How Good and How Pleasant

My wife and I have enjoyed watching the Tournament of Roses parade. I think this year was on Saturday, so we recorded it and watched it afterwards. We always loved watching the marching bands. My wife grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and her dad was the leader of a big band called the Continental Youth Band. They went all over the country, all over the world. They actually performed in Europe, performed in Canada, they performed in some of the marching in the Green Bay Packers games. Don't mention Green Bay Packers to me, but anyway, they did march in some of those areas and in competition as well. And the one thing you always look for when you see a marching band, and we sat in the stands in Pasadena because we were able to get tickets free, to sit there because they were on our property in Pasadena right on Orange Grove Avenue and watch the Tournament of Roses marching bands go by. And it was awesome to see a band whose lines were actually straight, because a lot of them were wiggly and a lot of them were out of step and so on. But when they stayed in line and stayed in step, it was really a joy to see. Same way when you see any type of routine, whether it's a cheerleading routine or whatever else, when they are all in sync, when they're all together, it's a delight to watch. When they don't know what they're doing, it is not so much of a delight. You might say how good and how pleasant it is to see bands march in unity. You might say how good and how pleasant it is to watch a cheerleading squad perform in unity. In Psalm 133 and verse 1, God says, Psalm 133 and verse 1, how good and how pleasant it is when brethren can dwell together in unity. How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. God loves to see his people together. God loves to see his people at one.

And there are many benefits to being in unison. There's harmony, there's togetherness, there's everybody pulling in the right way, which, saying that term, reminds me of a tug of war. They used to call it an ambassador so they didn't get war, and then they called it a pull of peace. The point is you're still pulling against each other. But usually you load yourself the one, if you have a team, you load it with heavy-set guys like me and others who can anchor the team. But you know who wins? Are the ones who can pull together in unison. And when you start moving, pull, pull, pull, pull. And you start, and they're trying to hold, they're trying to dig their heels in, and you keep pull, pull, pull.

And then you say hold, and everybody stops and holds and leans back on. Then pull, but when they're working together they win. But if one guy's pulling and other guy's holding on the same team, it doesn't work. When we all pull together, we can accomplish much. So we're going to take a look first at what are the sum of the outcomes of unity, and secondarily we're going to look at how to achieve unity.

What it takes positively to be unified. First, let's take a look at some of the benefits. This is a negative example, but it tells you what the benefits are of people working together. Genesis chapter 11 in the Tower of Babel, Genesis chapter 11, verse 1, the whole earth was of one language and one speech.

Everybody could understand everybody, and everybody could give signals to everybody. Everybody could communicate with everybody and understand. And it came to pass as they journeyed from the east that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelled there. They said one to another, go too, let us make brick and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone and slime they had for mortar. So they had pretty good masons there. And they said, go too, let us build a city and a tower whose top may reach to the heaven. Let us make us a name lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the earth.

Let's build this huge tower as a tribute to us. Let's rub it in God's face. Let's do it, the Tower of Babel. And the Lord God came down to see the city and the tower which the children of Israel had built, or children of men had built at this time, no Israelites. And the Lord said, Behold, the people are one. They have all one language, and this they begin to do. Listen to this. Now nothing will be restrained from them which they have imagined to do.

When people work together, there's almost nothing they can't do. God saw them using their unity to do something which was not for him or them in the long run. So he said, we've got to stop this so he confused the languages. And of course, then they were babbling on, and this Tower of Babel that they were creating, they couldn't speak anymore. He's got unconfound their languages that they made understand one another. So the Lord, verse 8, scattered them abroad from there upon the face of all the earth, and they left off to build the city.

Because they couldn't understand each other. You say, take the brick and put it over there. They thought, take the brick and put it over here. And they didn't know for sure if you're saying brick. Maybe they took the mortar. They didn't understand each other. The languages were confused. But what happens when people can work together? Now nothing that they can do can be restrained, can be stopped. Nothing! Because these individuals pull together, just like the small group that's pulling.

But they're together. They may not weigh as much as the other side. I've seen it happen that the bigger ones get pulled right over because the other ones have an insynchronization. They're moving together. They're in unity. What are some of the other benefits of unity?

