Greetings everybody!  Today from Philippians chapter 2 we are looking at four most beautiful words of love.  These come from the first verse of a great chapter.  Philippians 2 is one of the most wonderful chapters  in scripture.   It speaks of glorious truths that need to be approached with reverence.  

The Four Precious Things

As we approach the great truth in this passage we should take the shoes off our feet spiritually and reverence, for as we read this together we are standing truly on Holy Ground.

We will be looking at 4 beautiful words in these verses that describe the love we share in our christian fellowship.   For the benefit of readers who speak and read Tagalog, the scripture references have also been given in that language.

Here is the verse we will look at …….

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Phil 2:1 – Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of  love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,
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Phil 2:1 – Kaya nga kung mayroong anomang kasiglahan kay Cristo, kung
mayroong anomang kaaliwan ng pagibig, kung mayroong anomang pakikisama ng
Espiritu, kung mayroong anomang mahinahong awa at habag,
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The four words we will look at are ……

• CONSOLATION – (kasiyahan)
• COMFORT OF LOVE – (kaaliwan ng pagibig)
• FELLOWSHIP OF THE SPIRIT – (pakikisama ng Espiritu)
• AFFECTION OF MERCY –

This passage starts off by saying “kaya”. In Tagalog…. kaya

In the English translation of the bible this is translate “IF”. The word in the original Greek language of the Bible is better translated ‘since’.

… SINCE ( so, therefore ” kaya”)

It’s really saying that ‘Since’ we have such wonderful consolation in Christ; in Christ, in the church, by his Spirit the Lord has given us many great blessings and in Jesus Christ we are so richly blessed!

Word 1 – CONSOLATION- kasiyahan

That word ‘consolation’ (kasiyahan) in the original language of the Bible is the word “parakaleo” and it means ‘encouragement‘.

It is the same word used when Jesus said to his disciples in in the Gospels of
John – will send you another comforter that he will be with you forever even
the Spirit of Truth.
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John 14:16 – And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever —
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John 14:16 – At ako’y dadalangin sa Ama, at kayo’y bibigyan niya ng ibang Mangaaliw, upang siyang suma inyo magpakailan man,
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So that word ‘consolation’ means to cheer on, to encourage, to comfort and  strengthen. And all these wonderful blessings are ours as we share in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. So this word ‘consolation’ means to “Cheer us on.” It means to “Wave the flags”. To “Encourage us”.

God shouts to us with Joy ….” You can make it!”

Word 2 – COMFORT OF LOVE

Next we come to the second word …. ‘COMFORT OF LOVE’ – (kaaliwan ng pagibig)

In the original Greek language of the Bible, the New Testament ues the word “Paramuthion.” This means a comfort that comes very close to one. So the word means God comes very Close to us ……. tenderly ….. like a kiss to bring us sweet intimate comfort.

In the Fellowship of the Church of God ( among God’s children), the Holy Spirit not only cheers us on with a shout. The Holy Spirit also comes along very gently at times when we need and whispers gentle words of comfort and love….., VERY CLOSELY into our hearts.

And the Most beautiful and wonderful thing of all is that….

We also encourage each other.  We all need each other and God expects us to encourage each other in the faith.  God expects each one of Us to sometimes speak gentle words of Love and comfort to a brother or sister.

Sometimes we need to speak gentle words of Love and say to each other, “cheer up my brother I know what you are going through”..
Or to say, ” cheer up my sister, I know what you are going through”..

God knows what you are going through and he will bring you through into Victory!

Word 3 – FELLOWSHIP OF THE SPIRIT

Thirdly we come to the phrase…..”FELLOWSHIP OF THE SPIRIT – (pakikisama ng Espiritu”.)

The Greek word for ” fellowship” here means “a sharing in something together.”   When people go to the pub to drink AND want a drink they go to share .  The thing they go to share in is not really Fellowship! it may be good and they MAY make friends but it’s not even friendship that they are sharing in!  The thing that they are sharing is …..alcohol! …Booze.

the Bible nowhere tells us that we should never drink. The Bible does not teach but we must be teetotal. The original Jewish people have many festivals where the cheerful. moderate use of wine was used a lot.  But drunkenness is a sin. drunkenness is a sin and God hates drunkenness because it is a ” work of the flesh, (Gal 5:21).  But what I’m saying is, that they go to share in alcohol, but Praise God we share in God’s Holy Spirit.

THE LORD HAS GIVEN US A BEAUTIFUL COMMAND.
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Eph 5:18,  19 – Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,…
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Eph 5:18. 19 – At huwag kayong magsipaglasing ng alak na kinaroroonan ng kaguluhan, kundi kayo’y mangapuspos ng Espiritu; 19 Na kayo’y mangagusapan ng mga salmo at mga himno at mga awit na ukol sa espiritu, na nangagaawitan at nangagpupuri sa inyong mga puso sa Panginoon;
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We are all bathing and all sharing in a beautiful HOLY SPIRIT “bathtub” together. We are all being cleansed and and renewed by the spirit of God. We all share in together in such beautiful things. We are all DRINKING IN together in such beautiful truth. But the MOST WONDERFUL THING OF ALL is that we are sharing together in In the beautiful son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ that we love so much.

