Like-Minded

In church is not just about what I want. I have to put others above myself. That's what you were to split along my way or the highway was my way of the Highwood word of God reveals we can work work it out. Just heard a portion of the upcoming message titled like-minded pastor. But I shop Clearview church in Henderson, North Carolina I Clearview. Our focus is on making Christ is when we worship the way we serve to the way we love one another. Come check us out at 3485 Oxford Rd. in Henderson. Visit us online at Clearview BC that the large joint.

If you have your Bibles with you done to Philippians chapter 2 starting in verse one to talk about the workings of being like-minded, not just in church but also in your life and your home in your relationships be like-minded and that's the message today. Let's all stand as we read God's word starting in verse one. Therefore, if there is any consolation noticing a few moments what that word really means. If there is any consolation 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 like-minded was that mean Paulo emphasizes again is that having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in the lowliness of mind. You cannot have like mindedness if were trying to you know have this one up over the other person and spirituality in biblical knowledge and something else. If you doing that you cannot be like-minded, Paul says that nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. You can say herself that each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others before we pray we can be celebrating the communion this morning and you and I know that communion is much as nothing in the bread all the cup that has miraculous power to heal your diseases. It does not give you immunity from the devil communion is a family meal. Baptism is my individual identification with Jesus Christ communion is to gather we are identifying with Christ were saying we are one family this morning. Husbands are you paddling in the same direction as your wife's families. Are you singing from the same songbook church, are we truly in sync. Are we truly in sync mutually agree with the purpose of Clearview. This is not a church with the family. This is not the church you know that's evangelistic or church that is mission minded a church that cares about his people.

Our mission is very clear to lead all people into a life-changing ever-growing relationship with Jesus Christ is actually your purpose and do you have the mind of Christ we do not know Christ as your Savior. You may be a good person. A helpful person a kind person and honest person you need to get saved and at that moment the Holy Spirit begins to make the mind of Christ really which God has in prayer Holy Spirit you pray today teach us to be like-minded. This message is for me, this message is for all of us to esteem others better than ourselves. God, we pray that you would work in our hearts and unite us not just as a church but also as individual families, couples, Lord, help us to have this kind of unity and for those were lost. We pray God that you would open their minds that they may see Christ and from that point on the mind of Christ would be in them for us in his name we pray, let everyone say you may be seated. Many of you who have been at Clearview for some time. You know that I love preaching through books of the Bible. I believe that's one of the best ways to preach, you get the whole counsel of God you are, you are more accurate in your interpretation last year we had our leaders came together. We talked about the importance of preaching on discipleship discipleship meaning helping people in the church body becoming fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ, not just in words but also indeed so we did a whole series for months on end on discipleship and then there were several other series, but now were back into the book of Philippians, something we began actually in the last weekend of 2017 and we went through chapter 1 and then be stopped, but now were back into and I'm I'm really excited about it for the benefit of those who were not there and even for the benefit of those who were there. I will give you a quick summary of Paul's letter to the Philippians. Why did he write what was this purpose behind it very quickly and then we go to get into the message to start with.

Paul wrote this letter from a prison cell in Rome is a how do you know that. Listen to Philippians chapter 1 verse seven he says both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, both in my chains means he is in a prison, figuratively speaking.

Verse 13 again. He says so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard and to all the rest that my chains are in Christ. Paul is in prison. But don't misunderstand, he is not in some dungeon prison. More than likely he's in a house arrest situation. How do we know that because he's writing letters. He has visitors coming and going, but nonetheless this is not a good situation. There is a strong possibility that Paul will not make it out of this prison. How do we know that. Listen to verse 20 Philippians chapter 1, Paul says, as always, now also Christ will be magnified in my body. Listen to this, whether by life or by death means there is a strong possibility. I'm gonna die I'm not coming out of this prison. Well is to focus on is what Paul says. He says so now also Christ will be magnified. Whether I live or I die. I'm praying that Jesus Christ would be magnified. Pray that all of us would have that attitude. Good times and bad times. I pray that Jesus Christ would be glorified. Whether I have gains or have losses Jesus Christ be glorified whether my job is going well and I held this grade. And kids are doing well or I got the phone call from the doctor lost my job financially were stuck. It doesn't matter. Let Christ be magnified a million and I pray this morning that you would you would have that attitude it doesn't come naturally if you say man I need to feel it. You feel you have to say the other phone call say it.

I pray that Jesus Christ would be lifted up you had the bad fight last night. Pray God through this horrible night.

I pray that you would be magnified. Help us God to work together.

Teachers guide us. Let Christ be lifted up.