Let me read you one quote before I go to those biblically. It's called the Mayflower Compact. When the tiny sailing ship Mayflower set sail from England with 102 passengers on September 16, 1620, her destination was the Virginia colony in America. But after a long and tortuous voyage, the Mayflower arrived at what is now Provincetown, Massachusetts on Cape Cod. Of the Mayflower's passengers, 36 were English separatists. Those were pilgrims, as they were later called.

Convinced that a divided colony had no chance to survive, the pilgrim leaders drew up what became known as the Mayflower Compact, which all 41 male passengers signed on November 16, 1620. The Compact formed a colonial government and required that all obey whatever rules and regulations it imposed. Why? For the general good of ye colony unto which ye promise all due submission and obedience. With their new charter in hand, the pilgrims went ashore and became the first permanent settlers in New England.

They began to build the tiny colony of Plymouth. The Mayflower Compact remained the basis of civil government for the Plymouth colony, and for all the towns, new towns created in New England wilderness until 1691. So for 70 years, they followed that when Plymouth became a part of the larger colony of Massachusetts. So they recognized that if they land and they are all against and all working in different directions, it won't work. If they're all pulling in different ways, it won't work. They needed oneness.

Acts 2, verses 46 and 47, after the coming of the Holy Spirit into the lives of the Christians on that day of Pentecost, and after that inspired sermon by the Apostle Peter, verses 46 and 47, tells you what happens. And they continually continuing daily with one accord. They were together. They were unified with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house. Now, they weren't keeping Passover. They were just sharing their meals. Breaking bread in the Middle East does not mean you're keeping the Passover or keeping communion. It means you're sharing a meal. You sat down. My dad always had bread at his meals, and if it's Syrian bread, you break it, because it's in a round loaf and you take a piece and you take the loaf, you tear off, and you hand it to the next person. He tears off, next time. And that's what you do. That's called breaking bread. That's usually what was your main staple. They broke bread from the house to house, and they did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart. That singleness of purpose. Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord... Here's a consequence. The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. When God sees his people together, when he sees them unified, having the same purpose, same goal, same hope, same laws, same teaching, when he sees them walking in that way together, God will bless. Growth will take place. Acts 4 verse 32. That oneness is awesome. Acts 4 and verse 32. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and one soul. I played on a basketball team in high school that should have done a lot better than it did. And the reason it didn't was because we had five players, several of which would not play. And work with the other guys. Many of them were out for their own instead of out for the team.

I was a newcomer. I joined that class in junior. I went to another school before that. I came in as a junior. I wasn't friends or in a clique with anybody, so I was happy to pass the ball to anybody. But some would not have passed it to him, and this one wouldn't pass it to that one. And on paper, we had five good players. But in the record books, we didn't do that well. Why? Because we didn't play together. They were of one heart, one soul. Neither said any of them that anything that he possessed was his own, but that he had all things common. They were willing to share. They cared about each other enough because they were all of one heart. So again, the oneness is so important. We're moving in the same direction. Have the same outlook, same view. 1 Corinthians, verse 10. It's also important that we speak the same thing. One of the blessings and benefits of being unified is that you speak the same thing. 1 Corinthians 1. Now, I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind, in the same judgment, as was brought out in the sermonette, about conscience. We all need a good conscience, and your conscience means with knowledge. Take the word con with and science knowledge with knowledge.

A well-trained conscience can be your guide. A poorly trained conscience cannot. That's why Troy was mentioning you need to study the Word of God. That helps keep your conscience, your mind, straight. That's the knowledge from which you can make a decision, for which your conscience, then, can be activated. For these people, these first century Christians in Corinth, they were perfectly joined together in the same mind, in the same judgment. At least, that's what they were urged to be by the Apostle Paul, speaking the same thing. 2 Corinthians 6, verse 1, when you're together, you can do a much greater work. 2 Corinthians 6, verse 1, We then, Paul includes himself with the brethren, we then as workers together with him beseech you also that you receive not the grace of God in vain. Don't receive the grace of God and do nothing with it. If you've been blessed, then pass the blessing on to others. But it's that unity of approach, that attitude of let's get in and let's do the job. It's being willing to subject your thoughts, your feelings, for the betterment of the whole group. What's good for everybody, not just what's good for me? What's good for everybody? What does everybody want to do? Not just what I want to do. What does everybody want to do? Can I swallow my thoughts and pride and move forward and do what everybody... It's good for everybody, not just good for me.

