WEBVTT 00:00:01.199 --> 00:00:03.899 Would you like to become a more loving person? 00:00:04.299 --> 00:00:06.900 And by the way, is there someone in your life 00:00:06.900 --> 00:00:09.699 right now that's hard to love? Well, stay with 00:00:09.699 --> 00:00:13.039 me. Help is on the way to deliver on those two 00:00:13.039 --> 00:00:19.899 things. Welcome to this edition of Living on 00:00:19.899 --> 00:00:22.460 the Edge with Chip Ingram. The mission of this 00:00:22.460 --> 00:00:25.179 daily program is to intentionally disciple Christians 00:00:25.179 --> 00:00:27.679 through the insightful Bible teaching of Chip 00:00:27.679 --> 00:00:30.059 Ingram. And in just a minute, we'll begin his 00:00:30.059 --> 00:00:33.159 series, I Choose Love, based in Philippians chapter 00:00:33.159 --> 00:00:36.340 2. For the next several programs, Chip will walk 00:00:36.340 --> 00:00:38.899 through four biblical expressions of love and 00:00:38.899 --> 00:00:41.320 how we can apply these truths to our relationships. 00:00:41.780 --> 00:00:43.979 But before we get going, if this is your first 00:00:43.979 --> 00:00:46.200 time listening to Living on the Edge, or you 00:00:46.200 --> 00:00:49.840 want to learn more about what we do, go to livingontheedge 00:00:49.840 --> 00:00:53.740 .org. You'll find many resources on various topics 00:00:53.740 --> 00:00:57.009 and countless programs to enjoy. Or if you prefer, 00:00:57.170 --> 00:00:59.429 the Chip Ingram app is also a great way to get 00:00:59.429 --> 00:01:01.890 plugged in with our ministry. Well, if you have 00:01:01.890 --> 00:01:04.150 your Bible ready, go to Philippians chapter 2 00:01:04.150 --> 00:01:06.730 as Chip kicks off his series with his message, 00:01:06.890 --> 00:01:12.209 Love Gives. One of God's greatest joys is to 00:01:12.209 --> 00:01:16.670 see his children love each other. Isn't that 00:01:16.670 --> 00:01:19.849 amazing? The God of heaven, the God that created 00:01:19.849 --> 00:01:22.829 the stars, the God who made us, the God who sent 00:01:22.829 --> 00:01:26.060 God the Son to die in our place. One of his greatest, 00:01:26.200 --> 00:01:30.540 greatest joys is when we love one another. And, 00:01:30.579 --> 00:01:32.780 you know, I know as a parent, I mean, isn't that 00:01:32.780 --> 00:01:35.920 true? For those of you that are parents, I had 00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:39.180 twin boys. And Therese and I have sons that are 00:01:39.180 --> 00:01:41.879 twins, and Eric and Jason, and they're five minutes 00:01:41.879 --> 00:01:44.640 apart. I mean, for the first 18 years of their 00:01:44.640 --> 00:01:46.599 life, I mean, at times they dressed the same. 00:01:46.659 --> 00:01:49.019 They had, you know, the same classes, the same 00:01:49.019 --> 00:01:52.920 room, the same everything. Did they fight? I 00:01:52.920 --> 00:01:57.420 mean, fought. I mean, to the point of, I mean, 00:01:57.439 --> 00:02:01.980 physical. And I'll never forget the time we came 00:02:01.980 --> 00:02:04.140 home from a little getaway a couple days. And, 00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:06.239 well, how'd everything go? Oh, things were great. 00:02:06.280 --> 00:02:08.219 Things were great. And, you know, they were kind 00:02:08.219 --> 00:02:11.039 of standing kind of funny against a wall or something. 00:02:11.139 --> 00:02:13.139 And I didn't even notice it. And we had a great 00:02:13.139 --> 00:02:16.759 time. And years later, you know, when families 00:02:16.759 --> 00:02:18.979 get together and adult kids tell you what really 00:02:18.979 --> 00:02:21.650 happened. Oh, Dad, we couldn't believe you and 00:02:21.650 --> 00:02:23.710 Mom didn't even notice that Eric and Jason got 00:02:23.710 --> 00:02:26.129 in a fight, and Eric went to punch him, and he 00:02:26.129 --> 00:02:28.169 ducked, and he put his fist through the wall, 00:02:28.289 --> 00:02:30.729 and we patched it and painted it, and we were 00:02:30.729 --> 00:02:33.750 so afraid you would find out. I remember Teresa 00:02:33.750 --> 00:02:36.490 saying once, because she grew up with two sisters, 00:02:36.669 --> 00:02:40.710 she said, do you think they'll ever, ever love 00:02:40.710 --> 00:02:44.469 each other? I said, honey, this is kind of normal 00:02:44.469 --> 00:02:47.250 stuff, yes. I mean, we have to set boundaries 00:02:47.250 --> 00:02:51.310 and discipline. But I just want you to get that 00:02:51.310 --> 00:02:54.849 God's heart, it breaks his heart when we fight. 00:02:55.069 --> 00:02:58.229 It breaks his heart when we have feelings inside 00:02:58.229 --> 00:03:01.270 that are resentful and bitter. And when you have 00:03:01.270 --> 00:03:03.889 an unresolved relationship with another believer, 00:03:04.110 --> 00:03:06.930 another brother, another sister, maybe you did 00:03:06.930 --> 00:03:09.750 business with them. Maybe you were in a small 00:03:09.750 --> 00:03:11.990 group with them. Maybe it was in another church. 