And our journey through it.
Unity and Humility
Greetings Church. What a wonderful Day the Lord has given us today: for this is the Day the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it.
My calendar scripture for this morning was from Philippians chapter 2 but before I started reading I went to Pastor Hagee’s account of this letter from Paul. Paul was writing to the believers in Philippi thanking them for their help in his hour of need but also he writes some instructions on Christian unity in his letter. To quote Pastor Hagee, “His central thought is simple: Only in Christ are real unity and joy possible.”
Paul also exhorts the Church to “stand fast—be of the same mind--rejoice in the Lord always--but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known—and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts “and” minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4: 1,2,4,6,7) Everyone of Paul’s exhorts here are known and proclaimed by the Christian community even now. BUT are we really “using” or acting on them or just saying or spouting them off to be heard to make ourselves look good? OOPS! Are we stepping on toes now? Sorry but maybe TRUTH has to come first before unity can be achieved! Let’s go back to the Word for more TRUTHS:
Philippians 2:1-4
“Therefore If there is any consolation (or encouragement) in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy fulfill my joy by being like-minded, 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 than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”
Paul was trying to get his brothers and sisters to open up their hearts and minds to ‘God’s Love’ and how to not only say as Christ says but to “DO” as Christ did.
Let’s go through some of Paul’s instructions here, Church:
Stand fast: I believe this means to be “firm” in our Trust and Belief in our Trinity. Don’t move from our “ROCK”--Christ Jesus. When we are a Child of God “NOTHING” can move us from that “Rock” BUT ourselves by thinking more highly of ourselves than God.
Be of the same mind: Here I can quote right from the Word for this one. “Be of the same mind towards one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion (eyes).” (Romans 12:16)
Rejoice in the Lord always: This exhortation from Paul also is directly quoted in the Word. Verse 4 in Philippians is, “Rejoice in the Lord Always. Again I will say, rejoice!” Also in Romans 12:12, “rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.” Paul’s instructions are very specific here, Church, think about them.
The next instruction I will quote again directly from the word:
Philippians 4:6
“Be anxious for nothing, but in “everything” by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Church, this is also confirmed by Matthew in the Beatitudes.
Matthew 6: 25 (Jesus speaking)
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?”
Now, all these instructions are concluded in the eleventh verse in chapter 4. Everything is pointing to this conclusion of what God “will” do for His Children when we follow His Word in “UNITY” and “HUMILITY”.
Philippians 4:7
“And the ‘Peace of God’, which surpasses “ALL” understanding, “WILL” guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” I have underlined peace of God here because it was referenced back to John 14:27, again Jesus Himself saying:
“Peace I leave with you. (Holy Spirit) My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Whatever we see, hear, or feel in the natural is not God’s peace, it is not the Holy Spirit “in” us. The Holy Spirit was given to us by our Father, Who will lead, guide and direct us through God’s Word; now that “IS” the peace beyond “ALL” understanding. God’s Peace!! God and only God can give us the Peace in “ALL” circumstances. But “WE” have to allow (our wills) HIM to do His will in our lives; by reading, listening to His Spirit “in” us, having the confidence that He has the final, ultimate plan, for each of our lives because of His Love for each of us. TRUTHS from God!
Church, in all the papers I write, I believe the Lord is admonishing me as well as you through these writings. We can’t grow in Christ unless we are like-minded. I’m not perfect but I am trying to grow “in” and “for” my Lord and Savior to help pass on God’s Love message in these letters. Here is where MY standing fast comes in at. How about your standing fast? Where is your standing fast place? Think about it Saints. How? By:
Trusting and Believing in God’s Love for us.
All scriptures are from: New King James Version of Prophecy Study Bible, General Editor-John C. Hagee unless otherwise stated.