Unity through Humility

(Phil 2:1 -11)

By: Bro. Kevin Lee De Guzman

 

Let me just share to you a story. Last March of this year, I got the chance to go home to the Philippines. During that time, the youth group in our church were organizing a National Youth Camp. Participating were the different youth ministries of our churches in different regions of our country, from Luzon to Mindanao. I used to be one of the organizers of these activities during my youth. I was the program coordinator. But then when I got invited to this Youth Camp to be one of the staff, I asked my self, "What will be my part?". They said that my presence would already a great help. When I arrived at the camp site, I really didn't know what to do. All of the tasks for planning that involves thinking and making ideas were already taken by the new generation of youth officers. Then one guy approached and asked me, "we need help on building the tents. "  It was summer, the sun was scorching hot and was very humid. I thought, "finally, I can be of help." And so the  15 tents were built. Then in the evening after dinner, there were more than 250 plates and other kitchen utensils to be washed. "Where are the officers?" I asked. Someone answered that they were having a meeting for the activities tomorrow and some were practicing for the praise and worship. So i helped that same guy who asked me to build the tents, wash the plates and the other utensils. Then it struck me. "Why am I the one doing this things? I am too good for this. " Ego and pride started to cloud my mind. So I asked this teenager I was helping, "what's your ministry in your church?" From his answer, i found out that he can play musical instruments and that he is actually the youth president of our church district in Southern Bicol. "Why are you doing this, shouldn't you be there planning with them or practicing with the worship team?" I asked with the intention of breaking  his spirit. Then he answered, "God already called people who wants to be part of the planning, singing, playing the instruments and leading. There are even more than enough who wants to volunteer for those tasks. If I will not do what we are doing right now, who would?" I felt a pinch in my heart. But then I challenged him again, "Aren't you getting tired of these tasks?" He answered almost instantly with a smile on his face, "Well I would have been tired, but God brought you here to help me." I was left speechless.

 

Humility. As believers, some of us thought that we've learned all about it, yet everyday we are still challenged to put our own interests last while not thinking highly of ourselves. How hard is it for us to put other's best interest before our own? Going back to the story, the youth camp would have not been a success if there are no one who had in his heart the best interest of the majority. If nobody was prepared to do the physically challenging task because of ego and pride, do you think the youth camp would be able to accomplish its objectives? They had the same intent and purpose. Their eyes were focused on one prize. They were willing to humble theirselves to reach their goal.

 

 

When everyone in the church values everyone else’s needs and desires above his or her own needs and desires, the result will inevitably be unity.( Phil 2:1-11) And if we are united, we reach our goal.

 

These eleven verses consist of two main sections.  

 

The first section (v.  1-4), contains exhortation to unity and humility.  In verses 1-2, Paul issues his appeal to unity.  This appeal is based upon the clauses describing four shared experiences of the Philippians.  In verses 3-4, Paul issues his appeal to humility.  This appeal is to regard other more highly than their own selves. 

 

In the second section (v. 5-11), Paul illustrates the kind of humility to which he is exhorting the Philippians by the example of the condescension of Christ. In verses 5-8 a series of clauses are strung together which detail Christ’s humble descent from the throne of God to the death of the cross.  Verses 9-11, however, leave the example of the humiliation of Christ to glory in His new highly exalted position as the enthroned Lord over all creation. 

Three points:

 

I.  Having unity means having the same mind, same love, being one-souled, the same intent and purpose. V. 1-2

 

One-souled. People sharing the same identity because they are in Christ, hence mutually supporting what God reveals through faith. ( Strong's Concordance)

 

II. Humility, looking out for the interests of others,  promotes unity. V. 3-4

 

In this context, humility, tapeinophrusune in greek, means lowliness of human pride, having a deep sense of one's moral littleness, that quality of mindset of having a humble opinion of oneself. (Strong's Concordance)

 

III. Follow the example of Christ's humility. V. 5-8

 

Conclusion:

 

God wants to see his followers walk in unity.  The means to that unity is a humility that regards others as more valuable than one’s self.  We are urged to follow the example of Jesus who although was at the same level with God, allowed himself to be stripped of that position in order to become man and die on the cross to purchase our salvation.  

