Here at Midtown Church we are committed to being a Biblical Community. It is the source of truth, standards, and values we live our lives based on. So we are committed to the lifelong study and application of the Bible, all of it!

This Bible, what protestant Christianity considers ‘The Scriptures’ / Holy Writings, is God’s autobiographical story of His dealings with our world through people, culminating in Him condescending to be a human in the process of redeeming the pinnacle of His creation: people!

The beginning of this story, The Pentateuch, sets the stage for the remaining Scriptures. Through stories and commands God reveals the big picture of who He is and what He cares about by the time Deuteronomy ends. Last week we heard an excellent overview of God setting apart an ethnicity that He will use to birth the savior of all ethnicities.

We need to be grounded in the O.T. equally with the N.T. Too much focus on the N.T. leads to a lack of accountability to a Holy God. Just as we need to balance Grace and Truth we need to balance int influence of both testaments so we get a well rounded, ultimately ‘Biblical’ view of God.

So we are going to Journey thru the book of Joshua! Possessing Spiritual Ground is the series title.

BIG Themes of the Book of Joshua:

• Our obedience can fuel the miraculous
• We are to take possession of what God promises us
• Trusting God’s sovereignty enables us to be strong and courageous
• The exercise of true faith requires us to act
• Our disobedience can lead to disaster
• Leadership matters to all of us
• God always fulfills His Promises

JOSHUA THE MAN

• His name was Hoshea, but Moses changed it to Joshua (Num. 13)
• Joshua was a soldier under Moses’ command (Ex. 17)
• He was an assistant to Moses (Ex. 24 & 33, num. 11)
• He was one of the spies sent by Moses into the Promised Land (Num. 13 & 14)
• He was authorized to apportion the Promised Land to the tribes (Num. 34)
• He was fully equipped by the Holy Spirit to lead (Deut. 34)
• He was commissioned by God to posses The Promised Land (Deut. 31)
• He was known as the “servant of the LORD” (Josh 24 & Judges 2)

We will be on the lookout for foreshadowing of Christ as well as for when Joshua is acting as a ‘type’ of Christ. Today we start with Joshua being ‘on-boarded’ by God into His new position!

Joshua 1:1-9: Passing The Torch

1 After the death of Moses theLord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them.”

• God had hand picked Joshua
• One of only two people who got to enter the promised land who left Egypt
• This was the 1^st time God spoke directly to Joshua.
• God officially passes the torch
• Moses’ death was between God & Moses
• Joshua will lead God’s people to where He establishes them as a nation
• HE gives the place

3 “I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you…”

• As God’s leader of the Israelites Joshua has the same ‘deal’ Moses did
• Key principal: Joshua can lead with absolute confidence that God has his back
• God knew everywhere Joshua would go, literally, every place he would set foot
• God’s promises are consistent with all of us

4 “from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.’”

• This is the entirety of the ‘Promised Land’ initially promised
• Modern day boarders: Turkey north, Egypt south, Mediterranean west, Iraq, Syria & Saudi Arabia to the east
• Some dispute of exactly what is the total promised land…
• Bottom line the Nation of Israel never occupied all the promised land…

5 “No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.”

• What an incredible promise!
• As long as he lives…He has established his obedience
• No matter what I can count on God…

6 “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them.”

• This command to be strong & courageous is tried to his role as military leader
• Application for us can be as an organizational leader of various kinds
• God has promised those who believe in Him spiritual possessions
• The ‘land’ is the ultimate metaphor for ‘Spiritual Ground’ God covers with us

7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do.”

• This command to be strong & courageous is tried to his role as spiritual leader
• The instructions Moses gave him is The Pentateuch!
• The 1^st 5 books contain a mountain of specific things God is very clear about
• Obeying Gen. – Duet. without deviation takes God given strength & courage !!
• Success is the result of obedience…success by God’s standards, not our world

8 “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.”

