Sermon Series: Jesus: Everything We Need 

A HOHO for Getting Along 

Philippians 2:1-4 

CBC Bishop 4/27/03

In a nutshell: Paul's advice for getting along with each other is summed up in four words: Help, One, Humble, Others-the "HoHo" for getting along..

I. Introduction

A. Christian?

One of the things I like to do when I'm eating with a group of bikers at a restaurant is to take control of the conversation. That's because I want them to think about God and eternity, not just motorcycles. So, usually, when a group of 3 or 4 of us sit down together, I'll ask the question, "What comes to your mind when I say the word "Christian"? Usually the answers I get back are things like: Legalistic, Judgmental, or Intolerant. I have never yet had anyone say the word, "Love"

And that's sad. Because that's exactly what we should be known for. Jesus said in…

John 13:35 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

But today, sadly, Christians are primarily known for our positions on moral and ethical issues, or being part of the silent majority, or exhibiting a "holier-than-thou" attitude toward the rest of the world. Not many people know us by our love!

Folks, we've got a PR problem! We are projecting an image to the world that isn't consistent with who we are supposed to be. And if we ever want to have a significant part in "the Harvest" of souls that God wants to see here in Bishop, and in our families, and in our schools, and around the Owens Valley, we've go to do a better job of being Christian.

B. Effective churches have the potential for more problems

So how do we do that? Well, that's what the four verses in our study this morning are all about. They're designed to put us back on a track that will get us known for our love, rather than all the other things that people perceive about Christians, today.

Let me set the stage for you, for what we're going to be looking at this morning. The apostle Paul, who wrote this book of Philippians, had recently learned that there were all the warning signs of a possible church split taking place at the church in Philippi. We'll learn more about that when we get to chapter 4. But for this morning, you just have to know that there were two individuals in the church who were angry with each other. And Paul's challenge was to get those two individuals to agree in Christian love despite their differences.

By the way, if you ever thought things were all rosy and perfect in the first century church, you really haven't read the letters of Paul in the New Testament. Those first century Christians had all kinds of relationship problems, just like Christians do, today.

But, it's interesting, every place where relationship problems were occurring in the early church, they were occurring in churches that were growing and being effective in reaching their communities with the love of Jesus Christ. In fact, the Philippian Church was one of the strongest, most exciting, and influential churches in the entire region of Asia Minor.

But that's not unusual. Whenever a church is growing, and is strong, and is making a difference in its community, there has to be more attention given to this command to "love one another." Why? It's simple. Just do the math.

A strong church has more people serving in it. And whenever you have an increasing number of people working together, you're going to have more opportunity for differences to arise. And if people don't handle their differences rightly, the enemy of God-Satan-will have an opportunity to creep in and get Christians to fight with each other. That's why people in growing and healthy churches have to give even more attention to love and unity than churches that are not growing.

II. Four Tools

If you have your Bibles, I'd like for you to turn to Philippians 2. Today we're going to find out how to get along with each other at CBC, as God is blessing us with growth. In the first four verses is this chapter, Paul will give us four tools to help us get along with each other. I call them the HOHO's for Getting Along. (Show HoHo)

A. Help

The first tool is this…our help. Look at the first verse…

Philippians 2:1 1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,

One of the benefits we have in a relationship with Jesus Christ is that we are given help to be able to love others. The word that's translated, "encouragement" in this verse is the Greek word, Parakelsis. It means "to come alongside and help." In other words, when we are following the leadership of Jesus Christ in our lives, we are going to receive His help to love others, even when it may seem difficult.

And Paul goes on to explain the three ways we're given this special help.

1. Comfort from His love

The first is that we have comfort from His love. The word "comfort" comes from two Greek words put together. One is the word for "beside." The other is the word "to speak." It means a love that is right there beside you, that speaks to you. In essence, that means… -When you feel that no one cares about you, Jesus comes along side you and says. "Oh, yeah…I died for you."; -When you feel that you're all alone, Jesus comes along side of you and says, "But, I will never leave you or forsake you."

