motivates us to die to ourselves, to be united, to put our differences aside, to put the things that come between us aside, to overcome those things, to take the hurt and take the pain and love instead. And so, God, we ask that you would fill us with your Spirit. Lord, just like you did in the early church, you haven't changed, God.

You want to work the same way that you did then and you want to do that in us. Lord, as we saw their powerful example of being in one accord in the book of Acts and the boldness that they had in sharing the gospel even in the midst of persecution. Lord, we want to have that. We want to walk worthy of the gospel as a church. And so God, we ask that your spirit would be at work within us. We surrender to you. Come and rule and reign within our hearts.

Lord, because the most important thing is that the faith of the gospel be shared with others, that others would be receiving it, that more would hear the good news of what you've done for us. God, we ask that you would do a work in our hearts. Help us, Lord, to die to ourselves. Lord, not seeking to promote ourselves and advance ourselves or wondering why we aren't here or there or doing this or doing that.

But God, help us just to be focused on serving others. God, help us not to be involved in self-amplification or being consumed with ourselves and just thinking about ourselves and talking about ourselves, worrying about ourselves. But help us to consider others better, to think of them first, to put their needs above our own and their interests above our own. Jesus, we love you.

But we need you to work in our hearts, God, because the spirit is willing and the flesh is weak. Minister to us, we pray, that you might use us to bring people to a saving knowledge of you. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.