WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:15.040 The following sermon is made available by Lakeside Bible Church in Cornelius, North Carolina. 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:19.160 For more information about our church or to find more recorded sermons, 00:00:19.640 --> 00:00:22.719 please visit us online at lakesidebible.church. 00:00:22.980 --> 00:00:25.719 We'd also love to connect with you on social media. 00:00:25.719 --> 00:00:30.679 You can find us by searching Lakeside Bible NC on Facebook and Instagram. 00:00:31.379 --> 00:00:37.879 For specific questions about the Bible or our church, please email us at info at lakesidebible.church. 00:00:39.359 --> 00:00:42.500 Let me read these four verses in Philippians chapter 2 and then I'll pray. 00:00:43.759 --> 00:00:48.320 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, 00:00:48.939 --> 00:00:52.939 if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 00:00:52.939 --> 00:01:22.359 Let's pray just a quick prayer for God's blessing on our study this morning. 00:01:23.299 --> 00:01:25.359 Father, we recognize that this is your word. 00:01:26.359 --> 00:01:32.099 And there is nothing that will come out of my mouth today absent of your word that will be of any use to us. 00:01:32.719 --> 00:01:37.879 And so we ask, Lord, that you would grab our hearts and our attention on the truth that you have presented here. 00:01:38.519 --> 00:01:42.200 And that you would give us eyes to see, that you would give us ears to hear, 00:01:42.960 --> 00:01:44.579 that you would give us a heart of understanding, 00:01:45.079 --> 00:01:48.379 a heart to respond faithfully to what you want us to know here. 00:01:48.879 --> 00:01:51.000 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:51.140 Amen. 00:01:51.140 --> 00:01:57.159 There's not a lot in the Scripture that points to the Philippian church being a bad church. 00:01:57.640 --> 00:01:59.460 In fact, they were a very healthy church. 00:02:00.019 --> 00:02:04.859 By every indication as we study, not only through the letter that Paul has written to them, 00:02:04.900 --> 00:02:07.840 but as he references them in some of his other letters. 00:02:08.479 --> 00:02:11.280 Letters to the Corinthian church when he commends their giving. 00:02:11.280 --> 00:02:18.259 And as we study the book of Acts and we see how not only they supported him in the initial planting of the church, 00:02:18.420 --> 00:02:23.240 but when he revisited them in a later missionary journey, how they supported him in that. 00:02:23.500 --> 00:02:28.080 This church was an incredibly healthy church. 00:02:28.080 --> 00:02:35.100 But even though it was healthy, even though it was a good church, even though it was a prosperous church, 00:02:35.580 --> 00:02:41.420 Paul clearly had a concern about the church's potential for division. 00:02:41.419 --> 00:02:53.659 In fact, warnings about disunity and instructions in solidarity together as a church are peppered all throughout this particular letter. 00:02:54.459 --> 00:03:00.839 It indicates to us that Paul had a whiff that something may potentially be brewing in the church. 00:03:00.840 --> 00:03:06.960 It might not have come to fruition yet, except maybe in one instance that he mentions in chapter 4. 00:03:07.280 --> 00:03:11.620 In verse number 2, he actually calls out two ladies in the church and says they need to start getting along a little bit better. 00:03:12.280 --> 00:03:14.659 Other than that, we don't know exactly what's going on, 00:03:14.699 --> 00:03:22.120 but clearly Paul is concerned about the Philippians' desire for unity 00:03:22.120 --> 00:03:27.759 and that they would work towards unity as a people and as a church. 00:03:27.759 --> 00:03:32.819 You can study through the letter and notice all of these particular moments that he mentions in. 00:03:33.199 --> 00:03:38.719 And I won't do that to you this morning, but it all really is grounded in this particular passage. 00:03:39.239 --> 00:03:43.280 In fact, it's not just these four verses, it's these 11 verses. 00:03:43.679 --> 00:03:48.699 Starting at verse number 1 and continuing all the way through is really one big section 00:03:48.699 --> 00:03:52.340 that highlights what should be the unity and the humility of the church. 00:03:52.340 --> 00:03:58.860 Of course, this isn't an exclusive as far as instruction to the Philippian church in the Bible. 00:03:59.460 --> 00:04:06.360 In fact, this topic of unity in the church is covered extensively in almost every letter of the New Testament. 00:04:07.699 --> 00:04:15.420 Clearly, God desired and intended for believers to understand the dire necessity of unity. 00:04:15.419 --> 00:04:15.500 unity. 00:04:16.379 --> 00:04:22.579 It's glorifying to God, but it is also a very fragile thing. 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:29.180 While our ability to serve the Lord together, to love one another, 00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:35.240 to be unified together under one common purpose, and that being the gospel and biblical truth, 00:04:35.379 --> 00:04:40.759 while that is a dire necessity for the church, it is one of the most fragile things within the church. 00:04:40.759 --> 00:04:45.060 Now, this looks different in various churches. 00:04:46.139 --> 00:04:50.519 In some places, perhaps you've been a part of a church that the division was very explosive. 00:04:51.439 --> 00:04:53.420 I've been in a situation like that before. 00:04:53.879 --> 00:04:58.420 As a kid, my dad pastoring a church, and there was a number of people in the church, 00:04:58.480 --> 00:05:00.639 a small group of people, but a very loud group of people. 00:05:01.300 --> 00:05:05.699 And this division that had existed in our church became an explosive division, 00:05:05.699 --> 00:05:07.199 and everybody knew what was going on. 00:05:07.279 --> 00:05:09.819 Everybody knew where the line was drawn. 00:05:09.819 --> 00:05:14.579 Everybody knew the sides that there were, what the issues were as it was related to. 00:05:14.639 --> 00:05:17.219 It was very public as far as the church was concerned. 00:05:17.300 --> 00:05:19.259 It became an explosive division in the church. 00:05:19.819 --> 00:05:24.199 But not every form of division in a local church is so explosive. 00:05:25.519 --> 00:05:29.779 In fact, most of the time, I believe, division isn't very subtle. 00:05:31.100 --> 00:05:35.159 It doesn't exemplify itself all the time in someone getting up in a members meeting 00:05:35.159 --> 00:05:38.240 and having an all-out war with someone else in the member meeting. 00:05:38.240 --> 00:05:40.199 It doesn't always result in that. 00:05:40.939 --> 00:05:47.720 Sometimes division, the subtlety of it, is just revealed in people quietly leaving the church. 00:05:49.879 --> 00:05:53.740 Sometimes division is a disengagement in spirit. 00:05:54.800 --> 00:05:57.879 It's not that the physical presence of a person has left the church, 00:05:58.000 --> 00:06:00.139 but their spiritual presence certainly has. 00:06:00.139 --> 00:06:02.919 They'll come in every week and they'll find their seat, 00:06:03.039 --> 00:06:07.319 but their heart is nowhere near that service because for one reason or another, 00:06:07.419 --> 00:06:08.959 they've become disgruntled with the pastor. 00:06:09.039 --> 00:06:11.519 They've become disgruntled with the person that sits over here. 00:06:11.680 --> 00:06:15.339 They are unappreciated in some way and they feel devalued in some way, 00:06:15.379 --> 00:06:17.459 and so they've disengaged in their spirit. 00:06:17.759 --> 00:06:20.819 They've not disengaged in their presence, but they've disengaged in their spirit. 00:06:20.959 --> 00:06:22.979 And it's all just a subtle form of disunity. 00:06:22.980 --> 00:06:28.220 It's a subtle form of discord where when we look at the scriptures 00:06:28.220 --> 00:06:31.560 and we see the teaching of the Bible, what the church is supposed to be 00:06:31.560 --> 00:06:34.640 and what it's supposed to look like, that's not it. 00:06:36.300 --> 00:06:39.319 The church is not to be a place where we come in and we just, 00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:40.939 whenever we are offended by something, 00:06:41.020 --> 00:06:44.740 we just quietly disregard the covenant that we've made with this fellowship 00:06:44.740 --> 00:06:45.960 and move on to another place. 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:48.300 That's not how that's supposed to work. 00:06:49.280 --> 00:06:51.000 Rather, it's supposed to be a place of love. 00:06:51.160 --> 00:06:52.620 It's supposed to be a place of forgiveness. 