Shabbat shalom everyone. I want you to open your Bibles to the book of Philippians this Shabbat meeting, please. We are reading from Philippians chapter 1 today, the last verses of Philippians chapter 1 and the first few verses of Philippians chapter 2. Shaul Paul is writing and he says to the brothers and sisters in Philippi: "Only let your conversation be as it becomes the gospel of Christ, that whether I come and see you or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel, and in nothing terrified by your adversaries, which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation and that of God.

For unto you it was given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now here to be in me." Chapter 2, Philippians 2 verse 1: "If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, in Messiah, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels of mercies, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord and of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory, 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." And I stop here. From there on, the Apostle Paul is writing about one of the greatest examples, our Lord Yeshua, the Messiah, from verse 5 of chapter 2 all the way forward. Now let me remind you, dear, beloved brothers and sisters, the Apostle Paul is in prison in Rome, not because of anything wrong that he has done, but because of his faith in the person of Yeshua, Jesus the Messiah. He has embraced him as his Lord. He has embraced him as the Mashiach of Israel. And now he was called to be a servant, a minister of the Gospel.

He has gone and he established the local assemblies in Asia Minor and further. And then he went back to the city of Jerusalem. He was captured. He was taken by the soldiers. He had been brought to the city of Rome. And now in his Rome, he is sitting in jail, in prison in the city of Rome. And he received some gifts that came from a man by the name of Apaphroditus, who came all the way from the city of Philippi, all the way to him to give him a care, to show that the brothers and sisters in Philippi really cared for him. And so Paul writes to them back a letter of encouragement.

But apparently when Paul received this letter from Apaphroditus, there were some problems in the local assembly at Philippi, like everywhere today. You look around and you visit locations and local assemblies, local churches, local congregation, local fellowships, and you find out that almost everywhere there are challenges. And the reason that there are challenges is because we as believers are not always judging ourselves. We are not always humble before the Lord. And because things are rising up in our own life, we are inclined to fight with each other. And that's why the Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the brothers and sisters in Philippi to encourage them to say, "Listen, beloved brothers and sisters, if there will be any blessing for you, there must be faithfulness to the Lord, but also humility in the life of the people of God." And so we studied all chapter one so far.

We had three meetings on chapter one. Today is again another meeting on chapter one. We began also in chapter two. And I would like to highlight two things in this ministry meeting. Chapter one, verses 27 to 30, Paul's admonition to the believers to stand faithful for the message of the gospel. He's writing to the brothers and sisters in Philippi. He says, "Listen, doesn't matter what's going on in the world. You need to stand true to the message of the gospel." And then in chapter two, verses one to four, he's exhorting them to the importance of humility and brokenness before the Lord in the life of every believer.

That is in the life of the Philippians, but also in our own life. How much we need this in our own lives. You remember the last ministry meeting we spoke about from verse 12 to verse 26. He said to the brothers and sisters in Philippi, "Listen, the very fact that I'm in prison in Rome only was used by God for the furtherance of the gospel. The message of the gospel went forward even though I am in prison. It didn't hold me a bit." In other words, what he's saying, whatever situation we find ourselves today, we can still share the message of the gospel and it is still the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believed, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

And so now he continues and he's admonishing the believers and look what he does, brothers and sisters. You see, when we became believers in the Lord Jesus the Messiah, we enter into what is known to be as a battlefield. You know, before we became believers, we never had as much problems as when we became believers. And you would think, well, Lord, why does it happen unto me? Before I knew you, I didn't have as much problem as now after I know you, these conflicts, there are constantly battles in the life of the believer. And so Paul reminding the believers at Philippi says, listen, you know, we have entered into a battlefield and we have an enemy.

The enemy that hates God's people, hates God himself, hates the gospel message, hates the Lord Yeshua the Messiah. That's what the enemy does. He hates God's people and God's word and he attacks the people of God. And so he doesn't want us to continue on spiritually and to grow and to be here as a testimony to Yeshua the Messiah. But you see, when we are going to battles, those of us that have been in the Israeli army, we used to wear special clothes, we used to have a gun on our shoulders and belts and all sorts of things, shoes, boots, in order to be able to fight with ammunition against our enemies.