Ephesians chapter 4 and verse 16. Ephesians chapter 4 and verse 16. In such a unified group, every one of us supplies something. We're all needed in God's church, every single one of us. Ephesians 4 and verse 16. From whom... He talks about Jesus Christ, so that we may grow up to Jesus Christ, who's the head. From whom the whole body... Notice... ...fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies. I don't know what joint you are. Are you a finger joint? Are you a knee joint, leg joint, ankle joint, foot joint, arm joint? What part of a joint are you? What part of it do you supply to the body of Christ? You're important.

Every one of us pulling together have a little finger where it's been stowed or broken or twisted or sprained, and you hurt. It throbs and your body says, I hurt. Have a toe that's bad, and you hurt. So God wants us as individuals to supply to each other what we need so that the whole body can work together. He says, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part makes increase of the body to the building up, edifying of itself in love. So when we can work together, we can all build up and we can supply a need in the church by being unified.

Ephesians 4 verses 1 to 6, but it doesn't come easy. If unity were that easy, you would not have so many scriptures about it. Unity is not easy. Why? Because it's subjecting your will to God's will, your will to the will of the group. Now, I've been on council of elders seven and a half years, the first seven and a half years. Sometimes I thought I had a great idea. I raised my after they discussed it, it was shot down. I still thought it was a good idea, but it wasn't going to be enacted, so I had to move on.

I had to move on. Why? Because the rest of the group didn't want it. I thought it was a great idea, but they didn't. I could sit and fuss, I could drag my feet, I could get pout. That doesn't help anything. Or I can accept it and move on and submit myself. Ephesians chapter 4 verses 1 to 6. It takes effort. I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord beseech you, I beg you, that you walk worthy of the vocation which you were with you are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering and forbearing one another in love.

Because you have outgoing concern, it's not just about you, it's about everyone else. Endeavoring, struggling, trying, doing everything you can to keep the unity of the Spirit. God's Spirit wants us to be unified. God's Spirit wants us to be together. He wants us to work together.

Endeavoring to keep, and you have to try. You have to really use your own resources, too. Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Verse 4. There is one body and one Spirit, even as you're called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God, and Father of all, who's above all and through all and in you all. God wants us to be one, but it takes effort.

Shifting to the second part of the sermon, what does it take to achieve unity? I have four areas that I think are important. There may be others. Four areas that I think are very important if we're going to achieve unity as individuals in the body of Christ.

Number one is know and follow the rules. Know and follow the rules. How many times do I hear people make statements that they don't even understand what they're saying? The rules by which the church operates are the Ten Commandments, the Bible. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word proceeds out of the mouth of God. And the way the organization operates is by the Constitution and bylaws. Those are the rules of the game, okay? Those are the rules by which we operate. If I want to play soccer with you and you're kicking the ball football and other parts of the world, soccer to Americans, but you're kicking and you're good at kicking the ball and you're good at dribbling the ball.

I wasn't good at dribbling, but I was good at stopping people. I'm not easy to be deeked when I'm in good shape. And I could stand in front of them. So I usually played full back, and I had a strong leg so I could kick the ball far, which basically you have to do is full back. You don't have to dribble too much. But what if those guys are dribbling and I don't like the way they're coming at me and I just dive on the ball, grab it with my hands and run to the other end and fake kicking it and throw it into the goal.

Is that allowed? You know, everybody say, you're not playing according to the rules! You're not allowed to do that.

If you're going to play any game, you have to play according to the rules, don't you?

