Philippians 2:1-5 Phillips translation

I.      LOVE ONE ANOTHER

Few in today's church are as committed to Jesus Christ as the apostle Paul was. Paul exemplifies what Christ was talking about when He said, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23). 

Paul was so given over to our Lord that he didn't care whether be lived or died. That's an attitude practically unheard of in our materialistic, self-centered, controlling, selfish day!! Most of us live for everything except what Paul was focused on. Paul remained joyful as long as his Lord was glorified, even when he was threatened with death. He presents a challenge to us in our opening text…He says we are to be like‑minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.  

We are to be one in love, whether we can be one in understanding or not. Having the same love. Christ's love among us is to be mutual. Love, and you shall be loved. Being of one accord, and of one mind; unanimously agreeing in the things of God, and keeping the unity of the Spirit, when we differ. The only way that we can be like‑minded is by being lowly-minded. Only the puffed-up, arrogant, proud and overbearing among us will continue to press a moot issue, at the risk of disturbing the unity of the Spirit!!! How many times have we had to sit through two pompous pontificators blowing off steam...and spouting it as dogma, endeavoring to show how much of the Word they know…..while the rest of the class, organization, or group, patiently wait for the display to end? God help us!!! 

"If there is any consolation in Christ"…Have you experienced consolation in Christ? Evidence that experience by loving one another. Do we expect consolation in Christ? Then deposit a seed of: shut-up and sit down, so that when we are in need of consolation from Him, we will get it!! Got it? If there is any comfort in God's love to you, in your love to God, or in your brethren's love to us, you be like‑minded.

II.       FELLOWSHIP OF THE SPIRIT

 If there is such a thing as communion with God and Christ by the Spirit, such a thing as the communion of saints, you be like‑minded. If there be any bowels[1] and mercies, in God and Christ toward you. If you expect the benefit of God's compassions to you, you be compassionate one to another. Fulfill you my joy… It is the joy of any good leader to see people like-minded, lowly-minded, and living in love. That is the only way that we can get anything done in/for the Kingdom of Christ . 

III.     SLAY ALL OPPOSITION

How do we promote the unity of the Spirit? How do we glorify God in our midst? Do nothing through strife and vain glory. Simply said, Christ came to slay all enmities; therefore let there not be among us a spirit of opposition. Christ came to humble us, and therefore let there not be among us a spirit of pride. Satan always enters a family through the weakest link. Sometimes, that is the all-powerful: I, me, mine, I think, I feel, I want, I need…

We must esteem others in lowliness of mind better than ourselves…Slay your own dragons (faults), and you'll be less likely to judge others!! We must esteem the good which is in others above that which is in ourselves....sometimes, that means real hard work, but since Christ does it for us, we must do it for others. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others....A selfish spirit destroys Christian love. We must love our neighbor as we love ourselves. The only way out of the dungeon of selfishness is by finding a need and filling it. Some of the most miserable people…are selfish people.

IV.     WHAT MATTERS MOST

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…When God saved us He gave us a new will, mind, heart, power, knowledge wisdom, life, inheritance, relationship, righteousness, love, desire, and citizenship. He calls it "newness of life" ( Rom. 6:4). Christ was eminently humble, and this is what we are to learn of Him. If we were lowly-minded, we would be like-minded; and, if we were like-minded, we would be functioning out of the mind of Christ. 

Christ, Who being in the form of God…partaking of the divine nature, as the eternal Son of God. He thought it not robbery to be equal with God…He did not think Himself guilty of any invasion of what did not belong to Him. He was made in the likeness of men, and found in fashion as a man…He voluntarily assumed human nature (which was so far beneath Him). He emptied Himself, to clothe Himself with the rags and sins of human nature. He took the form of a servant…not a prince. His whole life was a life of humiliation. But the lowest step of His humiliation was His dying on the cross. He became obedient to death, even the death of the cross…a cursed, shameful, death…full of horrendous pain…He died as a malefactor and a slave, not even as a free man, He was left stripped and exposed, as a public spectacle. Now that is the Mind of Christ!!!

You are only like Him when you submit, even to the death of your ego. When you take upon yourself the form of a servant, only doing what the Master desires…You are like Him most …when you allow your opinions to remain unspoken, in spite of yourself. You are like Him most…when you give up your identity and individuality...for the good of the unity of the whole. Got it?

V.   EPILOG

Our fellowship must be warm, but filled with clichés, because like is going to be drawn to like. The musicians will huddle. The deacons will huddle. The ushers will huddle. The gossips will huddle. The elders will huddle. The youth will huddle…and it is okay, as long as the huddles are not exclusive. Our love must be expressed, but not without its boundaries. The creative, free, and sometimes completely different approach so threatens the "know-it-alls," that one wonders how we retain any draft of fresh air blown through the windows of flexibility, tolerance, love and spontaneity. And, no, I am not talking about a free forum for heresy…I am talking about a "meeting of the minds," "love flowing from heart to heart"…even to the point of acceptance of opinions that differ from our own!!! 

When we reach the goal of our opening text, then just stand back and watch your membership grow by leaps and bounds.