00:06:52.980 --> 00:06:56.420 It's supposed to be a place of mutual submission, 00:06:56.420 --> 00:06:58.180 as we'll talk about here in just a little while. 00:06:59.500 --> 00:07:01.580 It's very important, but it's very fragile. 00:07:02.720 --> 00:07:04.080 And sometimes if we're not careful, 00:07:04.080 --> 00:07:08.259 we can get caught up in a form of disunity without even realizing it 00:07:08.259 --> 00:07:10.800 because we've not been explosive in some way 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:13.720 or we've not communicated a disgruntled spirit with the pastor, 00:07:13.840 --> 00:07:17.300 with whoever that it is that we've become disgruntled with. 00:07:18.480 --> 00:07:20.200 Of course, this is an important note for us, 00:07:20.220 --> 00:07:22.640 and it's important because it's an important note in the scriptures. 00:07:22.980 --> 00:07:27.540 Even though we're technically beginning a new chapter in the book of Philippians, 00:07:27.540 --> 00:07:31.920 we cannot disconnect these verses from the previous passage. 00:07:32.360 --> 00:07:34.000 As we've mentioned several times before, 00:07:34.100 --> 00:07:37.920 when Paul wrote this letter to the Philippians now 2,000 years ago, 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:39.400 just under 2,000 years ago, 00:07:39.860 --> 00:07:42.140 there was no chapters and verses. 00:07:42.319 --> 00:07:44.980 He didn't sit down and get his parchment and his scroll and write out, 00:07:45.060 --> 00:07:46.860 okay, chapter one, verse one, 00:07:46.939 --> 00:07:48.220 and he wrote that verse and go on. 00:07:48.259 --> 00:07:48.840 It wasn't how it was written. 00:07:48.920 --> 00:07:51.540 It was just a letter, like you would write a letter to someone else. 00:07:51.540 --> 00:07:55.000 These verses in chapter two are directly connected 00:07:55.000 --> 00:07:56.920 to what we just studied the last two Sundays. 00:07:57.900 --> 00:08:00.800 If you'll remember in verse number 27 of chapter one, 00:08:00.920 --> 00:08:04.720 Paul is telling them that he desires and he's concerned for them to live a life 00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:06.300 that's worthy of the gospel. 00:08:06.939 --> 00:08:09.300 And he takes those next few verses and he says, 00:08:09.300 --> 00:08:15.280 one way that a gospel worthy life is exemplified is in your endurance and suffering. 00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:20.960 You're willing to pursue the gospel and pursue standing firm on sound doctrine, 00:08:21.360 --> 00:08:22.920 proclaiming the truth of the Bible, 00:08:22.920 --> 00:08:25.680 even when it means that you're going to face opposition. 00:08:26.180 --> 00:08:28.920 Maybe even when it means you could lose your life, 00:08:28.980 --> 00:08:29.840 you'll stand firm on. 00:08:29.900 --> 00:08:32.899 He says, the gospel worthy life is exemplified in that way. 00:08:33.019 --> 00:08:35.620 And then he continues on as we see a chapter division. 00:08:35.620 --> 00:08:39.019 And he says, also the gospel worthy life is exemplified 00:08:39.019 --> 00:08:41.440 whenever you live in unity together as a church. 00:08:42.779 --> 00:08:46.299 When you come to love one another and care for one another 00:08:46.299 --> 00:08:50.000 and serve one another in the same way that Jesus has loved you 00:08:50.000 --> 00:08:52.340 and cared for you and served you 00:08:52.340 --> 00:08:54.679 is exactly what he's saying in these 11 verses. 00:08:55.879 --> 00:08:58.580 And so as we are studying this particular passage, 00:08:58.580 --> 00:08:59.700 we must connect it back. 00:08:59.700 --> 00:09:04.960 The gospel worthy life is one that is in unity with the church. 00:09:06.040 --> 00:09:11.080 And of course, there is this idea that we have church membership 00:09:11.080 --> 00:09:14.220 and the idea behind that and what it means 00:09:14.220 --> 00:09:16.180 and what it truly is supposed to represent 00:09:16.180 --> 00:09:19.900 is all intertwined in the same topic of unity together. 00:09:20.800 --> 00:09:22.940 Three things about this passage I'd like to point out 00:09:22.940 --> 00:09:24.860 as we just work verse by verse through it. 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:26.800 If you're keeping notes, write this down as the first thing. 00:09:26.799 --> 00:09:30.039 The first thing we see in verse one is the motivations for our unity. 00:09:30.599 --> 00:09:33.120 The motivations for our unity. 00:09:33.919 --> 00:09:36.799 This is where Paul is building the case, so to speak. 00:09:37.319 --> 00:09:40.240 Verses one and two, he's not only expressing 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:41.939 that they should be unified, 00:09:42.120 --> 00:09:45.199 he's telling them why they should be unified. 00:09:45.559 --> 00:09:47.019 Look with me at verse number one. 00:09:47.339 --> 00:09:49.779 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, 00:09:50.099 --> 00:09:51.419 if any comfort of love, 00:09:51.839 --> 00:09:53.439 if any fellowship of the spirit, 00:09:53.439 --> 00:09:55.839 if any bowels and mercies. 00:09:55.840 --> 00:09:59.160 What we read here as if statements in verse one 00:09:59.160 --> 00:10:02.540 are really meant to be understood rhetorically. 00:10:03.340 --> 00:10:05.920 If we take just this English language here 00:10:05.920 --> 00:10:09.060 and we lay it out and we take it on the surface, 00:10:09.340 --> 00:10:12.560 it would insinuate that it's possible 00:10:12.560 --> 00:10:15.399 not to have all of these things in Christ. 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:18.519 This consolation, this comfort of love, 00:10:18.840 --> 00:10:20.220 this fellowship of the spirit, 00:10:21.080 --> 00:10:23.120 this affections and compassions 00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:25.779 is really what bowels and mercy is a reference to. 00:10:26.100 --> 00:10:27.720 If we just take it like that, 00:10:27.779 --> 00:10:31.259 it insinuates that there might be an opportunity 00:10:31.259 --> 00:10:33.019 for you to experience those things in Christ, 00:10:33.159 --> 00:10:35.340 but there might not be an opportunity 00:10:35.340 --> 00:10:36.980 for you to experience those things in Christ. 00:10:37.580 --> 00:10:38.580 Well, we know better than that. 00:10:38.679 --> 00:10:41.740 Paul's already talked differently than that in chapter one. 00:10:42.539 --> 00:10:44.500 Greek scholars agree that the best way 00:10:44.500 --> 00:10:47.000 to understand this particular verse is, 00:10:47.440 --> 00:10:48.879 even though it is the word if, 00:10:48.879 --> 00:10:50.439 is to understand it rhetorically. 00:10:50.899 --> 00:10:54.539 You can almost substitute it with the word because or since. 00:10:55.000 --> 00:10:56.700 So we could look at this particular verse 00:10:56.700 --> 00:11:00.419 and we could read it because there is consolation in Christ, 00:11:00.519 --> 00:11:02.279 because there is comfort in love, 00:11:02.519 --> 00:11:04.899 or since there is fellowship in the spirit, 00:11:05.240 --> 00:11:06.919 since there are bowels and mercies, 00:11:07.259 --> 00:11:08.379 fulfill ye my joy. 00:11:09.340 --> 00:11:11.340 We could also add it in with the word if 00:11:11.340 --> 00:11:13.740 as just along with a parenthetical statement. 00:11:14.019 --> 00:11:15.179 We could read it like this. 00:11:15.179 --> 00:11:18.139 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, 00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:19.359 and there is. 00:11:20.259 --> 00:11:22.239 If there's any comfort of love, 00:11:22.379 --> 00:11:23.559 and there is. 00:11:24.179 --> 00:11:25.579 If any fellowship of the spirit, 00:11:25.859 --> 00:11:26.259 and there is. 00:11:26.319 --> 00:11:27.359 If any bowels of mercy, 00:11:27.859 --> 00:11:29.639 and there is. 00:11:30.120 --> 00:11:33.359 So what we find verse one being is the groundwork, 00:11:33.459 --> 00:11:36.239 the case being made for this is why 00:11:36.239 --> 00:11:39.539 you should primarily be unified together as a church. 00:11:40.299 --> 00:11:40.859 Why? 00:11:41.139 --> 00:11:42.199 He uses four statements. 00:11:42.200 --> 00:11:45.560 Four statements that all point to the same truth. 00:11:46.180 --> 00:11:49.560 That believers first belong to Christ. 00:11:50.520 --> 00:11:52.300 That's the foundation of our unity. 00:11:53.320 --> 00:11:55.660 Since we have all of these things in Christ, 00:11:55.740 --> 00:11:57.120 which are all indicative of us, 00:11:57.120 --> 00:12:00.759 of us experiencing conversion through faith in Christ, 00:12:00.900 --> 00:12:02.860 because we have all of those things, 00:12:03.220 --> 00:12:04.920 fulfill ye my joy, church, 00:12:05.040 --> 00:12:07.300 that you be like-minded and of one mind 00:12:07.300 --> 00:12:10.180 and of one love, unified together. 