Operating as one
Philippians 2 [1-11]
1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges*;he took the humble position of a slave*and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
FOCUS:WE have to help our people understand the concept of ONE
I..We must be sure [verse 1-2] [First two verses are quest of assurance]
• Be certain of who you are in Christ
1. “Know in your knower” that you are called by God.
2. Every person who god puts in our lives needs to understand that God has purpose for their life.
3. You might not look or sound like someone else, but there is a purpose for their life..
4. God chose different people for different areas.
• Find your calling.
1. Each person has different callings. (different gifts)
2. find out what that gift is, and work in that area. (I don’t cook, so evidently im not in the cooking club)
3. It doesn’t matter where God put us, what matters is what we do when we get put there.
4. Everyone cannot be part of the same ministry.
5. This is the joy of attending an international church, different people with different skills and talents.
6. With those diff. we can reach different people.
• Be sure of the vision (I don’t know epidemic)
1. As a parent there are three words you hate…”I DON’T KNOW”
2. We have to LOVE the cellular vision, If not, we will get the I don’t know syndrome
3. Why do you go to church, cell group, 144 meeting, levite, conferences….etc??
4. When Asked Why? Then I don’t know, then confusion will begin to be berthed.
5. Out of that confusion comes second guessing
6. James 1:8 talks about being unstable
II..No “I” in team [verse 3-4]
• We are to cover each other
1.With your word
Let your word be golden
If you say you are doing something do your best to follow through. (I am guilty of this from time to time)
2. In Security (without it, you will work in frustration, anger).
• With what we say and even in what we don’t say.
3. Understanding.
• Understanding our differences
• Understanding our faults.
• Colossians 3:12-15
• Build trust with one another.
1. Through Communication
2. Through Transparency
3. Through genuine care for one another and our works,
• Remember your role. (consideration, you aren’t working alone)
1. AS part of a body, my decisions can’t be for only me. (ill. Marriage and money)
2. Your role is just that; none are more important.
3. Some may seem to be more in the open.
[the person who buys the light bulb, the person who takes the light bulb out of the package the person who puts the light bulb in and the person who flips the switch all have the same purpose.
4. I Corinthians 3:5-7
5. So whether I am preaching, leading a cell group, doing childrens church, pressing enter on a keyboard for powerpoint, I should do it with the same excellence.
• The 4 ingredients of a teammate
• Characther:
a) Humility- Someone who identifies themselves as a servant of the Lord.
• B)Faith: (the relational meaning) To believe in someone enough to push past FEAR (of being hurt, let down)
• COMPETENT
• Knowledge + Skill+ experience
• Without these 3 it wont happen.
• Chemistry
• How can you be friendly with God, want to work with God……
• Your success is based on whether or not you can master closeness.
• (rough statement) Remember that anything that is NOT unity is a sin
• Charisma
• A certain level of delight in what you are doing. That comes from love of God and what he wants done.
• You have to have a passion for it.
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III. We must mimic Christ [verse 5—8]
• Don’t focus on the title focus on the task.
1. we need to forget about our “rights”
2. Choose Your actions: High and mighty road or the humble servant role [Matthew 23:12] (exalted/humbled
3. Mark 10:45 Jesus came to serve
• You have to release to receive.
1. You have to give up your personal motives to pick up Christ’s motives.
2. You must give up your way of living to pick up gods way of living.
3. Release our attitudes, complaints, hindrances
• Be humble in order to do the supernatural.
1. In order to be used by God, you have to give yourself totally to him.
2. God will seldom use a vessel that is not empty.
3. we have to understand that it is Gods will that is to be done, not ours.
IV.We do have a purpose
• Ultimately it is about souls
1. We don’t do this so we can be popular.
2. We aren’t doing this so we can be rich we are doing this so that all that come in contact with us will be changed.
3. We do this…. Read vs 10-11
