Philippians 2:5-8 (p. 819) November 10, 2013
Introduction:
The challenge we ended with last week was “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, rather in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of the others.”
And then our test this morning challenges us: “In your relationships with one another have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”
The Same Mindset...What does that mean, and how do I get it?
Most of us grew up hearing the word...Attitude when it came to this word...”have this attitude in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”
I think I like “mindset” better because it describes it more literally than “attitude.”
When the Apostle Paul uses this word, “Fronaoh provian” it literally means “curb your mind and heart, control the center of your feelings, thoughts and actions.”
The Hebrew word for heart is “leb.” It means the “Seat of the intellect.” (The heart, the mind, the will, all comprise the “leb”)
And Paul, the learned Pharisee, who studied under a great teacher named Gamelial thought like a Jewish teacher, not an American in the 21st century.
When he writes “Have the same mindset as Jesus,” he’s saying, “make sure you get your thoughts, attitudes, and feelings in a place where you treat people like Jesus treats people.”
[I’ll give you an example of what he’s asking. Has anyone here ever driven down an old unpaved farm road? (look for raised hands) Well, I have, hundreds of times. And, the truck I’m driving almost always wants to fall into the two tracks that have been worn down over time. Now I’m still in control of the truck, but those tracks are pretty set over time.
The “key” translation of Paul’s challenge in Philippians 2:5 is “keep your truck headed in the path set by Jesus, keep your tires in His grooves, even though you can choose to go anywhere you want! Follow in His mindset, His example, when it comes to your relationship with people.”]
For this to happen
I. WE MUST CHANGE DIRECTIONS
I’ve got some good news and I’ve got some bad news. I’m going to give you the “bad news” first...and it’s really bad. Every single person, man or woman, rich or poor, black, white or purple is driving in a rut established by Satan in the Garden of Eden. And that rut, that mindset and attitude is selfish and sinful and is pointing straight at Hell. And, most people will never change directions. How do I know? Jesus said so,
MATTHEW 7:13-23 (p. 679)
Why did I include 15-23, because we all understand the wide gate and broad road verses, small gate and narrow road illustration of Jesus. Most people will not accept His lordship. Most people will not change directions because they are caught in a super highway. If everyone’s doing it, it’s OK.
But verses 15-23 have to do with those who think they’re on the right road and think they are going to heaven.
Here’s how you can tell if you have changed directions and are known by Christ. Good trees bear GOOD FRUIT. People who are in a relationship with Jesus do the will of the Father in heaven. Not their own will, not their own attitude, not their own mindset...His.
The fruit isn’t doing stuff, like prophesying (preaching), or driving out demons, or performing miracles. Scripture teaches there are two fruits that clearly indicate what kind of tree we are, and where our roots are located.
1. First, the fruit of other disciples. All of us attempt to make disciples. We all try to get people to be on our team. Whether you’re a Pharisee making disciples twice as hell-bent as you are or whether we are making other disciples who follow Christ like we do. In example, if you are a critical, self focused individual you want to make disciples that are as unhappy as you. Good fruit? Nope...horrible, nasty, decaying fruit. Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes, so it will be even more fruitful. (John 15) What fruit is Jesus clearly talking about. Listen.
JOHN 15:5-8 (p. 752)
Church attenders go to church. Disciples of Jesus “go into the world and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, son and Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything He has commanded us to do.” (Matt. 28:19-20)
It takes a specific change of direction to come to Christ and head out into the world. It’s called “Repentance.”
And the 2nd fruit is what makes us attractive to a lost world. It’s the “good news” part of what I need to share. The second fruit that disciples of Jesus produce:
2. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit. In Galatians 5 Paul writes about “agitators.” Remember them? He says:
GALATIANS 5:7-12 (p. 813)
Legalistic, self righteous, circumcision loving and demanding “people” become speed bumps, obstacles, hurdles in the new direction. “free, spirit, lead people go! Paul says:
GALATIANS 5:13-19 (p. 813)
LOOK FOR THE FRUIT OF THE FLESH, THAT’S THE KIND OF TREE THE PERSON IS...THAT’S WHY THERE’S SELFISHNESS, FACTIONS, DISCORD, DISSENSIONS. THEY ARE TRYING TO MAKE DISCIPLES, EVEN IF THEY DON’T FULLY REALIZE HOW LOST THEY ARE BECAUSE OF THE GOOD STUFF THEY TRY TO DO. “I warn you (Paul says), those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” He’s not kidding.
