Oh, my. Okay, open your Bibles,
if you would, to the book of Philippians, chapter 4. The name of the message is, Humility
Leads to Unity. Now, we looked at this in chapter
2, remember? We looked at this in chapter
2. I was going to preach all the way down to verse 4, but
I stopped on verse two. There's a whole message here
for us and very good instruction for we who are the people of
God, we who are the born again, blood-washed people of God. We've
been saved by the grace of God in and through Christ alone,
through his sacrifice. And let us remember that all
of us are but sinners. The same grace you're saved with,
sister, my dear sisters, is the same grace I'm saved with. Same
grace you're saved with, brother, is the same grace I'm saved with,
right? We're actually all on the same level, like Scott used
to say. We really are. We're just saved sinners. And
so we're gonna see in this verse that there's a dispute between
two sisters in the Lord. And we can see how, through the
book of Philippians, we're gonna look at this too, how Paul's
been preparing them. And remember, it's the Holy Spirit,
right? Who brings this out. There's going to be two ladies
that he's going to, I don't want to say call out, but he's going
to specifically mention them. That they need to get along.
Because again, what's the opposite of humility? Pride, right? And
pride leads to division, doesn't it? It does, yeah. Thinking I know something that
somebody else don't know. or that I've reached a higher
plane than someone else. No, no, we haven't. We may have
learned and grow in the Lord, but remember, we're just a bunch
of sinners saved by grace. So we're not even supposed to
lord our knowledge over someone because it's all given to us,
isn't it? Everything we know is given to us, isn't it, Brother
Charlie? Yeah. And the giftings and the abilities
that we have is all given to us. So there's very much instruction
for us in this section. And I want you to notice what
Paul does by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He points them right
to Christ. Why do I point you to Christ
all the time? Because that's our only hope. Outside of Christ,
we don't have any hope, do we? But in Christ, what a hope we
have. Oh my, what a wonderful hope we have in Christ. My. So last week, we looked at
verse one, where we saw Paul gave an exhortation to the Philippian
saints to stand fast in the Lord, right? To stand fast in Christ,
to stand fast in the truth of salvation through Christ alone,
by the grace and mercy of God alone. That's the only way that
we're saved, by the mercy and grace of God, right? And Paul's
going to continue this exhortation we're going to see today to two
sisters who are not agreeing with one another. Now remember,
they're both born again by the same Holy Spirit, aren't they?
They're both washed in the precious blood of Christ, right? They both have the same Lord,
the same Redeemer, But for some reason, they're not getting along. Now, things happen in families,
right? There was times when I was growing
up that I didn't always get along with my brothers. But we always
mended the fences. And now since I'm a believer,
I want to keep short accounts with my brethren, right? Knowing
that we're just safe sinners. So I've learned by God teaching
me, of course, not on my own, to keep short accounts, to pray
for others, pray for those who despitefully use us even, right?
So Paul's going to set forth between these two sisters that
they need to come together in the Lord. It's amazing. Let's read verse 20 from chapter
3 all the way to verse 3 in chapter 4. Because it's all connected. For our conversation is in heaven.
That's our citizenship. In the Greek, our citizenship
is in heaven. From whence we look for the Savior, Look at
that singular, the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. That means
Jesus Christ is the only Saviour of sinners. Who shall change
our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious
body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue
all things unto Himself. Now, what a hope! We have a hope
in Christ, but also, He's going to change these bodies which
are breaking down on us, right? into a glorified body, will have
no pain, no sorrow, no sin. My, won't that be wonderful,
beloved? Oh, my. Therefore, my brethren. So that
word, therefore, connects it to verse 20 and 21. Therefore,
my brethren, dearly beloved. Remember, that's divinely loved
ones. My goodness. God's people are the divinely
loved ones, not because of anything in us, see. but all because of
God's grace and mercy. Isn't that wonderful? Divinely loved ones, and long
for my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my divinely
loved ones. I'm saying it from the Greek,
my divinely loved ones. Isn't that wonderful? Oh, my. How long have we been loved for? For an eternity, sister, amen.
Divinely love for maternity. Now here's these two ladies.