But you see, the spiritual warfare is not done by any physical activity. And I want you to read with me a verse in 2 Corinthians, chapter 10 and verses 3 and 4. The apostle Paul is writing to the Corinthians. Look what he said. He says, for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. This is verse 3. And then verse 4, he says, for the weapon of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of stronghold. Our weapons today as believers in Yeshua the Messiah is not carnal. We don't fight this warfare by the power of the flesh, by some ego or human power, but our power, our weapons of warfare are mighty through God, even to the pulling down of stronghold.

And so brothers and sisters, Paul is continuing to write here to the Philippians. And now notice what he does in verses 27, 28, 29, and 30. He is encouraging the believers, first of all, to live their life in accordance with the message of the gospel. Look what he says, the first part of verse 27. He says, only let your conversation, really manner of life, let your manner of life become as the gospel of Christ. That whether I come and see you or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs. First of all, he says, listen, your manner of life, he's writing to the Philippians. How do we live? You know, sometimes, I don't know if somebody told this to you.

You say that you believe in Jesus the Messiah? Look at the way you live. Look at the language that comes out of your mouth. Look at what you do, and how you act, and how you behave. And you call yourself a believer in Yeshua the Messiah? Well, no wonder they say that, because if we are going to follow Yeshua the Messiah, there's got to be a change in our life, don't you think? And so the apostle Paul, Shaul, saying to them, let your conversation, again, it is really manner of life or behavior, let your behavior be as it becometh the gospel of the Messiah. What is the gospel?

The gospel of the Messiah, the gospel of Christ is that God became a man, and he entered humanity through the virgin Miriam. And then he lived upon the face of this world, and he went all the way to the cross, the Roman cross, where he died for our sins. And he forgave our sins. He was buried, and he rose again according to the Hebrew scripture, and he is now seated at the right hand of God the Father. This is the gospel. And if you and I have embraced the message of the gospel, we have accepted Yeshua as our Messiah and our Lord, how do we live?

And that's why Paul, Shaul, is saying to the brothers and sisters, he says, listen, let your life be different as it becometh the gospel. See, Paul is in prison. He didn't take a gun or he didn't take any knife or a sword, and he tried to fight the Roman soldiers. He allowed these things to happen to him in his life. He understood that this is the ways the Lord has allowed this in his life. And so he wanted the brothers and sisters in Philippi to have their life not the way they used to have it before they became believers, but to have their life representing the message of the gospel.

Well, there's something attractive about that, because when a believer represents Yeshua the Messiah, it's really attracting. I, as a Jewish man, remember when those people who were praying for me and share with me the gospel, what attracted me, what I'm sure you as well, is the person of the Lord, his grace, his love for us, his willingness to lay down his life for sinners such as us, his willingness to do things beyond what we deserve all the way coming from heaven, willing to go down to an awful and shameful cross in order to save you and I. the gospel, the glad tidings, we call it in Hebrew, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the glad tidings, the good news, the gospel message.

And so Paul Shaul is encouraging the believers that they ought to have their manner of life in accordance with the gospel. There ought to be a change. He's saying to the Philippians, you see, he received a letter from Apaphroditus and Apaphroditus gave him the gift from the brethren in Philippi and he probably told them, you know, Paul, let me tell you, the assembly, the local church in Philippi going well, but there's a few problems there. One of the problems, Paul, there is a lot of things that we are not consistent with. They are fighting among each other. And then there is pride and ego in our midst.

Paul, I'm just telling you the truth. Paul was grieved because he's in prison. And the brothers and sisters that he led to Yeshua, the Messiah there in Philippi, and he wanted them to continue to grow and to be used by the Lord. But at times, as it's happened with us, friction, problems, our manner of life is not conducted in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. And so he was encouraging the believers in Philippi, and he said to them, let your life represent the gospel. How important this, beloved brothers and sisters, to represent the gospel. Now, I want you to turn to chapter 3 for a moment of Philippians.

