The Redirect
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Speaker: Rich Gartman
Series:
Scripture: Philippians 2:1-2
Main Idea: Unity in Love and Mind
Intro
Intro
The Atlantic Monthly (11/94) told about superstar tenors Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo, and Luciano Pavarotti performing together in Los Angeles. A reporter tried to press the issue of competitiveness between the three men. “You have to put all of your concentration into opening your heart to the music,” Domingo said. “You can’t be rivals when you’re together making music.” That’s also true in the church. (Leadership Magazine).
There cant be any fighting, there cant be any disunity.
Philippians 2
2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
The Problem
The Problem
Explanation – Point 1
Explanation – Point 1
The Church at Philippi had obvious strengths. Paul praised them for their generous gifts to his ministry, for their love to Christ and for their joyful witness. But there was a flaw in their fellowship. When a personal messenger bearing a letter and a gift from the Philippians came to the apostle at Rome he naturally inquired how things were going on at home. He would soon guess from the messenger’s manner that on the whole things were going well except for some dissension that threatened the harmony of the household of God in Philippi. Paul does not go into the details of this contention but the stress the apostle everywhere lays on unity betrays the Philippians tendency toward dissension (Griffith, This Is Living).
Disunity is not only a danger to a sick church but also a stands as a danger to a healthy church. It is when people are really earnest when their beliefs really matter to them, when they are eager to carry out their plans that they are most apt to get up against one another. The greater the enthusiasm, the greater the danger they may collide (Barclay DSB).
Illustration – Point 1
Illustration – Point 1
A former police officer tells of the tactics of roving bands of thieves: “They enter the store as a group. One or two separate themselves from the group, and the others start a loud commotion in another section of the store. This grabs the attention of the clerks and customers. As all eyes are turned to the disturbance, the accomplices fill their pockets with merchandise and cash, leaving before anyone suspects. Hours, and sometimes even days later, the victimized merchant realizes things are missing and calls the police. Too late. How often this effective strategy is used by Satan! We are seduced into paying attention to the distractions, while evil agents ransack our lives.(Source unknown, Lou Nicholes - Missionary/Author).
Application – Point 1
Application – Point 1
Once you realize the problem it already to late sometimes. This is why we should be prepared.
Proverbs says
The sluggard does not plow in the autumn;
he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
If we dont prepare for Satan to attack we will fail everytime. This is a principle for all of our life. for every sin. This is a Rich proverb “The fool says I would never do that.”
Church I am talking about unity over the next several weeks because this WILL be a problem at some point for us. I forsee God working so Satan will try to stop that and this is a common weapon he uses. We have to be prepared. I’ll say it again....
Sometimes once you realize the problem it already to late. So what do you do? The important thing to do is anticipate the problem, Be prepared with the redirect, and Have a solution.
Bible Verse – Point 2
Bible Verse – Point 2
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
The Redirect
The Redirect
Explanation – Point 2
Explanation – Point 2
My wife taught me about this. Its a commonly used technique for children at the daycare. She also uses it on me. Often.
Redirection is a simple but versatile technique that helps you gently guide your child from a challenging behavior to a more positive one. It involves calmly stopping an inappropriate behavior, acknowledging and validating your child's feelings, and steering them toward a better way to express their emotions.
There are four redirects here
encouragement in Christ - I know there is a disagreemnt but what about our common connection in christ. Calm down handle this in Christ.
encouragement in Christ - I know there is a disagreemnt but what about our common connection in christ. Calm down handle this in Christ.
comfort from love - I know there is a disagreemnt but what about our common love for one another. Calm down handle this in love.
comfort from love - I know there is a disagreemnt but what about our common love for one another. Calm down handle this in love.
participation in the Spirit - I know there is a disagreemnt but what about our common connection in the Spirit. Calm down handle this in the Spirit of God.
participation in the Spirit - I know there is a disagreemnt but what about our common connection in the Spirit. Calm down handle this in the Spirit of God.
affection and sympathy - I know there is a disagreemnt but what about our common affection and sympathy. Calm down handle this in affection and sympathy.
affection and sympathy - I know there is a disagreemnt but what about our common affection and sympathy. Calm down handle this in affection and sympathy.
Illustration – Point 2
Illustration – Point 2
A pastor received a letter from a congregant. When he removed the letter from the envelope, it had one word written on it-"Fool"! "Well", said the pastor, "the sender signed the letter, but didn't write anything else!"
Application – Point 2
Application – Point 2
I know that’s funny but we have to handle such things in a Godly way.
We have to be ready to handle problems in the future and now with Calmness.
If someone is mad dont get mad back, keep calm and Jesus.
If someone believes differently dont argue, Keep Calm and settle it in love.
If someone is causing division dont fight back, Keep calm and work it our in the Spirit of God.
If someone lashes out dont yell back, Keep calm and and remember your affection and sympathy for them in Christ
Bible Verse – Point 3
Bible Verse – Point 3
complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
The Solution
The Solution
Explanation – Point 3
Explanation – Point 3
So after the redierct you have to solve the problem. Once all is calm and people are ready to seek a solution it usually easy. To have the same mind is the goal. This isnt the mind of the Hatfields or the mind of the McCoys, of this side or that side BUT, its the mind of Christ. As christians this is a what we have to put on. Remove ourselves and our feeling and seek the mind of God.
We do this in love and not hatred. In one accord to seek the truth is the only way. Anything else is not the way of God. and anyone who refuses this is not acting in a christlike way.
Illustration – Point 3
Illustration – Point 3
One day a professor demonstrated to his class the power of an electromagnet. He placed 2 lbs. of nails on a table with the wires of an electromagnet under the table. When he flipped the switch, the nails came together and he was able to form the nails into various shapes as long as the current was on. When the current was cut, the nails fell back into a pile. This reminds us that as long as the current of God, the Holy Spirit, runs through us, we have unity and God can form us into any shape He chooses for His purposes. (Johnny Bley - Sermons Central).
Application – Point 3
Application – Point 3
This has to be done in the power of God! So how do we prepare. Prepray. Simple. Have a plan. If fighting starts dont react. Be calm. Because we might be right and still be wrong if we dont handle conflict correctly.
Conclusion
Conclusion