Philippians 2:1-2 - Therefore Therefore if there is any encouragement in if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, compassion, 22make my joymake my joy

complete by being of the same complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, united in spirit, intent on one intent on one purpose.purpose. NASB NASB

The World's Strategy is to hold people together by the

temporal & external things of the world.

Resulting in the Separation of People

God's Strategy is to hold people together by the Eternal and Internal work of the

Holy Spirit.

Resulting in the Unity of the Saints

Romans 14:1-8 - Accept other Accept other believers who are weak in faith, believers who are weak in faith, and and don’t argue don’t argue with them about with them about what they think is right or wrong. what they think is right or wrong. 22For instance, one person believes For instance, one person believes it’s all right to it’s all right to eateat anything.anything. But But another believer with a sensitive another believer with a sensitive conscience will conscience will eat only vegetables. eat only vegetables.

33Those who feel free to eat Those who feel free to eat anything must anything must not look down on not look down on those who don’t.those who don’t. And those who And those who don’t eat certain foods must not don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, condemn those who do, for God for God has accepted them. has accepted them. 44Who are you Who are you to condemn someone else’s to condemn someone else’s servants?servants? They are responsible to They are responsible to the Lord, so let him judge whetherthe Lord, so let him judge whether

they are right or wrong. And with they are right or wrong. And with the Lord’s help, they will do what is the Lord’s help, they will do what is right and will receive his approval. right and will receive his approval. 55In the same way, some think In the same way, some think one one day is more holy than another day, day is more holy than another day, while others think while others think every day is every day is alike.alike. You should each be fully You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. choose is acceptable.

66Those who worship the Lord on Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to a special day do it to honor him. honor him. Those who eat any kind of food Those who eat any kind of food do so to do so to honor the Lord, honor the Lord, since since they give thanks to God before they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks please the Lord and give thanks to God. to God.

77For we don’t live for ourselves or For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. die for ourselves. 88If we live, it’s to If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to to honor the Lord. honor the Lord. So whether we So whether we live or die, live or die, we belong to the Lord. we belong to the Lord.

NLTNLT

Authentic intimacy with Christ is demonstrated by a bondingbonding of the

hearts, minds and souls of Christians. To do so is not optional

for any follower of Christ.

Ephesians 4:3 - Make every Make every effort to effort to keepkeep yourselves yourselves united united in the Spirit,in the Spirit, binding yourselves binding yourselves together with together with peace.peace. NLTNLT

Philippians 2:1 - Therefore Therefore if if there is any encouragement in there is any encouragement in Christ, Christ, ifif there is any consolation there is any consolation of love, of love, if if there is any fellowship there is any fellowship of the Spirit, of the Spirit, ifif any affection and any affection and compassion, compassion, NLTNLT

Philippians 1:27 - Above all, Above all, you must live as you must live as citizens of citizens of heaven, heaven, conducting yourselves in conducting yourselves in a a manner worthy manner worthy of the Good of the Good News about Christ. Then, News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, again or only hear about you,

I will know that you are I will know that you are standing standing togethertogether with with one spirit one spirit and and one one purpose,purpose, fighting together for the fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.faith, which is the Good News.

NLTNLT

EncouragementEncouragement >> To comfort To comfort

How How hashas Christ comforted you? Christ comforted you?

Consolation of God’s Love Consolation of God’s Love >> Comfort in God’s Unconditional Comfort in God’s Unconditional

LoveLove

How has God’s Unconditional How has God’s Unconditional Love comforted you?Love comforted you?

Fellowship of the Spirit Fellowship of the Spirit

What influence has the constant What influence has the constant presence of the Holy Spirit had presence of the Holy Spirit had

on you?on you?

>> Joint Participation, Constant & Joint Participation, Constant & Unending PresenceUnending Presence

Sympathy actsSympathy acts it’s not just a feeling. it’s not just a feeling.

Affection > Affection > Tender MercyTender MercyCompassion > Compassion > SympathySympathy

Hebrews 4:15 - This High This High Priest of ours understands our Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he the same testings we do, yet he

did not sin. did not sin. NLTNLT

What effect has God’s What effect has God’s sympathy had on you?sympathy had on you?

Since there isSince there is

EncouragementEncouragement in Christ in Christ

Consolation in God’s Love Consolation in God’s Love

Constant presence of the Spirit Constant presence of the Spirit

Affection and SympathyAffection and Sympathy

22make my joy complete by being make my joy complete by being of the of the same mind, same mind, maintaining maintaining the the same love, united in spirit, same love, united in spirit, intent on intent on one purpose. one purpose. NLTNLT

How does Paul say his joy How does Paul say his joy would be complete?would be complete?

By being of the same mindBy being of the same mind

Maintaining the same love Maintaining the same love

United in spirit United in spirit

IntentIntent on one purpose on one purpose

RememberRemember

> How much God loves > How much God loves youyou> How patient He is with > How patient He is with youyou without condemning without condemning youyou > He can help you live a > He can help you live a humble and humble and loving life loving life > Even with those who > Even with those who

don't agree with don't agree with you.you.

Meditation & ApplicationMeditation & Application

Equals Equals UnityUnity among Christians among Christians

and and GlorifiesGlorifies God. God.

UnifiedUnified