And you notice why he wanted them to have their life representing Yeshua and representing the gospel. Notice he used the very same word, conversation, manner of life, because in chapter 3, he says in verse 20, for our conversation, our manner of life, is in heaven. For when also we look for the Savior, the Lord, Jesus, the Messiah. In other words, he's saying our citizenship is in heaven. You know, brothers and sisters, you and I have a Canadian citizenship. Some of us have an Israeli citizenship. Some of us have another European citizenship. But actually, all those citizenships are temporary. But we have an eternal citizenship which is found in heaven.

And no one will ever take this away from us because of the gospel that has been providing this wonderful truth for everyone that have trusted Yeshua, the Messiah. So he's saying, brothers and sisters, let your manner of life be as it becomes the gospel. And unfortunately, to our shame, we are not always living our life as it becometh the gospel. So now, in chapter 1, and now verse 27b, B, the apostle Paul is not saying only to have your life represent the gospel, the person of the Lord and what you have done for us. But now, he also wanted them to stand fast. He says, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel.

Again, the gospel. But this time, it's not only live your life as it becomes the gospel. This time, he stands fast together, striving together for the faith of the gospel. What is the faith of the gospel? See, the faith of the gospel is this body of truth that we can never change. That the only ground for salvation is on the basis of the finished work of Yeshua, the Messiah. That's why Paul said in Romans 1:16, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of the Messiah, for it is the power of God unto salvation. For everyone that believes. It is God's dynamite, God's power, to lead a sinner to salvation on the basis of the finished work of the Messiah.

This is the truth. This is the faith of the gospel. And what is he saying now to the believers in Philippi? He says, I want you to strive together. I want you to stand fast for this truth. You know, people come and teach us all kinds of things. And I'm telling you from the little bit of time that I have part in ministry, in the Lord's work, in a short time that I have here on this earth, I have heard all kinds of things. People come and people go. Everyone come with his or her own doctrine and teaching and views and you hear all sorts of things.

A little bit of Jesus and a little bit of what I do. And the apostle Paul is saying, listen, you cannot change this fact. You hold on. You stand. Notice that. Stand fast. Strive together for the faith of the gospel. In Hebrew we call it emunat habesorah. Now turn to the book of Jude for a moment. Judah, a Hebrew believer in Yeshua the Messiah, wrote, in a danger time. They were already in the early church age. Already there were those who rose and taught all kinds of things. And you notice what he's saying to the beloved brothers and sisters to whom he wrote. In verse 3.

Beloved, when I have all diligence to write unto you the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. When he wrote, it was in the early 65, 66 AD, the church was in its infancy. Israel, our nation, did not accept the Messiah at his first coming and the door was open to the nations of the world. Jew and Gentile are united together in the body of Mashiach and already then there were those who crept in among the people of God. And they teach false teaching. And you know in the history of our people Israel, in Nehemiah time, in Ezra time, always there were doorkeepers for the spiritual welfare of the people of God.

Judah was an early doorkeeper in the early days of the assembly, of the church, of the ecclesia. And he says, "Earnestly contend for the faith." And notice the word "the faith." Not only for faith. Oh yes, some have faith in God. Some have faith in who knows who. But he said, "The faith." Ha'emunah, which was once and for all was delivered unto the saints. It was already given to the early apostles. And he strictly, using this expression, just like Paul used this expression in Philippians 1:27. He said, "Ye stand fast in one spirit with one mind, striving together for the faith, which is the faith of the gospel." And how important it is.

I can tell you that. We live it today in the last days of the ecclesia. Today we are in the days of Laodicean days, Revelation chapter 3. Soon the Lord is coming for his heavenly company and he's going to restore the nation of Israel, our own people, through the tribulation period. And ultimately, Israel as a nation will come to know him. But we live in the last days and the Lord might come at any time to take his own people home and there is the responsibility of every believer to believe in Yeshua, to hold on to that which is sound, that which is biblical and to stand fast, to strive and not only to do it alone, but to do it together for the faith of the gospel.

