The first command of the book of Philippians was found in 1:27 “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ”. From that point until tonight’s text Paul explained thoroughly what that looks like. Living worthy of the gospel is to live like Christ and for Christ with each other as the body of Christ. Paul teaches that unity is the only way to be true witnesses to Christ and that humility is the only way to true unity. He makes challenging statements and commands such as: “stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel”; “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself”; “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others”; “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”; “do all things without complaining and disputing” and possibly the most challenging of all “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus”. Just think about being in the room the first time this letter was read, the call, the challenge and especially the conviction? When these words are read, if we are truly open-hearted, the Holy Spirit begins to reveal not only the challenge but the conviction, not only where we are called higher but also where we have fallen short. That’s not judgment, that’s mercy, when God brings conviction, when He reveals brokenness it is never to cast us aside or tell us to strive harder it is always to show His compassion, that He is with us, that He is for us and that He desires to heal, strengthen and transform us. Tonight’s text is one of my favorites of the letter because Paul has given this incredible call to humility and unity that at first glance appears to be far too much for any of us much less all of us to handle and then he basically says, “Don’t be overwhelmed, I’m sending help.” Help is one of the great trademarks of God, it’s part of His character and always part of His plan. God created Adam, allowed him to see that it was not good for him to be alone and then created Eve as his help. Adam and Even lived in the Garden and in the cool of the day God would come to walk with them, He was their help, fellowshipping with them and building a relationship of love and grace. Elijah was depressed and burnt out, even suicidal and so God sent him to Elisha for the help of friendship and servanthood. The Father led Jesus to surround Himself with a community of disciples, not just the 12 we call apostles, but also the woman who followed and took care of many of the needs and the other friends such as Lazarus and Barsabas and Matthias who Acts 1 tells us were with Jesus from the beginning. When Jesus was worn out and heavy laden the Father sent Moses and Elijah to encourage Him, when Jesus was preparing to die He promised that when He left He would pray to the Father and the Father would send the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, the Helper to be our help. Needing help is not being weak it is being human and giving help is divine, it is who God is, it is part of His plan, part of His character. He does not grow weary in giving us help because He remembers our frame but He also loves to be our help as the Psalms point out regularly. Tonight, our text takes us from challenge to relief, from fearing that the commands are more than we can fulfill to finding out that brothers are being sent to walk with us, stand next to us and help lead us into all that we have been challenged to be. Paul is sending two of his best men, men who are living in the commands that he has given and Paul is asking the Philippians to receive them as they are being sent, in humility, for unity. In the Body of Christ, if we are going to truly live in unity we will have learn how to both send and receive the help that is necessary to overcome our broken places and to unwrap the transforming nature of “so great a salvation”.