That's what Paul's attitude is something else. Who is Paul writing to. He's writing to the Philippians Philippians where Paul's pride and joy you remember in the acts chapter 16 Paul was trying to go to the North and he had a vision in Madisonian call. Remember that a man from acid and he appeared to him and said Paul come and help us what God was telling Paul was Paul doing go north, south, east, go West and West was Greece, so Paul comes to Philip Biden: I have been to Philippi and by the Riverside. He meets a businesswoman by the name of Lydia and she is there and Paul shares the gospel with her and not only does she get say, but her whole household get saved. Church has begun part is going to the streets of Philippi preaching the gospel day after day and a demon possessed girl with the spirit of pride on in her is following after Paul and Silas in and just just being annoying. I will praise God dear of the people of God and the message of Paul turns around and rebukes her and delivers her here you have another convert to the church begins to grow in Philippi. One of the due to Paul did throw him in a prison in the present or the doing in the middle of the night praising God. Paul and Silas are praising God, and the walls are shaken. The chains are loosed and in the jailer is about to stab himself to kill himself and Paul stops him and his question is, what must I do to be saved and his whole family gets saved in the back of the church is born. Paul love the Philippians they were his pride and joy. Unlike the Galatians, who turned their backs on him. Unlike the Corinthians who talk trash about him. Listen to what Paul says in verse three. Philippians 13 he says I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, and people say that about you and people said about me noticeably was at. Thank God he's not here be laughing as other say about you, but told us we'd aspire towards right. That's our goal that when people think of us, a smile should come across her face and that's how Paul felt about the Philippians. I have my God upon every remembrance of you so so he is in a house arrest situation more than likely he's gonna die. What's happening he's writing to people that he really loves and he misses now here's the question why is he writing them. What is the purpose for this letter. If you read between the lines. It tells us what the purpose is what is the purpose that there here's the purpose Paul says it in Philippians chapter 2 in verse two he says fulfill my joy by being means I am so full of joy when I think about you but listen, I would be so much more joyful if you get along. I would be ecstatic if you can work things out anything was happening in the Philippian church as wonderful as those people were in as much as they supported Paul in the ministry and a strong believers. They were they had contention that divisions and later on if you go to chapter 4. It actually tells us something that is happening. Listen to verse two. Paul actually names to women you dear and send to Kay. He says I implore these two women to be of the same mind in the Lord who these two women will Paul tells us in verse three. I urge you also true companion help these women who labored with me in the gospel is not just ordinary women. They were not just fussing over well I brought casserole and why did you bring cancer on S&S notified no it was not over in the color of the carpet. These two women were co-laborers with Paul in the mission field. There were godly people and yet they can get along in the sand.

If you do believe that God's people sometimes and get along. You believe that how sad. And Paul is writing to them and say please I'm so excited so proud of you. I would be so much more joyful if you would just get along that well is to see very quickly.

Our time is short is how Paul helps them to get along. To be single-minded.

This is very powerful and if you're sleepy this morning. I suggest paying your neighbor actually take a $10 bill out give it to your neighbor and say if you see me sleep and slapped me across the head seriously is doing that just just let me have it in the last service. One guy actually tried turns out to stop the malignant bundle slap, but I promise you if you really get the heart of this message, it will transform your life.

I'm preaching to me. I'm preaching to me powerful is what Paul is telling them is not just what you know it does with the bygones be bygones. If it's a new day and a relatively just enough as not a matter in eternity. Have your people give you those platitudes. How long do the work and work the next day you think about them you like, right there platitudes. The all work. What Paul is about to tell us if you really listen and let the Holy Spirit work in your heart.

I believe it would be life transforming. Listen to what he does. He first appeals to their spiritual life, spiritual life that pay careful attention to what he's about to say, phrase by phrase.

Therefore, verse one.

If there is any consolation in Christ. I believe the translators butchered the real meaning there is consolation in Christ. What it really means is this. Listen carefully. Please listen carefully. If your experiences in Christ appeal to you if truly you believe that you are one with Christ, if truly you can feel his presence in your heart if truly you died, you were buried and you have risen to walk in the newness of life with Christ, if truly you believe that you no longer live, but Christ lives in you and the life that you now live in the flesh you live by faith in the son of God who loves you and gave himself for you if you truly that appeals to you. If nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. If that appeals to you, will give him saying means the truth that you stand here and stand there singing and reading and going to conferences for if that really appealed you enough to say, let go of that grudge. If you truly are seated in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

If that appeals to you as riches of what else, if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love. What is that mean if any comfort of love is the love of God truly tugs on your heart truly tugs on your heart, or else your heart is so frozen that it hasn't been untaught by the grace of God. Listen just close the Bible go home but if the love of God. What Jesus did on the cross as he hung there, and as he paid for the sins of the world, and as he said it is finished. If that love if that image of love compels you and be like-minded yogurt rose because because compared to that my little disagreement with Nicole is nothing compared to that that little disappointment that that that person caused me, and that hurt is nothing you guy have something weightier than just this this little problem.

