The Motivation for Spiritual Unity (Part 1)

TRANSCRIPT

I greet you in the blessed name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. If you have been asked, ‘What is the greatest danger that the church would face?’, what would you say it is? Some of us would say that it is an attack on the Word of God. Well, that is true because if the Word of God, which is our foundation, be destroyed, what can we do? As the Psalmist says, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3).

Others would say that it is sin because sin would destroy the purity of the church. Well that is also true. But sin would not only destroy the purity of the church, sin would also destroy the unity of the church. When the Apostle Paul closed his last letter to the Corinthians, he expressed his fears about sins that would destroy the Corinthian church. This is what the Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:20. “For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults”. The Corinthian church was a classic example of a divided church because it was filled with quarrels, envies, jealousies, fightings, anger, strife, backbitings, and so forth.

Indeed, disunity is a potential danger for every church, including our church. A danger that Paul addressed in almost every one of his letters to all the churches. So you read through the epistles and you’ll see that Paul would address this most pertinent issue: disunity. This is something we want to learn from today’s passage in Philippians 2:1-2. If you look at verse 1 Paul said, “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies”. The word, “therefore”, connects to what Paul had just spoken in the preceding verses which we have learned in our last message that we ought to stand together and be united as one in heart and mind.

But being united just for the sake of unity is a meaningless exercise. There must be a purpose, and the purpose is that we must strife together for the faith of the gospel. And when we strive together for the faith of the gospel, we must also be prepared to suffer for Christ. But in the process of seeking this spiritual unity, there may be moments whereby you and I would be discouraged, disheartened, distracted, so much so that we may lose our focus. How then can we be motivated to pursue this spiritual unity? To be united as one? – which is very important.

I. The consolation in Christ

This is the title of our message: ‘The Motivation for Spiritual Unity’. There are four points in our message, and the first point is: ‘The consolation in Christ.’ Notice there are four ‘if’s’ in verse 1. The idea is that, ‘If this condition is true, then the following will apply.’ In other words, if all these four conditions were true, then Paul said, verse 2, “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” Firstly he said, “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ”. The word “consolation” has the root meaning of coming alongside someone to render assistance by offering comfort, counsel, encouragement or exhortation.

It is the kind of assistance demonstrated by the good Samaritan who, after he had done everything he could for the stranger who was robbed and beaten, this good Samaritan, he took out two pence and gave them to the host, to the inn-keeper, and said to him, “Take care of him” – the stranger who was injured – “and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.” (Luke 10:35.) Most interestingly, in John 14:16, Jesus used a closely related word to refer to the Holy Spirit as another comforter who will come alongside us believers to render counsel, comfort, encouragement and exhortation.

So the question, “If there be any consolation in Christ,” – obviously there is. Our Lord Jesus has saved us and redeemed us; He will never forget neither will He forsake us. This most powerful consolation in Christ comes directly to you and me through the indwelling Holy Spirit who is our divine Comforter. As believers, we have experienced this consolation in Christ. Shouldn’t this divine influence of Jesus Christ, in our lives, compel us to preserve the very unity that our Lord Jesus says is so precious? Spiritual unity was so precious to our Lord Jesus Christ that He prayed in John 17:21, which was our responsive reading, allow me to quote for you again, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”

It was so important, so precious to our Lord, that in His priestly prayer in John 17, He repeatedly prayed that the believers would be united as one. Some people say, ‘Well, it is hopeless. It is meaningless. There’s no unity. It is impossible to have this unity in church.’ If Jesus has prayed that the believers be united as one, do you think our Lord Jesus would not give us the consolation, strength, support and encouragement you and I need to live together, serve together and be united as one? Most certainly He would.