00:03:12.050 --> 00:03:15.849 I don't know. But I'm going to ask you, get your 00:03:15.849 --> 00:03:20.330 heart open. God wants to deal with because it 00:03:20.330 --> 00:03:22.949 matters to God, not just because it brings him 00:03:22.949 --> 00:03:25.870 joy, but it's so important. It's such a priority 00:03:25.870 --> 00:03:29.069 to him. If we could eavesdrop the very last night 00:03:29.069 --> 00:03:33.229 when Jesus was praying in John 17. I mean, you 00:03:33.229 --> 00:03:38.009 read that prayer, Father, Father, make them one, 00:03:38.069 --> 00:03:42.310 even as we are one. You and me and I and you 00:03:42.310 --> 00:03:47.590 and us. In them. Father, I pray that as I leave 00:03:47.590 --> 00:03:50.270 that you would cause there to be a supernatural 00:03:50.270 --> 00:03:54.849 unity in order that the world would know. That's 00:03:54.849 --> 00:03:57.389 a prayer that only you can answer in your home. 00:03:57.750 --> 00:04:01.900 Only I can answer in my relationships. And not 00:04:01.900 --> 00:04:04.300 only does God the Father find joy when we love 00:04:04.300 --> 00:04:07.539 one another, and God the Son prays passionately 00:04:07.539 --> 00:04:10.300 and commands us to love one another and says 00:04:10.300 --> 00:04:13.819 the gospel, its validity is based on whether 00:04:13.819 --> 00:04:16.259 the world sees us love each other, the Apostle 00:04:16.259 --> 00:04:18.899 Paul commands it. In our study in Philippians 00:04:18.899 --> 00:04:21.699 chapter two, follow along, I'm reading in the 00:04:21.699 --> 00:04:24.899 Phillips translation. He says, now if you experience 00:04:24.899 --> 00:04:28.199 of Christ, if there's any encouragement and love 00:04:28.199 --> 00:04:30.819 means anything to you, If you've known something 00:04:30.819 --> 00:04:33.519 of the fellowship of his spirit and all that 00:04:33.519 --> 00:04:36.600 it means in kindness and deep sympathy, and then 00:04:36.600 --> 00:04:39.899 here's the command, make my best hope for you 00:04:39.899 --> 00:04:43.879 or my joy come true. Live together in harmony. 00:04:45.079 --> 00:04:49.199 Live together in love as though you had only 00:04:49.199 --> 00:04:54.600 one mind and one spirit before you. So just before 00:04:54.600 --> 00:04:58.899 you open those notes, I want you to think about, 00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:04.019 Is there any relationship that you don't have 00:05:04.019 --> 00:05:09.040 harmony that's out of sorts? And I'm pushing 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:11.300 a little bit because we tend to push these down. 00:05:11.480 --> 00:05:13.899 Could have been two months ago, two years ago. 00:05:13.959 --> 00:05:16.980 Could be 20 years ago. Could be, you know, an 00:05:16.980 --> 00:05:19.060 in -law situation or a brother or sister you 00:05:19.060 --> 00:05:23.329 haven't seen in 20 years. God. wants to get a 00:05:23.329 --> 00:05:26.129 hold of our hearts and our life. And Philippians 00:05:26.129 --> 00:05:28.449 chapter two is gonna teach us how we can choose 00:05:28.449 --> 00:05:31.769 love and experience it. Now, as you open your 00:05:31.769 --> 00:05:33.529 notes, I want you to see the structure of this 00:05:33.529 --> 00:05:36.170 passage. First of all, there's a very clear context. 00:05:36.670 --> 00:05:39.970 There's conflict without, and there's conflict 00:05:39.970 --> 00:05:42.720 within. The conflict without, you know, there 00:05:42.720 --> 00:05:44.920 was persecution. There was difficulty. There 00:05:44.920 --> 00:05:47.420 was pressure. These Philippian Christians, just 00:05:47.420 --> 00:05:50.199 like Paul, I mean, they were getting intimidated. 00:05:50.220 --> 00:05:52.019 They were getting persecuted. They were having 00:05:52.019 --> 00:05:54.879 struggles and conflicts from the pagan world 00:05:54.879 --> 00:05:58.560 and even from some Jewish false teachers. I mean, 00:05:58.560 --> 00:06:00.500 not a lot different than what we see happening 00:06:00.500 --> 00:06:04.220 more and more and more today is that, you know, 00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:06.699 people are intimidating Christians. People are 00:06:06.699 --> 00:06:10.019 becoming more afraid as believers. to stand up 00:06:10.019 --> 00:06:11.899 and stand strong because of external pressure. 