• This guy was right there for everything that happened, at Moses’ side
• He was involved in the recording of the Torah as Moses’ right hand man…
• ‘Study Continually’ is the command… Didn’t Joshua know it well enough?
• Meditate on it ALL THE TIME… That is the only way you have a SHOT!
• Only through focused study & 24/7 consideration / meditation, would he be sure

9 “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

• 3 times, seriously? What does this remind you of?
• This one is tied to Joshua being a relational / emotional leader.
• God gives His people leaders who do not lead from fear or discouragement
• Are we to fear death as follower’s of Christ?
• The Bible teaches: God determines exactly how long EVERYONE live (Job 14) Luke 12:25 / Matthew 6:27 Jesus says no one can add a minute to their life

SUMMARY:

Summary of Joshua The Book:

Obedience fuels the miraculous / Possess what God promises / Trusting God grows strength & courage / Faith is action / Disobedience is disaster / Leadership matters /

God keeps His Promises

The central themes of the book of Joshua contain essential beliefs of a life surrendered to God. These are part of how God enables us to enter His eternal ‘Promised Land’, how He gives the ultimate ‘Rest’ to His children; the experience of the complete Shalom of God!

The book of Joshua is a record of God’s faithfulness to His covenant people. It underscores the need of the believer to be obedient if he would appropriate all that God has designed for him. It is throughout, a testimony to the might and grace of a sovereign and holy God. ~ Thomas Nelson Publishing

Summary of Chap. 1:1-9

God continues to lead the people of Israel through a man He speaks directly to. This is the next stage in the ongoing processing of setting apart HIS people; taking possession of the land of Canaan.

Joshua is commissioned and empowered by God to be a military (operational), spiritual and relational leader of GOD’S people.

Joshua is given the written word of God to direct his every action, and he is told exactly how to use it.

God makes promises to Joshua regarding the possession of the promised land that demonstrate God’s unchanging character.

APPLICATION:

Challenge: Read the book of Joshua as if it was the owner’s manual for how to take possession of the spiritual life God has promised you as a Biblical follower of Jesus.
How is God equipping and empowering you to lead his people? Operationally? Relationally? Spiritually?
Why should the first five books of the Scriptures be as important to you as it was to Joshua?
How are the promises God has made to you as a follower of Jesus Christ similar to the promises He made to Joshua?

For those who are inexperienced in the concept of Spiritual Warfare: A lot to learn! For hose who have experience in Spiritual Warfare: More to learn! Spiritual warfare can be as subtle as demon interference in relationships / decisions. Or as intense as an attempt to destroy a church body or a ministry.

• All things; being a Bondservant to Christ is 24/7… HE touches every part of life!
• He is our power source, by His Spirit, to live HIS way
• Being energized by God’s power happens when you intertwine your life in HIS
• How does this happen? To get the power you have to plug in!
• Inward habits and outward habits

This crucial information is addressed to Christ’s Body. You have to have God’s Spirit indwelling you for any of this to be real to you. It is our fundamental text regarding spiritual warfare.

Ephesians 6:10-17

10 So in all things, be continuously invigorated by our Lord and His all surpassing power.

Salvation in Christ is our identity. Communication with God through prayer & scripture is our way of life. We constantly seek to proclaim the Gospel with our faith going before us, wrapped in Christ’s righteousness with God’s enlightening truth at the center of everything we are.

11 Trust in the complete battle gear God provides, with it you can stop and counteract the strategies of the devil.

• Trust is built through familiarity and regular contact
• We need to practice with our gear / Military term would be to ‘Drill’
• You cannot trust what you have not used (David didn’t want Saul’s armor)
• Practicing with all of the gear at once, just like you use it in real life

12 This struggle of ours is not with human beings but a clash with demonic forces; active combat with the powers of this world’s darkness; a confrontation with the spiritual forces of malice in unseen realms.

• In any contest you must KNOW YOUR OPPONENT
• The somewhat repetitive descriptions make it clear: supernatural opponents

13 For this reason you must possess and use the complete battle gear God provides, so you can stand your ground whenever the evil attacks come, enabling you to endure anything.

• You have to own it AND use it…(like exercise equipment)
• All of it is used together, the language implies that it has full value used together
• With God’s power used properly we can handle ANYTHING!

14a This is how you do it: wear divine truth as your foundation garment,

• It is believed the ‘how you do it’ goes from here to V 20
• The metaphor of ‘wearing gear’ denoting how close a doctrine is held
• The ‘Gear’ is to be seen as a ‘Matched Set’, a ‘Full Array’, a ‘Suit of Armor’
• The 1^st three things are things you wear regularly but not always

14b put on the breastplate of God’s approval,

• A breastplate is a front and back full torso covering
• We have Christ’s righteousness and therefor God’s approval;

15 and pull on boots that prepare you to proclaim The Gospel of Peace.