Word 4 – AFFECTION OF MERCY

Last of all we read ” affections of mercy”

Different Bible translations may have different words for the word affection.
But again, it’s best to go back to the original Greek language of the Bible to get the accurate meaning. The word is the word ‘ splanchnon’

SPLANCHNON

I guess that might sound a very strange word but it means… “Bowels”

This word was used because the ancient Greeks believed that the bowels where the centre of emotions. Even today, im modern times we often hear somebody say –
…….. “I really feel it in my guts”.

Sometimes when we feel emotions it really feels like its coming from deep down within us! ….OUR guts!

I want to say something here …]

Feelings and emotions are very important in the spiritual life. God expects us to feel emotions, but sadly different sectors of the church have tried to “cut off” the importance of emotions in a Christians life.

We often here the saying, “We walk by Faith not by feelings”.   This is very true – up to a certain point only.  Its truth lies in the fact that because our emotions are changeable  we need to stand up on God’s truth irrespective of how we feel.  However,  our emotions are vitally necessary if we are to love the Lord.  SOMETIMES ….like David the psalmist we need to say to our selves, ” bless the Lord oh my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name”,
(Psalm 103:1) .

We need to actually consciously stir up our emotions with the truth of God’s word!  Emotions are very important in the Christian Life. We need to love God and each other with tender emotions. The truth that we receive from God’s word by Faith; this truth should hit our emotions.  And when our emotions are stirred, (and I’m talking about godly emotions) being stirred – these godly emotions will propel us, DRIVE US, CAUSE US to serve God faithfully.
The Devil knows the importance of emotions!  He tries to trap people through
their emotions.

Satan doesn’t tempt us and tell us he wants us to DO EVIL. He attacks our emotional life.   He says, ” I’m offering you this …. it will stir your emotions and make you FEEL.”  Satan tempts us and tries to make us feel that sin ( rebellion) is …. EXCITING.
That sin is fascinating that sin is a alluring!
Satan tries to tell us that serving God is boring!
But I can tell you ……. SERVING GOD IS NOT BORING!!

Satan tries to tell us that the only emotions we’re going to feel – the best emotions we will feel are in sin! But that is a total lie. A TOTAL LIE……
REAL BEAUTIFUL EMOTIONS COME FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT.  Let m say that again….
REAL BEAUTIFUL EMOTIONS COME FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT.
The truly Christian life is full of beautiful sweet godly emotions and Passions.

People love to “FEEL”.   So that they can ” feel emotions”, many people spend hours crying in front of the TV set Over some Crazy FICTIONAL Love Story.   wasted hours….wasted hours.
Many people spend hours crying in front of the TV set Over some Crazy Love Story
or sob story …Wasting emotions on fiction. I don’t waste my time and emotions om FICTION.
I am stirred up by the reality and beauty of Jesus christ and God’s word of truth.

I’m not saying we should never watch a TV program or a play. But let’s not waste our emotions on things that will not last forever.  Let’s offer and pour our emotions into loving a wonderful, glorious, majestic,  gracious God and into the magnificent things he has accomplished for us.  It’s far better to experience all the beauty of the emotions Our Lord is able and wants to put into US.

Let’s continue with the verses up to verse 4
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Phil 2: 2 to 4 – Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same
love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish
ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than
himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for
the interests of others.
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Phil 2: 2 to 4 – Ay lubusin ninyo ang aking katuwaan, upang kayo’y mangagkaisa ng pagiisip, mangagtaglay ng isa ring pagibig, na mangagkaisa ng akala,
at isa lamang pagiisip; 3 Na huwag ninyong gawin ang anoman sa pamamagitan ng pagkakampikampi o sa pamamagitan ng pagpapalalo, kundi sa kababaan ng pagiisip, na ipalagay ng bawa’t isa ang iba na lalong mabuti kay sa kaniyang sarili;
4 Huwag tingnan ng bawa’t isa sa inyo ang sa kaniyang sarili, kundi ang bawa’t isa naman ay sa iba’t iba.
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The Word says, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit!”
It’s very possible to do good things for the wrong motive.  It’s easy to be conceited or have selfish ambition and to make a display!   It’s easy to be conceited or have selfish ambition!  

If Our Emotions and Motives are Wrong

If our motives are wrong … and if we truly belong to Jesus…… God will CORRECT us gently
if our motives are wrong …… God will show us gently and we will be changed as
we admit our pride and sin. But it so easy to do things to show off.

We need to be humble! But let me tell you something amazing. Jesus IS humble. Jesus our Mighty Lord and Saviour is humble.

Jesus Our Lord Is Humble

He said in Matthew chapter 11…..
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Matthew 11:29 – Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
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Matthew 11:29 – Pasanin ninyo ang aking pamatok, at magaral kayo sa akin; sapagka’t ako’y maamo at mapagpakumbabang puso: at masusumpungan ninyo ang kapahingahan ng inyong mga kaluluwa.
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IF we are his…. If we belong to him…..we will have his spirit of humility.   JESUS ….he always stooped to serve!
In John’s gospel, chapter 13 we see that Our Lord took the towel and washed his disciples feet.
So we only need to ALLOW his attitude….. his spirit of humility to fill us….
Praise God we can have a humility that is far greater than our own ( natural)
humility.

We can have THE VERY HUMILITY OF JESUS HIMSELF
Jesus is HUMBLE – and humility is the ” very perfume of heaven”, so verse 5 carries on…… saying …
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Philippinas 2:5 – 8 – Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6
who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and
coming in the likeness of men.
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