If you're playing a game that involves throwing dice to move your peg on a particular board, and you roll and you get a five and you need it a six, and then you turn the other two to make it into a three, is everybody going to say that's okay? My rules? I could play. Who wants to play with somebody who makes up his own rules? Nobody! And if you're going to play a game, you have to know the rules. I see lots of comments made of people who don't even know the rules, and they're commenting on the game. They don't know the rules. Know your Bible. That certainly comes in with what Troy said in the sermonette. Know your Bible. You have to know the rules. It's not in man that lives to know how to direct his steps, Jeremiah said. Correct me, Lord, because I don't know how to go. I'm just a man. I don't know which way to go. You have to learn the rules from the Bible, and if you want to study and know the rules of the church, you should read the Constitution and bylaws, which are on the website, and say, what is the church? What do they do? Why are they able to do this? Why could they do that? How many people does it take to change doctrine? Three-quarters of all the ministers, elders in the church. And I'll tell you, you don't have elders out there that are just going to be compliant, looking to say anything you want. They know the rules, too. And they study the rules. They're not going to put their name to something that is wrong, not three-quarters of them. So, to somebody pull something over on you is going to be very, very, very difficult doctrinally, if you know the rules. Amos 3 verse 3 says, can two walk together, except they be agreed. You cannot walk together unless you're in agreement. And the way you're in agreement is you know what the rules of the game are.

To know the rules of the game, you ought to study your Bible. You've got to know the operating procedures of the church if you're involved in that. And if you're going to comment on it, you better know them. Amos 3 verse 3, can two walk together, except they be agreed.

You can't. You can't. If you're going to... you want to go one way and I want to go another way, we're not going to be walking together, folks. 1 John 1 verses 6 and 7 tells us how we do walk together. How do we walk together? 1 John 1 verses 6 and 7, if we say we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not the truth. I'm walking the path of righteousness. You're walking the path of righteousness. We're walking together in the paths of righteousness.

If I walk in the light and you walk in the light, we will meet. If I walk in darkness and you walk in the light, we're not going to meet. Can two walk together, except they be agreed? They can't. If they're not agreed the way they walk, we can't be walking together.

Verse 7, but if we walk in the light as He is in the light, the light is the truth, the light is about in God's way. If you walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another. We're going to meet each other along the way. Hey, how did you do that? Hey, tell me your experiences. I'll tell you mine as we go along the way. Like a couple of people jogging together, or walking together, where they're giving each other encouragement as they walk together, and they do their aerobics or whatever else together. They're able to talk, they're able to join with one another. They have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin. If you walk in the light, you will know the rules. If you walk in the light, you'll find other Christians walking in the light. You will be able to walk together because you know the rules, and you follow them. Philippians 3 verses 16 and 17. Philippians 3 verses 16 and 17. We read this. Nevertheless, you know, let's go to verse 15. He says, Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded. And if in anything you be otherwise minded, Philippians 3, 15, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, where to we have already attained, let's walk by the same rule. Let us mind the same thing. And then he goes on to even be more bold and says, Brethren, be followers together of me. I should be out front setting you an example and mark them which walk so as you have us for an example. Take a look, see if other people are walking as we are walking. We'll be an example to you. Follow others if they're following me as an example. And if you're otherwise minded, God's Spirit will try to lead you. And if your conscience is listening, it's going to hear and make those changes. So the first way you have unity is we all play according to the same rules. We all play according to the same rules. Number two, look to the authority. Look to the authority. In a football game, Ben Roethlisberger, I use him, of the Steelers, he has to give clear signals. If he tells the center he's going to hike it on the third hut and he says, hut hut. The guy doesn't know whether to do it or not. So you have to say, hut hut hut. Make sure that he understands it's the third hut. He's going to hike the ball. Otherwise, he goes flying past him or goes in his knees. He's not ready for it.

That quarterback is kind of like the captain of the team. It's on what he says that the line would all move. It's on what he says that the quarterback, the quarterback, the center gives him the ball. So it centers the ball to him. He's got to be read. He's got to call the signals.

For a Christian, it's God who calls the signals and the ministry. But God first, of course. For the family, it's dad and mom. They call the signals. On a job, it's your boss who calls the signals. On a team, it's the quarterback or the coach. Sometimes the coach who gives the signals to the quarterback who then relays it to the team. But it's on that quarterback's word, his call, his cadence, that the ball is hiked.

In marriage, it's the husband who calls the signals.

You have to look to the authority. If you're going to move together as a family, as a church, as Christians, as a team, you have to look to the authority. Hebrews 12 and verse 2. Hebrews 12 and verse 2. Looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Now, he tells you later on to look what he went through and what he endured for us.