II. The comfort of love

Secondly, Paul said, “if any comfort of love”. Let us take a moment and consider this comfort of love that we have experienced. While we were yet sinners living in sin, God picked us from the miry pit. He transported us out of darkness into His marvellous light through the gospel of salvation. Even after salvation, we continuously sin against Him again and again, yet God would shower on each and every one of us His love. A believer who has truly experienced this comfort of love will demonstrate his gratitude for God’s love by obeying His command to love others. Remember Jesus commanded us in John 13:34, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” Indeed, some people are really hard to get along with, sadly even Christians. But we have a duty and responsibility to look beyond the weaknesses and faults of our brothers and sisters. As Christians, we must learn to see the person and love him or her with the love patterned after the Lord’s command, “as I have loved you”.

How did Jesus love us? He came into this world, He lived a perfect life, He suffered, He was crucified, shedding His precious blood to pay the penalty of our sins. That was how much He loved us. And the command was, “love as I have loved you.” So to all the people who say, ‘I have tried to love. I have loved and it is enough, it is sufficient,’ – it is not enough. And it can never be enough. Even if we have exhausted all human avenues of love, it is still not enough because we will always come short of the love we have experienced, of the love we have been commanded by our Lord Himself: ‘Love as I have loved you.’ No one in this room or in this world can ever love in the way our Lord Jesus has loved.

The believer who seeks to obey the Lord’s command to love, he will not seek to separate himself from fellowshipping from other believers because of personal reasons. He will learn to put aside his own personal differences. He will learn to be sensible and sensitive to the needs of others. He will not be easily offended and irritated. Ultimately, he will follow the example of our Lord Jesus Christ who will never cast anyone away. That kind of love which has flowed into our hearts, it must flow out from our hearts too. As the Apostle Paul says in Romans 5:5, “because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” We who have received this comfort of love, out of this heart, will also pour out this comfort of love.

Dear friends, take a moment and consider our lives, how we have experienced this comfort of love. Have you ever encountered a most devastating experience? It could be the loss of a loved one. It could be a broken relationship, a financial struggle, or troubles you face in the ministry. It was so painful, you were so down and out, discouraged, disappointed, disheartened. You cried out to God and God was so gracious to deliver you. And then you experienced this “comfort of love”. You believe that nothing happens by chance nor coincidence and that God is sovereign. He has a purpose in allowing things to happen.

And the Bible tells us, 2 Corinthians 1:4, God “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation,” – for what purpose? Why does God comfort us in all our tribulation? God says, “that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” In other words, God’s purpose in allowing you to encounter that most devastating experience, whatever it may be, is that you may be comforted by Him. And after you have been comforted by Him, God wants you to comfort others who are in trouble with the same comfort you yourself have been comforted by Him.

Can you imagine how united the church would be when every one of us were to apply this principle into our lives. We who are recipients of the comfort of love, whether as widowers or widows, whether it be raising us from the bed of affliction, or having our broken relationships mended, or being delivered from our griefs, sufferings and troubles of all sorts – we who are recipients of this comfort of love, we render the same help, the same assistance to those who are in trouble, with the same comfort we have received. That would be most wonderful! That would be a church that is most united.

III. The fellowship of the Spirit

Thirdly, Paul said, "If any Fellowship of the spirit." The word “fellowship" (koinonia) describes partnership or mutual sharing. The phrase "of the spirit" speaks of the intimate fellowship the believer has with the Spirit. Every believer is indwelled by the Holy Spirit. The Book of Romans tells us that if you have not the spirit of Christ, you are none of His, or you do not belong to him. So, as a believer, you have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and you are continuously being filled with the Spirit.

But you are not the only one who is indwelled and filled with the Holy Spirit and continuously being filled with the Spirit: other believers experience the same thing. So, if you are indwelled and filled with the Spirit, and here comes another believer who is also indwelled and filled with the Spirit, how can there be no fellowship? How can there be no spiritual unity? That is the idea. The believer who is indifferent to spiritual unity or doesn't care about spiritual unity will both grieve the Spirit and quench the Spirit's work. That is something you and I must never do—never quench the Spirit and never quench His work as well.