00:12:10.179 --> 00:12:12.899 Let's look at the four statements just quickly. 00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:15.819 The first one we see is any consolation in Christ. 00:12:16.379 --> 00:12:17.979 Any consolation in Christ. 00:12:18.719 --> 00:12:20.879 This is just another term for encouragement, 00:12:21.399 --> 00:12:24.359 and it carries along with it the idea 00:12:24.359 --> 00:12:26.079 of coming alongside someone 00:12:26.079 --> 00:12:28.319 to assist them in a helpless state. 00:12:29.219 --> 00:12:30.579 Think the good Samaritan. 00:12:30.959 --> 00:12:32.279 As we study in the Gospels, 00:12:32.359 --> 00:12:33.399 the story that Jesus said. 00:12:33.439 --> 00:12:34.159 Do you remember that story? 00:12:34.779 --> 00:12:36.679 There's the man who gets beaten up, 00:12:36.819 --> 00:12:38.039 and he's cast to the side. 00:12:38.100 --> 00:12:39.379 All of his stuff is stolen. 00:12:39.740 --> 00:12:42.439 There are religious individuals that see him, 00:12:42.719 --> 00:12:44.019 and instead of helping him, 00:12:44.079 --> 00:12:45.480 they cross to the other side of the street, 00:12:45.620 --> 00:12:47.019 and they continue on their way. 00:12:47.579 --> 00:12:49.120 Then there comes the Samaritan, 00:12:49.240 --> 00:12:50.980 the one that we would expect 00:12:50.980 --> 00:12:52.399 not to want to help this man, 00:12:52.740 --> 00:12:54.980 and he stops, and he cares for him. 00:12:55.419 --> 00:12:57.539 He comes alongside of him, and he picks him up, 00:12:57.779 --> 00:12:59.319 and he cleans up his wounds, 00:12:59.320 --> 00:13:02.180 and he carries him over to an inn, 00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:04.340 and he puts him in the charge of somebody else, 00:13:04.379 --> 00:13:06.020 and he pays his bills in the process. 00:13:06.220 --> 00:13:07.440 It's the same word, 00:13:07.540 --> 00:13:09.100 coming alongside someone 00:13:09.100 --> 00:13:11.920 and helping someone that's in a helpless state. 00:13:13.360 --> 00:13:14.960 Every one of us before God 00:13:14.960 --> 00:13:17.420 are in a helpless state. 00:13:18.940 --> 00:13:22.260 We're in a sinful condition before God, 00:13:22.300 --> 00:13:23.840 as we understand the Scripture teaches, 00:13:24.500 --> 00:13:26.360 that there is none righteous. 00:13:27.300 --> 00:13:29.460 There's none that truly seeks after God. 00:13:29.539 --> 00:13:30.820 They seek the benefits of God, 00:13:30.899 --> 00:13:32.379 but they don't truly seek after God. 00:13:33.680 --> 00:13:34.899 For all have sinned 00:13:34.899 --> 00:13:38.000 and fallen short of God's glory, we're told. 00:13:38.980 --> 00:13:40.539 We've disobeyed his commands. 00:13:40.960 --> 00:13:43.399 We've rejected his sovereign rule over our lives 00:13:43.399 --> 00:13:45.220 in order to pursue our own ways, 00:13:45.300 --> 00:13:47.440 and Paul, when he writes to the Ephesians, 00:13:47.659 --> 00:13:49.560 says that all of us in that condition 00:13:49.560 --> 00:13:52.920 are dead in our sins and trespasses. 00:13:53.899 --> 00:13:55.159 We're not dead physically. 00:13:55.159 --> 00:13:56.439 We're dead spiritually. 00:13:57.699 --> 00:14:00.139 And dead things can't give themselves life. 00:14:01.299 --> 00:14:03.539 It takes a living thing to give life. 00:14:04.279 --> 00:14:08.620 And that living thing only comes through Jesus Christ. 00:14:09.480 --> 00:14:11.779 So as unbelievers in this condition, 00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:12.919 in our sinful condition, 00:14:13.100 --> 00:14:14.899 separated from a holy God, 00:14:15.100 --> 00:14:17.959 we are like the man who's been beat up 00:14:17.959 --> 00:14:19.480 and he's laying on the side of the road. 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:22.519 We're in desperate need of somebody coming alongside of us 00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:25.620 and helping us along because of our helpless state 00:14:25.620 --> 00:14:26.519 and our sinful condition. 00:14:26.519 --> 00:14:29.199 And that's exactly what Jesus Christ has done. 00:14:30.019 --> 00:14:31.799 He has come alongside of us 00:14:31.799 --> 00:14:33.819 and he's come alongside wretched sinners 00:14:33.819 --> 00:14:35.699 that are dead in their sins and trespasses. 00:14:35.899 --> 00:14:37.419 And he's helped us alongside. 00:14:37.659 --> 00:14:38.679 And how did he do that? 00:14:39.259 --> 00:14:41.539 By being our substitute for sin. 00:14:42.100 --> 00:14:45.860 If death is what God said we deserved for our sin, 00:14:45.860 --> 00:14:48.779 Jesus took that death for us. 00:14:48.879 --> 00:14:51.120 He's come alongside and helped us along. 00:14:51.620 --> 00:14:54.560 We trust in his sovereign rule because of his resurrection, 00:14:55.139 --> 00:14:58.340 because of the truth that Jesus didn't remain dead. 00:14:58.440 --> 00:14:59.960 He rose up from the dead. 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:02.060 And in that, he carries us along. 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:05.879 He comes alongside of us and helps us. 00:15:05.879 --> 00:15:11.480 What a wonderful motivation to be in unity with other people 00:15:11.480 --> 00:15:13.539 that have also experienced that encouragement. 00:15:15.159 --> 00:15:16.820 Any consolation in Christ. 00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:19.779 The second phrase here is comfort of love. 00:15:20.439 --> 00:15:21.360 Comfort of love. 00:15:22.039 --> 00:15:24.639 This is nearly identical in its meaning to the first. 00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:26.120 In fact, all four of these statements 00:15:26.120 --> 00:15:28.200 are not really distinct in and of themselves. 00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:29.659 They're intertwined and they overlap. 00:15:30.100 --> 00:15:31.919 This one basically means the same thing. 00:15:32.440 --> 00:15:34.379 If there's any consolation or encouragement in Christ, 00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:36.360 if there's any comfort of love, 00:15:37.080 --> 00:15:40.580 certainly we have experienced incredible love from God 00:15:40.580 --> 00:15:42.039 through Jesus Christ. 00:15:42.860 --> 00:15:45.000 And we ought to be motivated to love others 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:45.899 as a result of that. 00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:49.139 The third statement is fellowship of the spirit. 00:15:49.460 --> 00:15:50.080 Do you see it there? 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:51.600 If any fellowship of the spirit. 00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:53.860 Now we've talked about this word already in our study. 00:15:54.299 --> 00:15:57.379 It's the same word that Paul uses in chapter one 00:15:57.379 --> 00:15:59.799 in verse five when he says that he's thankful 00:15:59.799 --> 00:16:02.639 for the Philippians for their fellowship in the gospel. 00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:04.220 It means partnership. 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:06.379 This is one of the amazing things 00:16:06.379 --> 00:16:07.759 that we experience as believers. 00:16:08.200 --> 00:16:09.740 That whenever we trust Christ, 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:11.860 he doesn't leave us on our own. 00:16:12.279 --> 00:16:14.159 That was the promise he made to the disciples. 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:16.840 Remember, he was getting ready to ascend into heaven 00:16:16.840 --> 00:16:18.100 and he says, don't worry, 00:16:18.220 --> 00:16:19.580 I'm gonna send another one. 00:16:19.639 --> 00:16:20.840 The paraclete in Greek. 00:16:21.080 --> 00:16:22.840 It's the comforter is how it's translated 00:16:22.840 --> 00:16:25.519 maybe in the Bible that you have in your hand. 00:16:25.659 --> 00:16:26.980 And that's the Holy Spirit. 00:16:27.779 --> 00:16:29.779 And he says, all those who believe in me 00:16:29.779 --> 00:16:31.740 will be baptized in that Holy Spirit. 00:16:31.740 --> 00:16:35.639 He will, I will indwell you through my spirit. 00:16:36.360 --> 00:16:37.159 And what does he do? 00:16:37.899 --> 00:16:39.620 For the disciples and the apostles, 00:16:39.799 --> 00:16:41.019 when they walked with Jesus, 00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:43.019 Jesus guided their behavior. 00:16:43.220 --> 00:16:44.740 He enlightened their understanding 00:16:44.740 --> 00:16:45.759 and he opened their eyes. 00:16:46.100 --> 00:16:48.100 Well, Jesus isn't physically present with us today. 