The faith which was once delivered unto the saints. The early saints were Jewish believers. They all have trusted that Yeshua is the Messiah. They have been rejected and despised by our very own nation because they believe that the answer to a sinner is the Lord Jesus and they have been despised and rejected and in a sense they have spread the gospel throughout the world and you and I have benefited from the message that they had proclaimed some 2,000 years ago. So, number one, Paul is saying to them, "Listen, let your life be in accordance with the message of the gospel. Stand and strive together for the faith of the gospel, for the faith of the gospel, the body of truth, the known written word that we have in our hands concerning redemption, concerning salvation, concerning the way of God to deal with men." Just listen to the radio, watch the television, read the newspaper, look on the internet, what's going on today in all kind of religious systems of men that try to offer a way whereby a person can be right with God and the Apostle Paul says, "No, the only way of salvation is through the gospel, the best sorah that the Lord Yeshua have done for us.

So, not only seek to live in light of the gospel, also strive earnestly, stand fast for the truth of the gospel. May the Lord help us with this." And then notice that, in the next verses, 28, 29, and verse 30, he's telling them, "Don't be afraid, don't be terrified by those who oppose the message of the gospel." Now, it's easily said, you know, I'm thinking about what's going on today in the Middle East. Yeah, but believers in places like Syria and Iraq who may lose their head because they believe in the person of Yeshua, the Messiah. And yet, we are called not to be terrified even though, naturally speaking, we are because, humanly speaking, we don't have the strength.

We don't have a natural boldness like some may have. We are all in dependency upon the Lord. So, here is Shaul telling them, "Listen, don't be terrified by those who oppose the gospel because there will be opposition to the message of the gospel." But I tell you, the proof that there is an opposition is a proof that you belong to Yeshua. You know, sometimes we think that an opposition to us means that God is against me and God doesn't understand me and He doesn't love me enough. But look what he says in verse 28, "That in nothing be terrified by your adversaries which is to them is an evident token of perdition or destruction but to you it is an evident of salvation that is of God." In other words, when you and I have opposition, you have to realize that when we share the message of the gospel it's only a proof that Satan, the enemy, is working against God, that those who are opposing us simply reject the message of the gospel.

For them, it's a proof that they are going to be eternally destroyed. for the believer it is a proof that he or she are eternally saved and belong to Yeshua the Messiah. So sometimes, brothers and sisters, I'm saying it here from the pulpit, it's not easy to live it out, but sometimes when we go through trials and we have those who oppose us, let's understand as Paul is saying it to Philip and he says, listen, it is an evident, it is a sign, it is a proof that you belong to the Lord and you have eternal salvation and those who oppose you and oppose the gospel, they need to be saved.

Otherwise, they will be eternally lost. And now, notice verse 29, it says that God gave us the gift, not only the gift of faith to believe in Yeshua, but sometime to suffer for the name of the Lord. Now, I don't know if I can call it a gift, but God calling it a gift. In verse 29, he says, for unto you it is given, notice the word, it is given in the behalf of the Mashiach, the Messiah, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. You see, it is a gift that God had given to us, not only to believe, to become children of God, to know that we are going to be in heaven with Yeshua, the Messiah, eternity, but also, when we identify with his name, there is a time that we are going to experience some suffering.

When we think about the suffering that believers had experienced throughout their lives, even when I think about our nation, Israel, before the Messiah came, Israel, our people have been a nation that is linked with God, the chosen people. But look at the history of our people. There is no nation that suffered like the nation of Israel. Many nations suffered, but none like the people of God, the people of Israel. The same thing with believers in Yeshua, the Messiah. You and I, as believers in Yeshua, the Messiah, will experience sometimes, some difficult times in our life. turn to John, chapter 16. Yeshua, Jesus, the Messiah, before he had gone to the tree, to the cross.

He said, just before he began to pray and to communicate with the Father. He said to them in John 16, and verse 32, and 33, and 33, behold, the hour cometh. Yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone. And yet, I am not alone, because the Father is with me, Yeshua said. And then he said in verse 33, these things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have shalom, peace. In the world, ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. Do you notice, brothers and sisters, Yeshua, even before he suffered, even before he died, and was buried, and rose again, and sent Ruach HaKodesh, the Holy Spirit of God, to form the body of Messiah, before the church was born, he already gave warning, to the disciples, he says listen, you are going to have, some challenges, in your life.

