1. “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, 2then make my joy complete by being like- minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”

2. Of One

3. Each flake is uniquely individual Each flake is only begotten No two are exactly alike

4. Combined together – they are snow! It takes all working together to make a blanket of snow.

5.  Can’t the same things be said about Christians?  Unity is indispensable if we are ever to be a viable force in this world.

6. Upon what do we unite? Let’s consider Philippians 2:1-2 this morning. Let’s examine together the basis for our unity.

7.  If (since) you have any encouragement from being united in Christ.  Ephesians 4:4-6– the “oneness” of our unity.  “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

8.  “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.”

9.  ENCOURAGEMENT comes from PARAKLESIS ( παρακλησις )  This means “to call along side”  It means “to comfort”  Example: Barnabas was the Son of Encouragement ( παρακλησις )

10.  Here “comfort” is PARAMUTHION ( παραμυθιον )  There is little difference between PARAKLESIS and PARAMUTHION  Both indicate the giving of comfort  His AGAPE brings us great encouragement and comfort.

11.  KOINONIA ( κοινωνια )  1 Corinthians 10:16 – “Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?”  We share in a fellowship of blood and body

12.  1 John 1:3 – “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.”  Do we truly experience the binding fellowship of oneness in the Spirit?

13.  If (since) we have bowels and mercies:  BOWELS is from SPLACHNON (σπλάγχνον)  It means the intestines or guts – a reference to our pity or sympathies  MERCIES is from OIKTIRMOS (οικτιρμός).  Mercies speaks of a benevolent spirit

14.  Combined these form the “REASON” and also the “REASONABLENESS” of Christian unity.  Encouragement, comfort of love, fellowship of Spirit, sympathy and mercy will bind us together with chains that cannot be broken.

15.  Paul’s desire: That you may make my joy complete  Complete joy is based upon unity of mind: of the same intellectual fabric  Complete joy based upon having the same love  Complete joy based upon oneness of spirit  Complete joy based upon oneness of purpose (mind)

16.  Example of Euodia and Syntyche  (Phil. 4:2-3)  Example of divisive Romans:  Romans 16:17-18

17.  We can set aside our differences  We can celebrate our unity  We can overcome our individuality to be effective for Christ.  Unity is worth the effort.  Division is Satan’s finest hour.