00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:51.379 So what he's done is he's given us his spirit as believers. 00:16:51.639 --> 00:16:52.240 And what does he do? 00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:54.379 The same thing Jesus did for the disciples. 00:16:54.940 --> 00:16:56.200 He guides our behavior. 00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:59.259 He opens our minds to understanding the scripture. 00:16:59.700 --> 00:17:03.360 He gives us discernment and wisdom as we live out our lives. 00:17:03.520 --> 00:17:07.019 This is a partnership that we have with the spirit. 00:17:07.620 --> 00:17:11.039 And part of that partnership is he works through us 00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:13.819 a unity with other people that are also partnered 00:17:13.819 --> 00:17:15.319 with his spirit. 00:17:15.660 --> 00:17:15.880 Why? 00:17:16.080 --> 00:17:17.660 Because we're focused on the same thing. 00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:21.360 Living out, worshiping the God that has saved us 00:17:21.360 --> 00:17:22.720 and pursuing his mission. 00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:25.580 And the spirit does this work in us. 00:17:25.579 --> 00:17:26.879 And so it's a partnership. 00:17:27.019 --> 00:17:28.439 It's a motivation for unity. 00:17:29.079 --> 00:17:30.740 The final statement is a weird one. 00:17:31.619 --> 00:17:32.720 Bowels and mercies. 00:17:33.699 --> 00:17:36.419 It means affection, compassion. 00:17:38.299 --> 00:17:41.000 In this day and age, when this was written, 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:43.799 this was a reference to how we would refer to the heart. 00:17:44.619 --> 00:17:47.519 We would say somebody has grabbed a hold of my heart. 00:17:47.659 --> 00:17:50.439 They have, I moved in my heart towards someone. 00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:54.500 Bowels or the primary organs of the body 00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:56.700 is something that in this particular culture 00:17:56.700 --> 00:17:57.940 was a reference to the same thing. 00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:59.039 It sounds weird to us now. 00:17:59.259 --> 00:18:00.380 Wouldn't have been weird to them. 00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:01.880 It means the same thing. 00:18:02.680 --> 00:18:03.680 That God loves us. 00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:06.759 And that love is continually poured out on us 00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:09.539 and lived through us through the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:18:10.220 --> 00:18:12.920 And Paul says, all of these things are the basis for your unity. 00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:16.279 Because you have experienced this in Christ, 00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:19.800 you ought to be willingly unified with other people 00:18:19.800 --> 00:18:21.800 that have experienced this in Christ. 00:18:22.500 --> 00:18:23.480 It just makes sense, right? 00:18:24.140 --> 00:18:25.860 Why should we be unified together? 00:18:25.960 --> 00:18:27.100 Because we all belong to him. 00:18:28.680 --> 00:18:31.519 I remember when Jonathan and I were growing up, 00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:33.259 Jonathan, for those of you who don't know, 00:18:33.259 --> 00:18:33.920 is my older brother. 00:18:34.019 --> 00:18:35.100 He's five years older than me, 00:18:35.140 --> 00:18:36.860 and he's the pastor of our sending church. 00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:40.039 He was my boss for 10 years, 00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:41.299 and I finally got away. 00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:42.859 And we came here, 00:18:43.379 --> 00:18:45.519 and like most siblings, 00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:46.500 when we were growing up, 00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:47.539 we didn't get along very well. 00:18:49.420 --> 00:18:51.859 Imagine many of you have experienced that same thing, right? 00:18:52.659 --> 00:18:54.700 Fortunately, in adulthood, we tolerate each other. 00:18:54.779 --> 00:18:56.000 But as we were growing up, 00:18:56.460 --> 00:18:57.759 we didn't get along very well. 00:18:58.279 --> 00:18:59.720 Now, Jonathan and I weren't fighters. 00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:01.720 We weren't physical in that way. 00:19:02.139 --> 00:19:03.079 We're both very small, 00:19:03.180 --> 00:19:04.220 and we're both very weak. 00:19:04.599 --> 00:19:07.519 And so we fought with our words. 00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:08.740 We were very verbally abusive. 00:19:08.740 --> 00:19:11.799 Very passive-aggressive in the way that 00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:13.099 we would speak to each other. 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:14.000 Very sarcastic. 00:19:14.180 --> 00:19:16.420 And just the things that just irritate you to death, 00:19:16.460 --> 00:19:16.720 you know? 00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:18.220 That's how we were to one another. 00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:19.920 And it drove my parents crazy, 00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:21.440 like it would drive any parent crazy. 00:19:22.420 --> 00:19:23.740 And they corrected us all the time. 00:19:23.880 --> 00:19:24.519 And of course, 00:19:24.539 --> 00:19:26.700 any time that they knew we were involved 00:19:26.700 --> 00:19:27.839 with something that wasn't right 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:29.319 or wasn't helpful, 00:19:29.539 --> 00:19:31.099 they would correct our behavior. 00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:33.000 But I remember one particular season 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:34.440 when we were still living in Mount Holly. 00:19:34.440 --> 00:19:38.620 I remember a particular season 00:19:38.620 --> 00:19:40.900 where Jonathan and I just were not getting along at all. 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:41.600 And it was just, 00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:43.820 it was showing itself in a lot of different ways. 00:19:43.980 --> 00:19:46.039 And my parents called us into the living room. 00:19:46.259 --> 00:19:47.559 I remember it just like it was yesterday. 00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:49.059 They called us in the living room, 00:19:49.120 --> 00:19:49.880 they sent us down. 00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:51.559 And this was different 00:19:51.559 --> 00:19:53.320 than the other corrections they had given us. 00:19:54.340 --> 00:19:57.580 They started to cry about us, 00:19:57.660 --> 00:19:58.539 to us in that moment. 00:19:59.220 --> 00:20:00.539 And through their tears, 00:20:00.539 --> 00:20:02.960 they were explaining how much they loved us 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:05.139 and how much they desired for us to love one another. 00:20:06.519 --> 00:20:10.220 And it wasn't just about the peace of the house. 00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:12.019 It wasn't just about simmering down 00:20:12.019 --> 00:20:13.639 the tension of the house for them. 00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:15.059 Of course, that was a benefit of it, 00:20:15.159 --> 00:20:16.680 but they weren't so much concerned 00:20:16.680 --> 00:20:18.119 about the benefits of it. 00:20:18.680 --> 00:20:20.659 They wanted us to love one another 00:20:20.659 --> 00:20:22.700 because we were both blankenships. 00:20:24.039 --> 00:20:25.639 We all recognize that, right? 00:20:26.940 --> 00:20:28.220 Jonathan and I are very different. 00:20:28.220 --> 00:20:30.600 And those of you that know both of us understand 00:20:30.600 --> 00:20:32.539 that our personalities can be very different. 00:20:32.680 --> 00:20:33.960 We're very alike in some ways too, 00:20:34.380 --> 00:20:35.380 but we're very different. 00:20:36.339 --> 00:20:37.539 But we're still blankenships. 00:20:38.380 --> 00:20:40.680 There is a bond that we have as brothers 00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:43.200 that's just because we're brothers. 