“Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.” - Philippians 2:1-2 (NASB)
Let’s right off look at what is promised in these verses. It is not delivered directly but it is here. It’s a promise of completed joy. Paul appeals to the Philippians to maintain unity by being of the same mind – that means no division in what they believe in Jesus Christ. And again Paul calls for “the same love” to be maintained in the body. If they all have the same understanding of their obligation to love one another it would cause a spirit of unity purpose. The first verse establishes the motivation for them to desire and make the effort to have this unity. Paul wants a promise that the joy he has from and for this church to be a complete joy. Incomplete joy is not really joy, is it? If we have joy half the time, what do we have the other half. Do we have a 60/40 split? If so, it is not a complete joy. So if our churches have unity, and going the same direction to the same goal and helping all, their success at rejoicing is found in Christ Jesus.
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