An Appeal for Unity
Introduction:
Read
Psalm 133.
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For
brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like
the precious oil upon the head, Running down on
the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running
down on the edge of his garments. It is like
the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains
of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the
blessing – Life forevermore.”
NKJV
This wonderful psalm stresses the beauty of
brethren dwelling together in unity. The writer
then uses two illustrations showing how good
unity really is. First – It’s like precious oil
[aromatic spices – myrrh, cinnamon . . . .] used
in consecration of Aaron as high priest.
As Brother Jackson writes,
“As the sacred oil flowed down from Aaron’s head
over his shoulders, so harmony among brothers
exudes its sweet influence upon all who come
under its lovely fragrance.”
Second – It’s like dew on Mt. Hermon
[10,000 foot mountain in Palestine]. Often this
dew is so heavy it appears to have rained during
the night. Just as dew refreshes life in an
arid land, unity among brethren promotes God-
approved growth.
Theme:
To exhort us to be one!
Text:
Philippians 1:27-28, 2:1-4
Body:
I.
The Appeal
Philippians 1:27-28
“Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel
of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or
am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you
stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving
together for the faith of the gospel, and not in
any way terrified by your adversaries, which is
to them a proof of perdition, but to you of
salvation, and that from God.”
NKJV
Paul begins by admonishing and urging the church
to “conduct themselves worthily” – a God-given
obligation to behave as good citizens
[Greek] of Christ’s Kingdom. The church was to
be a colony of heaven in Philippi. A serious
charge! His desire was that whether he was
physically present with them or not, he would
continue to hear good reports of this faith.
Now he says what he hopes the reports of their
faith contain.
1.
“Stand fast” – Don’t panic, persist, preserver.
Have strong convictions, oneness of spirit; be
closely united in will.
2.
“With one mind” – Literally one soul! Their
very souls are to be one! Even their affections
and emotions are to be one. All are to
have the same goals and aims for the church.
They must be working together to achieve it.
Teamwork was called for. Trust each other and
be trustworthy.
3.
“Striving together” – Contending together, as
one participant, as in an athletic contest. In
a three-legged race both must be working
together. The object of their struggle is the
one faith. (Jude
3)
“Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to
you concerning our common salvation, I found it
necessary to write to you exhorting you to
contend earnestly for the faith which was once
for all delivered to the saints.”
NKJV
4.
“Not terrified” – Adversaries – those who lie in
wait. Antagonists:
a.
Satan himself (I
Peter 5:8)
“Be sober, be
vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks
about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may
devour.”
NKJV
b.
Those who oppose gospel preaching (I
Corinthians 16:9)
“For
a great and effective door has opened to me, and
there are many adversaries.”
NKJV
c.
Those who depart from the
faith and then oppose it (II
Timothy 2:16-19)
“But
shun profane and idle babblings, for they will
increase to more ungodliness. And their message
will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus
are of this sort, who have strayed concerning
the truth, saying that the resurrection is
already past; and they overthrow the faith of
some. Nevertheless the solid foundation of God
stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those
who are His,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the
name of Christ depart from iniquity.’ ”
NKJV
Paul
appeals to these Christians to be united in
spirit and soul, striving together for the
faith, living worthy of the gospel. He doesn’t
ask the impossible!
II.
The Approach
Philippians 2:1-3
These verses instruct us as to how we attain
this unity and then how we maintain it.
This is so critical today as the Lord’s church
faces the possibility of a major division or
many divisions. Let us listen and take heed.
A.
Use Your Spiritual Resources
Philippians 2:1
“Therefore If there is any consolation in
Christ, if any comfort of love, if any
fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and
mercy,”
NKJV
“If” – Not expressing doubt, but assuming a
truth “Consolation in Christ” –
Encouragement by being in Christ We are called
to be beside of Christ; all of us have
that closeness with Him. “Comfort of love”
– It’s consoling during difficult times. (II
Corinthians 1:3-4)
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all
comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation,
that we may be able to comfort those who are in
any trouble, with the comfort with which we
ourselves are comforted by God.”
NKJV
“Fellowship
of Spirit” – We are all to be led by the Spirit
and have the divine fellowship of the Spirit.
“Affection and mercy” – Those who are one show
compassion and have sympathy for each other.
These resources must be used if unity is to
exist!
B.
Maintain the Right Spirit toward Each Other
Philippians 2:2-3
“fulfill my joy
by being likeminded, having the same love, being
of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done
through selfish ambition or conceit but in
lowliness of mind let each esteem others better
that himself.”
NKJV
Paul
presses for unity. “Like-minded” – Think
along the same lines, in the same direction,
[unified purpose]. “Having the same love”
– Be dedicated to one another, not petty,
practicing true Biblical love; be sincere, not
hypocritical. “Being of one accord” –
Literally together souled; a blending of souls
Live in harmony. “Of one mind” – Keeping
our minds on the one thing – doctrinal unity. (I
Corinthians 1:10)
“Now
I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same
thing, and that there be no divisions among you,
but that you be perfectly joined together in the
same mind and in the same judgment.”
NKJV
Just as the early church was united by
continuing steadfast in the apostles’ doctrine,
so we must base our unity on the faith [all of
it] – not our opinions, emotions, or desires.
The unity of the faith is found only in the New
Testament. (Ephesians
4:13)
“till we all come to the unity of the faith and
of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect
man, to the measure of the stature of the
fullness of Christ.”
NKJV
Now Paul says selfish ambition and conceit are
enemies of Biblical unity. Selfishness and
pride tear apart Christian unity. There must be
no rivalry, but rather with humility and modesty
look upon others as deserving first
consideration. This will go far in eliminating
many church problems.
III.
The Application
Philippians 2:4
“Let each of you look out not only for his own
interests, but also for the interests of
others.”
NKJV
We owe much to our brothers and sisters in
Christ. We need to have their interests in
mind. Their best interest! This means
getting to know them, being concerned about
what’s going on in their lives, being involved
and doing what we can to make their lives
better. Other believers’ needs should be of
primary importance. When you enter the family
of God, to some extent you do become your
brother’s keeper. A
congregation will never be united truly if this
is not done! Our involvement and concern must
even go so far as to doing
whatever we can if we see a brother involved in
sin. We must intervene and try to save his
soul. (James
5:19-20)
“Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the
truth, and someone turns him back, let him know
that he who turns a sinner from the error of his
way will save a soul from death and cover a
multitude of sins.”
NKJV