• We put in footwear based on what we are doing
• Our feet take us where we are going
• We have to carry the message, it makes us less vulnerable

16 Together with these, hold up the shield of faith in Christ, which enables you to smother the burning missiles of the devil.

• When you suit up you get ready, holding your shield is the max readiness
• The arrows are going to come… our faith is a shield and we need to ‘hold it up’

17 And always wear the helmet of salvation and the sword of The Spirit which is the communication of God.

• In a war zone you need to keep your helmet & sword on at all times
• Our identity as a redeemed child of God is something we inhabit 24/7
• We need to keep the lines of communication open with God at all times

SUMMARY:

We have a supernatural God, when we become His Bondservants we will be involved in the the supernatural conflict that is part of this age. We are drafted into God’s army!

We need both awareness and energizing from God to stand our ground in the supernatural conflict that is our present reality. We are in a war zone and we need to understand the nature of the conflict.

An intimate, biblical relationship with Jesus Christ grows our trust in the gear He gives us to conduct ‘Spiritual Warfare’ successfully; we assemble our gear and learn how to use it.

Consistently using all the gear God provides His Bondservants for the warfare they face enables members of Christ’s body to ‘Stand Up’ to any spiritual attack.

God’s Truth is our core (belt), our life is covered by His imparted righteousness (breastplate) and we are prepared to deliver His message (shoes).

Our faith is our active protection (shield), it is effective when we ‘hold it up’ / exercise it. This is called Biblical Discipleship.

In Jesus Christ’s Body our lifestyle is built on attitudes and actions that affirm our salvation in Christ (helmet) and we practice constant communication with God (sword).

APPLICATION:

Do some research, read some things about ‘Spiritual Warfare’: get in the game!

Why is it crucial to understand who / what we fight against as Christ’s Bondservants?

As an individual, how might you prepare your gear and use it well?

What group activities can you ‘plug into’ to help you prepare and use your gear?

How can you intentionally use all of your gear together more often?

A Bondservant of Christ’s Vision of Spiritual Warfare

Previously in this letter to the church in Ephesus, the apostle Paul has laid out the basics of the Gospel message and in our passage last week we he tells the church that through Christ not only are we saved for eternity but we are also spiritually enlightened now, to live as God would have us live.

Today’s passage takes us from the big picture to the small regarding how Jesus Christ’s body is to live. We will look at the lure of substances and their influence and one of the fundamental relationships in the church community: Marriage.

Last Week: Ephesians 5:15

15 So pay close attention to how you conduct your daily life, don’t live like you’re without divine wisdom, but rather as one who is spiritually enlightened.

• Live based on the Spiritual Wisdom God Has given through Christ
• The rest of the letter is specifics of this general idea

Ephesians 5:16-33

16 Make the most of today’s opportunities. This world is corrupt, 17 so don’t ignore what you can clearly perceive The Lord’s will to be.

• Use the time you have to do God’s will: TODAY!
• Each ‘Prisoner’ of Christ is should be a tool for God to fight corruption
• Figure out what HE would have you do and get going at it!

18 For example; don’t use wine to get intoxicated, that habit is a corrupt influence. Instead, make it a habit to be under the influence of God’s Spirit.

• Not just wine this can be applied to any intoxicating substance
• The language is clear that the condemnation is on ‘Getting Drunk’
• You can have too much to drink and then you can habitually get drunk
• This is about seeking alternate reality, altered state of mind
• Wine only way then, now: drugs, gambling, pornography, video games
• Combined problem of inebriation & being under something’s influence
• Instead of non reality, WE place ourselves under the influence of H.S.

19 Together, passionately sharing sacred songs of honest praise, raising voices and instruments to The Lord. 20 Giving thanks to Our Father God, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, in all circumstances and for all things.

• This is what it looks like when you are constantly ‘In The Spirit’
• Unity, passion, honesty, collaboration & use of gifts: How the church should be!
• The more we let the Spirit of God influence our lives the more thankful we get

21 Subordinate yourselves to each other out of devotion to Christ.

• When you are ‘spiritually enlightened’ this makes sense
• The next 23 verses are devoted to specific examples of this command
• WHAT: all must ‘Respectfully Defer’ to each other in The Local Body
• WHY: Jesus Christ: because of what He’s done for you & done to you
• HOW: Specific relational attitudes, values, norms and behaviors
• All of it flows from a relationship with Christ (you need it to live this way)

22 Wives, respect your husband’s headship out of reverence to the Lord. 23 Because the husband is head of the wife as Christ is head of the church, each one the protector of that body. 24 Again, as The Church is subordinate to Christ, so wives are to husbands in all respects.