I promise you this. Why? Because if we identify, with Yeshua, with Jesus, we will somehow, experience opposition, to him, and to the word, of God. So, it is very important, to bear this in mind, it is a gift really. Sometimes when we, suffer, not for the wrong things, that we do, this is another story. You know, Christians suffer, believers suffer, for more than one reason. Sometimes we suffer, because we have done, something wrong, and this is our own fault. We need to repent, to turn back to the Lord, and the Lord will help us, and restore us. But sometimes, we suffer, because we identify, with Yeshua, the Messiah, and that is what, the Apostle Paul, is speaking about, here in this passage.

Turn with me, to another passage, 2nd Timothy chapter 3, verse 12. And look what, Paul is saying, to this young man, by the name of Timothy. He says, Yea, and all that, will live godly, in Christ Jesus, in the Messiah, Yeshua, shall, suffer, persecution. That's the world, in which we live in. Any time, when we will seek, to do something right. We are not always, doing things right. We know that. We know our hearts. But, when we will seek, to do the right thing, as before the Lord, you will see, beloved brothers and sisters, that you and I, will experience, some sort of, persecution, and suffering, and experiences, that we don't like at all.

And so, this is, important for us, to bear, in mind, as believers, in Yeshua, the Messiah. So, God did not only, give us the gift of faith, to believe in Yeshua, but He also gave us, gift of sufferings, and trials, in our lives, as believers, in Yeshua. If you today, go through some trials, you and I, have to ask the question, Lord, what do you teach me, through these experiences? And help me, to be drawn, closer to you. Keep me, closer to you, because otherwise, I cannot do it, on my own. And then, verse 30, do not be terrified, by those who oppose, the message of the gospel, because you are going to, receive opposition, but God gave us, just this gift, of suffering, verse 28, and 29, but notice, what he says, in verse 30.

He says, really, you have, the same affliction, as I, also have, as well. He finished, this first chapter, he says, having the same conflict, which, ye saw, in me, and now, you hear, that I experience, or you hear, to be, you are now, hearing, what I am, experiencing, in Rome. You saw it, when I was, in Philippi, and you hear it, now, when I am, in Rome. You remember, when he came, to Philippi, the first, European city, which received, the gospel, was Philippi. When Paul, went to Philippi, you remember, they captured him, because he was, preaching the gospel, they put him, in prison, they bound him, with chains, they beat him, and all, because he believed, that Yeshua, was the Messiah.

And then, when the Lord, delivered him, you remember, the Philippians, say, what must I do, to be saved? And Paul said, believe, on the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, and you, shall be saved. So, beloved brothers, and sisters, Paul, is admonishing, the believers, in Philippi, that they are, to stand, fast, for the message, of the gospel. To stand true, for the word of God, and for the message, of the gospel. To be faithful, in waiting on the Lord, and trusting him, and to speak, the word of God, and to seek, to live a life, that is consistent, with the gospel message. Unfortunately, a time, we are not living so, and we need, the grace of God.

And that's why, when we sang that song, I said, Lord, help me, that I will stay, close to you. Otherwise, we will not stay, close to Yeshua, the Messiah. the Messiah. Well, let's move down, to chapter two, please. Here's the second exhortation, not only, to admonish them, to stand fast, for the message, of the gospel, but here, he's appealing to them, he's exhorting them, in verses one to four, of Philippians chapter two, to have humility, in their lives. You know, brothers and sisters, it is so difficult, for us, all of us, to have humility, in our lives. We are proud, by nature. We are often, seek to be number one, we always like to be, prominent.