But looking to Him. We've got to take our lead from Him. We've got to take our lead from God the Father. We've got to take our cues from Him if we're going to be Christians and if we're going to be unified as Christians. Hebrews 12 too. Looking to Jesus, looking to God. And if you look to Him, chapter 13 verses 7 and 17 gives this responsibility to the ministry to oversee you. And woe be to us if we don't. And woe be to me or any other minister who does not take that calling seriously because Hebrews 10.31 says it's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. You've been given responsibility over my flock. You better tend them and care for them with the best of your ability. And if you don't, you're in trouble with God. Hebrews 13 and verse 7 says, Remember them which have the rule over you who have spoken to you, the Word of God, who usually speak to you, the Word of God, the ministry of those appointed by the ministry, whose faith follow considering the end of their conduct. Yeah, don't follow them. They go wrong. Don't follow them if they go astray. Don't follow them if they slip and stumble. Don't follow them if they make a mistake. But otherwise, follow their lead.

And verse 17, he says, Obey them that have the rule over you, because they're calling the signals. Submit yourself for they watch for your lives. It's their job to watch over you, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy and not with grief, for that is unprofitable for you. If they have to say, Oh God, I'm trying to work with this person, but they're so hard to get along with, they're so difficult, contentious all the time. Who's that going to be against you? You, me. Well, I'll have to submit to somebody. Obey those that have the rule over you, something we've taught for so many years. Ephesians 4 verse 11. Ephesians 4 verse 11.

He gave some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors, some teachers. Why? For the perfecting of the saints. They're responsible for helping you be the best you can be for the work of the ministry, perfecting you that you might be able to do the work of the ministry. We're going to be talking about Christ-centered servant leadership, which is really teaching you to help serve others. It's not teaching you to take over the ministry. That's not it. It's not becoming congregationalist. It's saying, you know what? Do the job. A well-tuned church as a minister. I don't have much to do with everything that's done. The chairs are set up. The food is prepared. The microphones are all set up. The sound system is working. The song leader. I don't have to do all that. That's a well-tuned church. When brethren know where to go, what to do, it's great. It relieves me of a lot of responsibility, because we have a lot of other responsible people that I don't have to do at all. No minister does have to.

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ, everything we do should be to say, how can we build the church of God? How can we make it better? How can we make it happier? What can we do to relieve whatever pain or shortcomings they have? And I don't mean to compromise with God's law. No. But what can we do to make things positive, better, uplifting? He says that to help build you up to the measure, the stature, the fullness of Jesus Christ. Point you to Him. Help you be measured by Him, not by others.

So he goes on to say in verse 14 that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, with every wind of doctrine, but rather that we as individuals don't have to be subject to being deceived and drawn away. Look to that authority that's there to guide you and help you. In the family, it's the husband who's the head of the church, head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church, Ephesians 5. In 1 Corinthians 4, 1 Corinthians chapter 4, and of course we read lots of scriptures that talk about being willing to submit to those, even those who are of not such good standing, to be willing to submit to them. We'll see that in the next section. Bosses are people we don't like. I suppose if every one of us quit every time we didn't like somebody who was a boss or immediate supervisor, we'd all be out of jobs because nobody's going to do it the way you like, not exactly like you like it. In 1 Corinthians chapter 4 verse 16, we read this, "'Wherefore I beseech you to be you followers of me,' Paul writes, "'For this cause I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved Son and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.'" He says in verse 18, "'Now some of you are puffed up as though I would not come to you.'" If you think that you can get away with all this, "'But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know not the speech of them which are puffed up at the power.'" Do you want to challenge my power? I'll come and see if you are of equal rank with me. Verse 20, "'For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.'" And he says in verse 21, "'What do you want? Shall I come to you with the rod, in love, or in a spirit of meekness?'" Your choice by your actions. "'But the Apostle Paul wanted them to be followers of him. He wanted them to be marching in line. He wanted them to be marching forward for the betterment of all the church.'" So point number two, you have to look to the signal caller. Who's going to call the signals?