00:06:12.480 --> 00:06:15.100 But in this particular church, there's conflict 00:06:15.100 --> 00:06:18.220 within. We'll learn more about it in chapter 00:06:18.220 --> 00:06:21.019 four when we meet a couple ladies that apparently 00:06:21.019 --> 00:06:24.000 had a real conflict that was causing a rift throughout 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:26.600 the whole church. And you and I have both seen 00:06:26.600 --> 00:06:28.800 that happen in a small group or in a family or 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:31.459 in Sunday school class. And so then there's a 00:06:31.459 --> 00:06:34.620 very, very interesting command. I gave the words, 00:06:34.680 --> 00:06:38.819 live in authentic Christ -empowered unity. Now, 00:06:38.819 --> 00:06:40.800 the way he says it is, make my joy complete. 00:06:41.639 --> 00:06:44.120 I mean, he said, you've brought me great joy. 00:06:44.160 --> 00:06:46.540 You came to Christ. Remember, I was in that Philippian 00:06:46.540 --> 00:06:50.079 jail and we had fellowship and you all came to 00:06:50.079 --> 00:06:51.920 know the Lord and there's this tremendous movement 00:06:51.920 --> 00:06:54.540 happening in this church. He said, so I've received 00:06:54.540 --> 00:06:58.160 joy now. Make my joy complete because since Paul 00:06:58.160 --> 00:07:01.040 is now in Rome, some things have happened, like 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:03.220 happened in lots of churches and lots of families 00:07:03.220 --> 00:07:06.759 and lots of small groups. You know? This person 00:07:06.759 --> 00:07:08.399 thinks it ought to be this way. And this person 00:07:08.399 --> 00:07:10.339 says no. And well, you said this to my daughter. 00:07:10.420 --> 00:07:12.639 Well, this is how you treated my son. Well, you 00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:14.360 know, every time you come, you know, you think 00:07:14.360 --> 00:07:16.019 you're the hottest stuff and blah, blah, blah, 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:19.079 blah, blah. And there it goes. And so Paul says, 00:07:19.279 --> 00:07:23.759 make my joy complete. And he says, I want there 00:07:23.759 --> 00:07:29.720 to be authentic Christ -empowered unity. In other 00:07:29.720 --> 00:07:32.060 words, he says, I don't want just you to, you 00:07:32.060 --> 00:07:35.310 know, put up with each other. I don't want it 00:07:35.310 --> 00:07:39.089 to be just superficial. From the heart, I want 00:07:39.089 --> 00:07:43.470 you to love one another, resolve the conflicts, 00:07:43.810 --> 00:07:48.230 forgive one another, care for one another in 00:07:48.230 --> 00:07:52.149 a way that Christ has cared for you. Look at 00:07:52.149 --> 00:07:56.329 this very, very interesting structure. The structure 00:07:56.329 --> 00:07:59.389 here, he says, notice it says there's an if -then. 00:07:59.930 --> 00:08:03.350 In Greek, and I won't... get too detailed here, 00:08:03.509 --> 00:08:05.790 but there's called conditional clauses. And we 00:08:05.790 --> 00:08:08.350 have them in English as well. But what I love 00:08:08.350 --> 00:08:10.370 about the Greek language, it's so clear. There's 00:08:10.370 --> 00:08:12.529 like three or four types of conditional clauses. 00:08:12.810 --> 00:08:16.209 So when it says, if, then, if, then, you know 00:08:16.209 --> 00:08:18.009 for sure what they're talking about. This is 00:08:18.009 --> 00:08:20.569 called a first class condition. And the idea 00:08:20.569 --> 00:08:24.089 is it's assumed to be true. And so notice what 00:08:24.089 --> 00:08:26.389 he says. He goes, if there's any encouragement 00:08:26.389 --> 00:08:28.930 in Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any 00:08:28.930 --> 00:08:30.730 fellowship with the spirit, if any tenderness 00:08:30.730 --> 00:08:33.539 and compassion, And you could translate all that, 00:08:33.659 --> 00:08:35.879 since you have encouragement in Christ, since 00:08:35.879 --> 00:08:37.580 you have comfort, since you have fellowship, 00:08:37.779 --> 00:08:40.659 since you have tenderness and compassion, then 00:08:40.659 --> 00:08:44.940 make my joy complete by, notice, after these 00:08:44.940 --> 00:08:48.559 four incentives, be of the same mind, maintaining 00:08:48.559 --> 00:08:53.139 the same love, united in spirit, intent on one 00:08:53.139 --> 00:08:58.399 purpose. It's interesting here. He's going to 00:08:58.399 --> 00:09:02.480 tell us that unlike the golden rule, which is 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:05.259 do unto others as you would have them do unto 00:09:05.259 --> 00:09:08.019 you. His premise goes a little bit differently. 