• Often translated ‘Submit’. Current societal definition has changed
• It is not oppression / slavery / dominance (different words)
• The role God has designed for women in this relationship after the fall
• Pronounced in Gen. 3 …’Your husband will have dominion over you.’
• Dominion is ‘Benevolent Headship’
• Headship is not about equality it is about roles

25 Husbands, generously love you wife like Christ loves the church; sacrificing himself for her holiness, 26 purifying her through the cleansing power of His will. 27 Personally consecrating those He sets apart to holiness, purified and flawless without any kind of blemish.

• The basis of a husband’s ‘Benevolent Headship’ is Christ
• What Christ does for each of His ‘Called Out Ones’ (The Church)
• Sacrifices Himself to make the other Holy
• Relationally & Personally He makes us pure of sins eternal consequences
• And He is purifying us and setting us apart as HIS PERFECT POSSESSION
• Husbands are called to model this goal; the betterment of their wife

28 Likewise husbands are to lavish love upon their own wife like they do their own body. Those who abundantly love their wife truly love themselves. 29 Accordingly, no one detests their own body, instead it is sustained and cherished. 30 Since we are parts of Christ’s body He sustains and cherishes us, The Church.

• The emphasis is on the priority of the of love from husband to wife, automatic!
• Loving as naturally as we feed, rest, nurture and protect ourselves as JOB #1

31 As a picture of this relationship a man leaves His Father and Mother and cleaves closely to his wife, the two even become one person. 32 This relates to the profound mystery which I am declaring, that of Christ and The Church.

• Biblical marriage is a picture of Christ and His Church
• ‘Leave & Cleave’ is about total commitment
• God’s ideal for marriage: one man & one woman become one flesh

33 This is important for the whole community: Husbands, love your wives as you love yourselves. Wives, respect your husbands.

• The entire body is to be united in this view of marriage
• Supporting it as a high priority cultural value
• The basic need of every woman is to be loved
• The basic need of every man is to be respected

SUMMARY:

Christ’s Enlightened Church cannot afford to ignore God’s revealed will, we are here to check corruption.

There is temptation to seek ‘AlteredStates’…be repentant about your mistakes and don’t let any THING own you.

When we let the Holy Spirit own us we worship communally from the heart, by The Spirit, to The Father in The Name of Christ: ‘Trinitarian Worship’!

When we let The Holy Spirit own us we subordinate ourselves to each other because of what Christ has done for us, expressing our honest adoration.

Biblically married wives are to live the willingly subordinate to their husbands headship, placing themselves under the ‘Spiritual Protection of their husbands as Christ protects His Body.

Biblically married husbands are to practice benevolent headship of their wife. Sacrificially loving their wives as if they were themselves, like Christ loves His Body.

Biblical marriage is a meant to display the two God given roles of a man and a woman complementing each other. It is to be an earthly example of way Christ and His church relate to each other. As Christ’s Bride we get to have Him love us and we respect His benevolent headship.

APPLICATION:

What has God revealed to you about His will that you are ignoring?

How can you intentionally practice subordinating yourself to others in this church body?

As a married person how do you need to grow in fulfilling your God given marriage role?

As an unmarried person how can you support and defend Biblical Marriage in this church body?

So what does this Spiritual maturity look like? 

The Beatitudes give us some good examples:

• Spiritual Dependance on God. 
• Sensitivity to sin it’s results. 
• Humility before God & others. 
• Consistent pursuit of God’s ways. 
• Giving mercy to others as a lifestyle.
• An uncorrupted view of our world.
• Intentionally working for unity
• Being willing to take heat for following Christianity
• Standing up to hate and lies as one who belongs to Christ 

These are standards of growth as a disciple of Christ… but how do we get there?

The Ephesian Church, like Midtown Church has people who are at various stages and places in their discipleship to Christ. So we all need guidance and help.