00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:47.160 It may not exist in any other dynamic of our life. 00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:49.000 Our interests may be completely different 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:50.720 from one another, 00:20:50.839 --> 00:20:52.440 but the one thing that we have, 00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:55.019 the one motivation that we have to love each other 00:20:55.019 --> 00:20:57.299 and to pursue unity together in our family 00:20:57.299 --> 00:20:59.720 is the fact that we belong to the same family. 00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:02.200 And that's exactly what Paul's saying. 00:21:03.180 --> 00:21:04.500 We may be very different 00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:06.139 and that's what the church is supposed to be. 00:21:07.099 --> 00:21:09.359 You may really like the Boston Red Sox 00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:11.139 and I really hate that 00:21:11.139 --> 00:21:13.319 because I really love the New York Yankees, 00:21:13.639 --> 00:21:15.299 but we can serve together. 00:21:15.419 --> 00:21:16.700 We can love one another, 00:21:16.700 --> 00:21:18.659 not because we have the same interest, 00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:21.299 not because we have the same opinions on everything, 00:21:21.539 --> 00:21:23.480 not because we vote for the same candidate, 00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:25.079 not because of all of those things. 00:21:25.079 --> 00:21:27.000 We come together in unity together 00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:28.899 because we belong to the same family. 00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:32.559 The same Jesus that died for me died for you. 00:21:32.839 --> 00:21:35.079 The same Jesus that has come alongside of me 00:21:35.079 --> 00:21:36.699 and helped me in salvation 00:21:36.699 --> 00:21:39.619 has come alongside you and helped you in salvation. 00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:42.139 And he has brought us together in this one family. 00:21:42.299 --> 00:21:43.839 And Paul says right here at the beginning, 00:21:44.199 --> 00:21:46.079 if there is all of these things in Christ, 00:21:46.220 --> 00:21:47.119 and there is, 00:21:47.339 --> 00:21:48.740 then we ought to love one another 00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:51.379 and be unified together in it. 00:21:51.380 --> 00:21:54.940 Acknowledging the depths of God's love for us 00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:58.140 in Christ Jesus ought to motivate us to live in unity 00:21:58.140 --> 00:22:01.380 with others who've experienced that same grace. 00:22:02.320 --> 00:22:03.860 I want you just to write down in the margin, 00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:04.740 I won't move to it now, 00:22:04.820 --> 00:22:06.360 but I just want you to write down in the margin, 00:22:06.520 --> 00:22:08.800 Ephesians chapter four and the first six verses of it. 00:22:09.140 --> 00:22:11.620 Ephesians chapter four, verses one through six. 00:22:11.660 --> 00:22:13.460 And I want you to go study that later today 00:22:13.460 --> 00:22:16.140 and read about Paul's instruction there on unity. 00:22:16.140 --> 00:22:21.560 He echoes this in a more even helpful way there 00:22:21.560 --> 00:22:23.420 as far as the description of this dynamic. 00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:25.740 So we see the motivations for unity. 00:22:26.120 --> 00:22:27.900 This is why we should care. 00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:29.960 The second thing that we see in verse two 00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:31.300 is the focus of our unity. 00:22:31.940 --> 00:22:35.800 The focus of our unity. 00:22:36.740 --> 00:22:39.380 This could be the marks of unity perhaps. 00:22:40.040 --> 00:22:44.180 If the motivations are the mandate from God, 00:22:44.180 --> 00:22:46.640 the focus then is the mark. 00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:49.440 This is what shows that we are unified together. 00:22:49.799 --> 00:22:50.940 But before we jump into that, 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:52.360 let's look at just this first phrase. 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:54.960 Paul says, if there is all these things in Christ, 00:22:55.539 --> 00:22:56.940 fulfill ye my joy. 00:22:58.140 --> 00:23:00.299 Complete my joy. 00:23:01.160 --> 00:23:03.880 In verse one, his appeal to the Philippians 00:23:03.880 --> 00:23:07.440 is that they be unified in order to please their Lord. 00:23:08.380 --> 00:23:09.759 At the beginning of verse two, 00:23:10.220 --> 00:23:11.660 he appeals to their unity 00:23:11.660 --> 00:23:16.560 in order that it might enhance his own personal joy. 00:23:17.640 --> 00:23:18.460 Now think about that. 00:23:18.800 --> 00:23:20.300 Paul's already filled with joy. 00:23:20.380 --> 00:23:21.580 He's talked about that already in the book. 00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:22.880 He's already filled with joy 00:23:22.880 --> 00:23:24.519 at the fact that they belong to Christ. 00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:28.400 Now he's saying that that joy can now be enhanced 00:23:28.400 --> 00:23:31.040 by seeing them live out that faith 00:23:31.040 --> 00:23:33.480 in gospel unity together. 00:23:34.600 --> 00:23:36.240 To fulfill or complete, 00:23:36.560 --> 00:23:38.600 this word means to fill up to the rim. 00:23:38.599 --> 00:23:40.740 And in some connotations, 00:23:40.859 --> 00:23:44.980 it means to even cram in order to fill up to the fullest. 00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:48.919 While some might've thought that Paul's joy 00:23:48.919 --> 00:23:50.859 would have come through being released from prison, 00:23:51.679 --> 00:23:54.799 he insisted that his joy would actually come 00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:57.819 when he saw the unity of these churches come together 00:23:57.819 --> 00:23:58.799 in love for one another, 00:23:59.079 --> 00:24:00.199 in pursuit of the gospel. 00:24:00.200 --> 00:24:02.640 And in this regard, 00:24:03.140 --> 00:24:05.080 we understand that Christian joy 00:24:05.080 --> 00:24:08.319 is developed through various layers of experience. 00:24:09.259 --> 00:24:12.200 Paul's not saying that there is something lacking in Christ 00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:14.080 that his joy is lacking here. 00:24:14.140 --> 00:24:15.480 That's not what he means by that. 00:24:16.039 --> 00:24:18.140 But we just understand that joy comes 00:24:18.140 --> 00:24:20.220 through various layers of our Christian experience. 00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:23.779 All of that is founded on the person of Jesus Christ. 00:24:24.100 --> 00:24:26.279 Nobody can take away our joy 00:24:26.279 --> 00:24:27.319 and the presence of joy 00:24:27.319 --> 00:24:29.200 because Jesus has put it there. 00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:30.819 That can't be removed. 00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:33.200 It will always be there for those that love him 00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:35.240 and believe him and trust him. 00:24:35.340 --> 00:24:36.360 It will always be there. 00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:38.000 But of course, 00:24:38.080 --> 00:24:40.420 as we experience different blessings from the Lord, 00:24:40.620 --> 00:24:43.279 as we witness different things in our Christian life, 00:24:43.299 --> 00:24:44.420 as we follow in obedience, 00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:47.039 that joy is layered and it is multiplied 00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:48.799 and it's enhanced in different ways. 00:24:49.140 --> 00:24:49.640 Paul says, 00:24:49.740 --> 00:24:52.319 the way that adds a layer of joy to my life 00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:54.140 is when I see you and I hear about you 00:24:54.140 --> 00:24:55.140 that you love one another 00:24:55.140 --> 00:24:57.960 and that you're engaged in gospel purpose 00:24:57.960 --> 00:24:58.920 despite your differences. 00:25:00.059 --> 00:25:01.600 This is the heart of any pastor. 00:25:03.059 --> 00:25:04.680 Hebrews chapter 13 tells us 00:25:04.680 --> 00:25:06.100 that we are to obey them 00:25:06.100 --> 00:25:07.220 that have the rule over us 00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:08.259 and submit ourselves 00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:09.759 for they watch for our souls 00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:12.460 and that they give an account to God for that. 00:25:12.860 --> 00:25:13.480 And then he says, 00:25:13.660 --> 00:25:15.200 we are to obey them 00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:18.140 because that they may give this account with joy 00:25:18.140 --> 00:25:19.960 and not with grief 00:25:19.960 --> 00:25:22.620 for that would be unprofitable for us. 00:25:22.619 --> 00:25:24.500 Of course, 00:25:24.539 --> 00:25:27.639 this isn't exclusive to those in pastoral ministry. 