I beseech you, your diocese, and beseech Cynthia, that they
be of the same mind in the Lord. And I entreat thee also, true
yoke fellow, help those women which labored with me in the
gospel, so these two ladies labored with him, and with Clement also,
and with other my fellow labors whose names are in the book of
life." We'll look at that verse next week. The book of life.
Our names are in the book of life. Brother, they've been in
the book of life from eternity. Oh my, isn't that wonderful? One hymn writer said, our names
are written in the book of life with indelible ink. Can't be erased. Oh my, I remember,
I remember. One time I was in Oregon, and
I always check people, people who write commentaries, right?
We went to this church, Vicki had to take pictures there, and
so they had a library there, and this was what was called
a Calvary Chapel Church. It's a non-denominational church.
So what I do when I go to places like that, and if they have commentaries,
I go right to Ephesians, right? And look, right away, Ephesians
1-4. Chosen in him before the foundation
of the world, right? Well, this fella said that God's
people, their names aren't written in the Lamb's Book of Life until
they're saved. And I knew right away, this guy's
off. And then he says, well, no, actually, their names are
written in the Lamb's Book of Life, and then he takes a holy eraser
and wipes their name out. This is blasphemy. God's people
are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. You can come on in.
And they will never, ever be taken out of that. Never, ever,
never. Ain't that wonderful? It's absolutely
wonderful. Just amazing. So beloved God, we've looked
at in our studies in chapter two of this book, we learn that
humility leads to unity in chapter two, right? And a critical spirit and an
arrogant spirit leads to disunity. Disunity. Let's go back to chapter
2 again. And let's keep in mind what we
see here in verse 2 of chapter 4, where the phrase, that they
may be of the same mind in the Lord. So in chapter two, Paul
exhorts the Philippians, saints to be of one accord. There appears
to have been some division within the Philippian church. Now we
see that there is between two prominent ladies, right? But
also we know division amongst people trying to esteem themselves
better than each other, than others, which we're supposed
to esteem others better than ourselves, not esteem us better
than someone else. They were doing the opposite. My, oh, my. And again, the basis
for this wonderful, merciful grace is the fact that we are
all on the same level. We're all sinners who need to
be saved, right? And we who are the saints of
God are sinners who have been saved by the grace and mercy
of God through the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. So
we have nowhere to boast. or boast over someone else, do
we? No. No, not at all. We've all been washed in the
precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, we who are believers. All of us. Christ Jesus' blood
has washed away our sins. Isn't that wonderful? That's
a fact. That's a fact. We've been born again by the
same Holy Spirit of God, haven't we? Given faith to believe. So
look at this in Philippians chapter 2. Let's read verses 1 to 8.
Paul's going to set forth Christ as an example of humility. He's
the ultimate pitcher of humility, isn't he? But look what he says
before that. If there be therefore any consolation, that's comfort
in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the
Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my joy. Now look at
this. Fulfill ye my joy that you be like-minded. See those
two sisters weren't being like-minded, were they? And it appears that
there's others in the church that aren't being like-minded. Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be
like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord. Look
at that. And of one mind. Philippians
chapter 2, verse 3. Look at this. Look at verse 3.
Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory. Oh, look what
I'm doing. So apparently things have been
going on where strife was caused, they were doing things through
strife, and they were doing things for their own glory. Now, we seek to glorify God,
don't we? Yeah. I got nothing to boast
in. I'm just a sinner saved by grace
telling other sinners where to find bread. My. Let nothing be done through strife
or vainglory but in lowliness of mind. Humility. Humility,
beloved. Let each esteem others better
than themselves. So there's a command to us from
the Holy Spirit of God that we are to esteem others better than
ourselves. You know how we do that? We look
at each other in Christ. I'm just a filthy, rotten sinner
saved by the grace of God. Vicki and I were talking this
weekend, and I can't remember what came up, and she goes, well,
that's me. About being a sinner, you know. I'm like, yeah, I'm
right there with you, honey. We are, do you know, I was reading
an old-time preacher, and he said, God saves the worst. He saves the worst. Because we
know what we are, don't we, Brother Brian? We're sinners who need
Christ desperately. Desperately. And He saved us. Praise His mighty name. And He
saves all who come to Him by faith. And that faith's given,
isn't it? It's a gift of God, not of works,
lest any man should boast. It's wonderful. Salvation's of
the Lord. He saved sinners. He came to
save sinners. He didn't come to save good people.