In this passage God gives us all SIX things to do Christ’s way NOT the World’s way. The motivation comes from recognising How God has treated us and we are to ‘Pay it Forward’ by growing spiritually as we obediently follow the biblical Christ Jesus.

Last Week V15 & 16:

Instead let us establish our lives on the truth of generous love, growing in every way according to our head; Christ; He fits his whole body together in unity, each part supporting the whole in a unique way so that the whole body develops spiritually from generous love. 

• The truth of God’s generous love in Christ is our example (The Gospel)
• This Gospel unites us in oneness AND in interdependent individuality (gifts)
• We are commanded to mature together in Christ’s Ways

Because of this we have to be SET APART… In The World but not of The World

In this passage God gives us six things to do Christ’s way Not the world’s way.

Ephesians 4:17-32

17 Consequently, for this same purpose I make this declaration and solemn appeal to you in Christ’s name: Stop living like those who don’t care about God. 18 Their thinking is totally wrong about God, their entire mentality is shrouded in darkness, alienating them from the eternal life that God gives.

• This same purpose is: maturation of the body that occurs when members grow
• The way that happens is to follow Christ NOT the world (one or the other)
• You can’t do both at the same time (The Myth of the 3^rd Kingdom)
• Here is where you don’t want to be: thinking wrongly about God / Christ 
• When you don’t see God rightly EVERTYHING is affected (no illumination)
• That darkness keeps you estranged from ‘Real Life’ / Eternal Life

Their hardened hearts keep them willful ignorant of God. 19 They live without having to account for how they are owned by their sexual desires; habitually practicing all kinds of excessive, impure acts.

• It is a self perpetuating cycle: Hardness & pride keep you in the darkness
• When God is not your creator, and you are not accountable to Him: No Rules!
• If you are the standard of what is right or wrong you will be a slave to lust
• This speaks specifically of sexual things that are impure (God Has standards)

20 This is the opposite of discipleship in Christ! 21 If you live out what He teaches then you know He is the truth. 22 His teaching regarding your prior lifestyle is that it must be put away, with the corrupting and deluding influences of persistent lust. 

• Christ’s Ways are NOT the world’s ways… no matter what you might feel
• Biblical discipleship to Christ cannot be practiced while living ‘just like everyone’
• What are the real teachings of Christ? DO YOU REALLY KNOW?
• What this Scripture says is that if you learn them and live them you will find out
• His teaching on spiritual transformation is clear: God makes you different!
• We must each address the influences that corrupt…the things that led to sin
• But it is not just behavior modification; 
• God, by His Spirit and your surrender, changes your thinking and acting

23 Instead, surrender your state of mind to be renovated by God’s Spirit, 24 creating excellent character in the depths of your being that resembles His: righteousness and holiness emanating from pure truth. 

• Rather than allow the world to drive how you think, let the Holy Spirit drive
• God is not meant to be your ‘Co-pilot’! Jesus take the wheel…and keep it!
• The only way to live following Christ is to have God ‘re-do’ your character
• This happens in obedience: ‘If you love me you will obey my commands’ ~ JC
• Maturity results from God doing a renovation of your mentality & character
• What does God doing a renovation of your thinking & character look like?

25 To this end, put away false spirituality, and declare divine truth together with your neighbors as part of the same body. 

• Start by getting Jesus & HIS Gospel right based on the Scriptures (OT & NT)
• The only way to follow Christ is to do it His way: Scripture is the ‘Guidebook’
• Quit mixing other junk with your Christianity, let’s unify around Scripture!
• Declaring Divine Truth Together: A basic thing Jesus Christ’s Church does
• God wants us to do it together, ‘Body-Unity’ proves Christ’s Deity (JN 17)
• Francis Schaeffer called this ‘The Ultimate Apologetic’ A United Church Body 

26 When you become angry do not sin and allow the day to end while you remain indignant. 27 Don’t give a place or opportunity to the devil.

• Next important thing in your doing things God: Resolve your anger now!
• I says it is OK to be angry, that is not sin. Christ was clearly described as angry
• The command is to not sin from your holding on to that anger
• We’re to keep short accounts; resolving conflict we have with other body parts
• We are to release what we are unable to resolve
• And we are to repent of where we have sinned in our anger

28 The one who steals must stop stealing, instead he should work hard with his own hands, producing something he can share with others who have need. 