00:09:08.759 --> 00:09:13.820 I call it the platinum rule. Do unto others as 00:09:13.820 --> 00:09:17.399 God has already done unto you. In other words, 00:09:17.399 --> 00:09:20.139 the entire premise, what happens in conflicts 00:09:20.139 --> 00:09:23.320 and struggles and relationships is we think just 00:09:23.320 --> 00:09:25.440 horizontal and they did that and they don't deserve 00:09:25.440 --> 00:09:28.220 that. And when she apologizes or when he does 00:09:28.220 --> 00:09:30.620 that or when one of my kids comes back and really 00:09:30.620 --> 00:09:33.379 says, you know, dad, I'm really sorry and I understood 00:09:33.379 --> 00:09:35.820 this or I understood that or, you know, what 00:09:35.820 --> 00:09:38.240 they said at that last Thanksgiving or that family 00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:41.000 reunion, I'll never talk to them again unless 00:09:41.000 --> 00:09:43.460 what they need to do. He said, no, no, no, no, 00:09:43.500 --> 00:09:48.730 no, no, no, no, no, no, no. He said, here's what 00:09:48.730 --> 00:09:51.450 I want you to get. The basis of loving people 00:09:51.450 --> 00:09:57.190 isn't how they've treated you, good or bad. The 00:09:57.190 --> 00:10:00.629 basis of our love is a choice. I choose love. 00:10:00.750 --> 00:10:04.110 And here's the basis of the choice. The basis 00:10:04.110 --> 00:10:07.269 of the choice is this is how God's loved you. 00:10:07.330 --> 00:10:13.129 He has encouraged you. He's come alongside you. 00:10:13.830 --> 00:10:18.840 He's forgiven you. been tender, you now have 00:10:18.840 --> 00:10:21.220 the fellowship. He has come to take up residence 00:10:21.220 --> 00:10:24.080 in you. He sealed you with his spirit. He's adopted 00:10:24.080 --> 00:10:27.279 you. He's given you spiritual gifts, a tenderness 00:10:27.279 --> 00:10:30.460 and compassion. The word tenderness here is splachna. 00:10:31.080 --> 00:10:34.159 It has the idea, it's rooted in the idea of something 00:10:34.159 --> 00:10:37.419 deep within the bowels. There's something tender, 00:10:37.519 --> 00:10:41.419 deep in the character of God that you are his 00:10:41.419 --> 00:10:44.519 treasure. And then the compassion is an outward 00:10:44.519 --> 00:10:48.440 external evidence of an action that you so matter 00:10:48.440 --> 00:10:50.779 that he did something. And what he did was... 00:10:51.370 --> 00:10:55.309 He chose to go to the cross. He chose to love 00:10:55.309 --> 00:10:57.789 you and me when we were his enemies. While we 00:10:57.789 --> 00:11:00.629 were yet enemies, Christ died in our place, Paul 00:11:00.629 --> 00:11:06.710 tells us in Romans 5 .8. And so the basis, the 00:11:06.710 --> 00:11:10.409 incentives, all four of these incentives. This 00:11:10.409 --> 00:11:15.210 is how you have been authentically, deeply, unconditionally 00:11:15.210 --> 00:11:20.350 loved. Now, make my joy complete and be unified 00:11:20.350 --> 00:11:23.029 authentically from the heart. And now he's going 00:11:23.029 --> 00:11:25.509 to show us exactly what biblical unity looks 00:11:25.509 --> 00:11:29.470 like. You're listening to Living on the Edge. 00:11:29.649 --> 00:11:31.929 We'll get back to our series, I Choose Love, 00:11:31.990 --> 00:11:34.429 in just a minute. But quickly, I want to remind 00:11:34.429 --> 00:11:36.470 you that we're in the middle of our mid -year 00:11:36.470 --> 00:11:39.259 match. Thanks to a few close ministry friends, 00:11:39.480 --> 00:11:42.460 every gift we receive until June 30th will be 00:11:42.460 --> 00:11:45.120 matched dollar for dollar. For more information 00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:48.159 about how to partner with us, go to livingontheedge 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:53.879 .org or call 888 -333 -6003. Thanks for doing 00:11:53.879 --> 00:11:56.879 whatever God leads you to do. Well, let's rejoin 00:11:56.879 --> 00:11:59.940 Chip now for the remainder of his message. Number 00:11:59.940 --> 00:12:03.480 one, he says, be like -minded or of one spirit. 00:12:03.580 --> 00:12:07.159 Literally, it means think the same things. And 00:12:07.159 --> 00:12:10.720 the focus here is on truth. See, genuine unity 00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:13.700 is built on truth. It's thinking, it's content, 00:12:13.820 --> 00:12:18.059 it's doctrine. These things are true. So often, 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:20.480 and I see it more and more today, it's unity 00:12:20.480 --> 00:12:23.120 is sort of like, oh, let's just love everyone, 00:12:23.259 --> 00:12:26.460 don't judge anyone. It's pseudo -unity. I mean, 00:12:26.480 --> 00:12:30.320 who are we to say anything? Let's just let this 00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:37.350 slide. Real unity demands truth. It demands truth 00:12:37.350 --> 00:12:39.429 about what the Scripture says about morality. 