PHILIPPIANS 2:1-4 THE UNITY THAT PRODUCES CHRISTLIKENESS

Phillipians 2:1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

In our text for this study, Paul exhorts them to manifest "The Unity That Produces Joy" (2:1-4)I. v1 THE "MOTIVATION" FOR HAVING UNITY THAT PRODUCES JOY (1)

1. DO WE NOT HAVE ANY "CONSOLATION IN CHRIST"? "
2. We should be unified because we have a common Lord, Philippians 2:1-2. We don’t have a future of doom and gloom but, a promise of new life. In others words do it because you have a gratitude for Christ and others
   a.  This is a common use of the conditional "if...then" where given the reality of the "if" clause, "then" a point should naturally follow (should be translated since)

a.     For example, consider

Ga 3:29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

2. Indeed, there is MUCH consolation (paraklesis) to be found in Christ! It means to walk alongside and encourage Console, a more formal word, means to make grief or distress seem lighter, by means of kindness and thoughtful attentions: to console a bereaved parent.

2Th 2:16-17 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.

A.     DO WE NOT HAVE ANY "COMFORT OF LOVE"? Means to whisper words of encouragement in your ear as they are walking beside you, To cheer you up and counsel you To comfort is to lessen the sadness or sorrow of someone and to strengthen by inspiring with hope and restoring a cheerful outlook: to comfort a despairing person. "Comfort" is a greater degree of tenderness than "consolation.

2. We should be unified because we have a common love, Philippians 2:1-2. We have a common love: the Lord Jesus. In others words do it because you have a love for Christ and others
   2Co 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.

1. DO WE NOT HAVE ANY "FELLOWSHIP OF THE SPIRIT"? III. We should be unified because we have a common life in fellowship. We are equal members of the same body so what we do effects the body.

In others words do it because you have a gratitude and love for the Spirit and other believers
All who have been baptized into Christ has received the gift of the Holy Spirit –

Ac 2:38-39; 5:321.     As the church (the temple of God), the Spirit dwells in us 

1Co 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

3. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit  1Co 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

4. Not only by the Spirit have we all been baptized into one body, but have all been made to drink of one Spirit

1 Co 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

John 7:37-39 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

D. DO WE NOT HAVE ANY "AFFECTION AND MERCY"? IV. We should be unified because we have a common load, Philippians 2:2. We need to carry this load together having affection and compassion towards each other.  In others words do it because you have a gratitude and love for other believers1. There is the "affection" that comes from Jesus and from other brethren – love from the heart- like Jesus when he died for us on the cross2. "Mercy" that comes from our loving Father in heaven – acts of love because of affection.

Ep 2:4-7 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

II. V2 THE "NATURE" OF THE UNITY THAT PRODUCES JOY…. fulfil my joy The Marks or the actions that produce Unity   In others words do it because you have a gratitude and love for your Pastor or Paul as in this case

IT INVOLVES "BEING LIKE-MINDED"...thinking the same way….attitude, feelings, disposition   An attitude is a habit of thinking, a demeanor in life. What is your mental orientation towards others? Is it bitter, resentful? Deal with it decisively.  Spiritual thoughts for the greater good of God, the Spirit and Christ

Conflict comes out of a wrong attitude

1Co 1:10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

1. IT INVOLVES "HAVING THE SAME LOVE"...the love of Christ flowing through them, sacrificial loving service, Conflict comes out of a wrong love, not loving everyone the same

C. IT INVOLVES "BEING OF ONE ACCORD"...harmony of the body of Christ Conflict comes out of a wrong agenda, i.e. Selfish ambition, empty conceit, etc.1.     Literally, "of one soul; having your souls joined togetherD. IT INVOLVES BEING "OF ONE MIND"...intent on one purpose…the Gospel Conflict comes out of a wrong purposeIII. v3-4 THE "ATTITUDES" REQUIRED FOR THE UNITY or The Measure of UnityA.v3 "LET NOTHING BE DONE THROUGH SELFISH AMBITION OR CONCEIT"...a.     The DESIRE FOR EXALTING SELF ("selfish ambition")B. "LOWLINESS OF MIND"...an attitude of humble service1.     In other words, humility2.     Humility will be easy to maintain if we remember our own faults3.     C. "LET EACH ESTEEM OTHERS BETTER THAN HIMSELF"...

Ro 12:10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

D. v4 "LOOK OUT...FOR THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS"...1.     This attitude eliminates the problem of "selfish ambition"2.     It is the attitude of MATURITY, and was the attitude of Christ! –

Ro 15:1-3 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me."

Brokeness Stallions are proud, independent, and need to be broken to be useful to ride or use for work.  We need to be like a horse pulling a wagon… Working together... not trying to pull ahead, but keeping pace with others helping them keep up.