• Next up: Self Responsibility / Honestly doing your part, with what you have
• Stealing encompasses taking from others in all ways: emotion / time / things
• Christ followers are not to just make enough to live on but also extra to share
• The concept of a disciple is called to produce ‘Bread to Share’: spiritual food

29 Refrain from all impurity when you speak, say only what is spiritually encouraging to those who need to hear it.

• Next: Corrupt Communication
• This is about saying less (say only what is uplifting should limit our talking)
• And seeking to communicate spiritual hope, grace and love to encourage
• How do you know who needs spiritual encouragement? 

30 Don’t work against the influence of God’s Spirit, who has personally sealed you as His and will one day fully redeem you. 

• Don’t frustrate, vex, sidestep, work against God’s ‘Sanctification Process’
• God has placed HIS Spirit in you, eternally spiritually regenerating you!
• By His amazing grace He marks you as His possession
• He ‘Seals’ your eternity with HIM! The Indwelling H.S. is the down payment!

And when you believed in Christ, you were marked with His seal, the promised Holy Spirit. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance He promised and that He has purchased us to be His own people. Eph. 1:13b-14a

31 Intentionally remove these from your life: harshness, rage, hate, discord, and defamation which all partner with evil. 

• The language speaks of persistent focus on doing somethings
• People who don’t care about God treat others with caustic disgust, & nastiness
• People who don’t care about God display extreme emotion to get their way
• People who don’t care about God hate openly, take pride in it 
• People who don’t care about God intentionally seek to divide
• People who don’t care about God consistently slander those who oppose them
• All of these ‘attitudes’ or ‘lifestyles’ are entryways for the devil to come destroy 

32 Instead, grow in the giving of grace to each other, practice merciful forgiveness to one another, the way God in Christ forgave you.

• The opposite of all the things listed is how God has treated YOU!
• Our motivation and example is Christ and His sacrificial death to give us life!
• Motivation, example and empowerment all come from God 

SUMMARY:

If you belong to Christ you should grow up in Christ and you cannot do that without actually following the ways and words of the Biblical Christ! You must be set apart!

There is God’s way and there is the ‘World’s’ way…there is no 3^rd choice! Scripture is the guidebook to God’s way.

The Biblical Jesus Christ taught that those who answer His call abandon their previous life and are ‘Born Again’; that means being transformed by God in your thinking and character to be like Christ.

6 things to do God’s way rather than the world’s way:

• Learn the Biblical Christ & His Biblical Gospel and declare it w/ other Saints
• Release, Resolve and Repent of anger daily
• Do your part to provide & share excess material & spiritual things for The Body
• Communicate based on God’s standards and use what you say to bless
• Do what you can to participate in God’s sanctification process (discipleship)
• Grow in graceful, merciful forgiveness: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness & Self Control

APPLICATION:

How much energy and intention do you put into trying to be sure you think correctly about God? 

What specifically can you do to more fully cooperate with The Holy Spirit’s renovation of your mind and character? 

How well do you recognize the corrupting influences of the world around you and intentionally work to rid yourself of those influences?

Which of these six things we are called to do God’s way are the biggest challenges for you? Have you specifically asked God to show you how to do things more His way?

True community is elusive to mankind! Our default as human beings is not to unity, it is to self and pride which leads to sin. Community has been desired and idealized throughout history and we know deep down in our souls that real community is essential.

Community (‘Common-Unity’) is defined as a specific and commonly shared way of life that unites people. To achieve common-unity people must share a specific communal mentality and attitude. Common-unity requires group ownership of common purposes, shared values and goals. 

It is hard for humans to agree on these things, has been for all history. In Scripture and any other account we have of the history of humanity, common-unity is a fleeting condition for people. Warfare is the result of disunity and we certainly have more war than unity on this planet. Why is it so hard for people to live in common–unity?

The Biblical Jesus Christ came to unite us with our creator which enables us to unite with our brother and sisters. As we follow him we too can be a part of God reconciling all creation to Himself. In Him we are given common unity with God and in this we can form the ultimate community: Jesus Christ’s Church

What is the basis on which we have this common-unity? How do we envision it? 

Is there an essential element we can grab on to to always be our guide and foundation? 

What creates this ultimate community for those who follow Christ? It is the ultimate act of humility that was His death on the cross. That humility is our example, it is our empowering and it is our lifestyle to grow in.

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.