The disciples, even in the upper room, when the Lord, was celebrating with them, the feast of Pesach, you remember, they were arguing, with each other, who will be the greatest, among themselves. Imagine, the Lord is anticipating, death on the tree, and the believers, the disciples, those apostles, are fighting with each other, who is going to be the greatest. And no wonder, we often constantly, have those issues, that rise up, among the people of God. But here's an exhortation, this is for all of us, this is for all believers, whoever they are, wherever we are, what nation we come from, it doesn't matter, what gift you have, here is an exhortation, to humility.

If you and I, want to honor the Lord, this is the criteria, we need to learn, from those four verses. First of all, in verse one, Paul points, to that which is true, for all those, that belong to Yeshua, the Messiah. He says in verse one, if there be therefore, any consolation, in the Messiah, if any comfort, of love, if any fellowship, of the Spirit, if any bounds, of mercies, if there is, any tender mercies. You notice, that he used, the word if, now it's not a matter, of if, there is, consolation, in the Messiah, comfort of love, in the Messiah, fellowship, with believers, in the Messiah, and mercy, in the Messiah, for all believers.

This word if, this word if, that is mentioned, four times, in verse one, of Philippians chapter two, it's not an if, of doubt, it's an if, of since, of a surety, since there is, or therefore, there is, consolation, in the Messiah, since there is, comfort of love, in the Messiah, since there is, fellowship of believers, with the Messiah, in of the Spirit, and since there is, mercies, or, tender mercies, in the Messiah, he says, I want you to, fulfill my joy. Beloved brothers, and sisters, you and I, have to admit, when we need, an encouragement, Yeshua, have encouraged us. When we needed, comfort, Yeshua, had comforted us.

When we needed, fellowship, of the Spirit of God, with the Lord, Yeshua, the Messiah, he had been, our fellowship, our encouragement, for us. And when we needed, mercy, he showed mercy, to each and every, one of us. There is, consolation, comfort, fellowship, and mercy. There is. So on the basis, of this truth, Paul, Shaul, wants you to have, a different, behavior. That's what he is saying, in this verse. You notice what he says, in verse 2. Paul appealed, to the brothers, and sisters, and he is saying to them, fulfill ye my joy. that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, and of one mind.

Now, brothers and sisters, let me say that. Almost every time, where there is a split, in marriages, in homes, in local churches, local assemblies, in friendship, almost every time, it has nothing to do with truth, but it has everything to do with pride, and ego. Almost every time, when the people of God have splitted, and fought with each other, it almost 99% in history, it is over the fact, that they were not having, the same mind. Everybody want to be prominent. We call it, in Jewish lingo, everybody want to be, a maher. Everybody, nobody want to be, just the ordinary brother, and sister. Everybody want to be, a big shot, as we said it in English.

But is it honoring to the Lord? Is it something, that we really need, in order to help us, to progress spiritually? The answer is no. And we know that very well, and that's why Paul says, if you want to give me joy, brothers and sisters, be like minded. Have the same mind. Then he says, having the same love. He continues, he says, being of one accord. And then he says, of one mind. It's so beautiful to see, when a local assembly, a local church, a local congregation, are working together. Everybody take his, responsibility. And if somebody, is not able to do something, the other one, would fill in.

And then you can see, a growing community, of believers. What a wonderful testimony, it is, to the people around, when there is a growing, community of believers. Not undermining, not causing friction, among the people of God. Not sowing seed of discord, discord, which God hates. But building, the people of God. Edifying the people of God. And notice, he used this expression, like mind, or one mind. And again, and again, he repeating this, unity among the people of God. Now we have to distinguish, the positional unity, with the practical unity. The positional unity, is existing. Nobody is going to change. Every true believer, in Yeshua, the Messiah, is part of the ecclesia.

There is one body, there are no two bodies. One body for the Jews, one body for the Gentiles. No, there is only one body, where Jew and Gentile, male and female, bound the free, are part of this one body. There are no two bodies. But within that body, positionally, we have this union, with the Messiah. Practically, it's often time, failing. And often time, it's broken, because of our self-will. And that's why he says, listen, fulfill my joy, and be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, and one mind. Remind me of, Psalm 133, We sing it sometime, Behold how good, and how pleasant. It is pleasant, when the brethren are together, united.