Our fellowship is not merely human fellowship, like people who have common interests or hobbies or likings. For example, you like cooking and she likes cooking, and you can have fellowship. Or you like to play tennis, he likes to play tennis, and you can have fellowship. That is a worldly idea of fellowship.

Our fellowship is not man-centered. The fellowship that exists between Christians is a fellowship created by God Himself. This fellowship exists not because we have anything in common. Sometimes we may have certain things in common, but that's beside the point. It is because of the Spirit.

One theologian gave this illustration or analogy: "A bag filled with marbles." Allow me to quote from him: "There are many marbles of various colors and sizes, and they are packed closely together in a container. If the container is ripped apart, all the marbles will spill out in different directions because there's nothing internal that binds them to each other. Now, in contrast, consider a magnet placed into a bag of iron nails. By their nature, the iron nails will respond to the power of the magnet and are drawn together. If the bag is ripped apart by some outside forces, the attractive force of the magnet will still draw all the iron nails together and keep them intact and united."

In a similar fashion, faithful Christians may be separated by circumstances beyond their control. There may be physical adversities that may come into our lives that will rip us apart. But you and I can still be united together. Why? Through the power of the Spirit that worketh within us and draws us together. This is a glimpse of how we are bonded in the fellowship of the Spirit. It is the Spirit that unites us together.

If you can turn with me to 1 John chapter 1, verse 3. Let me read for you: "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us. And truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ." In other words, because we have been brought into this vertical fellowship with God by His grace, there must also be this horizontal fellowship that extends outwardly to embrace other Christians. Can we claim to have this vertical fellowship with God and yet not have this horizontal fellowship with other believers? More certainly not. None of us can claim to have one aspect of this fellowship unless we also have the other. That was the reason why John continues to say in verse 6 and 7, "If we say that we have fellowship with Him:” – that vertical fellowship – “and walk in darkness, we lie and not the truth: But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another” – the horizontal fellowship with the believers – “and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.”

Dear friends, do you have someone in your life, a brother or a sister in Christ, whom you will not want to have fellowship? Someone whom you dread to see, you don't want to have anything to do with this person. We are not speaking about compromising sins, exercising biblical separation, all because of doctrinal issues that are very pertinent. We are talking about personal issues, someone you do not like because of personal reasons, differences, issues.

If that is the case, then there's something lacking in your relationship with God. There's something lacking in your fellowship with Him. Remember, you cannot have one aspect of that fellowship, the vertical fellowship of God, without having the other, the horizontal fellowship with the believers.

IV. The bowels and mercies

Fourthly, Paul said, "If any bowels and mercies," the word "bowels" refers to a deep longing affection. If I may give you an illustration, if one day your child says to you, "Mom, I love my younger brother. I really care for my younger brother," what would you say to your child? "I'm surprised, I'm shocked, I didn't know you could do that." You wouldn't do that. But rather, you will say, "Well, that is the right thing to do, to love your brother, to have a deep affection for your brother is a natural thing."

Dear friends, we are all brothers and sisters in God's family. To have a deep affection for another brother or sister in Christ is natural. In fact, the opposite is also true. Not to have a deep affection, not to love our brothers and sisters in Christ is not only unnatural, it is unacceptable. There must be these bowels and mercies. The mercies that Paul speaks of here is almost always used in reference to God. For example, 2 Corinthians 1:3 says, "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort."

If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you have experienced God's mercy. Surely you have. Why? Because you deserve hell, but He loved you and He has saved you. And He continues to lead you in this life all the way until you reach the land of glory, that is heaven. We have all experienced great mercy. Is it not true? All of us, every day of our lives, we have experienced God's mercy. He saved us, redeemed us, and He's still leading us all the way until we draw our last breath.

How then can we not show mercy? How then can we fail to show compassion to other believers who also confess Christ's name, even though they may offend us or irritate us or trouble us? We must have these bowels and mercies, this deep longing affection, and this mercies that we have received from God, we also exercise this mercy and compassion to others. Remember, the word "if" is conditional. The idea is that if this condition is true, then the following will apply. So, if all these four conditions are true, we know that they are true, therefore Paul says, verse 2, “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind."

