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Daily Thoughts from Philippians (8): Unity of Purpose – Philippians 1:27-30
Through unity of purpose, I believe there is no limit to what we can achieve. [United Nations general secretary Ban Ki-moon, January 29, 2007 at the Summit of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia]
When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you. [Winston Churchill]
The Latin writer Publilius Syrus wrote around 46 BC “where there is unity there is always victory”.
British author JK Rowling wrote, “we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.”
Now this is the Law of the Jungle—as old and as true as the sky; And the Wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the Wolf that shall break it must die. As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk, the Law runneth forward and back— For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack. [Rudyard Kipling, from The Law for the Wolves found in chapter 2 of The Jungle Book, 1894]
Just before the battle of Trafalgar, Admiral Lord Nelson inquired of Admiral Collingwood where his captain was, and learned that he and Captain Rotherham were not on good terms with each other. Sending a boat for the captain, he placed the hands of Collingwood and Rotherham together, pointed to the enemy’s ships, and earnestly looking them both in the face, he uttered the simple words: ‘Look, yonder is the enemy.’ It was enough; disagreements were forgotten, and victory was gained.—Hy Pickering
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. (Philippians 1:27-30, ESV)
Here is the first command or charge Paul gives the Philippians. He has said that he prays for their love to increase in knowledge so they can make better decisions. So he adds knowledge to their love. They are distressed by his imprisonment, but they fail to see that his imprisonment is actually being used to move the gospel forward and he highlights by his own testimony that the gospel is even more important than his own life. He also demonstrates that he is willing to sacrifice his own preferences for the Philippians’ needs.
Now he commands them to stand together in unity against their foes in Philippi. They are to have one spirit, one mind, or in other words, one purpose, which is the purpose of seeing the faith of the gospel make progress. Divided, they make no powerful difference in the lives of their opponents. United, they are a clear sign of God’s judgment on those who oppose, but of His favor on those who believe, forcing a clear choice on the part of their opponents.
The Philippians must not believe that belonging to Christ will mean the absence of persecution. When Christ granted them faith to believe the gospel, he also granted them the privilege of suffering for his sake. Paul is experiencing it now.
The Philippians are arguing and divided, as Paul is going to speak directly to later. So now begins a strong appeal to them to find unity and just how they can do that. The road to travel is very clear, as he will present, but it takes an emptying of oneself, so to speak, to travel that road.
Discussion Questions for Small Groups
- What team have you been a part of that accomplished really good things?
- What makes a team effective?
- When has your church congregation stood firm in one spirit and striven side by side for the faith of the gospel?
- When has your church suffered for the sake of Christ?
- How might your congregation stand firm with other congregations in your community?
- How might you stand firm with your own congregation for the faith of the gospel?
About the Author Randall Johnson
A full-time pastor since 1979, Randall originally graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (ThM) in 1979 and from Reformed Theological Seminary (DMin) in 1998. He is married with four grown children and a pile of epic grandchildren.
Related Thimbles
What Jesus Teaches Us About Conflict Among Christians
Sermon: Mirroring Jesus’ Call
Studies in Revelation: Persecution
Studies in Revelation: The False Prophet
Studies in Revelation: The Antichrist, the Beast, the Man of Sin, the Ruler of the People to Come
Studies in Revelation: The Eternal Kingdom (Revelation 21,22)
Studies in Revelation: The Great White Throne Judgment of the Unbelieving Dead (Revelation 20)
Studies in Revelation: The Millennium (Revelation 20)