Since none of us possess such position (being in the same level with God) as did the preincarnate Christ, none of us will ever have to humble ourselves to the extreme which He did. Therefore, we should be all the more willing to humble ourselves in a way that is by far inferior to the humiliation which He experienced.

BUILDING A SAFE, SOUND AND SUBSERVIENT WAY OF LIFE ON A SOLID FOUNDATION

Matthew 7:13-29

By Marlene Barcial

Evey Christian believer ought to keep in mind that we are just pilgrims passing through this barren land. Actually we are travellers moving time to eternity. This old earth is not our home. The million dollar question we need to ask our self is “Am I heading the right direction?”  Is this the right way? Pastor Hagee once said there are two ways to live: the right way and the wrong way.How could I know that this path I am heading to be the right way? Let us examine and study what the Lord is teaching us in Matthew 7: 13-29.

1. The way to eternal life is narrow and difficult but is safe at the end. We must enter the only gate that leads to eternal life.

13 "Enter by the narrow (channel, canal, sound) gate; for wide is the gate and broad(wide, general, comprehensive, extensive) is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life (ZOE), and there are few who find it.

Matthew 7:13 (NLT-New Living Translation)

 

You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad and its gate is wide for many will choose the easy way.

Two gates mentioned here contradict each other

Narrow Gate [constricted]	Wide gate [roomy or spacious]
Leads to construction or eternal life [Zoe]. The only gate going to God’s Kingdom	Leads to destruction or eternal death. The gate going to Hell
The way is difficult or hard/tough. Safe –slow moving (Takes patience)-waiting with the good attitude	Easy Way and highway/ flat, level or even. Dangerous-so fast ( instant)
Few will find it	Many will find it
Only option or no other way	Many options, detour or alternative route, self-way, others way

We must choose or decide which gate must we to enter. One way is easy, the other way is difficult. One gate leads to destruction, the other gate lead to eternal life. To enter the "narrow gate," we must leave  our "self" behind; on the other hand, to enter the "roomy way," means there is no limit to the baggage or the work of the flesh—self-righteousness, pride, hatred, envy, selfish ambition, gossip; dissensions, factions, discord, and so on. The "narrow gate" which is only God ‘way is the very opposite of these works of the flesh.

The "narrow road’ and "narrow gate" has to do with one’s everyday living—our relationship to God and to one another. It is the works of the Spirit versus the works of the flesh. Paul, no doubt, resonated the thoughts of our Lord Jesus when he expressed himself to the Galatians: "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature" (Galatians 5:16). These Revealed truths compel obedience to God’s way.(http://www.freedominchrist.net/biblical%20studies/new%20testament/gospel%20of%20matthew/the%20narrow%20gate.htm)

Why the Narrow Gate- Narrow entrance? It is a strait gate, for we must bow [signifies humility], or we cannot go in at it; we must become as little children. We must travel a narrow way; the body must be kept under discipline in the Lord. Changing ourselves and others with our own strength or without the help of God, is like disciplining outward behaviour but still remains the same inside. This means that ourcorruptions [dishonesties, vices] must be mortified; daily temptations must be resisted and our callings must be done that are against our preference but must be the preference of the Lord. We must go through much difficulty if we want to enter the narrow gate.(http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/matthew/7.html?p=7)

2. The way to eternal life is established on sound Doctrines [Complete and thorough]. We must be warned about false doctrines

15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Fruit is the result or what you produced from the work or effort you’ve done. This is the evidence that people can see or the things what God is looking for.Warning for us: Beware of False Prophets (False Professing Christians). A prophet who led people away from the living God was a false prophet. The way to tell false teachers from teachers of truth is by their fruits. Fruits here refer to more than their deeds [works they do for to be seen of men]; it includes doctrine or teaching. These are teachers who promote erroneous ideas like man made wisdom, rules and regulations. Thus they will lead people astray in their faith in Jesus. By this you know: One test of whether a person is led by the Holy Spirit is whether that person’s beliefs agree with the truth of God’s Word.”It is written.” The same thing as well, you will know if he is a true Christian. Don’t just believe people who they say ‘I pray’ but you cannot hear them praising God!

