SERVANT VS. SELFISH PHILIPPIANS 2:1-4

PHILIPPIANS 2:1-4 1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,

PHILIPPIANS 2:1-4 2 fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal.

PHILIPPIANS 2:1-4 3 Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.

PHILIPPIANS 2:1-4 4 Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

OUTLINE: 1. The Appeal 2. The Foundation for the Appeal 3. The Necessary Attitude

PHILIPPIANS 1:27 27 Just one thing: Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.

OVERARCHING INSTRUCTION: Live a life worthy of the Gospel.

1. THE APPEAL

PHILIPPIANS 2:1-2 1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,

PHILIPPIANS 2:1-2 2 fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal.

THE APPEAL: To live united.

COLOSSIANS 1:28 28 We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

1 THESSALONIANS 2:19-20 For who is our hope or joy or crown of boasting in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy!

DESCRIBING UNITY: Thinking the same way

DESCRIBING UNITY: Thinking the same way Having the same love

DESCRIBING UNITY: Thinking the same way Having the same love Share the same feelings

DESCRIBING UNITY: Thinking the same way Having the same love Share the same feelings Focusing on one goal

1 CORINTHIANS 1:10 10 Now I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction.

ROMANS 15:5-6 Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement allow you to live in harmony with one another, according to the command of Christ Jesus, so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with a united mind and voice.

JOHN 17:21-22 May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me. I have given them the glory You have given Me. May they be one as We are one.

2. THE FOUNDATION FOR THE APPEAL

PHILIPPIANS 2:1 1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,

2. THE FOUNDATION FOR THE APPEAL a. Encouragement in Christ

2. THE FOUNDATION FOR THE APPEAL a. Encouragement in Christ b. Consolation of love

2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-4 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

2. THE FOUNDATION FOR THE APPEAL a. Encouragement in Christ b. Consolation of love c. Fellowship with the Spirit

1 CORINTHIANS 3:16 16 Don t you yourselves know that you are God s sanctuary and that the Spirit of God lives in you?

EPHESIANS 1:13-14 13 When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.

EPHESIANS 1:13-14 14 He is the down payment of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory.

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

2. THE FOUNDATION FOR THE APPEAL a. Encouragement in Christ b. Consolation of love c. Fellowship with the Spirit d. Affection and mercy

PHILIPPIANS 2:1 1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy.

So what then is the basis or foundation for Paul s appeal?

THE FOUNDATION: What we have in common as Christians.

EPHESIANS 4:4-6 There is one body and one Spirit just as you were called to one hope at your calling one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

3. THE NECESSARY ATTITUDE

PHILIPPIANS 2:3-4 Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

JAMES 3:14-16 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don t brag and deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

JAMES 3:14-16 For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil.

What does it mean to be humble?

PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.

PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11 Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death even to death on a cross.

PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11 For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth

PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

PROVERBS 15:33 The fear of the Lord is what wisdom teaches, and humility comes before honor.

What is the result of our unity? Why is it so important to God?

JOHN 17:20-26 I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in Me through their message. May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me.

JOHN 17:20-26 I have given them the glory You have given Me. May they be one as We are one. I am in them and You are in Me. May they be made completely one, so the world may know You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me.

JOHN 17:20-26 Father, I desire those You have given Me to be with Me where I am. Then they will see My glory, which You have given Me because You loved Me before the world s foundation.

JOHN 17:20-26 Righteous Father! The world has not known You. However, I have known You, and these have known that You sent Me. I made Your name known to them and will make it known, so the love You have loved Me with may be in them and I may be in them.

APPLICATION: Develop Christ-like humility

HOW?

HOW? - Pray for humility - Pray for others