So, Paul is saying that one of the ways we receive help to love others is through Jesus being right there beside us, telling us how much He loves us. In other words, we don't have to be jealous of anyone, or compare ourselves to anyone. Because we are unconditionally loved-just the way we are-by the One who counts most in all the universe-God, Himself. That, then gives us the freedom to love others, unconditionally. That's the comfort from His love.

2. Fellowship of the Spirit

A second way we are helped is that we have the fellowship of the Spirit. The word translated "fellowship" is the Greek word "koinonia." It literally means "community". In other words, we are in community with the Holy Spirit of God. We are associated with Him. We share an intimacy with God's Spirit.

Practically speaking, that means that our connection with God makes us aware of what is most important to Him-so that what's important to God becomes important to us as well.

And two of the things that are most important to God are people and unity.

John 6:40 40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

God's will is focused on people. And on the night before Jesus was crucified He prayed…

John 17:22-23 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

That's unity among God's children.

So, the second way we receive help to love others is that we are connected intimately with the Holy Spirit.

3. Example of Tenderness and Compassion

A third way we receive help is that we have an example to follow. We all have been shown the example of tenderness and compassion by our Lord, Jesus.

The word "tenderness" is a Greek word that refers to our insides. The Jewish culture that Paul was a part of, believed that your "insides" were the source of your tender affections-especially kindness.

"Compassion" on the other hand carries with it, the idea of pity and mercy.

What Paul is saying is that a third way we receive help to love others is that we have the example of how God loves us. God isn't out to get you. He's not some cosmic policeman who can't wait to catch you in His spiritual speed trap. Rather, God is tender and kind. He takes pity on us when we are going through the tough times of our lives, and He will give us mercy-that means He'll show us compassion and forgiveness, even when we screw up. That's a great help, when it comes to working with people who also "screw up" at times.

With this kind of help, we should be able to handle just about any conflict that might arise from working together with other people. But we have more…

B. One

In verse two we find a second tool that's designed to help us get along with each other. It's called being one.

Philippians 2:2 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

Paul tells us two ways we can be one. First of all, we need to be one in our thinking-that's being "like-minded".

Folks, let's be honest… we all have differences of opinions and ideas. But when it comes to the basics of our church, we must think like one. -We have to think the same about Jesus-faith in Him as the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life is the only way anyone can find eternal life with God in heaven. Without Him, a person is headed for an eternity in Hell. -We have to think the same about the Bible-it is the very Word of God and the supreme source of truth for our beliefs and how we live our lives. -And we have to think the same about the purpose of our church-to love all people to Christ and help them on their journey with God and with each other.

Those are the basics.

Illustration: It reminds me of the great Green Bay Packer coach, Vince Lombardi. After losing a game very badly to an opponent, he got his team together and said, "Gentlemen, if we are ever going to win a football game, we have to get back to the basics. So, number one, this is a football!"

Friends, Jesus; the Word of God; and our purpose are our football. If we're not one here, we won't be one in anything that matters.

Second, we're to be one in the way we feel about those basics. The words Paul uses are, having the same love. If we just think the same but don't feel the same about the basics of our church, we will become the frozen chosen. No one wants to be a part of a passionless relationship. But, on the other hand, if we only feel the same without thinking the same, we will be an emotion-driven group of people without substance or depth. We need both!

Illustration: In one of my favorite Peanuts cartoons, Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels, and she threatened him with her fist if he didn't. So, Linus says, "What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?"

To which Lucy replies, "These five finger!. 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. Then turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, "Why can't you guys get organized like that?"

God wants us to be organized like that. He wants us to think the same on what really matters, and feel the same on what really matters.

A.W. Tozer, in his book, The Pursuit of God, speaks to this issue of unity. He says…(front of worship folder) Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers meeting together, each one looking toward Christ are nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become unity-conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.

So, a second important tool we have for getting along with each other is being one-in our thinking and in our feelings.

C. Humble

The third tool we have to be able to get along with each other is to be humble. Look at the verse 3…

Philippians 2:3 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Illustration: Leonard Bernstein, the late conductor of the New York Philharmonic orchestra, was once asked to name the most difficult instrument to play. Without hesitation, he replied, "The second fiddle. I can get plenty of first violinists, but to find someone who can play the second fiddle with enthusiasm - that's a problem. And if we have no second fiddle, we have no harmony."