He came to save sinners. Paul says, of whom I'm chief.
And what do we say? I'm right there with you, Paul. Oh my. Look at verse 4, Philippians
chapter 2. Look not every man on his own things, but every
man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which
was also in Christ Jesus. Now here is the ultimate picture
of humility. God in the flesh, the son of
God who became a man to save his people from their sins. Look
at this, look at this humility. Let this mind be in you, which
was also in Christ, who being in the form of God thought it
not robbery to be equal with God. He's God, wasn't he? He's God before he came. And it says here, so that's speaking
of him before he comes. And then look at verse seven,
speaks of his incarnation. But made himself of no reputation
and took upon him the form of a servant who was made in the
likeness of man. God, the word, became a man. Humbled himself. He said, I've
come to do the Father's will. Not his own will. Remember? Father,
if it be your will, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless,
not my will, but thy will be done. And he's in the garden. That's
before he goes to Calvary to shed his blood for us, beloved.
It's amazing. What a Savior. but made himself
with no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant, was
made in the likeness of man, and being found in the fashion
as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death,
even the death of the cross." There is the ultimate picture
of humility. The Creator. That's who Christ
is. All things were made by Him,
and by Him all things consist. The Creator becomes a man, Sinless,
isn't he brother? Sinless in life and in death. And he dies as our substitute,
the substitute of sinners. And he cries on the cross, it
is finished. Our salvation is complete. And
then the third day, He rises from the grave for our justification,
doesn't He? And remember what we looked at
on Wednesday night about being justified. It's being made righteous. And the only way we're made righteous
is by the righteousness of Christ, isn't it? What a Savior! Our
God, planned and purposed our salvation, provides himself as
the sacrifice for our sins, the great substitute, dying in the
ruined place of sinners, rises from the grave for our justification,
and then his righteousness is given to us. So God looks upon us, his people,
sinners, saved by grace, and sees Christ. That's absolutely
incredible, isn't it? And so if we look at ourselves
as sinners saved by grace, it'll lead to humility. If we esteem
others better than ourselves, our brothers and sisters better
than ourselves, it'll lead to humility. Don't ever try to be
humble. God has to work that in us. He does. It's all part of God
working in us. When I was in religion, I used
to, oh, I want to be more humble. I want to be less angry with
people. I want to be, you know what? And it never worked. Now
I just rest in Christ and ask him to help me. Ain't that wonderful? He gives us joy, doesn't he,
Brother Brian? He gives us peace amidst the chaos of this world.
We can wake up and go, praise God for another day. I'm saved. I'm washed in the blood of Christ.
And I'm not talking about being on the mountaintop all the time.
No, I get down and depressed just like everybody else. But I have a hope, do you? My hope is Christ. In Him alone. He's the one I look to. He's
done it all. There's nothing left for me to do. Nothing for
you all either. We're just looking to Christ
together, aren't we? Scripture says, look to Him and live. Praise
God. By the grace of God, I'm looking. Oh my. Oh my. Now with that thought,
in mind that humility leads to unity. Let's go back to chapter
four and read again of these two dear sisters in Christ. And we see Paul's exhorting these
sisters. He's exhorting these sisters to have the same mind. He says, I beseech Eurydice and
beseech Cinche, that they both be of the same mind in the Lord.
I've probably butchered that name, I'm sorry. What is it? Cintiki, okay, Cintiki,
thank you. Cintiki. You're gonna hear me
further on just say the two sisters in the Lord. That's why I put my notes through
the whole rest of the message. These two dear sisters in the
Lord. Thank you, little sister. You know what we're seeing here,
though, between these two sisters? We're seeing the flesh get the
better of them. Now, we still have our flesh,
don't we, Charlie? We still struggle all the time. Temptation comes
in our mind all the time. Sin in our mind all the time,
because we're sinners, still, from the top of our head to the
bottom of our feet. But you know what happens? You
know what, I'm gonna tell you what I do when stuff, I'm like, Lord,
take these thoughts away from me, please. I go right to the
King, beloved. And I'm admitting you, I got
some thoughts come in my mind, I'm like, where did that come
from? Lord, please take that away. Or a thought comes in my
mind, I'm like, Lord, please, I don't wanna act upon that.