For the church, the ministry, Jesus Christ, God the Father over them, for the home, the husband, for the family, the mom and dad, for the team, a coach, and for the job, your boss. There are other areas of leadership that I didn't mention, but those give you an idea. You have to look to the authority if you're going to work together. Number three. Number three, if you want to achieve unity, you have to have humility and goodwill. Humility and goodwill. Goodwill. I want to see the team succeed. I'm going to get my points tonight. Put me in, coach. I know we're losing big time, but I just want to get in there and shoot them up. I don't want to give one of the other guys a chance to play who's not so good. Put me in there. I'm going to keep up my scoring numbers. Put me in, coach. I want to score more. Where's humility? It's about you. Where's about others? Where's goodwill? I want to seek what's better for everybody. I've seen many men fall because of lack of goodwill.

Goodwill. You know what the angel said after Christ's birth? Peace on earth, goodwill toward men. You can check other translations. Most of them will say among men of good favor, among men whom God is pleased with. But Amplified also says, peace on earth among men of goodwill. You want peace. You want unity. You want togetherness. It takes people who have goodwill. I want to see what's best for everybody. I want to do what's good for everybody. I want to do what's best for the whole, not just what's best for me. I taught my class when I was a minister in Toronto. I first went up there. I was telling them some of the... you were just talking in general. And I was saying, yeah, I was talking with story. And I said, yeah, I was one time drove across the country. And we ran out of money because we had to put four new tires on this drive away car. And nobody, no owner, was available to put it on. The tires were really bald. So we put four new tires on. We pulled our money. We couldn't have money for food. We were driving all the way across the country from California, Pennsylvania. And so we all pitched our money in and paid for the tires. All we could afford was peanut butter, peanut butter, and pineapple juice. So we found these cans of pineapple juice that we could have for pineapple juice. Peanut butter and crackers and pineapple juice. That's what we ate for days.

I hated pineapple juice after that. So I just kind of mentioned that at church. Social committee would meet. They wanted to have a tropical type thing. We want to make tropical punch. We're going to put in it pineapple juice. Somebody said, no, no, you can't do that. Mr. Antion doesn't like pineapple juice. Now I didn't know that until one man got in a bad attitude over it. And somebody on the social committee came to me about it and said, this man's in a bad attitude. He says, why do we have to put pineapple juice in just because Mr. Antion doesn't like it? And I said, he's right. He's right. If you think pineapple juice goes best in there, you do it. And if I don't like it, I don't have to drink it. But if everybody else likes it, good for them. It's not what's good for one of us. It's what's good for all of us. That's good will. Do you have goodwill? You want to have unity? It takes goodwill. Good will and humility. I'll read Psalms 51. Psalms 51, just part of this, is by the way, fits very nicely. This is the prayer of repentance that David had after he was confronted about his sin with Bathsheba. But I want to go down to verse 10. David is eating crow already and not tasting too good. He's pulling the feathers out of his teeth while he's saying these words. But verse 10, create in me a clean heart, O Lord, renew a right or constant spirit within me. Help me to have a good attitude. Help me to have a good approach. Help me to have a good mood. Help me to look at life in a positive, beneficial manner, not in a downtrodden manner, but a positive manner. And he said, verse 11, cast me not away from your presence, take not your Holy Spirit from me. But I love that verse. He says, create in me a right spirit. Put a right spirit within me. Clean my heart. Help me to have a good will. Help me to look outwardly. Help me to think what's best for others, not just what's best for me. Philippians 2, verses 1 to 5, Jesus Christ is spoken of as coming to the world with humility. But Philippians 2, verse 1, if there be any consolation in Christ, if there any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill my joy.

It's a joy when people work together. It's not a joy when people are nattering at each other. It's not a joy when people are going into corners and speaking against each other. It's a joy when people work together, when people have the same goal and the same purpose, the same rules, have the same God, everything. He says, fulfill my joy that you be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord and of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory, but in lowliness of mind, humility is not what is forced on you. Humility is a choice. When you choose to be humble, we can also call you meek. Nobody can meek you. People can humble you. That's why he uses the term, at times, humbleness of mind. It's got to be a choice to be humble.

And when you want unity, sometimes you've got to choose to be humble. You've got to subject your will to someone else's. Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory, but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem value the other better than themselves. That's how you achieve unity. Say, what's better for everybody? Not what's best for me. No, don't make anything with pina. I never told them that. They were a wonderful church. They wanted to do what was nice for me, and I appreciated that. But I did not want them to spite the rest of the church just for me.

