My Essence Of Love Is Of Christ

FROM: APRIL 17 @ 23, 2018

TOPIC: "My Essence Of Love Is Of Christ" Philippians 2:1-4

The Church of Philippi was a great example of service and care for Paul. But, in love we should not expect to get anything back in exchange for the good we do. Paul praised or exalted them with all his heart, but not far from the realities of those he loved. The apostle knew that there were disputes between brothers that were hidden, which had to be brought to light in order not to allow them to develop any further. In Chapter 4:2 it is clear that Euodia and Syntyche did not agree ("I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord.). Everything that motivates us to speak or move must be out of love! Paul deals here directly with the "cause" and the "cure" of the disputes among the people of God.

I. CONSIDERATIONS THAT ALL BELIEVERS SHOULD HAVE:

1. We should be captivated by consolation (encourage ourselves) so that there will be harmony and cooperation among us. (Philippians 2:1) Paul says: "If you have any encouragement (breath) from being united with Christ..." The breath or consolation is the relief in the affliction, it is the comfort, it is receiving a balm. Our comfort is in Christ, the relief we want most in life as believers or as children that we are.

2. ("...if any comfort from his love...") For His love has a persuasion (the ability that the Lord has to transmit and that reaches us) so immense and His love fills us with so much tenderness, His love convinced us that we cannot hate, nor contend, nor harm anyone. His love convinced us that we cannot do things either by strife, or by envy, or by vainglory.

3. ("...if any fellowship with the Spirit...") For the Holy Spirit unites us all in such a wonderful communion having in common all that of Christ. Why the quarrel or division between Euodia and Syntyche?

4. ("...if any tenderness and compassion...") And because there is an endearing (deep and affectionate, that arouses spontaneous affection in others) affection (the inclination to love) and compassionate (feeling pity or sorrow) in the believer, we should be able to co-exist in happy harmony with one another!

5. In harmony = in balance, in peace and understanding between two or more people.

6. Paul calls for the unity (to the union) that is based on the common devotion to Christ and the common possession of the Holy Spirit. Those who have the Holy Spirit should have unity!

7. With all that is in Christ, the members of His body SHOULD have UNITY OF PURPOSE, AFFECTION, AGREEMENT and SIMPATHY.

8. (Philippians 2:2 "...then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.") If in the Philippians there is a willingness to embrace the previous arguments (Vs. 1), then, Paul begs them on the basis of the same to complete his joy being compliant having unity and harmony among them.

9. They were his joy, now he asks them to fill his cup of joy until it overflows.

10. They could do it by being like-minded, having the same love, being unanimous and feeling the same thing.

11. Nothing to contend, or to murmur, no one to hate, or no one to not look at. No, please!

12. (Philippians 2:3 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.") We should do nothing out of rivalry or pride.

13. Nothing to seek to be number one!

14. When we find the "number ones", the "first", there we will find disputes and quarrels.

15. In humility, each person esteeming others as superior to themselves.

16. (Philippians 2:4 "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.") It is to live more detached from ourselves and taking care of others.

17. With our strength we cannot do what Paul asks of us, we can do it only by being inhabited and enabled by the Holy Spirit; only then can we live it and practice it.

18. We want to be cured of what is our personal affliction, but, the upheaval we have will go away when, as God's people that we are, we begin to worry more about others. We will be healthy and well when we put the interests of others at the same level of importance as ours.

19. When in love we surrender our lives in fervent and pious sacrifice for others, then we will victoriously rise above the selfish disputes and quarrels of men. Amen.