For It is God Who Works In You
Php 2:1-13
(1) So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
(2) complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
(3) Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
(4) Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
(5) Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
(6) who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
(7) but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
(8) And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
(9) Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
(10) so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
(11) and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
(12) Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
(13) for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
EOLS: God will use a servant who is undivided, unselfish and unafraid to make his salvation walk priority.
Oh Lord it’s hard to be humble
when you’re perfect in every way,
I can’t wait to look in the mirror
cause I get better looking each day
To know me is to love me
I must be a “heck” of a man.
Oh Lord it’s hard to be humble
but I’m doing the best that I can.
(song by Mac Davis)
The next great best seller that I plan to write: Humility, How I Attained It.
In a society that sometimes has its priorities all wrong and its system of values a bit twisted, even something simple, a character quality of greatness can be twisted beyond recognition! We laugh about the funny song and quote, but it illustrates the contradictory way that our society views this enigmatic character quality that God tells us is one of His highest and greatest goals for His children.
Humility is not weakness; it is not accomplished or attained by being quiet and mousy. It’s not demonstrated by cowering or in being non-committal or constantly seeking the center. Humility sometimes can be tough and rigid, other times soft and pliable. Humility can be demonstrated by one man or woman taking a very unpopular stand, or it may be manifest in putting away your own ambition and desire in order to bring unity to God’s people as His will is revealed.
Andrew Murray, the nineteenth century South African missionary pastor said:
"Humility is perfect quietness of heart. It is for me to have no trouble; never to be fretted or vexed or irritated or sore or disappointed. It is to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing done against me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me and when I am blamed or despised. It is to have a blessed home in the Lord where I can go in and shut the door and kneel to my Father in secret and be at peace as in a deep sea of calmness when all around is trouble. It is the fruit of the Lord Jesus Christ’s redemptive work on Calvary’s cross, manifested in those of His own who are definitely subject to the Holy Spirit"
Phillip Brooks made an apt comment when he said, “The true way to be humble is not to stoop until you are smaller than yourself, but to stand at your real height against some higher nature that will show you what the real smallness of your greatness is.”
God calls us to be a humble people as we pursue His call on our lives.
Yet we must understand that Biblical humility is far different than the twisted parody notion which our society offers. True humility, its greatest demonstration is found in Jesus Christ. It was lived in the work that He did on our behalf; it’s grounded in his continuing work today in our lives.
The humility that God calls us to is not weakness; it is the pathway towards gaining great strength and might; the greatest power available to a human being. When I humble myself I avail myself to be used by the Creator of the Universe.
Psa 25:9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
Jas 4:6,10
(6) But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
(10) Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
1Pe 5:5-6
(5) Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
(6) Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
So we are beginning to see that God’s version of humility is markedly different than what we may have been taught; distinctly contrasted with the faux-humility which we see around us every day.
It’s pretty obvious that God values humility; it appears to be a key to receiving His blessing in our lives. So how do we define it? Is it something we can work toward, or does it just come over time?
It’s interesting to me that the Holy Spirit spoke through Paul to the people at Philippi, through a book known as the definitive work on the joyful Christian. The theme of the book is the joy in the journey of walking with Jesus Christ by faith. There is no greater joy available than when a man or woman realizes who they are in Christ Jesus, and then begins to pursue that holy call with all that is in them. In short, the life of humility is the life of joy. Yet humility remains a rather nebulous term. What does it really mean?
Paul leads us to an ancient early Creed of Christendom which was sang much like a hymn in the early church…it begins
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Discuss the Creed and its relevance.
Have One Mind
Division kills
Comparisons, Rivalries , politics- have no place in God’s church.
(the fallacy of the hand count vote…God’s people should be of one mind, one accord).
It does not call us to always agree, there is a place for vigorous debate and bringing ideas to the table. What it calls us to is unity in the process. It destroys the notion of “camps” and “gridlock.” When the day is done we may need to submit our personal will to God’s will being revealed among His people. But at days end it is DONE, the records are purged. Votes and agreement must never be bargained for or traded; influence peddling has no place in God’s Church!
Our government (at all levels) has become a prime example of division; the people suffer because of the lack of humility demonstrated in the people we admire and those who lead us.
Sadly, many churches seem to emulate the government and/or corporate America. The church is called to a much higher standard!
Care for Others
Selfless Service
Record keeping: tear up the ledger and throw it away for good. The give-give relationship is what God desires for us.
The enemy: “After all I’ve done for you?”
Humility Equals Strength
The Ancient Creed-the Essence of Salvation
Jesus Christ was in a face-to -face relationship with the Father; Co-Equal, Co-existent, Co-eternal. He was present and intimately involved in Creation. The universe was created by Him, and for him.
And yet, he humbled himself; became obedient. He submitted himself to become a man, and as a man to the will of His Father in Heaven. He allowed himself to be crushed so that we might live.
He saw the greater good. His work could not be accomplished without humbling himself.
This same selfless giving is the very life of the Church; money is beside the point and cheap in this discussion. It’s too easy to write a check to buy your freedom. God doesn’t need you or your money. He desires your heart!
Work Your Salvation
“working out your own salvation.” This is where the rubber meets the road. This comes from the private, quiet times you spend with God. We work out our salvation when He speaks to us through prayer, through the Scriptures, through the Church and through our circumstances. Others are watching us, yet this is a very private thing. It’s me hearing from God and allowing Him to correct my course as needed.
I can’t work out your salvation and you can’t work out mine. I can’t compare myself or my walk to you and please don’t compare yours to me!
Everyone’s Journey; we walk together yet each of us walks our own path concurrently.
Working on it, not for it (prepositions mean a lot!) Your eternal salvation is settled with God, forever in the Finished work of Christ. What you do with it in this life, how you live it and how you respond to God’s call-is “working out your own salvation.” You cannot work for your salvation, but each and every day we work out our salvation.
Work on to the finish- This exhortation assumes human free agency in the carrying on the work of one’s salvation (Robertson).
And when we present ourselves, when He humbles us and shapes us into vessels that He can use:
God Works In You
Creator’s Power- manifested in us as He works His will
Amazing Grace-given to us, and freely given by us
God’s not interested in your ability, only in your availability
Concluding thought: What if… beyond salvation…you gave your life freely to God, and He somehow worked around your faults and mistakes, and used your life to bring glory to His Name?
To know God’s greatness, and to stand tall and in concert with Him, freely offering yourself to be His hands and His feet.
That’s where the joy comes in!