00:12:39.629 --> 00:12:41.950 It demands truth about what the Scripture says 00:12:41.950 --> 00:12:45.409 about sexuality. It demands truth about doctrine 00:12:45.409 --> 00:12:49.149 when it talks about the very narrow way to go 00:12:49.149 --> 00:12:51.769 to heaven and by what Christ has done in him 00:12:51.769 --> 00:12:56.269 alone. But it's truth that's held in agreeable, 00:12:56.330 --> 00:13:00.610 winsome, non -defensive, and it's not a way of 00:13:00.610 --> 00:13:03.730 pushing it on other people, and it's never argumentative, 00:13:03.730 --> 00:13:09.149 but it's unwavering. steadfast, striving, battling 00:13:09.149 --> 00:13:13.990 for the truth, standing firm, lovingly, kindly, 00:13:14.190 --> 00:13:17.309 winsomely, but refusing to move off. He says 00:13:17.309 --> 00:13:21.070 unity is rooted in truth. Second, he says maintaining 00:13:21.070 --> 00:13:24.049 the same love. He says it's not just about the 00:13:24.049 --> 00:13:27.809 truth. This phrase here is have the same love, 00:13:27.909 --> 00:13:30.649 mutually love one another the way God has loved 00:13:30.649 --> 00:13:34.419 you, honestly, sacrificially. You know, we talk 00:13:34.419 --> 00:13:38.080 a lot about Romans 12 here as the profile of 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:41.039 what it is to be a disciple. And in Romans chapter 00:13:41.039 --> 00:13:43.840 12, there's a section in the middle about loving 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:47.559 one another, and it says, outdo one another in 00:13:47.559 --> 00:13:51.720 honor. Be devoted to one another in brotherly 00:13:51.720 --> 00:13:55.759 love. This is the idea. This isn't like some, 00:13:55.879 --> 00:13:59.840 yes. well, you know, she's not as spiritual as 00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:02.179 I am and I guess they made a mistake. And so, 00:14:02.179 --> 00:14:04.159 you know, I'll treat them and I'll forgive them 00:14:04.159 --> 00:14:07.299 because, you know, I am superior. He said, no, 00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:09.879 this has got to come from the heart. Biblical 00:14:09.879 --> 00:14:14.299 unity has to do with a genuine spiritual transformation 00:14:14.299 --> 00:14:17.759 that flows from an internal passion and concern 00:14:17.759 --> 00:14:20.399 that God gives you because you have received 00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:23.700 it. Now you give it third notice. It has the 00:14:23.700 --> 00:14:26.850 idea of united in spirit. Literally, the phrase 00:14:26.850 --> 00:14:31.129 is like -souled. It means to have a common heart, 00:14:31.169 --> 00:14:33.610 not just that you care, a common heart, that 00:14:33.610 --> 00:14:36.769 you're real, that you're authentic. No superficiality. 00:14:36.809 --> 00:14:39.090 And then the last one here is intent on one purpose. 00:14:39.649 --> 00:14:42.470 It's a unity that you say, we're in it together. 00:14:42.590 --> 00:14:45.559 We're going to resolve our issues. What God has 00:14:45.559 --> 00:14:48.019 done for me, I'm commanded to pass on to you. 00:14:48.139 --> 00:14:50.460 Paul, we're gonna make your joy complete, and 00:14:50.460 --> 00:14:51.960 here's how we're gonna do it. We're gonna be 00:14:51.960 --> 00:14:54.820 one mind, truth. We're gonna be one heart, care 00:14:54.820 --> 00:14:57.399 for one another. We're gonna have one soul. We're 00:14:57.399 --> 00:15:00.039 gonna connect, and we have a common purpose, 00:15:00.139 --> 00:15:03.139 the gospel going forward, people being loved, 00:15:03.259 --> 00:15:06.820 the poor being fed, people with HIV knowing someone 00:15:06.820 --> 00:15:09.720 cares, the people that are struggling with sexual 00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:12.340 identity issues know there's a church somewhere 00:15:12.340 --> 00:15:17.029 that cares. that wants to help, that doesn't 00:15:17.029 --> 00:15:18.830 condemn, that doesn't bend on the truth, but 00:15:18.830 --> 00:15:22.090 actually wants to help people that are marginalized 00:15:22.090 --> 00:15:25.190 and struggling. This is what he's talking about. 00:15:25.509 --> 00:15:29.110 And it's that kind of love that turned the world 00:15:29.110 --> 00:15:32.830 upside down and continues to turn the world upside 00:15:32.830 --> 00:15:36.470 down, family by family, small group by small 00:15:36.470 --> 00:15:39.870 group, church by church, community by community. 00:15:40.440 --> 00:15:44.080 God has called this church at this time when 00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:46.899 it appears that the world is falling apart and 00:15:46.899 --> 00:15:50.039 that America is so divided. God is calling you 00:15:50.039 --> 00:15:54.080 and he's calling me. Make my joy complete, my 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:57.440 children. I want you to choose to love. And when 00:15:57.440 --> 00:15:59.919 you cross your arms and say, not after what they've 00:15:59.919 --> 00:16:02.039 done to me or, you know, I think those people 00:16:02.039 --> 00:16:04.600 are crazy and why are these people doing this 00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:07.419 and why are they tweeting that and I'm so ticked 00:16:07.419 --> 00:16:14.379 off. Can you imagine, honestly? I mean, honestly, 00:16:14.460 --> 00:16:17.940 can you imagine the God of heaven looking down 00:16:17.940 --> 00:16:21.159 upon the creation that he's made and then looking 00:16:21.159 --> 00:16:24.740 closely at his people, the church? I don't mean 00:16:24.740 --> 00:16:28.000 buildings. People within the spirit of God, his 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:30.639 living. You talk about someone that ought to 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:34.399 be ticked off. And yet he's patient and kind 00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:37.480 and gracious. And he's saying to you and he's 00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:40.659 saying to me, this is a priority. This is a non 00:16:40.659 --> 00:16:45.139 -negotiable. I'm commanding you to choose to 00:16:45.139 --> 00:16:49.139 love one another. Not the golden rule, the platinum 00:16:49.139 --> 00:16:52.460 rule. I want you to love other people the way 00:16:52.460 --> 00:16:54.200 that I've loved you. Now, I hope at this point 00:16:54.200 --> 00:16:58.960 you're saying, okay, I get it. And those of you 00:16:58.960 --> 00:17:00.860 that are a little more honest with yourself, 00:17:03.230 --> 00:17:07.329 could be saying, you know, I can't do that. And 00:17:07.329 --> 00:17:09.710 you know what? You'd be right. I can't either. 00:17:10.150 --> 00:17:14.089 In fact, God doesn't expect you to be able to 00:17:14.089 --> 00:17:17.230 do it, but he's going to tell us exactly how. 00:17:17.910 --> 00:17:21.630 So I want you to go back to that former business 00:17:21.630 --> 00:17:25.670 associate, that ex -mate, a dad, a mom, a son, 00:17:25.809 --> 00:17:34.319 a nephew, an in -law. A current reality at work. 00:17:34.859 --> 00:17:37.880 A current, maybe it's not a huge conflict, but 00:17:37.880 --> 00:17:39.859 something that keeps rubbing you the wrong way 00:17:39.859 --> 00:17:44.920 with a roommate or in your marriage. And then 00:17:44.920 --> 00:17:49.400 I want to open the text and what we're going 00:17:49.400 --> 00:17:52.140 to learn from God's word, if you're willing, 00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:57.059 is that we can choose love and we can learn how 00:17:57.059 --> 00:18:01.690 to be. a more loving person. Now, there's no 00:18:01.690 --> 00:18:03.509 magic pill. If you think that, you know, in the 00:18:03.509 --> 00:18:06.569 next, you know, minutes or so, I'm going to give 00:18:06.569 --> 00:18:08.690 you some magic pill. Oh, I'm loving, I'm loving, 00:18:08.769 --> 00:18:11.970 I love everybody. No, no, no, no, no. We're going 00:18:11.970 --> 00:18:13.650 to face some hard things because what we're going 00:18:13.650 --> 00:18:18.970 to learn is why we're unloving, the drastic approach 00:18:18.970 --> 00:18:21.990 and what we're going to have to deal with in 00:18:21.990 --> 00:18:25.170 order to become loving. And then we're going 00:18:25.170 --> 00:18:27.130 to start this journey of choosing love. And I'm 00:18:27.130 --> 00:18:31.170 going to share Some real practical ways that 00:18:31.170 --> 00:18:34.609 every single person in this room and every person 00:18:34.609 --> 00:18:37.289 in the classic service and every person that's 00:18:37.289 --> 00:18:39.349 watching online and every person that ever listens 00:18:39.349 --> 00:18:43.349 to this ever, where we can actually go on a journey 00:18:43.349 --> 00:18:46.910 empowered by the Spirit of God and become more 00:18:46.910 --> 00:18:51.609 loving. Notice the right side of your notes. 00:18:52.410 --> 00:18:55.529 And it just asks this question, and we're going 00:18:55.529 --> 00:18:58.099 to answer it in just a minute. And the question 00:18:58.099 --> 00:19:03.779 is how to become a more loving person. Choose 00:19:03.779 --> 00:19:08.319 to declare war on, write the word, selfishness. 00:19:09.339 --> 00:19:16.220 Choose, declare war on selfishness. And as usual, 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:21.579 when I go high tech here, my iPad is not working, 00:19:21.619 --> 00:19:24.559 so I think I'll go with a little bit less technical 00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:28.119 one that you all have. Turn to Philippians chapter 00:19:28.119 --> 00:19:31.880 2 if you're not already there, and let me read 00:19:31.880 --> 00:19:36.279 for you this command. Philippians chapter 2, 00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:41.480 we've looked at verses 1 and 2. Follow along 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:44.880 here in chapter 2 as we read verse 3 and 4. Do 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:51.160 nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but 00:19:51.160 --> 00:19:55.380 in humility of mind consider others. more important 00:19:55.380 --> 00:19:58.460 than yourself. Verse four, let each of you look 00:19:58.460 --> 00:20:02.400 not only on your own interest, but also on the 00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:09.940 interest of others. You may be looking at this 00:20:09.940 --> 00:20:13.599 and saying, declare war? Aren't you getting a 00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:17.720 little radical here? No, no. We're born with 00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:21.319 this innate ability to be selfish. In fact, let 00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:25.579 me define selfish ambition here. Four words. 