Advocating Unity
ICS Daily Devotions
Philippians 2:1-4 (NKJV) Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfil my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
The Apostle Paul wrote many epistles from prison, which contain important teachings and instructions to the churches that he had planted. They are still relevant to the church today. Paul’s love for the church parallels Christ’s love for the church. A church is a body of believers who congregate to worship the living God. This epistle was addressing some divisions and discords found in the church of Philippi. It is never an easy thing dealing with issues in church and having to make difficult decisions.
Members of the church of Philippi were apparently causing discords by their attitudes and actions. They were more concerned about their personal prestige and selfish ambitions and were drawing members away rather than bringing unity in the local church! They were highly opinionated without reason or basis and had an attitude just about everything. Some thought that they were more superior than others and they were not able to work in harmony. There was spiritual pride amongst them. Pride is the opposite of humility; it is very subtle and begins with murmuring about the style, teaching, practices, and at times even the different strata of people in the congregation, but it will destroy the church if it is not managed well.
It is unfortunate that the church is very familiar with disunity. Although many of the mainstream denominations were birthed out of a revival, many were also branched out due to church splits. It is never a good feeling when you know that the church that you are planted in is divided. Nobody wins in a divided church except the enemy, and that is precisely what he wants because the devil wants the church to be in strife, divided and ineffective for the Kingdom of God. Nothing much can be achieved when a church is divided because she will lose her witness and effectiveness in the city.
If you have decided to worship at ICS, that is your home church. It is a place where you worship God on a weekly basis, serve Him and make Him known through this body of believers. We are a church that is blessed to bless the community and the nation.
Sermon Series: ServeFest
