Philippians 1:1-4
A famous symphony conductor was once asked which
instrument was the most difficult to play in an orchestra.
People expected him to say the violin, the piano, or
perhaps the French horn. Instead, he answered:
“Second fiddle.”
He explained that he could always find talented musicians
who wanted to play first chair. He could find people who
wanted the spotlight, the solos, and the recognition. But
finding someone willing to play an important supporting
role without seeking attention was much harder.
Yet an orchestra cannot function with fifty first-chair
musicians. Beautiful music happens when each person
embraces his or her role and works for the success of the
entire ensemble. The flute does not compete with the
trumpet. The percussionist does not try to drown out the
strings. Each musician contributes to something larger
than themselves.
When even one section becomes focused on being heard
above everyone else, the harmony is lost. But when
every musician submits to the conductor and serves the
overall purpose of the composition, the result is beautiful.
The same principle is true in every healthy church.
Unity is not created when everyone gets their own way.
Unity is created when people willingly lay aside personal
recognition and work together for a common purpose.
Today we are going to look at the first 4 verses of
Philippians 2.
Paul admonishes the church toward unity and humility.
Philippians 1:1-4
Paul uses the conditional word if, but not in the sense
that we might often use it. As he writes the word if, he
knows that the Philippian believers have experienced
each of the;
4 Marks of a Believer
If there is any:
Encouragement in Christ – what does the Bible say about
being in Christ?
Romans 8:1 there is therefore no condemnation for
those who are in Christ
2 Corinthians 5:17 if anyone is in Christ he is a new
creation
Ephesians 1:7 in Him we have redemption through
His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses
If there is any:
Comfort from Love – what comfort is there in God’s Love?
Romans 5:8 but God shows his great love for us in that
while we were still sinners Christ died for us.
Ephesians 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of
the great love with which he loved us, even when we
were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with
Christ
If there is any:
Participation in the Spirit – what does Paul mean by
participation in the Spirit?
Participation is the Greek word koinonia which also
means fellowship. Paul means if you have any fellowship
with the Holy Spirit.
Fellowship with the Spirit means an intimate partnership.
2 Corinthians 13:14 the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with you all
Paul encourages the church at Corinth with these words
at the end of his second letter.
Notice the trinity in this verse:
Love of God
Grace of Jesus
Fellowship of the Holy Spirit
If there is any:
Affection and Sympathy – what do these words mean in
relationship to Christ?
Affection is the Greek word for bowels or intestines. It
refers to the heart or our emotions. One commentator
compared it to the phrase gut wrenching.
Sympathy could also be translated compassion or
mercies.
2 Corinthians 1:3 Paul writes about God being the
Father of mercies and God of all comfort. Mercies is the
same word as in Philippians translated sympathy.
If you know Christ you understand His mercies.
And aren’t you thankful that His mercies are new every
day?
Paul continues by encouraging them to complete his joy
by giving them two admonitions
Paul’s Admonition to the Philippians
First, he urges them to
Be United
Jesus prayed for unity among believers in His High
Priestly prayer in John 17:21-23
“That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me,
and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the
world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that
you have given me I have given to them, that they may
be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that
they may become perfectly one, so that the world may
know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved
me.”
Paul tells them to be of the same mind.
In verse 5 he tells them to have the mind of Christ.
The church should be united. There should be no arguing
or backbiting.
We should focus on carrying out God’s will for the church.
Last Wednesday night we talked about the purposes of
the church.
Worship – spend time together worshiping the one true
God
Discipleship – helping other believers grow up spiritually
Evangelism – taking the gospel into the world
Paul tells them to have the same love.
He means he wants them to have the same love as
Christ.
Jesus gave His disciples a new commandment in
John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that
you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also
are to love one another. By this all people will know that
you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
The church remains united when it loves like Christ
Paul tells them to be united in Spirit and purpose.
He says “in full accord and in one mind.
Paul was aware that there was some disunity within the
church.
His point was that if they worked on their relationship
with Christ and remembered that they were saved by
grace through faith, then they could get their relationship
with each other in good standing.
That means putting your own desires behind the
collective desires of the church. Paul desires that the
Philippian church stand in unity as a bold example of the
mind and love of Christ.
Paul’s second admonition is to
Be Humble
Paul reminds them they should
Not be selfish
Not be conceited
Rather he wants them to
Count others better than themselves
Put others needs above their own
Jesus gave a great example of how Christians ought to
behave when he described a man attending a wedding
feast.
He told the man not to sit in the place of honor in case
someone more distinguished be invited.
He told him if he did that then he would be forced to
move to a lower place.
Then He told him to sit in the lowest place and when the
host comes he may tell you to move up to a place of
honor.
He closes by saying “everyone who exalts himself will be
humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
From Luke 14:8-11
APPLICATION
This morning there are two points of application
Promote Unity
Ask yourself, am I promoting unity or division?
Practice Humility
Ask yourself, am I putting the needs of the church above
my own?