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The Basis for Unity

04 Sep
The Basis for Unity

We’re continuing our walk through the book of Philippians. We now come to chapter two. Remember, this letter deals with the church as a body of believers joined together in Christ.

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…

Philippians 2:1 NIV

Paul is now setting the stage for how we work together as one body. He starts with the word, “if”. But don’t get the idea that these things are optional. The assumption Paul is working with, is that all these statements are true.

These are actually four truths that are the foundation of our unity in Christ. We need to understand them so that we can see them manifest in us.

Encouragement from being united with Christ. The word, encouragement, literally means to call beside. That’s the job of a coach on a winning team.

Actually, it’s a word used by Jesus to describe the Holy Spirit.

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

John 14:26 NIV

When the Holy Spirit is called the Counselor, the same word is used as encouragement, above. I personally would use the word Coach for that aspect of the Holy Spirit. He’s the one who calls alongside us. He’s training us to become what we need to be.

Comfort from His love. This word for comfort actually means a persuasive address. This word for love, agape, is not emotional. It’s a choice to make a positive contribution into the life of another. As we spend time with Christ, His love begins to persuade us.

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.

2 Corinthians 5:14 NIV

All of our old prejudices and hatred must be nailed to the cross. Our old life was crucified with Christ. Now His love can persuade me to minister as He would. I just need to allow that persuasion to have its way in me.

Fellowship with the Spirit. This is another important truth. The word, fellowship, means a participation. We need to learn to participate with the Holy Spirit.

It seems to me that for the most part, we ignore the Holy Spirit. We should be working with Him as our great Coach. He’s the One who will lead and guide us into our destiny in Christ. How closely do we follow His plan for us?

We should be spending quality time with the Spirit. Not just rattling off a list of needs, but listening for His gentle voice speaking to us. That’s where the true power of God is found.

Tenderness and compassion. Here, Paul uses two words for our internal organs. Both the Greeks and the Hebrews saw them as the seat of our passions and emotions.

As I look at the previous three truths, I notice that they are choices we need to make. I choose to submit to the coaching of the Holy Spirit, the persuasion of Christ’s love and the participation with the Spirit.

However, there’s one more factor that makes our walk with God and each other complete. We need passion and emotion in our spiritual life. That’s what makes our Christian experience exciting.

Too many believers act like spiritual robots. They just seem to be going through the motions, doing what they feel they need to do. If that’s you, then you need to spend time in the Holy Spirit, picking up His passion for ministry.

Then you’ll find that serving God is not something you have to do, but something that you get to do. You’ll pick up the joy of the Lord.

Question: How well are you participating with the Spirit in these four areas?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on September 4, 2023 in Fellowship, Power of God, Prayer, Prayer in the Spirit, Relationships, Spiritual Walk, The Church

 

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The Spirit-Fruit: Peace

13 Oct

I’m continuing to look at the Fruit of the Spirit – today’s fruit is peace.  I’ve heard people talk about the fruit of peace in the past, but sometimes they misunderstand it.

The problem is that the Greek language has a couple of different words that are translated as peace in English.  I’ve heard people teach that it’s calm, quietness – like when Jesus said, “Peace. Be still”; and He calmed the storm.  This isn’t that Greek word.

The word used for the fruit means harmony between two parties.  In other words, it’s the opposite of war.  This is something that can only be accomplished by the Holy Spirit.

One of the biggest divisions in history, and in the Bible, was between Jews and Gentiles.  Bringing both sides together into the body of Christ had to be a supernatural work of God.

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations.  His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace…
Ephesians 2:14-15

By fulfilling the requirements of the Law, the family of God was now open to the Gentiles.  But that doesn’t mean that the Jews would be happy about sharing their Messiah.  There needed to be a change of heart.

It wasn’t enough to take the requirements of the Law out of the way.  The Lord had to go even further to deal with the hostility.  Ingrained hatred is one of the hardest things to change in our flesh.

That’s what’s so powerful about the fruit of peace.  It changes the hearts of those affected by it.  Of course, that’s why there are many who refuse to yield to the Holy Spirit.  They’re afraid of the changes that may take place in them.

The fruit of peace abolishes things like bigotry, hatred, racism, or chauvinism.  It compels you to love and work with those that through your life, and even your heritage, you grew up hating.  Apart from the power of the Holy Spirit working in you, there’s not much else that can accomplish such a change.

Refusing to let his peace reign in you is refusing God’s plan for your life.

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:3

There are many people who pray for unity in the church.  I think that in some cases, we don’t really know what we’re praying for.  We sometimes think that unity means that everyone thinks and acts like us.

That’s not true unity.  Unity built upon the bond of peace takes very different people and puts them together into one, perfectly functioning organism.  It’s what Jesus did with His disciples.

He brought working class people like Peter, James, and John, and put them with a spoiled rich kid like Judas.  He took Simon the Zealot – an anti-Roman terrorist – and placed him with Matthew, who collected taxes for the Roman government.  Only the Holy Spirit can do such a huge work.

But as good as this is, there’s an even greater work this peace can do in us.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7

The peace of God even takes away the spirit of competition between us.  We’re not competing for God’s blessings.  I don’t have to worry that if the Lord answers your prayer, then He may not have the resources to answer mine.  He has an unlimited supply of grace.

Allow the Holy Spirit to work His peace in you.  It will change your whole outlook on life.

Question: What was a recent time that you saw God’s peace operating through you?

© Nick Zaccardi 2017

 
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Posted by on October 13, 2017 in Fellowship, Power of God, Spiritual Walk, The Church

 

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