Anchored: What Defines Us – Unity – Philippians 2:1-11
Michael Lieberknecht
1 “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” – Philippians 2:1-11 (ESV)
What do you think of when you hear the word, “time?”
Two words for time in Scripture:
Chronos (Gk) = time (constant, linear movement; predictable)
Kairos (Gk) = time (a critical, catalytic moment; can be a crisis or a super elated experience)
Crises have quite the power. They can either unite us or divide us…
No matter how spiritual we believe we are, we will always be susceptible to fighting and conflict.
“There is something in our hearts that inclines us to fighting, that even the strongest resources towards unity are still not enough to stop the fighting.” – Tim Keller
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy…” (v. 1)
- Weighty words that suggest a radical encounter with Jesus
“…complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.” (v. 2)
- They were still fighting! There were still divisions and conflict!
What caused this fighting?
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit…” (v. 3a)
“Let each of you look not only to his own interests…” (v. 4a)
Vain conceit (kenodoxia in Gk) = empty of glory; starved for validation and approval; not assured of your significance and value; starving for respect and honor; I don’t matter or count; a vain or erring opinion; groundless self-esteem
A Heart Prone to Fighting/Division:
1) We desire to win an argument over winning a person.
2) We help others with an agenda.
3) We undercut people to get ahead.
4) We take the glory when things go right and blame others when things go wrong.
A Heart of Unity/Peace:
1) We count others more significant than yourselves. (v. 3b)
2) We have a genuine regard for those around us. (v. 4b)
3) We have a sense of agreeability and humility, even when we have differing opinions.
4) We see ourselves and others with incredible, God-given worth and purpose.
We have disunity because we forget two very important truths: 1) I am God’s beloved and 2) so is everyone else around me. Because of Jesus, who He is what He did for us, we are called to be of like-mindedness.
It is through our unity, motivated by love, that shows the world who Jesus truly is. The world says, “Live and let live” and “Just do what makes you happy…” Jesus says, 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:12-13 (ESV)
1
Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity!
2
It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down on the collar of his robes!
3
It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the Lord has commanded the blessing,
life forevermore.
Psalm 133 (ESV)