Number 61: July 17, 2006



Each epistle has its own unique purpose and design. Philippians was written to correct the practical error that crept into the Church due to the misunderstanding of the revelation that’s given in the book of Ephesians.



Ephesians 4:1-6:

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.



Endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace is what walking in the One Body is about. Keeping the unity, not developing the unity. There is no worldwide Church or ecumenical movement that can produce unity of the churches or unity of the spirit. The unity of the spirit comes from God, we endeavor to keep it in our walk. We walk worthy in the bond of peace. That’s the only way to have peace, walking with the spirit of God at work in us.



Philippians illustrates how to keep that unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, with lowliness of mind, with meekness, with longsuffering, enduring one another in love, by utilizing Christ as our example. He chose to become a servant to His Father.



Philippians 2:3-8:

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.



Jesus Christ never did his own will. He always spoke and acted on what God wanted him to say and do. He perfectly obeyed his Father in everything, even to the point of dying on behalf of all of mankind. He is our example. We are to put on the mind of Christ, to think the same thoughts of love and obedience toward the Father and others that he had. This is a very worthy endeavor.



John 5:30:

I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.