Behavior of the Church
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Philippians 1:27-2:1
I. Behave Appropriately
I. Behave Appropriately
v. 27
Webster’s– Fit; suitable; congruous; proper; graceful; belonging to the character, or adapted to circumstances;
Appropriately– To set apart for, or assign to a particular use, in exclusion of all other uses;
A. Behave Christ-like
A. Behave Christ-like
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
Love (compassion) “Jesus having compassion…”
Obedient “Jesus led of the spirit into the wilderness…” “nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt…”
Faithful “entered into the temple…”
B. Behave Pleasingly
B. Behave Pleasingly
1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
Oh if we would just live with one thought in mind, “Does this please God?”
31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
C. Behave as a Witness
C. Behave as a Witness
Philippians 1:27
as it becometh the gospel of Christ:
You are the only Bible some will ever read!
II. Stand in Unity
II. Stand in Unity
v. 27
That ye stand fast in one spirit.
Much more can be done by working together…
In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels, threatening him with her fist if he didn't. "What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?" asks Linus.
"These five fingers," says Lucy. "Individually they're nothing but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold."
"Which channel do you want?" asks Linus. Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, "Why can't you guys get organized like that?"
A. Stand Fast
A. Stand Fast
stēkō
Thayer Definition:
1) to stand firm
2) to persevere, to persist
3) to keep one’s standing
6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
B. In One Spirit
B. In One Spirit
1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!
10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
III. Work Together
III. Work Together
v. 27
With one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel
A. With One Mind
A. With One Mind
Which mind?
1. A mind that loves God
1. A mind that loves God
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
2. A mind that serves
2. A mind that serves
The Mind of Christ
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
So with one mind we are to be...
B. Striving Together
B. Striving Together
Sunathleo – sun=in union (with/together)
athleo= a contest in the public lists-contend - struggle along side someone.
More is accomplished if we work together
We spoke of our spiritual gifts last week.
We need to use those fit together, to accomplish what God has in store for our Church.
The story is told about a small, country church where the pastor called a special meeting of the congregation to approve the purchase of a brand new chandelier. After some discussion pro and con, an old farmer stood up and said, "Buying a new chandelier may seem like a good idea to you, but I’m against it for three reasons. First of all, it’s too expensive and we can’t afford one. Second, there isn’t anybody around here who knows how to play one. And third, what we really need in this church is a new light fixture."
Part of working together is being willing to speak up when you know about something.
But of course doing it in a way that is striving together, not with.
With one mind
Striving together
For one purpose!
C. For the Faith of the Gospel
C. For the Faith of the Gospel
Spreading the faith of the Gospel
Our focus needs to be God’s focus!
When is the last time you witnessed for Christ?
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that winneth souls is wise.
IV. Fear Not
IV. Fear Not
v. 28
There will be times when someone is not striving along side us, but is fighting us.
But we need to remember, it’s not us that is doing the work.
You don’t have to be
smart enough
tough enough
super spiritual enough
You just have to go forward in God’s power.
to you of salvation…that of God
A. Power Is of God
A. Power Is of God
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
But there is something to remember...
B. Does Not Mean No Pain
B. Does Not Mean No Pain
(v. 28-30)
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
As the day of Christ approaches, it’s going to get worse!
8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.
13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.
Again he said we don’t need to think about it, God will give us what we ought to say.
This once again shows it is God’s power, not ours!
1. Evident token of perdition
1. Evident token of perdition
Proof of destruction (sign of their destruction)
They will think they have won
Even to the destroying of this body.
Our testimony will be proof of a Christ to them
A very earnest preacher of the Gospel was caught and put in to prison in the south of Spain, and expected to die. There were Anarchists and Communists in the prison; they were desperate and began to write curses on the wall against their captors, so the evangelist wrote on the wall, “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Underneath he wrote John 3:16 in full. That attracted attention. One of the prisoners was a young schoolmaster, and the evangelist had the joy of leading him to Christ. One day the schoolmaster said to him. “My name is on the list today to be shot; I am so glad you wrote that text on the wall. Before, I should have been desperate, but now, although I do not want to die, I am not desperate, because I know I am going to be with Jesus, and that I shall see you again one day.” They embraced one another and he was taken out and shot, but one day we shall see him in Glory, brought to the Lord Jesus Christ by the faithful testimony given in prison.
To them it is an evident token of perdition but...
2. To you of salvation
2. To you of salvation
Proof of your salvation
The Grace that you will receive by going through what God allows in your life.
In verses 28-29 he talks about the conflict and suffering, but then look in your Bible at the next verse, verse one of chapter two…which is a continuation of the thought…he says
1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
Come what may God will comfort and guide us through it all.
How about you?
Have you Behaved Appropriately?
Are you Standing fast in one spirit?
Are you working together with us?
Are you allowing fear to keep you from God’s will?