Lowliness of mind. Value someone else better than you. Verse 4, don't look every man on his own things, but also look on the things of others. In other words, don't just be worried about yourself and your things. Be concerned about other things as well and other people. Verse 5, let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. And he goes on to explain, he came in the form of a servant. Verse 7, made himself of no reputation, took upon him the form of a servant. Could God have had him come into the world as a prince, as Buddha was? The Buddha was born into the world as a prince. And he became a great religious leader. Could God have allowed Jesus to come in as a prince? He could have been killed just as easy as a prince, as he was as a carpenter. Couldn't he? Couldn't he have lived just a good life as a prince? Couldn't he have had all these people waiting on him? Wouldn't it have been easier for him? Still could have had good character. Had God in him from the time he was conceived? Sure he could have. But he didn't. He chose to come into the world as a servant. He humbled himself, became obedient to God. How about you?

How about you? For unity's sake, are you willing to humble yourself? You willing to take second place? First Peter 2, 18 to 20 says you should even do it to the froward. You should even do it to those that are not, I think it's first, yeah, it is first Peter 2 verses 18 to 20. Says you should be able to submit even to the good, the bad, and the ugly. Doesn't say the ugly. Does say good and bad.

You should be willing to submit to the good, the bad, and the ugly. That's, I'm not going to read at first Peter 2, 18 to 20. First Peter 5, 5, I will read. First Peter 5 verses 5 and 6.

It takes humility and goodwill for us to be unified. First Peter 5, 5, likewise you younger submit yourselves to the elder. Yes, all of you be subject one to another, look, and be clothed with humility. Did you put on your humility outfit today? Did you wrap yourself with your humility coat or blouse or shirt or sweater or undershirt? Did you put on humility? Are you clothed with it? If you're clothed with it, the church can be unified because you will walk in humility. He says, for God resists the proud, gives grace to the humble. Verse 6, humble yourselves. Don't wait for somebody else to humble you. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in due time. With a humble heart and attitude, you'll be able to be unified with goodwill, seeking the good of others. You'll be able to be unified. One more scripture Colossians 3 verses 12 to 16. Colossians 3 verses 12 to 16.

In this section, verse 12, put on therefore his elect of God. Put on holy and beloved. Put on bowels of mercy. Put on kindness. Put on humbleness of mind. Put on meekness. Put on long suffering. Forbearing one another. Forgiving one another. If any man has a quarrel against you, he says, even as Christ forgave you, so also do you. And verse 14, above all these things, put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your heart, in your hearts, to the which also you are called in one body, and be you thankful. Verse 16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and hymns, spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.

The humbleness of mind, the patience, the thoughtfulness and care about others. That's humility and goodwill. It contributes greatly to oneness and unity. And finally, last point, is the supply of God's Holy Spirit. So do you just have God's Spirit? Do you have a few drops? Do you have a cup? Do you have four ounces? What do you have? Are you filled with the Spirit of God? Philippians 1.19, the Apostle Paul was grateful to the church at Philippi because they prayed for him. And he said this, Philippians 1.19, For I know that this shall turn to my salvation. I'm in prison now, but I know I'm going to be released, and I know I'll be saved through your prayer, because you're praying for me, and prayer is powerful in this, and I didn't cover it. Prayer is powerful, too. And the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. I know I'll be all right, because I have a supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. How's your supply?

I like nothing better than a full tank in my car. Full tank of gasoline, that is.

I love nothing better than that. When I see that gauge right up at full, I'm so happy, because I've run out of gasoline twice in my life, and I don't want to run out anymore.

It's not fun sitting on the road, looking like a geek, waiting for people to come and help you, or walking along the way, you know, trying to get to the nearest gas station.