• These are rhetorical questions if you follow the Biblical Christ
• What could be more encouraging? More comforting? 
• I can testify to supernatural connection with other Spirit-filled Believers
• My heart has been tenderized…but it needs more
• So then based on these amazing privileges Christ has given us…
• Be united with the rest of the Body of Christ, all the way!
• Agree wholeheartedly, love each other, work together (all W/ 1 mind & purpose)
• No Problem! Right?

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.

• Here is how you do it: get over yourself! There is no ME in community
• Learn true humility and practice it…the hardest thing any of us will do
• We have to let God make us selfless because sin makes us the exact opposite
• Care for others! Don’t ignore yourself, just care for others too
• Consideration…. Practicing being considerate of others (Philippines)
• The more you care for others the less you think you are better 
• The more you care for others the more truly humble & selfless you get

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.

• To pull this off you need to look at everything the way Christ does
• For Christ humility is a ‘Be-Attitude’ (mindset leading to action)
• Whatever you are or have, place it under God & be willing to give it up
• Christ was willing to come down to our level, that’s a big drop
• What could be harder to give up than Godhood? 
• Are we willing to ‘condescend’ in any way God would have us based on Christ?

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 came in human form, 8 He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

• So rather than leverage His position, Christ became the least of us
• It was an amazing act humility to become human! (when You are God)
• But the ultimate act of humility was allowing His creation to execute Him!
• This is our example of humility & selflessness (The highest of standards)
• Total Condescension… Perfect Condescension
• God’s will is enacted by Christ’s humility and obedience
• In the same way, God’s will is enacted by OUR humility and obedience

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 declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

• Because of Christ’s perfect humility & obedience He is the apex of everthing 
• The last will be first and the first will be last…
• It glorifies God to come and die for you and me (Sacrificial Love)
• What God / Christ did makes Him worthy of all glory from everything!
• This act of ultimate humility creates His church; the ultimate community!

TO THOSE WHO CALL HIM LORD…HE IS EVERYTHING!

As His followers we should spend our lives developing HIS attitude!

How do we doit? 

12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

• A life of imitating Christ by yielding to His Spirit within us takes practice
• We all have to grow out from under direct supervision and fly solo
• It takes hard work, focus, and persistence to get results: 
• The results of our salvation show up in relationships and sacrifice
• We must practice reverence & awe or we will become complacent
• WE HAVE to do it because God has invested eternity in us!
• He is working in YOU!! SO, how can you cooperate with Him more?
• How do we get the attitude of Christ? 
• Hard work and reverent obedience grows humility & consideration of others
• And this kind of biblical discipleship creates biblical community!

SUMMARY:

What we have ‘In Christ’; comfort, belonging, fellowship and compassion, is given to us to form the basis of our united thought and purpose. (His Church)

The way we live out this unity is by being considerate of others and acting from a position of humility and self-awareness.

Our example is Christ; The Incarnation of God all-everything, who laid all of His deity aside to be considerate of our eternal souls need for salvation.

In the ultimate act of humility, Christ in human form subordinated himself to the welfare of all humanity as He allowed His own creation to execute Him.

By choosing to be lowest Christ Jesus becomes the Highest! One day HE will be worshiped by all creation, we have been given grace to do it now!

We have been given grace to follow Christ’s perfect example of obedience; reverently relying on God to conform us to His will. To that we add our hard work: honoring God and worship HIM.

APPLICATION:

(V 1 & 2) )How well do you take stock of and appreciate all of the privileges you have been given in Christ Jesus? Would sharing those things make you more aware and thankful?

(V 3 & 4) What are YOU selflessly doing for others to build Common Unity here at Midtown? Is there something new you can do? Is there something you are doing that you can do more of?

(V 6, 7 & 8) What things are you willing to give up in order to be considerate of others? Things can include time, emotion, expertise, money and possessions.

(V 12 & 13) How do you balance hard work and reverent reliance on God as a disciple of Jesus Christ? Do you need new practices or more consistency with established practices?

Application for V 9, 10 & 11 is:  Have you fulled surrendered your life to Christ’s Lordship? The assumption Paul is making is that the recipients of this letter all have come to salvation in Jesus Christ. But God knew others would read this letter .

If you have NOT fully surrendered your life to God; today is the day!

If you have surrounded you life to Christ I encourage you to rely on God’s power to help you commit more hard work to your discipleship!