Here, to be like-minded, Paul was not speaking about being like-minded in doctrines or the Word of God (we ought to), but in the context, he was speaking about an attitude. How do we know? Because in verse 5, he says, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." Paul was speaking about having an attitude just like our Lord Jesus Christ, whose mind was always set on the things above, not on the things of this world, whose mind was always humble and not proud. So Paul says, "You must have this attitude like the Lord Jesus Christ." Like-minded like Him. The same mind He has, you must also have like-mindedly. Having the same love: that’s the second one, to love everyone equally. Humanly speaking, that is impossible. Why? Because people are not equally attractive. But this is agape love, which is patterned after the love of God. It is a sacrificial love which is not subjected to preference or attraction.

By the grace of God, you and I must make a conscious effort to love everyone equally. Doesn't matter what race, culture they belong to, social status, it doesn't matter. We love everyone as the children of God, as brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. “Having the same love, being of one accord.” The literal meaning is to be united in spirit or of one spirit. It is to have deep and passionate concern for God, for His Word, for His work, for His gospel, for His people.

You see, no two Christians are the same. None of us in this room can say that so and so is 100% perfectly the same as me. Whatever levels of spiritual maturity you may be in or your knowledge of the Bible, we are all different. No two persons can have exactly the same understanding. We are different in so many ways. But as far as God, His Word, His work, His gospel, His people are concerned, we are united, we are one. That is what it means.

Dear friends, put aside whatever differences we have as far as God, His Word, the Bible, His work, the gospel, and His people, the children of God, fellow brothers and sisters in Christ – as far as all these things are concerned, we must be united as one. That is what it means to be of one accord. Of one mind is similar to being like-minded. Spiritual unity is so important. So important that it is deeply rooted in the heart of the Apostle Paul, that he says to them, the Philippians, "If you know that all these conditions are true, then you must fulfil ye my joy."

Paul knew the Philippians loved him. They respected him as the minister of God's Word. Therefore, he was able to tell them, "Fulfil ye my joy," which means fill up my joy, make my joy full, like filling a cup with water to the brim. Fill it up to the brim. As a father, when we see our children united as one, let's say you have four kids, and all four of them are so united, how do you feel? There will be this joy that words cannot express, right? The pastor is the spiritual father of the church, and the greatest joy he can ever feel is when the members are united as one.

This desire and love for spiritual unity must be the prayer of every pastor, every church leader, including every member, every worshipper, that no man will divide, no man will tear apart what God has divinely joined together in the body of Christ, the church. When we see a church being divided, it ought to rip our hearts apart, just like parents when they see their children disunited, fighting among themselves, it ought to rip the heart of the father or mother apart.

When a church is spiritually united, it is healthy, it is effective. It will be able to advance the gospel work and bring glory to the almighty God. When we are disunited, who do you think is most happy? The Devil. We are called to be sober, be vigilant because our adversary the Devil walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. We all know that. The Devil also knows that a divided church is a weak church, a divided church is an unhealthy church. It is ineffective, it is of little threat to him because it has no power to advance the gospel work. So he loves to see a church being divided.

Dear friends, disunity has plagued many churches, and we must be careful because it can creep into our church, it can affect us, and then we will be rendered useless. Even the Devil knows we will be of little threat to him. It has plagued many churches, including our church. We have experienced disunity before. Whenever there is disunity, there will be bickerings, there'll be fightings. Souls are dying. Think about this, souls out there, souls that you know, your unbelieving grandparents, parents, relatives, friends, and here we are bickering, fighting, neglecting the gospel book because we are so focused on our differences. May the Lord forgive us.

