Introduction:
How many of you remember the Gatorade ad campaign from 1992? C’mon, that was only 16 years ago! Let me give you a hint: It featured the basketball player Michael Jordan. Let me give you another hint: It had a catchy tune called “Be Like Mike”. I would like to share with you that commercial on the big screen.
Movie: Gatorade – Be Like Mike. (60 second commercial)
In 1992, I was in 8th grade and this commercial had a tremendous impact on me. I didn’t play basketball nor did I care to watch it much on television. But somehow I was drawn into wanting to become more like Mike. Not in the sense of actually practicing basketball. But I would wish that I could jump like him, dribble like him, and shoot the ball like him. I even went so far to stand in front of a mirror and practicing smiling like him. How silly is that?
But at such a young age, we want to be exactly like our favorite role model. We’ll want their shoes, their clothes, and their hair style. We’ll want to talk like them, walk them, and in every sense be like them. In 1992, everyone wanted to, “Be Like Mike”. He was the supreme model of coolness!
I think the Apostle Paul understood the value of a role model. As we’ve been working our way through Philippians 2, Paul has been encouraging the church to have humility in order to maintain unity. In our passage today, Paul is essentially saying to the Philippians, “You must look to Christ to learn humility.” In order to have humility, you must be like Christ. Jesus Christ is the supreme model of Humility.
Philippians 2:5-8
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a human being, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Preface – Verse 5:
1. Uncomfortable, yet Essential.
A. Combats Natural Tendencies – Flies in the face of “Self”. I have so much room for improvement with humility. I battle with pride daily. So today I’m going to preach to myself, and you’re welcome to listen in.
B. Foundation of healthy relationships – In verse 5 it reads, “In your relationships with one another…”
C. Not Ultra-Idealistic – Dreamy eyed, “Can’t we all just get along?”
D. Paul lays it out there and says, “You need to be like Christ”.
E. What does it mean to “Be Like Christ?” Verse 6 tells us.
Unselfish – Verse 6: (2 Minutes)
2. Verse 6: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage” This verse tells us 2 things about Jesus:
A. Jesus is God – Jesus was God before he came to Earth, Jesus was God while on the Earth, and Jesus was God when he left this Earth. His divinity followed him wherever he went.
B. Jesus didn’t exploit his divinity – Jesus didn’t use his Godly attributes for his own advantage. Jesus had the power to do anything he wanted on earth. He could have proclaimed himself King, angels would have swept down from heaven, and he could have built himself the world’s most powerful kingdom with just a few words.
C. The first point Paul is making for us is, “If we want humility, we must: Be Unselfish”.
D. When we wake up each morning, our first thought isn’t on other people. It’s: “I’m tired. I’m hungry. I’m thirsty. I don’t want to go to work. I need a shower. I need to brush my teeth.”
E. Seriously, when we wake up our first thoughts have to do with ourselves. Our morning prayers may even sound like, “God, bless me. Give me a good day today.” We usually sustain this inward-focused mentality throughout the rest of the day. If something doesn’t go our way, we’ll think to ourselves, “How dare they do that to me! Don’t they know who I am? I’m going to get even with them!”
F. No, we should be like Christ. When Christ was wronged, he didn’t exploit his authority to get even. When Christ wasn’t recognized as the King, he didn’t forcefully assert his authority. Instead, he looked out for our best interests rather than his best interests.
Servant – Verse 7:
3. But, Christ’s Humility didn’t stop with unselfishness. In verse 7 it reads, “Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” This verse tells us two things about Jesus:
A. First, Jesus became a man – This begs the question, “How can God became a man?" This is the mystery that people have debated for 2,000 years. If thinking about God becoming a man doesn’t hurt your head, you haven’t thought about it long enough! I’m going to do my best to give you an illustration. [Play doe. One substance, different forms.]
B. Second, Jesus made himself nothing – Some literal translations say, “he emptied himself”. Many people logically conclude, “If Jesus emptied himself, then what part of himself did he empty?” Then people start naming divine attributes that Jesus didn’t exhibit. To go this direction would be a grave error! It would imply that Jesus was somehow less than God! No, he didn’t empty himself OF anything, rather he emptied HIS ENTIRE SELF through being a servant!
C. So, the second point Paul is making for us is, “If we want humility, we must: Be a Servant”
D. So what does it mean to be a servant? It means that we “Give our self away for the sake of others.” We essential pour our entire self into the lives of others.
E. Being a servant is a pretty radical thought. We like sitting on our throne. We like being king of the hill. We like being served by others. We like calling the shots. We like being the boss.
F. Now, if Jesus Christ could put aside the rights to his heavenly throne, take the form of a man, and then become a servant among men; couldn’t we get off our high horse for a little while to serve someone else?
G. Let’s get practical here. Husbands: wash the dishes and take out the trash. Wives: Give your husband a little free time to do something fun with friends. Teens: Help out with the chores. And if you have a neighbor: Scrape off the ice on their windshields or shovel the snow off their driveway.
H. Being a servant isn’t terribly complicated. You simply pour your life into someone else’s life.
Obedient – Verse 8:
4. Christ wasn’t just a servant. In verse 8 it reads, “And being found in appearance as a human being, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” This verse tells us two things about Jesus:
A. First, Jesus really is a man – Paul restates Christ’s humanity. Jesus really was human.
B. Second, Jesus was obedient to the Father. – Jesus was not only a servant, but an obedient servant. He willfully obeyed the Father even though he knew it would lead to death. What’s interesting is that this passage says, “He humbled himself.” It doesn’t say, “Jesus was humbled”. The Father didn’t have to force His Son to die. The Father requested it and His Son obeyed. Jesus humbled himself.
C. So the third point Paul is making for us is, “If we want humility, we must: Be Obedient”.
Conclusion:
This begs the question, “What parts of my life am I refusing to give over to the will of the Father?” In what parts of my life am I being disobedient? In what parts of my life am I rebelling against the Father’s will?
A. Maybe it’s your Pride – God is asking you to do something, but it’s not a glorious job. In fact, it might be a difficult job, a dirty job, a job that you don’t think you deserve. Do you want to be like Christ? Humble yourself.
B. Maybe it’s your Money – Every time you drive past a particular intersection, and you see a homeless person with a sign that says, “I’m hungry”. Or maybe God has been asking you to give money to a particular ministry or mission, yet you cannot part with your fortune because you feel consumed by a selfish spirit. Do you want to be like Christ? Humble yourself.
C. Maybe It’s your Time – People ask you to come early to setup or stay late to tear down for an event; or maybe your spouse wants you to do something around the house, yet you feel unable to give anyone else your precious time. Do you want to be like Christ? Humble yourself.
If you need prayer, come forward now. The Lord gives grace to the humble.