00:25:28.379 --> 00:25:30.079 We should all rejoice at the fact 00:25:30.079 --> 00:25:31.959 that believers get along 00:25:31.959 --> 00:25:33.759 and that they love one another 00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:36.419 and that they're focused on the right thing, 00:25:36.419 --> 00:25:38.239 which brings us to these marks, 00:25:38.599 --> 00:25:40.500 which is really just a focus in unity. 00:25:40.939 --> 00:25:42.279 Look again with me at verse two. 00:25:42.279 --> 00:25:44.839 To fulfill you my joy, Paul says, 00:25:44.940 --> 00:25:46.059 that you do this, 00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:47.160 you be like-minded, 00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:49.619 having the same love, 00:25:50.440 --> 00:25:51.519 being of one accord 00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:54.079 and of one mind. 00:25:55.079 --> 00:25:56.720 These marks are bookended 00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:58.619 by like-minded 00:25:58.619 --> 00:26:00.740 and of one mind. 00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:02.519 Now I have to leave it to you 00:26:02.519 --> 00:26:04.139 to dig into the depths of each mark 00:26:04.139 --> 00:26:05.559 and what he means by all of those things 00:26:05.559 --> 00:26:06.980 and it would be a helpful study to you, 00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:08.460 but we can narrow it down 00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:10.119 to understand that what he's referencing 00:26:10.119 --> 00:26:13.039 is a unique togetherness, 00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:15.299 a unique togetherness. 00:26:16.220 --> 00:26:17.319 He's not saying 00:26:17.319 --> 00:26:19.299 that we all have to think the same way 00:26:19.299 --> 00:26:20.299 and have the same opinions 00:26:20.299 --> 00:26:22.059 and have the same interest in all things. 00:26:22.059 --> 00:26:24.279 What he's saying is that 00:26:24.279 --> 00:26:25.720 we are to unify together 00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:28.539 with one mind on sound doctrine 00:26:28.539 --> 00:26:30.859 and in one spirit 00:26:30.859 --> 00:26:32.819 on the things to which 00:26:32.819 --> 00:26:34.139 we will inevitably differ. 00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:38.359 The strength of our unity as a church 00:26:38.359 --> 00:26:42.019 is in our commitment to doctrinal purity. 00:26:43.139 --> 00:26:45.839 The spirit of our unity as a church 00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:48.639 is love and grace on issues 00:26:48.639 --> 00:26:51.720 that are not related to Bible doctrine. 00:26:52.059 --> 00:26:55.700 The foundation of our unity together 00:26:55.700 --> 00:26:57.879 is hopefully that we all take this 00:26:57.879 --> 00:26:59.919 and we say this is the word of God. 00:27:00.019 --> 00:27:01.599 It is our guide for life. 00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:03.759 It tells us what we need to know about him 00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:05.779 and we will live our lives according to it. 00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:08.299 That's the strength of our unity. 00:27:09.059 --> 00:27:11.039 But the spirit of that unity is, 00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:12.359 I don't care what you wear 00:27:12.359 --> 00:27:13.460 when you come to church on Sunday. 00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:14.960 I'm just glad you're here to worship the Lord. 00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:15.859 You with me? 00:27:15.859 --> 00:27:18.819 There's a strength of it. 00:27:18.879 --> 00:27:19.899 That's doctrinal purity. 00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:21.779 There's a spirit of it that loves one another 00:27:21.779 --> 00:27:22.639 even though we're different 00:27:22.639 --> 00:27:23.819 and we're going to do things different 00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:25.000 and we're going to think differently 00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:26.279 and we're going to have different opinions 00:27:26.279 --> 00:27:27.839 and we're going to come from different cultures 00:27:27.839 --> 00:27:29.319 that do different things. 00:27:30.699 --> 00:27:32.839 The foundation for unity is purpose. 00:27:34.219 --> 00:27:35.539 The church's call to unity 00:27:35.539 --> 00:27:38.119 is a call to unite under a common purpose, 00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:39.599 which is the gospel. 00:27:39.599 --> 00:27:44.179 Our unity as a church is directly related 00:27:44.179 --> 00:27:47.279 to the extent of our gospel focus. 00:27:48.179 --> 00:27:49.879 And I say that again, I want you to hear me. 00:27:51.819 --> 00:27:55.599 The unity of our church is directly related 00:27:55.599 --> 00:27:59.459 to the extent of our gospel focus. 00:28:01.059 --> 00:28:03.599 When I was a kid, I used to like playing with magnets. 00:28:04.379 --> 00:28:05.939 I don't remember ever owning one, 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:07.359 like the ones that you see on cartoons 00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:09.119 that was like a horseshoe and it was red and silver. 00:28:09.119 --> 00:28:10.500 I don't remember ever having one of those, 00:28:10.659 --> 00:28:12.779 but I had a friend that had like this monster one. 00:28:12.839 --> 00:28:13.719 It was like this big. 00:28:14.119 --> 00:28:15.799 He would bring it to school at show and tell days, 00:28:15.839 --> 00:28:16.359 that kind of thing. 00:28:16.959 --> 00:28:19.500 And of course you just have all kinds of fun with that 00:28:19.500 --> 00:28:20.839 because it'll stick to all kinds of stuff 00:28:20.839 --> 00:28:22.359 and you just enjoy sticking it to stuff. 00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:24.359 But imagine that we had a magnet here today 00:28:24.359 --> 00:28:25.559 and a bunch of iron shavings 00:28:25.559 --> 00:28:27.819 and we just stuck that magnet right in the middle 00:28:27.819 --> 00:28:29.139 of the iron shavings. 00:28:29.199 --> 00:28:29.719 What happens? 00:28:30.579 --> 00:28:31.959 They all glue to the magnet, right? 00:28:33.399 --> 00:28:35.159 Iron shavings are all different sizes, 00:28:35.739 --> 00:28:37.539 different shapes, different purposes, 00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:40.339 but they're held together by that magnet. 00:28:41.500 --> 00:28:43.839 Now they'll stay held together by that magnet 00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:46.279 until one of us comes by as an outside force 00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:47.740 and starts to pull it away. 00:28:48.480 --> 00:28:49.799 And we start to pull it away, 00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:51.559 it loses its glue. 00:28:51.899 --> 00:28:55.440 It loses its stickiness to that force 00:28:55.440 --> 00:28:57.299 that at this point, up to that point, 00:28:57.339 --> 00:28:58.000 had held it together. 00:28:58.359 --> 00:29:01.159 Now in the church, the gospel is the magnet. 00:29:01.920 --> 00:29:03.159 The gospel is the magnet. 00:29:03.160 --> 00:29:05.019 We're the iron shavings. 00:29:05.779 --> 00:29:07.880 We come in lots of different shapes and sizes 00:29:07.880 --> 00:29:09.940 and opinions and interests and all kinds of things. 00:29:10.759 --> 00:29:13.820 The one thing that holds us together is the gospel. 00:29:14.660 --> 00:29:16.660 The way Paul said it to the Colossian church 00:29:16.660 --> 00:29:20.200 is that Christ is all, he's above all, 00:29:20.360 --> 00:29:22.820 he reigns over all, and he's in all. 00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:24.840 He is the thing that holds us together. 00:29:25.460 --> 00:29:27.840 Not our common bond on religion or on church, 00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:29.279 but Christ holds us together. 00:29:29.380 --> 00:29:30.400 The gospel holds us together. 00:29:30.400 --> 00:29:33.960 And so long as a church, we'll stay focused on that gospel 00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:36.519 and we'll pursue that gospel as the primary initiative 00:29:36.519 --> 00:29:38.900 of our individual lives, our families, and our church. 