In Israel's history, when Israel was divided, the northern kingdom, the ten tribes, the southern kingdom, Judah and Binyamin, and they were divided, they were fighting with each other, and constantly, warfare against the north, and the south, and the south, and the north. And ultimately, God had to judge our people, He sent Israel to Assyria, He sent Judah later on, to Babylon. And for years, our people of old, have been scattered, because of the divisions, that have occurred. Well, it's no different, in the body of Messiah, in the church. Though positionally, there is only one goof, one body. But practically, the people of God, are very divided.

And while we cannot gather, now all believers, and put them into one body, we can still, try to express it, in a local way, the unity of the body, of Messiah, on a local experience. So He says, "Fulfill my joy, be of like-minded, having the same love." Here's the thought, it's the same love. You know the love, that we need to have for each other, to love the brethren. To love the brethren. The brethren are not always lovable, we are not always lovable, but we are exhorted, to love the brothers and sisters. You know, you never find in a Bible, a verse that says, that you are to expect love.

You know, years ago, I told you the story, that somebody says, you know, he left the meeting, there is no love in this fellowship. And so he left, he left the meeting, and he says, there is no love in this local church, local assembly. So later on, one brother asked him, tell me, which verse, you refer to, when you say, that you are to expect love, from the brothers and sisters. And there is no verse in the Bible, that says, "Thou shall expect the love of the brothers." It's always said, that you are to love the brothers and sisters. Never to expect the love, from the brothers and sisters.

Even if they don't love you, and don't show love for you, you are still exhorted, I am still exhorted, to show love. When the brothers and sisters love each other, what a testimony to the Lord. It is wonderful testimony, for the glory of the Lord. And so the apostle is encouraging, the brothers and sisters, to have one mind, to be united together, to have one love, the same love, be in one accord, and of one mind. This is verse 2, of chapter 2, of Philippians. Now, in verse 3, he continues, and you notice what he says, "Let nothing be done through strife." The Hebrew word for strife is lariv, or meriva, fighting.

"Vain glowing, but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem other better than themselves." Now, where do you get this standard, to look at another brother, to esteem a brother or a sister, higher and better than oneself? Now, we cannot do it naturally, because we are very selfish by nature. We always think of ourselves, it's only me. But you know, in a local relationship, in a local fellowship, the apostle Paul wanted the Philippians that they would think higher of the brothers and sisters. Instead of expecting from them to look higher at you, you and I, so to look at the brothers and sisters, and esteeming them higher than oneself.

This is a high standard. This is not natural for us, beloved brothers and sisters, but it can be done, as the Lord provides the help and the grace to be able to do so. "Let nothing be done through strife or even vain glory." Now, what is vain glory? "Glory" is the Hebrew word for kavod, to honor. Vain glory, seeking vain glory, seeking to be prominent. It takes us back exactly to what happened years before in the upper room when they were fighting among each other, seeking to be the preeminence among the people of God, among the assembly, among the believers. And he says, "No, don't do so, because that's only going to cause a problem.

It's not going to help the people of God." Finally, before he's going to talk about Yeshua, the Messiah as our example, in verse 4, he says, "Look not every man to his own things, but every man also on the things that belong to the others." I mean, it doesn't mean that we're supposed to be careless in being responsible for our own self and our own family, but also to think of others. You notice the word "others" mentioned many times. The whole thought here in the book of Philippians is others, not only oneself, but also others. And what a different beloved brothers and sisters that will make in the life of our local fellowship in any assembly, Philippi, or any place else, if we will seek to be a blessing to our brothers and sisters.

And we have to question ourselves. By the way, the Lord will question us when we're going to stand before him one day. If our motives was really to be a blessing to the people of God. God's people are discouraged many times. They need to be blessed and encouraged. And the only way to do so if we all take the responsibility of thinking of others and not only of ourselves, humbling ourselves before the Lord, recognizing that we are to serve him and to serve the people of God. And I can tell you, if that is going to be done, you will see what a wonderful testimony that will be in any local church, any local assembly, any local congregation.

May we pray, may the Lord help us to be so in our life today.