Like-minded When We Suffer – Phil 2:2

In verse 2 Paul says “fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” In other words, if there is any of that “stuff,” any of those heavenly resources in Christ, and there is, here is what I want you to do when suffering comes your way. Be like Christ. Respond to suffering like He did. Think like He did, love like He does, and do it all together, all of you (be of one accord and one mind).

I can type that so fast and you can read it so fast, but that is a mouthful. That is a tall order. Yet that is the “order.” So how do we do that? How do we act in a Christlike manner when we are suffering? How can we possibly respond to suffering like He did? How can we think like He did? We can do that, we can only do that by accessing those heavenly resources that he talks about it verse 1.

We draw near and receive an impartation from Him. We receive encouragement from Him.

We draw near and receive the comfort that flows from His unending, unconditional love.

We fellowship with Him and with others through and by the Holy Spirit.

We draw near and draw on His tenderness and compassion.

Then and only then will we be able to be Christlike in the face of suffering, respond to suffering like He did, think like He did, love like He does, and do it all together.

Heavenly Resources – Philippians 2:1

Exhortation, instruction, encouragement, comfort, solace, refreshment, fellowship, communion, affection, mercy, tenderness, compassion. Those are the heavenly resources that we have at our disposal when we go through suffering and they all depend on or are available to us as we draw near to God and hopefully other believers. We can experience the encouragement and comfort and a closeness and genuine, heart-felt concern for our needs and situations that only God can give. If we find ourselves in a body of believers, we can draw near to other believers and draw from their experiences with God. And, we can also share our encouragement and the comfort that we have received and fellowship and tenderness and compassion with others who are going through suffering. That really is a main point, a theme in this passage.Those are the heavenly resources that we have at our disposal when we go through suffering and they all depend on or are available to us as we draw near to God and hopefully other believers. We can experience the encouragement and comfort and a closeness and genuine, heart-felt concern for our needs and situations that only God can give. If we find ourselves in a body of believers, we can draw near to other believers and draw from their experiences with God. And, we can also share our encouragement and the comfort that we have received and fellowship and tenderness and compassion with others who are going through suffering. That really is a main point, a theme in this passage.

The Fellowship of the Spirit – Philippians 2:1

In addition to consolation and comfort, there is also a fellowship in the Spirit that will help us when we suffer. The word fellowship is the Greek word “koinania” and it means fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, and intercourse. We can be and indeed we are associated with the Spirit of the living God. We can commune with Him; we can participate together with Him in what He is doing. There can be an intercourse or interactions between us the Him. And the time that we need that communion and interaction and joint participation the most is when we are suffering. If we will draw near and commune with the Spirit of God, we will find strength and wisdom and courage and all the other “stuff” that we need in order to be able to endure the trials and tribulations that bring us suffering. So, when we suffer, we should fellowship. We should draw on our association with the Spirit of the Living God and interact with Him.
There is another element here that we should at least mention. One commentator says that the fellowship mentioned here is the communion together as Christians, flowing from our joint participation in the Spirit. In other words, when we face suffering, we should seek out the fellowship or communion of other believers. That is often the exact opposite of what we actually do. Why would God want us to draw near to others when we go through the fire? I’m sure there are many answers to that question. We know that the Philippian Christians were a great source of support, comfort, and encouragement to Paul when he was in prison. And I think that is the answer. God will use other believers to impart that which is needed when we suffer. Paul said in II Cor. 1:4 that we can comfort others with the comfort that we have been comforted with. When we seek out the fellowship of other believers in times of suffering there is a good chance that we will “connect” with one who has walked in the same valley down the same path that we are currently on. That person can offer us something that we really need in a time of suffering… he can offer us the comfort that God comforted him with when he was in this very same valley. We should not isolate ourselves when we are going through problems, we should do just the opposite. Draw near to God and draw near to God’s people.

The Comfort of His Love – Phillipians 2:1

The next thing that there is in Christ that will help us when we suffer is “comfort of love.” The NIV says, “if there is any comfort from His love.” There is a comfort that flows from and has as its source the love of Christ. When a person is experiencing suffering, one of the primary things that person needs is that comfort. The word that is translated “comfort”  is only used this one time in the New Testament. It means “consolation.” When we experience suffering it is God’s will that we be comforted. How do we avail ourselves of that comfort? Its source is love, specifically the love of Christ. If we are to avail ourselves of the comfort that is in Christ we must draw near to His love. He loves us with an everlasting love. There will never be a time that He does not love us dearly and greatly. And from that love He desires to give us comfort when we are suffering if we will but let Him. That is His desire and that is His will. When we are suffering, another response should be to receive the comfort of the Lord that flows from His love for us.