Give me strength. Because we're weak, aren't we?
Let's admit it. We're weak, we're frail. He keeps
us up. He restrains us even. My. So he's exhorting these two sisters
in the Lord to not let the flesh get the better of them. See the
word besiege? It's used twice in front of their
names. The word besiege is a strong
word. It means I exhort, I beg, please. So he's like, please, my dear
sisters, I beg you. I exhort you, please, be of the
same mind in the Lord. That's the key, isn't it? In
the Lord. We see that Paul sends an individual
message by inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, remember?
And this is for our instruction, beloved. Remember that we're
reading this now. This is for our instruction,
too. Now, I love the unity that we have in this church, and I
believe it's because the Lord has bought us low. The unity
is incredible, we have. But we'll give God all the glory,
won't we? So we see that Paul sends an individual message to
these dear sisters in Christ. Now, he's been preparing them
for this through the whole letter. And observe the humility. This
is the apostle Paul, and he's saying, I beg you, Be of the
same mind. Do you notice he's not chastising
them? He's just, I beg you, please
my sisters, be of the same mind. He could have used his apostolic
authority, couldn't he? But he doesn't. He doesn't. Paul was a humble
man. The Lord made him that way. Now
we know he's a proud man too, right? He struggles with both.
We know that, oh wretched man that I am. He went around killing Christians,
remember? Oh my, but now he's a new creature
in Christ. So he writes these two sisters
like, please, please be of the same mind and begs them to be
reconciled. That's what's brought forth in
the Greek here. Remember, he loves these folks.
He spent time with these folks. And he even tells us in the next
verse that they helped him and Clement and others ministering
in the word, meaning they probably bought them food and took care
of them. Again, he could have used his
apostolic authority, but he doesn't. Turn, if you would, to Philippians
1. Instead, in meekness and humbleness,
in humility, Paul besieges them and begs them to be of the same
mind. Now, this wasn't an abrupt request. Paul has been preparing
them for this through the whole letter. How do we know? Look at this,
chapter one. And what we just read in chapter
two, too. But look at this in chapter one, over in verse 27
to 30. The wonderful lesson for us here. Only let your conversation, that's
your lifestyle in the Greek, Be as it is, becometh the gospel
of Christ, that whether I come and see you, or else be absent,
I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit."
Now, we saw that again in Philippians chapter 4, verse 1. It's the
second time he's exhorted them just to stand fast. And we know
that's to stand fast in the Lord. In one spirit, that's the Holy
Spirit of God. with one mind, look at that, one mind, together,
right? The same mind, having the mind
of Christ, together for the faith of the gospel. And in nothing
be terrified, or nothing terrified by your adversaries, which is
to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation and that
of God. For unto you it is given on behalf
of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for
his name's sake. having the same conflict which
you saw in me, and now here to begin me." Now, they're suffering
from their countrymen because of their faith. They're Romans
by birth, but now their citizens have heaven by the new birth. But notice that exhortation to
be of one mind. That's the mind of Christ. Be
of one mind in the Lord. Have agreement on the doctrines
of grace. Have agreement on the salvations of the Lord. Have
agreement with one another, knowing that we're just but sinners saved
by grace. And then in Philippians chapter
2, where we read verses 1 to 8, we just saw where Paul exhorted
the Philippian saints to stand fast in one spirit. and in lowliness
of mind, to esteem others better than themselves, and to be like-minded. And then
he brings to their attention the humility of Christ when he
became a man, fully submissive to the Father's will. And he
did that for us, beloved. He did that for us. Then if you want to look up later
on in Philippians chapter 2 verses 19 to 30, remember Paul was speaking
of the selflessness of both Timothy
and Epaphroditus. And he even spoke about how his
own, I think it was in chapter 3, his own righteousness is like
filthy rags. He doesn't want to be found in
his own righteousness. So he's saying, I'm nothing,
Christ is everything. See, if we think that of ourselves,
if we think that we're nothing, and Christ is everything, and our brothers and sisters
think the same way, we're gonna have unity, aren't we? But if
someone thinks they're better than all of us, that's gonna
cause some friction, isn't it? And we're gonna pray for them. that God will show him mercy,
because that's nothing but self-righteousness. I'm no better than anyone else.