00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:30.259 I want my way. That's selfish ambition. I want 00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:36.779 my way. This is Living on the Edge with Chip 00:20:36.779 --> 00:20:38.740 Ingram, and you've been listening to part one 00:20:38.740 --> 00:20:41.299 of his message, Love Gives, from our series, 00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:44.420 I Choose Love. Chip will be back shortly to share 00:20:44.420 --> 00:20:46.599 some helpful application for us to think about. 00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:49.519 One of the greatest delights of God's heart is 00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:51.859 to witness His children, those of us who call 00:20:51.859 --> 00:20:55.019 Him Lord, loving one another. Yet, we all know 00:20:55.019 --> 00:20:57.599 this isn't always easy and often doesn't come 00:20:57.599 --> 00:21:00.579 naturally to us. In this short study, Chip walks 00:21:00.579 --> 00:21:02.880 through the four characteristics of love laid 00:21:02.880 --> 00:21:05.759 out for us in Philippians chapter 2. Discover 00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:08.079 how to apply these truths to your relationships 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:10.859 with others and God so you can love more and 00:21:10.859 --> 00:21:13.490 love better. To listen to this entire series, 00:21:13.670 --> 00:21:17.029 visit livingontheedge .org or the Chip Ingram 00:21:17.029 --> 00:21:19.930 app. Well, Chip's joined me in studio now, and 00:21:19.930 --> 00:21:21.750 Chip, we're continuing our study through the 00:21:21.750 --> 00:21:24.309 book of Philippians, and today you began focusing 00:21:24.309 --> 00:21:26.910 in on chapter two. Well, take a minute, if you 00:21:26.910 --> 00:21:28.910 would, and unpack what you'll teach us in the 00:21:28.910 --> 00:21:31.990 coming programs. Well, you know, Dave, this is 00:21:31.990 --> 00:21:34.849 one of my favorite books. In the first chapter, 00:21:35.309 --> 00:21:38.089 Paul actually models for us how we can choose 00:21:38.089 --> 00:21:40.710 joy and experience it. And now he's going to 00:21:40.710 --> 00:21:43.569 teach us how we can choose love. And it has some 00:21:43.569 --> 00:21:47.029 of literally the most important passages in all 00:21:47.029 --> 00:21:49.410 the New Testament. And what I love, it's not 00:21:49.410 --> 00:21:53.609 just a gooey, emotional, sentimental, even romantic 00:21:53.609 --> 00:21:56.430 kind of love. It's the kind of love that has 00:21:56.430 --> 00:21:59.849 power. It's the kind of love that cares and gives 00:21:59.849 --> 00:22:03.069 and serves. and takes families that are broken 00:22:03.069 --> 00:22:05.190 and puts them back together, and takes races 00:22:05.190 --> 00:22:08.190 that hate each other and causes them to forgive 00:22:08.190 --> 00:22:11.630 and love. It's the kind of love that really changes 00:22:11.630 --> 00:22:13.950 things. And what I love about it, it's not a 00:22:13.950 --> 00:22:17.130 finger pointing, get with the program, you ought, 00:22:17.250 --> 00:22:20.089 you should. It's a kind of love that grows out 00:22:20.089 --> 00:22:23.750 of the model of Jesus and the power that he actually 00:22:23.750 --> 00:22:26.549 puts inside of our lives. I think you are going 00:22:26.549 --> 00:22:29.630 to absolutely not only love this, but be transformed 00:22:29.630 --> 00:22:32.359 by it. Thanks, Chip. Well, I hope you'll join 00:22:32.359 --> 00:22:34.700 us for every part of this series. And to help 00:22:34.700 --> 00:22:36.980 you get the most out of Chip's teaching, download 00:22:36.980 --> 00:22:39.920 his message notes. They're a helpful tool that 00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:42.460 includes his outline, all the scripture references, 00:22:42.640 --> 00:22:45.380 and key fill -ins to help you remember, then 00:22:45.380 --> 00:22:48.460 apply what you hear. Get them under the Broadcasts 00:22:48.460 --> 00:22:51.819 tab at livingontheedge .org. App listeners tap 00:22:51.819 --> 00:22:55.059 Fill in Notes. Well, here again is Chip to share 00:22:55.059 --> 00:22:59.039 that application we