So I make sure my car is full. I love having a full tank. How full is your Spirit tank? God does not give his Spirit by measure. In fact, he encourages us to be filled with the Spirit of God. Be filled with it. No, just half part of it. Be filled with it. Ephesians 5, 18 says, don't be drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit. Be filled with the Spirit. A person who's drunk probably has more alcohol than he needs. God says, don't be drunk, but be filled. You should be filled full up. Your tank spiritually, because the Spirit of God is what enables us to have unity. It draws us together. God is a God who wants us to have unity, and his Spirit is sent from him to ensure that. 2 Timothy 1, verses 6 and 7. God's Spirit provides the Spirit of a sound mind, Spirit to make wise decisions, the Spirit to make good judgments. 2 Timothy 1, verses 6 and 7. Wherefore I put you in remembrance, that you stir up the gift of God which is in you by the putting on of my hands. What is that gift, Romans 5, 5 tells you? For God has not given us the Spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. And what does that power and that love do? It impels you to be unified. What does that sound mind do? It encourages you to walk together, not walk apart. God's Spirit dwelling in us is so important. 1 Corinthians 12, verses 12 and 13, just a few selected scriptures here. 1 Corinthians chapter 12. We need God's Spirit in our lives, because God's Spirit, remember, endeavoring to keep in the unity of the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12, verse 12. For as the body is one, has many members, all the members of that one body being many are one body, so also is Christ. Why? Christ is the head spoken of as being the head of the church's body. Verse 13. Here's why the Spirit is so important. By one Spirit, we're all baptized into one body. God's Spirit put us in one body. Whether we be Jews or Gentiles, bond or free, and have been all made to drink of one Spirit. We all have the same Spirit. And that same Spirit needs to be manifested in unity and oneness and togetherness, not in divisions, not pulling apart.

He goes on to say in verse 18, But now has God set the members, every one of them in the body, as it is pleased him. God puts you where you need to be, and you learn lessons by taking where He puts you. In verse 20, He says, But now are they many members, yet one body. God's Spirit comes into the lives of Christians after faith, after knowledge, belief, repentance, and baptism, and the laying on of hands. God gives them His Holy Spirit. That Holy Spirit is intended to unify and bring us together, not separate us. One Spirit, Galatians 5, verses 16 and 25. Galatians 5, verses 16 and 25. This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and the Spirit, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. What is part of the lust of the flesh? Go back and read it. Read the fruits of the flesh. Several of them have to do with pulling away, strife, pulling away, division. You can read it, Galatians 5, 17, and 19, in that area. But he says, if you walk in the Spirit, you're not going to fulfill those lusts. And then verse 25, if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. And where does the Spirit of God lead you if it is leading in your life? It doesn't drive you, but if it's leading you, it leads you to unity. It leads you to unity. So we need that supply of God's Holy Spirit. I'm going to read you one other quote that I have, and then I'll have one more Scripture to close with today. I will try to keep my sermons to about 45 minutes to an hour, so that I believe in trying to give you good measure. But rather than rambling a lot, I'll try to keep it compacted and go to my go to what I feel is essential and get the message across in a service that's about an hour and a half. Today's a little bit longer. A quote about the United States. The United in United States. We came to America, either ourselves or in the persons of our ancestors, to better the ideals of men, to make them see finer things than they had seen before, to get rid of things that divide, and to make sure of the things that unite. It was but a historical accident, no doubt, that this great country was called the United States. Yet, I am very thankful that it has that word united in its title. And the man who seeks to divide man from man, group from group, interest from interest in this great union is striking at its very heart. President Woodrow Wilson, the United in United States, the United in the Church of God, begs us not to divide. For you see, God hates confusion. God hates division. God hates disunity. Jesus Christ's prayer, one of his final prayers, we don't know for sure how many others he may have said, at least one that's recorded, John 17, he leaves us with these words in his final prayer. And I'd like to ask you to think about, are you going to be a part of the fulfillment of this prayer? Or the unfulfillment of this prayer? John 17, verse 11, he said, And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to you, holy Father, keep through your own name those whom you have given me, that they may be one as we are. As we are. Verse 20, Neither do I pray for these alone who are here now, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.

Verse 21, that they all may be one, as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that you have sent me. Verse 22, And the glory which you gave me I have given them, that they may be one even as we are one.

Verse 23, I in them, you in me, that they may be made perfect in one, that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them as you have loved me.

And in verses 25 and 26, O righteous Father, the world has not known you, but I have known you, and these have known that you have sent me, that you have sent me.

Verse 26, And I have declared to them your name, and will declare it, that the love wherewith you have loved me may be in them, and I in them. Let's all be sure to be in the answer of that prayer by standing together in unity.