3. The way to eternal life is centred on submission, obedient, compliant,and subservient to Christ. We must submit our will to the will of the Lord

21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

LORD; LORD: twice mentioned by Jesus. He is pointed out that those who called Him by this title of respect acknowledged submission to Him through obedience. However, many people ignored His teaching and will not practice them in their lives.Theyare those who are endangering themselves to destruction. We must be careful to do all for the Lord and makes sure that the Lord really tells us to do them. God requires us total submission to HIM…proving that we totally trusting him.

Conclusion:
24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

The way to eternal life is basedon a solid ground or foundation.

The Key Difference in the two houses is not their external appearances. Pharisees and scribes may seem to be as righteous and religious as the inheritors of the kingdom. The key in the story is the foundations. The HOUSE on the rock pictures a life founded on a proper relationship to Christ. It will stand the test of Christ’s judgment, but the house on the sand will fail the test.Pastor Adrian Rogers also said that “Faith that cannot be tested is faith that cannot be trusted.” 1 Peter 2:6 talks about the Chief Corner stone: Jesus is the foundation stone from which the placement of all other living stones in the spiritual house.

All the above that I mentioned are the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ in the sermon of the mount. These teachings are difficult to follow but with the help of the Holy Spirit these are possible. These are the admonitions of our Lord Jesus that if we want to follow Him, we should take up our cross daily…not sometimes but daily. Without taking up our own cross we cannot follow Him.

HOW TO LIVE IN THE LIGHT OF THE COMING OF CHRIST

by: Pastor Adelmo Castillo

1PETER 4:7-11

7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”[a] 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

I- BE WATCHFUL IN OUR PRAYERS (7b)

7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.

Prayer sometimes is becoming a ritual that we have to do. Prayer for food, prayer for protection, provision, healing.etc….Peter is not teaching us how to pray, Christians are expected to pray, what he is saying is we have to be serious in our prayer, we have to be watchful in our prayer.

Warren Wiersbe in his book “Be Series” commentary on the subject said:
I am not suggesting that we do not study prophesy, or that we become timid about sharing our interpretations. What I am suggesting is that we should not allow ourselves to get out of balance because of an abuse of prophesy. There is a practical application to the prophetic scriptures.
If we are sober minded, we will “watch unto prayer”. If our prayer life is confused, it is because the mind is confused.  

In Mark 13:32 Jesus says,  But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch; for you do not know when the time will come.

II – LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER (V.8)

8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
Like the rest of the NT Scriptures, Peter stresses the priority of love.
During times of stress, relationships can strain to the breaking point. Peter’s readers probably discovered when the pressure of persecution is on, you are tempted to take out your frustrations on others. It’s easier to focus on the weaknesses and faults of others. Peter says make the effort to love and …cover a multitude of sins…= overlook the sins and faults of others.

III – BE HOSPITABLE TO ONE ANOTHER  (V.9)            

9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

Hospitality is a virtue, in Bible times it is tradition is to be hospitable to travelers and strangers. Hospitality is an important part of ancient society, and typically meant feeding and housing them for 3 or more days.
Hebrews 13:2”Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some have unwittingly entertained angels.

IV- MINISTER TO ONE ANOTHER  (vv. 10-11)    

10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Every Christian has at least one spiritual gift that he must use for building up a church and for God’s glory. These gifts are manifestations of the “multi-colored” grace of God, meaning that God’s gifts are full of variety.

Acts 1:10-11     10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

The Bible tells us that almost 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ died on the Cross, rose from the grave, and ascended into heaven right before the eyes of His faithful followers. He made a promise then: I will return.
Until that day, let us live expectantly—a) we must be watchful in our prayers b) we must love one another c) we must be hospitable to one another  d) we must minister to one another.