00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:40.740 We'll stay glued together in this unity. 00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:44.100 But at the moment that we allow some outside force 00:29:44.100 --> 00:29:45.620 to come in and begin to distract us, 00:29:45.720 --> 00:29:47.460 it will start to pull us away 00:29:47.460 --> 00:29:50.080 because we're turning our focus away from the gospel 00:29:50.080 --> 00:29:51.759 and we're turning it to something else. 00:29:53.560 --> 00:29:55.800 The something else could very well be sin in your life. 00:29:56.780 --> 00:29:58.140 You can't focus on the gospel 00:29:58.140 --> 00:30:00.280 and focus on your sinful pleasure at the same time. 00:30:00.279 --> 00:30:01.079 It doesn't work. 00:30:01.899 --> 00:30:03.960 Jesus said you can't serve God and mammon. 00:30:04.119 --> 00:30:05.279 You can't serve God and money. 00:30:05.639 --> 00:30:06.619 You can't serve two masters. 00:30:06.819 --> 00:30:07.740 It doesn't work. 00:30:07.920 --> 00:30:09.220 You can't serve the gospel 00:30:09.220 --> 00:30:11.420 and serve your sin at the same time. 00:30:11.519 --> 00:30:13.259 And once you're glued into the gospel, 00:30:13.359 --> 00:30:14.779 if you start serving sin instead, 00:30:15.039 --> 00:30:17.220 you're gonna start getting pulled away in that unity. 00:30:17.339 --> 00:30:19.779 It's gonna show itself in your relationship to the church, 00:30:20.180 --> 00:30:22.519 either in an explosive way or in a very subtle way. 00:30:23.799 --> 00:30:25.319 It may not be a sinful thing. 00:30:25.519 --> 00:30:28.099 It may just be a thing that's not gospel focused. 00:30:28.099 --> 00:30:31.939 It could be selfish ambition as Paul deals with here. 00:30:32.579 --> 00:30:33.779 It could be prideful arrogance. 00:30:34.579 --> 00:30:35.939 It could be a program 00:30:35.939 --> 00:30:37.980 that you just really wanna drive forward, 00:30:38.119 --> 00:30:39.399 but it's causing us as a church 00:30:39.399 --> 00:30:41.799 to lose focus on this one thing, 00:30:41.899 --> 00:30:44.019 this gospel initiative that we have. 00:30:44.039 --> 00:30:45.179 And it may be a noble thing, 00:30:45.279 --> 00:30:46.679 but it's pulling you away. 00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:50.659 The unity of our church will only be as strong 00:30:50.659 --> 00:30:52.740 as the extent of our gospel focus. 00:30:52.740 --> 00:30:55.140 And as a church at Lakeside Bible Church, 00:30:55.259 --> 00:30:58.059 it is our purpose 00:30:58.059 --> 00:30:59.620 and it is our responsibility 00:30:59.620 --> 00:31:01.400 to stay unified on the gospel 00:31:01.400 --> 00:31:04.200 and focused on the gospel despite our differences 00:31:04.200 --> 00:31:06.420 so that we can stay unified together 00:31:06.420 --> 00:31:07.720 in the way that Paul's saying here. 00:31:08.440 --> 00:31:09.599 That's the marks, 00:31:10.059 --> 00:31:11.819 the marks of unity. 00:31:13.519 --> 00:31:15.079 If we're to continue as a church 00:31:15.079 --> 00:31:17.160 to glorify God 00:31:17.160 --> 00:31:19.599 and be effective in our mission, 00:31:19.599 --> 00:31:22.459 we gotta remain focused on this purpose. 00:31:23.819 --> 00:31:24.719 Thirdly and finally, 00:31:24.819 --> 00:31:27.079 we see the instrument that produces our unity. 00:31:27.799 --> 00:31:30.599 The instrument that produces our unity. 00:31:32.439 --> 00:31:33.939 If verse one is the motivations 00:31:33.939 --> 00:31:35.219 and verse two is the marks, 00:31:35.339 --> 00:31:36.839 verses three and four are the means. 00:31:38.419 --> 00:31:40.519 Verse one and two build the case for us. 00:31:41.419 --> 00:31:42.939 Verses three and four tell us 00:31:42.939 --> 00:31:45.039 how we're gonna actually do it. 00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:48.700 How are we actually gonna be unified together 00:31:48.700 --> 00:31:50.359 in this way? 00:31:50.460 --> 00:31:51.960 And in one word, 00:31:52.819 --> 00:31:53.619 it's humility. 00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:56.220 Humble spirit. 00:31:57.879 --> 00:32:00.059 We're bombarded in our culture 00:32:00.059 --> 00:32:02.519 with worldly philosophies 00:32:02.519 --> 00:32:04.839 that sound good, 00:32:05.440 --> 00:32:07.799 but they're not always good. 00:32:09.019 --> 00:32:12.039 Things like be true to yourself, 00:32:12.039 --> 00:32:15.039 follow your heart. 00:32:16.539 --> 00:32:17.759 You gotta do you. 00:32:19.059 --> 00:32:20.519 You gotta think about you first. 00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:22.559 That sounds real good. 00:32:23.420 --> 00:32:25.899 But that type of belief system 00:32:25.899 --> 00:32:27.619 and philosophy is antithetical 00:32:27.619 --> 00:32:30.119 to what the Bible actually teaches the churches. 00:32:31.500 --> 00:32:32.740 We're not doing you. 00:32:33.379 --> 00:32:34.519 We're not doing me. 00:32:35.519 --> 00:32:36.920 We're focused on the gospel. 00:32:38.279 --> 00:32:41.019 And we're gonna do that with humility, 00:32:41.019 --> 00:32:41.139 humility. 00:32:42.339 --> 00:32:44.799 The instrument by which unity is developed 00:32:44.799 --> 00:32:46.099 is humility. 00:32:46.279 --> 00:32:47.200 And Paul's instruction 00:32:47.200 --> 00:32:50.160 is that believers put others' needs 00:32:50.160 --> 00:32:51.660 and interests first. 00:32:52.379 --> 00:32:52.980 Did you see that? 00:32:53.039 --> 00:32:53.619 Look at verse three. 00:32:54.960 --> 00:32:58.180 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory. 00:32:58.960 --> 00:33:00.500 Here's what those two words mean. 00:33:01.359 --> 00:33:03.519 One is a reference to selfish ambition. 00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:04.420 That's strife. 00:33:04.940 --> 00:33:06.519 You could literally say selfish ambition. 00:33:07.319 --> 00:33:10.279 Vainglory is conceitedness, conceit. 00:33:11.019 --> 00:33:14.680 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, 00:33:14.799 --> 00:33:17.440 but in lowliness of mind or in humility. 00:33:18.139 --> 00:33:21.180 Let each person esteem another person 00:33:21.180 --> 00:33:22.160 better than themselves. 00:33:22.379 --> 00:33:24.200 Let each of us consider everybody else 00:33:24.200 --> 00:33:27.480 as more, more significant than ourselves. 00:33:27.940 --> 00:33:30.019 Look not every man on his own things, 00:33:30.579 --> 00:33:33.619 but every man also on the things of others. 00:33:33.619 --> 00:33:36.899 That's pretty radical thought. 00:33:38.399 --> 00:33:42.039 Not only are we to submit ourselves to Christ, 00:33:42.119 --> 00:33:43.779 we're to submit ourselves to one another. 00:33:44.719 --> 00:33:48.359 Mutual submission in the church dynamic is what this is. 00:33:49.359 --> 00:33:50.619 Can't say we'll talk about this next Sunday night 00:33:50.619 --> 00:33:51.319 in our membership class, 00:33:51.379 --> 00:33:52.779 but this is what church membership is. 00:33:52.779 --> 00:33:55.599 It's a mutual submission. 00:33:56.839 --> 00:33:59.000 Where the individual comes to the church body 00:33:59.000 --> 00:34:01.339 and submits themselves to the help 00:34:01.339 --> 00:34:02.899 and the governing role of the church body, 00:34:03.000 --> 00:34:04.779 and then the church body submits itself 00:34:04.779 --> 00:34:05.839 to that individual and says, 00:34:05.920 --> 00:34:06.940 we're gonna love, we're gonna care for you, 00:34:06.960 --> 00:34:07.680 we're gonna help you. 00:34:07.799 --> 00:34:09.779 And then together in unity, they work. 00:34:11.559 --> 00:34:13.539 The unity of the church can only exist 00:34:13.539 --> 00:34:14.619 when this is accomplished. 00:34:15.579 --> 00:34:17.860 When nobody's concerned about doing their own thing, 00:34:17.960 --> 00:34:20.059 nobody's concerned about emphasizing their program, 00:34:20.059 --> 00:34:22.820 and nobody's concerned about being highlighted 00:34:22.820 --> 00:34:24.279 on the platform or whatever it is. 00:34:24.400 --> 00:34:26.820 It works when we mutually submit 00:34:26.820 --> 00:34:29.079 to one another in humility. 00:34:29.539 --> 00:34:30.960 There's no room for selfish ambition. 00:34:31.500 --> 00:34:33.039 There's no room for conceit. 00:34:33.639 --> 00:34:35.599 There's no room for high-mindedness. 00:34:37.980 --> 00:34:40.400 And this starts at the top. 00:34:42.139 --> 00:34:44.099 This applies to me as your pastor. 