God will, at times, offend the mind to reveal the heart. -Katherine Weiss of Zola Levitt

October 3, 2020

Sermon Series on the NT book of Philippians - #9

“The Unity That Produces Joy”

Sermon Series on the NT book of Philippians - #9

Paul has been challenging the Christians in Philippi, with regards to daily living as a Christian. In the last part of Philippians chapter 1, he encouraged them to display “Conduct Worthy Of The Gospel.”

In our text for today, Paul exhorts them to manifest a unity that produces joy!

Philippians 2:1-4 (ESV)

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Paul describes 3 aspects of unity that produces joy:

1. THE MOTIVATION FOR HAVING UNITY THAT PRODUCES JOY (v. 1)

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,

Paul is not doubting that there is encouragement in Christ. This is a conditional “if . . . then” statement. For example . . .

Galatians 3:29 (NLV)

If you belong to Christ, then you have become the true children of Abraham. What God promised to him is now yours.

The “if” does not suggest doubt that they could be Christ's. It means the same thing as “since!”

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,

We ARE free to enjoy the love that comes from God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit . . . and even from our brothers and sisters in Christ!

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,

All who receive Jesus as their personal Savior, also receive the gift of the Holy Spirit!

Acts 2:38 (ESV)

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

And, we DO have both affection & sympathy (mercy) from both Jesus and fellow Christians!

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,

2. THE NATURE OF THE UNITY THAT PRODUCES JOY (v.2) 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. A necessary quality of unity is thinking the same.

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

This is natural, if we are first “like-minded.” And, having the same love, we will love Christ and his Church, as well as one another.

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

This means - “having our souls joined together” / working together, for Jesus, in complete harmony.

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

This means that we are working together / with the same purpose and intentions. When a congregation is like this, then “The Unity That Produces Joy” will be experienced!

OK. So, what attitudes are required for having such this type of unity?

3. THE ATTITUDES REQUIRED FOR UNITY THAT PRODUCES JOY (vs. 3-4)

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

These are attitudes that we should NOT have! This is being self-centered rather than Christ-centered.

Instead . . .

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

This attitude will effectively replace the problem of selfish ambition and conceit. (Actually, humility is easy to maintain - if we remember our own faults.)

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

We are aware of our own defects, but we do NOT have the same clear view of the defects of others. We can only see their OUTWARD conduct. But, we can look WITHIN ourselves - with all our faults.

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

This attitude helps eliminate the problem of selfish ambition! It should be the attitude of every Christian!

These attitudes are essential if we are going to have “The Unity That Produces Joy!”

We fulfill our joy by making sure that we manifest these attitudes - as we attempt to live our lives with the mind of Christ!

“The Mind Of Christ”

Philippians 2:5-11 (ESV)

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

In verses 1-4, Paul wrote about “The Unity That Produces Joy.” In verse 5, Paul continues to exhort them to have this mind (the attitudes of verses 3-4), pointing out that this is also the “mind of Christ.”

Verses 6-11 elaborates on the “mind (attitude) of Christ.”

THE MIND OF CHRIST HAS NO SELFISH AMBITION OR CONCEIT (v. 6)

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

Before his incarnation, Jesus existed as essentially one with God . . .

John 1:1-3 (ESV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.

Jesus was one, with God the Father . . . did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped (held onto jealously. Jesus demonstrated a true lack of selfish ambition and conceit!

DO WE HAVE “THE MIND OF CHRIST?”

Do we consider ourselves better / more important than others . . . and think that distinction is something to hold on to at all costs?

IF SO, THEN WE DO NOT HAVE “THE MIND OF CHRIST!”

THE MIND OF CHRIST LOOKS OUT FOR THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS (vs 7-8)

7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

When Jesus became flesh, he “emptied himself” (he divested himself of the glory he had with the Father), and he took on himself “the form of a servant.”

Jesus came into this world fully human - so that he experience our temptations and sufferings. In other words, though he was completely God, he humbled himself and obediently suffered and died on a cross!

WHY DID JESUS DO ALL THIS? He did it for the sake of all humankind . . . for our best interest! His death (and resurrection) provides forgiveness for our sins - and the promise of hope for all eternity in heaven!

DO WE HAVE “THE MIND OF CHRIST?” We do, if we are looking out for the interests of others, and if we are willing to humble ourselves, even sacrifice ourselves if it be in the best interests of others.

THE MIND OF CHRIST IS HIGHLY EXALTED BY GOD (vs 9-11) 9

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus is a good example of the Scriptural maxim: “He that humbles himself shall be exalted.”

God has highly exalted Jesus in two ways:

1) In the PRESENT - by giving Him “the name that is above every name.” Acts 4:12 (ESV)

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

2) In the FUTURE - that at his name “every knee should bow . . . and every tongue confess.”

Jesus is Lord! And we who possess

“The Mind Of Christ” will participate in that great future exaltation of Christ! Isn't that a wonderful motivation? “The Mind Of Christ” includes . . . Humility / Obedience / Sacrifice / and Great Reward.

Do YOU have “The Mind Of Christ?” You should! It is the key to: The unity that produces joy, and one day sharing in the glory of Jesus Christ and heaven! You can begin possessing “The Mind of Christ,” by following his example of humbly obeying the will of God!