It is not just ahead. If your experiences in Christ appeal to you. If love tugs on your heart to something else if any fellowship of the Spirit is a fellowship of the Spirit, if you truly say the Holy Spirit is living inside of you. And guess what are you saying the Holy Spirit is living inside of you. Are you saved the hose was living inside of you. How can I hate you the same spirit is in you that's in me is in you or me to talk trash about you is to talk trash about the site Holy Spirit I can do that for this. This this message is much more than fellowship dinners and and and little note sit on the circle holding hands and felt God that that that doesn't work. This works something else. Paul says if what he said if any affection and mercy. The word actually is, if any, compassion and mercy was having compassion. If you have experience please listen if you have experienced the compassion of God in your life is your listing in earlier amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wonderful sleeve, loving, kind, so clean person that was set the saved a wretch you really believe your wretch do you really believe you are a wretch is put on the list of wretchedness you really believe you want people to see the lust that is in your heart you really want people to see the anger issues you got the really want people to see this the one that nobody ever confesses greed you have your agree person you're greedy greedy. Do you really believe your wretch. You can answer me. Yes, because most times we what we do we make ourselves look better than the other person. But if you have experienced the compassion and the mercy of God that you are so undeserving and yet he gave his life.

That's the only way you can truly forgive that person and be like-minded, listen to verse. The second thing that he appeals of the spiritual life. Our time is running short. He appeals to their love for him.

Listen again to verse two fulfill my joy by being like-minded, what Paul is saying is please you will make me so much happier if you all get along is like. If you have kids set multiple kids.

What is your greatest desire. See them get along right you leave this life and know that hey they love each other they would take care of each other. That to me is a greatest joy other than knowing Jesus Christ.

So Paul appeals to their spiritual life. He appeals to their love for him something else. This is powerful, he appeals to their new nature.

When you received Jesus Christ vote when you received him in your life whether you feel it or not you have a new nature inside of now, you have to choose that nature instead of the old man or the old woman was that look like what here is verse three let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than him self means you have actually look at the other person who has hurt you or said wrong things about you and you have to steam them better than you not let me clarify their people in your life who will hurt you, and their toxic right you cannot keep bringing them into your life because all they will do is build bring you down. They will hurt you.

They will take advantage of you. There will abuse you in their laws for that. What you do in the situations well, you still have to forgive them.

You still have to steam them better than yourself, but you honestly have to re-invite them into your life. Don't get what I'm saying. You can say will is done. You cannot keep bringing the same hurt. At the same time you cannot live in perpetual resentment and perpetual bitterness. Listen again to verse three let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself that he is verse four. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others means in my marriage is not just about me I have to put my wife first, I have to look out for her interest. I have to see life and struggles and stresses from her point of view, it's the choice in church is not just about what I want. I have to put others above myself and that's television and that's why churches split. That's why churches don't get along my way or the highway. Both miler the Hollywood come to the word of God.

Everything else we can work it out. We can work it out.

Nowhere did Paul get all of this went maybe learn all this. What he learned it from Christ the night before Jesus was crucified. He was celebrating the Passover with his disciples and what did Jesus do this is powerful passage on chapter 13 in verse three I love this Jesus, knowing that the father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and he was going to God with a full recognition of his power of his purpose and also he knew what those disciples will do in less than 24 hours over the unity they were going to abandon him and his top guy. Peter was going to curse him out in the presence of the authorities knowing all this. What did Jesus do, he got up, he put a towel wrapped around himself, took a basin of water and began to wash the disciples feet. You know Peter's reaction. You know how Jesus had a telling look. If you don't let me wash your feet, you have no part with me all Jesus wash me, give me a bath is a know you already clean, but this has to happen.

Now listen carefully to what Jesus said after the the whole washing of feet was done. Verse 12.

So when he had washed their feet, taking his garments and sat down again. He said to them, do you know what I've done for you. You call me teacher and Lord, and you say well for so I am. If I then, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

Please listen this is the foundation of Christianity, not me. First, not my views not my opinion not my emotion is allowing others to go forward.

This is the bedrock of Christianity is so easy to called name your proud.

Your like this you're like that is quite different to put yourself aside and wash the feet of the other person. Verse 15 for I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you most assuredly, I say to your servant is not greater than his master, nor is he who sent greater than he was sent him if you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. The whole purpose of this act was to set the standard for the disciples wash each other's feet even if you at that moment can't stand him can get along have a contention you wash your feet missing the prison was gonna happen as you do that in the process. It begins to change you at best job. Thank you so much for joining us for this message. Paul encouraged the Philippian church to be like-minded. In their pursuit of God and in their service to other people just like the Philippians, God calls us to have a spirit of unity as we come together as a body of believers. Step out in obedience to him meet the needs of those around us. For more information visit us online@clearviewbc.org and for this sermon's notes.

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