Sunday, January 2, 2000   

INTRODUCTION: What motivates you? Are you motivated by worldly desires or by spiritual ones. Motivation is going to have a lot to do with your attitude, a lot to do with how you act and react to your brothers and sisters in the church. The church at Philippi had many great qualities about it:

1. Paul calls the members of the church at Philippi: "my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown..." (4:1).

2. Paul praised the Philippian church for their fellowship in the Gospel (1:4-5).

3. The saints at Philippi were generous. For this, Paul is grateful and rejoiced (4:10).

As Christ had "somewhat against the church at Ephesus" (Revelations 2:5), Paul knew that the church at Philippi was having some problems.

1. There were false teachers coming in from outside the church (3:1-3).

2. From within there were disagreements (4:2-3).

;      a. Could it be that one was jealous over the talents of the other?

      b. Possibly one held a position the other wanted.

      c. Whatever the cause of the disagreement, they were probably attacking and cutting down each other. Strife within causes the world without to look at the church with skepticism and disrespect.

Paul knew that the church at Philippi needed an attitude check; so he gives them instructions on how to check their spiritual oil.

I. Verse 1, THE CALL FROM PAUL FOR UNITY

      A. Paul was not instructing the Philippians to undertake an impossible task, spiritual unity was his goal for them and this is possible through the Holy Spirit.

           1. The Apostle knew that spiritual unity was possible because of the four spiritual characteristics given in this verse.

           2. Unity in spiritual matters comes from within while uniformity from outside pressure to conform.

      B. You will notice that this verse begins with the word "if." Four times we find the word "if" in this verse. Each time we find the word it is at the beginning of a clause. We call these the "if" clauses.

           1. These are not "if's" of condition or questions.

           2. They are "if's" of certainty. "The 'if' clauses, being translations of first class conditions in Greek, speak of certainties. So in this passage "if" may be translated "since" (Walvoord & Zuch 653).

           3. "If" says that if the condition is right, the conclusion will be right.

      C. Here are four realities to lead the church in spiritual unity:

           1. Encouragement- the first "if" clause reads: "If there be therefor any consolation." The Greek word for consolation is paraklesis meaning among other things: "to encourage."

                 a. "Since there is encouragement in Christ."

                 b. Christian be encouraged in what Christ has done for you.

                 c. Christ gave Himself for you and will not leave you.

           2. Comfort- the child of God has the comfort of God's love.

                 a. The realization of this love produces comfort.

                 b. Think of it, divine love reached down and saved you; and this same love urges you to live in unity with each other.

           3. Fellowship- this means common interest in and active participation in the things of God by the believer and the Holy Spirit.

                 a. The Holy Spirit indwells each believer (Romans 8:9).

                 b. If each saint in the local church is interested in the things of the Spirit, not the things of the flesh, there will be unity. "The Holy Spirit by thus controlling each saint, produces this unity and accord amongst them" (Wuest 58).

                 c. Without a doubt, not all of the saints at Philippi were living Spirit filled lives; thus disunity.

           4. Tenderness and compassion-

                 a. The Spirit is able to produce in the heart of the true believer tender concern and compassionate love for other believers.

                 b. A church with concern and love will be a church with spiritual unity.

II. Verses 2, CURES OF DISUNITY

      A. Verse 2, Here are listed practical ways that the saints at Philippi could complete or make full Paul's joy. He had joy yet wanted it to be full (1:4; 4:10). He wanted them to be like-minded to have unity in spiritual things; and here is how they could have proof of it, proof of oneness.

           1. The same love- agape - the love of God.

           2. Being of one accord - one in purpose and aim (Matthew 28:19-20).

            3. One mind- the mind of Christ (2:5).

      B. The blessedness of unity is wonderfully described in Psalms 133.

III. Verses 3-4, THREE CAUSES OF DISUNITY

      A. Verse 3, The one thing that threatened the Philippian church most was disunity. This is the danger of every healthy church. Two of the three causes of disunity that Paul gives are gound here in verse three.

           1. Selfish ambition "Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory."

                 a. There are those who seek to advance themselves not the work of God. They use the work of God to make a name for themselves.

                 b. Instead of selfish ambition, we ought to be filled with a great sense of inadequacy.

           2. Personal prestige "But in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."

                 a. What Paul says here is a slap in the face of pride.

                 b. Prestige is a greater temptation than wealth for many folks.

                  c. To be admired, respected, to have a platform seat, to have one's opinion sought, to be known by name and appearance, to be flattered, is for many the most desirable things.

                 d. The aim of the Christian should be to do good deeds not to glorify self but God.

                 e. The Christian's desire should be to set men's eyes upon the Lord not on himself. Jesus said: "If I be lifted up...."

           3. Selfish ambition and personal prestige lead to power struggles in churches.

      B. Verse 4, Here we have the third cause of disunity given by Paul.

           1. Concentration on self "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others."

           2. If a man is always first and foremost concerned with his own interests, he is going to clash with others.

                 a. If life is a competition with prizes he must win, then he will think of others as opponents who must be pushed out of the way.

                 b. Concentration on self inevitably means elimination of others. Instead of helping others, the self-centered person pushes them down.

           3. As believers, we are to be concerned for others.

                 a. The principles set forth in the hymn "Others" should be taken to heart: Lord, help me live from day to day; in such a self-forgetful way. That even when I kneel to pray, My prayer shall be for Others. Others, Lord, yes, others, Let this my motto be, Help me to live for others, That I may live like Thee. "

                 b. The Christian faith made the word "others" important.

                       1) Why did Jesus Christ come to this sin cursed earth? Others. (Matthew 1:21)

                       2) Why did Christ die on the cross? Others (II Corinthians 5:21).

                       3) Why do we spend thousands of dollars a year on missions to get the Gospel out? Others. (Mark 16:15, "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel...."

CONCLUSION: There are several things we need to consider that will help us prevent disunity:

1. The fact that we have Christ as Savior should keep us in unity.

2. The power of Christian love should keep us in unity.

3. The fact that Christians are indwelt by the Holy Spirit should keep unity in the church.