But, that’s a huge transition from this fruit. He says
GALATIANS 5:22-26 (p. 813)
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh. (Remember, the flesh has fruit too).
Christ followers have stopped looking in the mirror for their decisions and they’ve started looking at the cross, and the world around them.
The “Good News,” the best news, is that when we surrender our lives to Christ, when we turn in repentance toward God, He not only forgives all our sins, he provides “new life” for the future. Our baptism into Christ “is not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It (baptism) saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 3:21,22)
Our baptism isn’t a bath, it’s the place of pledging, it’s the place we die and our sins are buried, WASHED away (not with water, but in the blood of Christ) and we rise. We are resurrected from the dead because the Holy Spirit brings us back to life, just like He did for Jesus, the son of God. The first fruit of the resurrection.
That’s not a decision baby’s make. It’s not about joining the church, this is all about dying to self so you can live for Christ, because “HE LIVES IN YOU!!!” It’s a radical change of direction.
Here’s the only way you can have the mindset of Christ:
II. YOU LET GO OF BEING THE MASTER AND BECOME A SERVANT
That’s what Jesus did: Here’s The Message version...
(vs. 5-8) Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of diety and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfish, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death-and the worst kind of death at that – a crucifixion.
John’s gospel starts...”In the beginning (creation’s beginning not God’s) was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. Verse 14 says The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. (John 1:1-3, 14)
When you look at Philippians 2 and John Chapter 1 together it’s like this:
[A very Rich Contractor/Architect built this absolutely beautiful mansion, I mean perfect in its design, beauty and construction. And, then He gave you and your family the keys to the mansion and became your butler.]
NAW..it’s even more than that because one day a thief broke into the mansion hell bent on taking everything and as he tried to kill you and your children, the rich contractor/architect/butler dies saving you and your family.
Who would do that? God did. That was the attitude He choose. That was the mindset He had, even before He built the house!
You see we develop the mindset of Jesus when we serve people. Our natural/sinful self shouts “No, I am the master. I should be served.” But, God’s Spirit tugs at our soul and says, “No, learn from Jesus’ example, humble yourself, deny yourself, become a servant.”
Our text says, even though Jesus is God, He let go of all His “God Rights” and made Himself nothing, becoming a servant, He obeys God’s plan in submission completely, totally, even when that plan meant dying on a cross for the sins of others.
In fact Jesus gave one of the greatest object lessons ever. Look with me at John Chapter 13. It’s during the Passover meal with the 12. It’s the evening before His crucifixion. He’ll be arrested, beaten, spit upon and absolutely humiliated and out before the world on Calvary in less than 24 hours, and He knows it.
The 12 have been arguing about “who’s the greatest.” He knows Judas will betray Him. Vs 3 says “He knew that the Father had put all things under His power and that He had come from God and was returning to God.”
“ALL THINGS UNDER HIS POWER.” You and I would have flexed our muscles, put people in their place, turned Judas and the Pharisees into grease spots on the ground, and made Pilot and Herod kneel. What does God in the flesh who has all power do right before His crucifixion?
JOHN 13:4-17 (p. 751)
“Do you understand what I’ve done for you” is a question not just for the 12, but for us today as well. Do we understand His example, his mindset? It put Jesus on the floor washing the dirty feet of people who had just been arguing about “greatness.” Christianity isn’t too complicated. LOVE THE FATHER...FOLLOW HIS PLAN...LOVE PEOPLE...SERVE WITH A HEART LIKE JESUS...Stop fighting to be the best. Stop putting your rights and your grudges before surrender. Listen when God’s Spirit speaks.
[Brennan Manning is one of my favorite authors and he shares this story in “The Ragamuffin Gospel.”]
When Brennan Manning, an evangelical Catholic, was waiting to catch a plane in the Atlanta airport, he sat down in one of the many places where usually black men shine white men’s shoes. And an elderly black man began to shine Brennan’s shoes. And Brennan had this feeling inside that after he was done, he should pay him and tip him and then reverse the roles.
And when he was finished, he stood up and looked at the black man and said, “Now, sir, I would like to shine your shoes.” And the black man recoiled and stepped back and said, “You’re going to do what?” He said, “I’d like to shine your shoes. Come on. You sit down here. How would you like them done?” And the black man began to cry, and he said, “No white man ever talked to me like this before.”
The story ends with 2 elderly men embracing in tears, united because a follower of Christ chose to listen when the Spirit of Jesus spoke.
We will turn our community and our world upside down if we will do the same.
Let’s Pray.
