Philippians Chapter Two

Hello My Friends,

Longtime no hear from… the summer is SO busy... I don’t know why I expect life to slow down during the summer because it never does! So I’m sorry for the long delay between postings. Hopefully you have had a chance to read chapter two… if not give it a good read. Remember begin with prayer and then carefully read through the scripture once without stopping to highlight or mark. Just soak in His Word… then read it through again this time looking for key words, and phrases. The most important tool of the treasure hunter is observation…

Well… it’s been weeks since our last study so let’s try to pick up where we left off… chapter 2. Did you notice a theme in this chapter? I did and I’ll tell you what I noticed later…

Well, you may or may not remember that chapter two begins with therefore. Any time we see it we should ask “what’s it there for?” To find out we have to back up to the first chapter and look at the final few verses. Paul tells the Philippians that for Him to “remain in the flesh”, to continue living is for their benefit and thus he is confident he will continue. He understood the church, the body of Christ, needed him. To continue living would benefit them… it would help them to progress in their faith, or grow spiritually, and it would bring joy to their faith as well.

Paul was a man who served God and others. He lived not for his own agenda but to further the kingdom of heaven. Paul knew God’s purpose for his life and he lived it! He unselfishly served the body of Christ, teaching and being a pastor God’s people. Paul is a great example for all of us… it is not easy to lay down our own desires, our own dreams… our own agenda for God’s plan. That pesky little thing called the flesh seems to rear its ugly head when things don’t go exactly our way. But really, the only way we will ever be able to experience joy, the only way our lives will be truly balanced is to live for God’s agenda and not our own. Let me tell you, that is a lesson I have to learn over and over.

There is one other observation I’d like to make and that is this… we do not leave this Earth until we have completed the task given us by God. Look at Paul, he appears invincible. Look at the obstacles he faced as he served God… he was imprisoned, whipped, shipwrecked, separated from people he loved, and indeed his current situation could end in death. Yet he is able to confidently say that he will remain – not for his benefit – but for the churches. Not that we won’t face trails, heartache, illness and the like but that we will remain until God says you have finished the race. Maybe somebody out there needs to hear that today… you have a purpose – a God given reason you are alive and no matter what you are experiencing right now – there is a way to endure as you live out the calling on your life. Not only can you endure but you can thrive. You can have joy despite everything you see and everything you feel. You need only to look to God and not your circumstances.

Moving on… In verse 27, Paul beings to lay the foundation for serving others saying… not matter what, they are to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Interesting note: It is not our words that prove our faith but our actions…

He says:

Stand fast in one spirit
With one mind
Striving together for the faith of the gospel


I think it is interesting that Paul says in essence, “Be one!” The Christian life is not a do-it-yourself life. It is a life that we do together as a body and as a unit. We need one another and that is why unity is essential. If we are going to accomplish the work of the Great Commission and the Great Commandment we must stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, and strive together. This is the attitude or mind set that we need to adopt. But that is not so easy is it? Why? Because people are different and we are human! Some people rub you the wrong way, some people you like, some you don’t – yes, unfortunately even in the church. BUT if the environment of the church is not one of unity then what happens? More than likely the church will experience disagreements, petty jealously, and envy. It won’t be a church that seekers will want to be part of that is for sure. Jesus once said that a kingdom divided against itself will fall. So if we are not of one spirit and one mind, if we are not united in purpose… we will fail in the task given us by the Lord while we wait for His return. Church, if we don’t work together we will never accomplish our purpose and the truth is we will fall short of loving one another and reaching God’s lost sheep.

So, what unifies a group of diverse and unique individuals – what makes us one? How about our love for and faith in Christ! This summer I volunteered to be part of a writing team at my church. Many of the women I had never met (we attend a large church). We had many differences… different ages, different backgrounds, and different preferred styles of Bible study, but we were united in one spirit, with one mind.

We were united in our purpose; striving together to write a curriculum that encourages others to study the Bible for themselves which will prayerfully result in a deeper and more intimate relationship with God. Although we may be different we were united in spirit and mind by our love for Jesus, our faith in the gospel, and our desire to serve others and because of that we fulfilled our purpose. We were “…like-minded, having the same love, and of one accord.”

There is an attitude for serving others that Paul outlines and an example to follow in Chapter 2 beginning in verse 3. Let’s look at that this week.

Hope you are enjoying your summer.

XO,

CJ