I'm a sinner saved by grace. Praise his mighty name. Isn't
that wonderful? And so are you, right? It's wonderful. Let us not graduate from that
position. Oh, my. My, oh, my. So to be of the same
mind in the Lord. There's much for us to learn
here, beloved. Again, humility leads to unity. Therefore, we're to esteem our
brothers better than in sisters, in Christ better than ourselves.
Let's read verse two again. I besiege these Eurydice and
besiege what? Syntyche. Thank you. That they
be of the same mind in the Lord. See how fast I forgot? Now the words be of the same
mind of the Lord in this wonderful verse, Paul's exhorting them
to humility, beloved. He's exhorting them to humility.
Again, we've seen him preparing them for this all through this
book. So there's much instruction for
us as a people of God. We are to see each other as sinners
saved by the grace of God. We've been saved by the same
grace. Again, I'm going to repeat it. We've been born again of
the same Holy Spirit. We have the same Redeemer, the
Lord Jesus Christ. We have the same Father God who
chose us in eternity in Christ. We're redeemed by the same blood,
the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. And we, you know,
we were all born dead in trespasses and sins. All of us. My, but praise God. All saved sinners are washed in the same blood, the
blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. And note how he exhorts our sisters
in the Lord that they be of the same mind, that they agree together. Because there was obviously disunity.
We saw that in chapter two, didn't we? There was disunity there,
and now it's being brought to the forefront. And he's begging
them, be reconciled together, because he knows, he knows that
the vision will lead to something happening. It'll divide the church. The critical spirit these two
ladies have against each other will divide the church. So he's begging them, be of the
same mind in Christ. embrace the same truths, profess
and maintain the same principles the church did, that they would esteem each other
better than themselves. So if one sister here esteemed
the other better than themselves, and the other one did the same,
and they had the same mind in Christ, they'd have unity, wouldn't
they? Pride leads to disunity. Humility leads to unity. My, oh my. Paul takes notice
of their conflict and exhorts them to settle it for the glory
of God and be united in fellowship. and purpose, just as all believers
should seek to preserve the unity of the church and be of the same
mind in the Lord Jesus Christ. Turn if you would, we're gonna
close with this, to Colossians chapter three. Now Paul's writing
to the church at Coloss, the Gnostics have come in, they're
teaching that they have some special revelation from God that
only they can impart, They're preaching that Christ
is just an angel in a lineage of angels. This is what the Gnosics
taught in the lineage of angels, that he's not God himself, that
he's just an angel, which we know is a false gospel, right?
Look at this. I love this. And it's very similar
to what we're reading right now. Colossians chapter three, verses
12 to 15. Look at this. This is wonderful.
And put on, therefore, as the elect of God. So we see that
God's people are called the elect of God. Holy and beloved. Look at that. We're holy, but
not in ourselves. We're holy in Christ, aren't
we? And we're beloved, there's that same word, we're divinely
loved by God the Father. Oh my! Make me want to shout. Oh my! Bows of mercy, oh! Bows there is talking about who
we are inside. Kindness, humbleness of mind,
meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another, look at this, and
forgiving one another. Why? Because we're just sinners
saved by grace. If any man have a quarrel against
any, look at these two sisters, right? Even as Christ forgave
you, so also do ye. Keep short accounts, beloved.
Because Christ forgave us, forgive others. Do you know, when we
don't forgive other people, they don't even know it, unless we're
not talking to them anymore. Do you know who it's harming?
Us. Bitterness can come, can't it? Bitterness is awful. It's awful. Cut that tree of bitterness down
with the gospel acts. Christ and him crucified. Look
at this. And above all these things put
on charity, that's love, which is the bond of perfectness. And
let the peace of God rule in your heart. hearts to the witch
also you're called in one body and be ye thankful we got a lot
to be thankful for don't we we're redeemed by the blood of Christ
God chose us in eternity sent his son to die for us the sinless
one dying for sinners And we just look by God-given
faith to a wonderful, merciful Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
And you know, He saves all who comes to Him, doesn't He? He
never cast away one. And aren't we proof of that?
We're proof of that, aren't we? Praise His mighty name. Brother
Travis, can you close us in prayer?