promised. As we wrap up today's 00:22:59.039 --> 00:23:01.500 program, I don't know if you caught it, but there 00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:05.000 was a little phrase that we tend to think and 00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:07.779 actually act horizontally. In other words, in 00:23:07.779 --> 00:23:10.059 relationships, we tend to think, well, she did 00:23:10.059 --> 00:23:12.859 that or he did that or they really ought to do 00:23:12.859 --> 00:23:16.160 that. And if you've ever sat at a coffee shop 00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:19.039 and not really tried to listen to other people's 00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:21.640 conversations but just happened to catch what 00:23:21.640 --> 00:23:24.839 they're saying. You might observe that the great 00:23:24.839 --> 00:23:28.019 majority of conversations in coffee shops are 00:23:28.019 --> 00:23:32.339 two people talking about someone else. It's really 00:23:32.339 --> 00:23:35.519 interesting how we find some, I think, kind of 00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:38.259 perverted pleasure in talking about what some 00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:40.319 other political party ought to do or what the 00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:42.279 government ought to do or what someone at work 00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:45.220 did or talking about my husband or my wife or 00:23:45.220 --> 00:23:49.859 one of my kids in not such good terms. And the 00:23:49.859 --> 00:23:53.299 platinum rule that we talked about is doing unto 00:23:53.299 --> 00:23:57.240 others as God has already done unto you. I mean, 00:23:57.299 --> 00:24:00.019 we know the golden rule. We know the joy that 00:24:00.019 --> 00:24:02.539 happens when we treat others the way we want 00:24:02.539 --> 00:24:05.559 to be treated. But I think sometimes we say, 00:24:05.779 --> 00:24:07.700 yes, I want to do that, but I don't have the 00:24:07.700 --> 00:24:10.359 power or I don't have the will. I don't have 00:24:10.359 --> 00:24:13.779 the motivation. And as this chapter of Philippians 00:24:13.779 --> 00:24:17.910 2 opened up, what we really heard was, if there's 00:24:17.910 --> 00:24:20.730 been any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort 00:24:20.730 --> 00:24:22.990 in His love, and we learned that that little 00:24:22.990 --> 00:24:26.970 word, if, really means since. Since God has loved 00:24:26.970 --> 00:24:29.809 you, since He's changed you, since He's poured 00:24:29.809 --> 00:24:33.650 out all that you need, so take what He's given 00:24:33.650 --> 00:24:36.880 to you and pass it on to others. Could I encourage 00:24:36.880 --> 00:24:39.500 you today to think of one person that you have 00:24:39.500 --> 00:24:41.880 a little bit of a problem with, and then I want 00:24:41.880 --> 00:24:44.680 you to ponder the platinum rule, and I want you 00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:47.440 to say, Oh, Lord, since you've accepted me and 00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:50.519 you've loved me and you've helped me, I'm going 00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:53.740 to choose to have an act of kindness toward this 00:24:53.740 --> 00:24:56.059 person. It might be a note. It might be a text. 00:24:56.279 --> 00:24:58.279 You might pick them up coffee and drop it off 00:24:58.279 --> 00:25:01.920 at work, but do something kind for someone that 00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:04.460 you struggle with. Watch what happens in them. 00:25:04.829 --> 00:25:07.460 and then watch what happens in you. Good challenge, 00:25:07.619 --> 00:25:10.000 Chip. Hey, before we go, I want to quickly remind 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:12.839 you why now is a great time to partner with us 00:25:12.839 --> 00:25:15.759 financially. Thanks to some close ministry friends, 00:25:15.900 --> 00:25:18.660 every gift we receive until midnight on June 00:25:18.660 --> 00:25:21.819 30th will be matched dollar for dollar. So if 00:25:21.819 --> 00:25:23.720 you'd like to be part of the work this ministry 00:25:23.720 --> 00:25:26.559 is doing, support us during our mid -year match. 00:25:26.859 --> 00:25:30.140 Sending us a gift is easy. Go to livingontheedge 00:25:30.140 --> 00:25:36.589 .org or call 888 -333 -6003. That's 888. 333 00:25:36.589 --> 00:25:42.809 -6003 or visit livingontheedge .org. Tap listeners, 00:25:42.950 --> 00:25:45.970 tap donate. Well, join us next time as Chip continues 00:25:45.970 --> 00:25:49.309 his series, I Choose Love. Until then, I'm Dave 00:25:49.309 --> 00:25:51.309 Drewy, thanking you for listening to this edition 00:25:51.309 --> 00:25:53.009 of Living on the Edge.