Harmony in the church occurs when the people in the church play second fiddle with enthusiasm.

Max Lucado was the key note speaker at the Promise Keeper Pastor's Conference that Rusty and I attended in February. He set the tone for the entire conference with the statement, "It's not about me, and it's not about now." That phrase has been burnt into my brain. I think it's a pretty good definition of humility. -I'm not the center of things. -I'm not the most important person. -It's not what I want. -It's not what I think I need.

Practically speaking, humility means that means -Ed's more important than me. -Carrie's more important than me. -Grant is more important than me. -The needs of the children in Discipleland are more important than my needs. -The needs of the people of our community who have not yet come to our church, are more important than mine.

Folks, that's humility! If we consider others more important than ourselves, we'll have a tremendous tool in our hands to show the world that there is something very special at Calvary Baptist Church-we really do love each other!

D. Others

The fourth tool we have to be able to love each other is found in verse 4…

Philippians 2:4 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

He's talking about looking out for the needs of others.

There is an epidemic in our country, and the Owens Valley is not immune from it. I'm afraid the disease has found it's incubator in my generation of "baby boomers". But it's being passed down to the "baby busters", GenXer's, and right on down the line to our kids, today. Too many in our generations are almost exclusively looking out for their own personal interests. -"I need to find myself"; -"I'm not fulfilled in this marriage anymore." -"My needs aren't being met." -"I'm looking out for number one.". And so on.

Deep down inside, too many in the current working generations in this valley are regarding themselves as more important than their spouses, or their children, or their co-workers, or their co-worshippers. Too many of us who were born after 1945, are merely looking out for our own personal interests. And by our example, we're passing along broken batons to the next generations.

When Jesus was asked by a religious leader, "What is the most important rule I could ever follow?" He said this…

Mark 12:29-31 29 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

Rule #1-Love God. He's #1! Rule #2-Love others. They're #2! Rule #3-See Rule #1 and #2!

Looking out for number two really happens when we realize that God is number one. Others are number two. And we are not number one or two, but number three!

At our church in Palm Springs, the senior adult fellowship group was call The JOY Fellowship. The word "Joy" in their name was an acrostic. It stood for: Jesus, Others, You

That's what the fourth tool is all about. Jesus, Others, You.

Illustration: Last week, at our Easter Celebration, I saw something that made me so proud to be your pastor. Last week, as the worship center got fuller and fuller, different ones of you looked around, got up, vacated your seat, and moved to the back to stand during the service, so our visitors could sit down. Friends, that's looking out for the needs of others.

Remember Jesus' words, that I showed you at the beginning of this message…? John 13:35 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

The visitors who came last week-many for the first time-knew that you all had a different leader than they had. You were disciples of Jesus. You showed love to others by giving up your seat, so they could sit. That's a powerful tool to use in reaching this valley for Christ!

III. Conclusion

In staff meeting this week, I told the our staff that I felt God was building a momentum here at CBC. -We are seeing more and more people coming to our church and staying, -We're seeing ministry groups forming to meet together for fellowship or Bible Study during the week. -We're experiencing some powerful answers to prayer. -More and more people are coming to know Jesus as the forgiver of their sins and the leader of their lives in our worship celebrations. -Our finances are some of the healthiest we've ever experienced at this time of year. -A number of people are sharing their faith with their family and friends for the first time in their lives. -Next year, we won't be able to meet here in the worship center for Easter Sunday, we're going to have to move to the gym, because we've max-ed out this room.

Those are all great and good things for which we can praise God. But it's no accident that we came to these verses today, at this point in time in our history. God wants us to understand something very important. You see, as we grow, God's enemy, Satan is going to try and stop us. His favorite tactic will be the same as it has been down through the ages. It's been a very effective strategy. In fact, it's been effective with churches in the Owens Valley for a number of years. He's going to try to get us to stop loving each other.

How do you stop him? (Hold up a hoho cake) With a HoHo! 1. Help 2. One 3. Humble 4. Others

If we do what those four words represent, the gates of Hell will not be able to withstand the spiritual force that will be unleashed from the congregation of Calvary Baptist Church. 

Amen.