Let us this morning be reminded of this wonderful truth. Four things Paul said. If these four conditions are true, then the following applies. Is there consolation in Christ? Yes. Is there comfort of love? Yes. Is there fellowship of the Spirit? Yes. Is there bowels and mercies? Yes. Because it is natural for brothers and sisters in Christ to love one another. If all these conditions are true, then the following applies. You and I must fulfill one another's joy, not just the pastor's joy. Every one of us in this church, it is our joy that we be like-minded, all of us having the same mind, setting on things above, not on things on this earth.

Dear brothers and sisters, the things on this earth will be left behind when you draw your last breath. Ultimately, the things on this earth will perish. The Bible says the elements of the heavens and the earth will melt with fervent heat. This present heaven and universe will be destroyed because our Lord Jesus has to create the new heavens and the new earth. So we ought to set our affections on things above, heavenly things, spiritual things, not on the physical things on this earth. Physical things are only good as far as they can advance the gospel, the Lord's book.

And then we also must have the same love; love everyone equally with this agape love, not subjected to preference or attraction. Doesn't matter who the person is, we love equally. Be of one accord, united in spirit, one spirit. Although we are different, we may have different spiritual maturity and understanding, but as far as our God, the word of God, His work, the gospel, and His people are concerned, we are united as one and of one mind.

Dear friends, this is the spiritual unity that our Lord Jesus says is so precious to him, that he prayed that the believers be one. And we pray that we will be spiritually united, not for our own sakes, but for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the glory of His precious name. So that when the day we see our Lord Jesus, he will be pleased to say to us, "Come, thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord." This is what you and I desire to hear. Let us close with a word of prayer.

Our Father in heaven, we thank Thee for this portion of Scriptures that Thou has enabled us to consider about spiritual unity. Indeed, as we consider Thy word, Thy word is true. If all these conditions are true, then the following applies. Indeed, there is consolation in Christ. How can there not be consolation? Our Lord Jesus, he has saved us, redeemed us, and he is with us every day of our lives. We have experienced this consolation in him through the wonder-working of His Spirit.

There is also the comfort of love. Thou has been so good to guide and lead us every day of our lives, and we trust and believe that Thou will continue to guide us all the way until we reach the shores of heaven. There's this fellowship of the spirit, not a physical worldly fellowship, but a spiritual fellowship created by Thee, by virtue of the Holy Spirit. We are united, and we are so thankful also that as believers, we have this bowels and mercies for one another, this deep longing affection and mercies that we show to one another. This is the joy that we see in the church of Jesus Christ, the oneness.

O Lord, grant to Bethel BP Church this oneness, this spiritual unity that we will be united together for the gospel book, to be a healthy church and effective church, a church that will advance the gospel of Christ, a church that will bring glory to Thy precious name. Let not any men nor the Devil divide the church and tear apart what God has divinely joined together in the body of Christ, Thy church. We give thanks, and we pray all this in Jesus' name. Amen.

SERMON OUTLINE

• I. The consolation in Christ
• II. The comfort of love
• III. The fellowship of the Spirit
• IV. The bowels and mercies

PHILIPPIANS SERIES

The Church at Philippi

The Church at Philippi

Philippians 1:1-2

The Joy of A Spirit-Filled Life (Part 1)

The Joy of A Spirit-Filled Life (Part 1)

Philippians 1:3-5

Elements of True Joy

Elements of True Joy

Philippians 1:3-6

The Joy of a Spirit-filled Life (Part 2)

The Joy of a Spirit-filled Life (Part 2)

Philippians 1:6

What are the Things Most Important to Us?

What are the Things Most Important to Us?

Philippians 1:7-8

Growing in Godliness

Growing in Godliness

Philippians 1:9-11

Message 5: Praying for the Church

Message 5: Praying for the Church

Philippians 1:9-11

Growing in Godliness

Growing in Godliness

Philippians 1:9-11

Are All Things Really Working For Good?

Are All Things Really Working For Good?