00:34:45.599 --> 00:34:48.920 This church is not about what I want. 00:34:50.059 --> 00:34:51.179 It's not about what I want. 00:34:52.179 --> 00:34:54.019 Of course, God has ordained leadership, 00:34:54.659 --> 00:34:56.679 and he's ordained structures, 00:34:56.679 --> 00:34:59.420 and we need to follow the biblical command of that. 00:35:00.480 --> 00:35:02.659 But at the point that this church becomes about me, 00:35:02.960 --> 00:35:03.799 it's gonna fail. 00:35:05.460 --> 00:35:07.119 We stay focused on the gospel 00:35:07.119 --> 00:35:09.579 and mutually submit to one another, 00:35:10.079 --> 00:35:12.539 and it will succeed because that's how God's gonna work. 00:35:13.880 --> 00:35:15.679 Churches are weakened and splintered, 00:35:16.480 --> 00:35:18.320 and the people care more about getting their own way 00:35:18.320 --> 00:35:19.900 than they do about serving others. 00:35:20.940 --> 00:35:23.240 They're rendered useless in the purposes of God 00:35:23.240 --> 00:35:26.240 when the people consider their own preferences 00:35:26.240 --> 00:35:29.260 to be more significant or important than anyone else's. 00:35:30.640 --> 00:35:32.980 When Christians are ruled by conceit, 00:35:33.780 --> 00:35:34.620 selfish ambition, 00:35:35.440 --> 00:35:38.260 and a desire to always have things done their way, 00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:40.700 they lose focus on the gospel, 00:35:40.699 --> 00:35:46.259 and maybe inadvertently sow discord among God's people. 00:35:48.059 --> 00:35:49.019 MacArthur wrote this, 00:35:49.039 --> 00:35:50.460 and I think it just explains it well. 00:35:50.519 --> 00:35:50.799 He said, 00:35:50.899 --> 00:35:52.899 Paul's concern here is not about doctrines, 00:35:53.019 --> 00:35:55.179 ideas, or practices that are clearly unbiblical. 00:35:55.960 --> 00:35:58.039 It's about interpretation, standards, 00:35:58.279 --> 00:35:59.859 interest, preferences, and the like 00:35:59.859 --> 00:36:01.980 that are largely matters of personal choice. 00:36:03.279 --> 00:36:04.759 Such issues should never be allowed 00:36:04.759 --> 00:36:07.500 to foment controversy within the body of Christ, 00:36:07.500 --> 00:36:11.340 to insist on one's own way in such things is sinful 00:36:11.340 --> 00:36:13.980 because it senselessly divides believers. 00:36:15.019 --> 00:36:16.760 It reflects a prideful desire 00:36:16.760 --> 00:36:20.460 to promote one's personal views, style, or agenda. 00:36:21.780 --> 00:36:23.159 Believers must never, of course, 00:36:23.280 --> 00:36:25.380 compromise doctrines or principles 00:36:25.380 --> 00:36:26.460 that are clearly biblical, 00:36:26.699 --> 00:36:30.179 but to humbly defer to one another on secondary issues 00:36:30.179 --> 00:36:33.139 is a mark of spiritual strength, not weakness. 00:36:33.139 --> 00:36:37.480 It's a mark of maturity and love that God highly honors 00:36:37.480 --> 00:36:41.279 because it promotes and preserves harmony in his church. 00:36:42.759 --> 00:36:44.859 Someone wants to find humility 00:36:44.859 --> 00:36:46.879 as not thinking poorly of yourself, 00:36:47.679 --> 00:36:49.539 but just not thinking of yourself at all. 00:36:51.759 --> 00:36:54.619 Humility is not thinking that you're a bad person. 00:36:55.900 --> 00:36:57.420 It's just not thinking about you. 00:36:58.420 --> 00:37:00.059 It's putting everybody else first. 00:37:00.059 --> 00:37:07.320 Unity is incredibly important to the life of the church, 00:37:07.320 --> 00:37:08.599 and it's very fragile 00:37:08.599 --> 00:37:12.559 as the church is made up of sinful people, 00:37:12.980 --> 00:37:15.719 redeemed people, but still sinful people. 00:37:17.320 --> 00:37:19.159 What I want to encourage you to do 00:37:19.159 --> 00:37:21.299 is fight for unity. 00:37:22.820 --> 00:37:26.320 It's going to be easy to be disgruntled with somebody. 00:37:26.599 --> 00:37:28.159 If you're disgruntled, make it right. 00:37:29.000 --> 00:37:29.920 Love each other enough. 00:37:30.880 --> 00:37:31.559 To make it right. 00:37:32.880 --> 00:37:34.599 Consider your own feelings sometimes. 00:37:35.739 --> 00:37:36.920 Is what I'm upset about, 00:37:37.000 --> 00:37:39.039 is that really just an indication of my own pride, 00:37:39.079 --> 00:37:40.719 or is there a legitimate offense here? 00:37:42.279 --> 00:37:43.440 Fight for unity. 00:37:44.519 --> 00:37:46.659 In our Christian context, 00:37:46.860 --> 00:37:48.059 especially in the South, 00:37:49.380 --> 00:37:50.940 where there's churches everywhere, 00:37:52.219 --> 00:37:54.400 it's really easy to avoid 00:37:54.400 --> 00:37:56.340 the responsibility of church unity 00:37:56.340 --> 00:37:57.420 because it's easy enough 00:37:57.420 --> 00:37:58.860 just to leave one church and go to another. 00:37:58.860 --> 00:38:02.680 I want to encourage you to fight for that unity here. 00:38:04.440 --> 00:38:05.240 Fight for it here. 00:38:06.840 --> 00:38:08.079 After all, that's what the church is. 00:38:09.180 --> 00:38:10.720 And when you move to that other place, 00:38:11.120 --> 00:38:11.980 there's going to come a time 00:38:11.980 --> 00:38:12.900 where you're unhappy there too. 00:38:14.240 --> 00:38:15.579 Or somebody's going to bother you there. 00:38:16.320 --> 00:38:17.800 Or something's not going to work out 00:38:17.800 --> 00:38:19.500 the way that you want it there either. 00:38:19.500 --> 00:38:21.780 It's hard for us to do. 00:38:22.980 --> 00:38:24.820 But Paul mentions here in chapter two 00:38:24.820 --> 00:38:27.039 that we have actually the supreme example 00:38:27.039 --> 00:38:28.960 of how to demonstrate this humility. 00:38:30.159 --> 00:38:32.380 If as Christians were to be like Christ, 00:38:32.920 --> 00:38:35.019 then we can be humble and unified together 00:38:35.019 --> 00:38:36.900 in the way that Christ was in chapter two. 00:38:36.900 --> 00:38:40.180 And I'll just close it by reading these verses. 00:38:40.780 --> 00:38:42.059 Paul says in verse five, 00:38:43.260 --> 00:38:45.420 let this mind, this mind of humility, 00:38:45.619 --> 00:38:46.519 this mind of unity, 00:38:46.860 --> 00:38:48.019 let this mind be in you, 00:38:48.280 --> 00:38:50.260 which was also in Christ Jesus, 00:38:50.800 --> 00:38:53.099 who being in the form of God, 00:38:53.220 --> 00:38:55.000 thought it not robbery to be equal with God 00:38:55.000 --> 00:38:57.200 or did not count equality with God 00:38:57.200 --> 00:38:58.260 something to be grasped. 00:38:58.320 --> 00:38:59.480 He didn't have to have it. 00:38:59.500 --> 00:39:00.800 He was willing to set it aside. 00:39:00.800 --> 00:39:04.340 But made himself of no reputation, 00:39:05.000 --> 00:39:07.920 he took upon him the form of a servant 00:39:07.920 --> 00:39:10.600 and was made in the likeness of men. 00:39:11.800 --> 00:39:13.960 And being found in fashion as a man, 00:39:14.360 --> 00:39:18.240 he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, 00:39:19.140 --> 00:39:20.460 even the death of the cross. 00:39:21.960 --> 00:39:23.180 Wherefore, because of that, 00:39:23.260 --> 00:39:24.900 God has highly exalted him, 00:39:26.019 --> 00:39:28.460 given him a name which is above every name, 00:39:28.560 --> 00:39:29.440 that is Lord, 00:39:29.440 --> 00:39:31.480 that at the name of Jesus, 00:39:31.599 --> 00:39:33.440 every knee should bow of things in heaven 00:39:33.440 --> 00:39:34.700 and things in earth 00:39:34.700 --> 00:39:35.980 and things under the earth, 00:39:36.099 --> 00:39:37.800 and that every tongue should confess 00:39:37.800 --> 00:39:40.179 that Jesus Christ is Lord 00:39:40.179 --> 00:39:42.820 to the glory of God the Father. 00:39:44.440 --> 00:39:46.099 Thank you for listening to this sermon 00:39:46.099 --> 00:39:48.099 made available by Lakeside Bible Church. 00:39:48.539 --> 00:39:50.179 Feel free to share it wherever you'd like. 00:39:50.720 --> 00:39:52.079 Please do not charge for it 00:39:52.079 --> 00:39:53.440 or alter it in any way 00:39:53.440 --> 00:39:55.079 without express written consent 00:39:55.079 --> 00:39:56.480 from Lakeside Bible Church. 00:39:56.980 --> 00:39:58.639 Don't forget to visit us online 00:39:58.639 --> 00:40:00.119 at lakesidebible.church 00:40:00.119 --> 00:40:02.420 or find us on Facebook and Instagram 00:40:02.420 --> 00:40:04.799 by searching for Lakeside Bible NC. 00:40:05.519 --> 00:40:06.679 If you live in the Charlotte 00:40:06.679 --> 00:40:07.539 or Lake Norman area, 00:40:07.679 --> 00:40:08.719 we'd love for you to attend 00:40:08.719 --> 00:40:09.900 one of our worship services. 00:40:10.259 --> 00:40:11.519 We meet every Sunday morning 00:40:11.519 --> 00:40:12.299 at 10 a.m. 00:40:12.299 --> 00:40:13.099 in the gym 00:40:13.099 --> 00:40:14.659 at Cornelius Elementary School. 00:40:14.879 --> 00:40:16.099 We'd love to meet you. 00:40:16.099 --> 00:40:17.099 Amen.