Philippians 1:12-14

In Times of Adversity

In Times of Adversity

Philippians 1:12-18

Trouble in the Church

Trouble in the Church

Philippians 1:15-18

For to Me to Live is Christ, to Die is Gain

For to Me to Live is Christ, to Die is Gain

Philippians 1:19-26

To Live is Christ

To Live is Christ

Philippians 1:19-26

Living Worthy of the Gospel

Living Worthy of the Gospel

Philippians 1:27-30

Live your life worthy of the Gospel

Live your life worthy of the Gospel

Philippians 1:27-30

The Motivation for Spiritual Unity (Part 1)

The Motivation for Spiritual Unity (Part 1)

Philippians 2:1-2

Let's Have Fellowship

Let's Have Fellowship

Philippians 2:1-4

Essential Principles of Spiritual Unity (Part 2)

Essential Principles of Spiritual Unity (Part 2)

Philippians 2:3-4

The Ultimate Example

The Ultimate Example

Philippians 2:5-8

The Ultimate Example

The Ultimate Example

Philippians 2:5-11

What Is Christmas?

What Is Christmas?

Philippians 2:6-11

The Greatest Name

The Greatest Name

Philippians 2:9-11

Living a Sanctified Life

Living a Sanctified Life

Philippians 2:12-13

Work Out Your Own Salvation

Work Out Your Own Salvation

Philippians 2:12-18

Moving Forward Not Backward

Moving Forward Not Backward

Philippians 2:13-14

Stop Murmuring and Complaining

Stop Murmuring and Complaining

Philippians 2:14-16

The Exemplary Example of a Spiritual Servant: Paul

The Exemplary Example of a Spiritual Servant: Paul

Philippians 2:17-18

The Exemplary Example of a Spiritual Servant: Timothy

The Exemplary Example of a Spiritual Servant: Timothy

Philippians 2:19-24

The Importance of Spiritual Discernment

The Importance of Spiritual Discernment

Philippians 3:1-2

True Believers Worship God in Spirit and in Truth

True Believers Worship God in Spirit and in Truth

Philippians 3:3, John 4:4-30

Nothing to Boast Of

Nothing to Boast Of

Philippians 3:3-6

What Is Gain To Me Is Loss

What Is Gain To Me Is Loss

Philippians 3:7-9

The Power of Christ's Resurrection

The Power of Christ's Resurrection

Philippians 3:10-11

What are Your Spiritual Goals?

What are Your Spiritual Goals?

Philippians 3:10-11

Pressing Toward The Mark

Pressing Toward The Mark

Philippians 3:12-14

Pressing Toward the Mark

Pressing Toward the Mark

Philippians 3:13-14

Morning Devotion 2: God’s High Calling for You

Morning Devotion 2: God’s High Calling for You

Philippians 3:13-14

How to Know the Will of God

How to Know the Will of God

Philippians 3:15

Who Are You Following?

Who Are You Following?

Philippians 3:16-19

Heavenly Or Earthly Minded

Heavenly Or Earthly Minded

Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Corinthians 15:50-57

How Do You Stand Fast?

How Do You Stand Fast?

Philippians 4:1

How to Maintain Christian Unity

How to Maintain Christian Unity

Philippians 4:2-3

Having Peace in Times of Trouble [Part 1]

Having Peace in Times of Trouble [Part 1]

Philippians 4:4-7

The Cure for Anxiety

The Cure for Anxiety

Philippians 4:6-7

Message 6: Praying for the Troubled

Message 6: Praying for the Troubled

Philippians 4:6-7

Having Peace in Times of Trouble [Part 2]

Having Peace in Times of Trouble [Part 2]

Philippians 4:8-9

Learning To Be Content [Part 1]

Learning To Be Content [Part 1]

Philippians 4:10-12

How To Be An Overcoming Christian

How To Be An Overcoming Christian

Philippians 4:13

Learning To Be Content [Part 2]

Learning To Be Content [Part 2]

Philippians 4:13-19

My God Shall Supply All Your Needs

My God Shall Supply All Your Needs

Philippians 4:19

Living By Grace and For God's Glory

Living By Grace and For God's Glory

Philippians 4:20-23