Philippians 2 – Complete Joy
Humble Like Jesus
September 8, 2019
Philippians 2:1-4 NIV
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Remember the old country song: It’s Hard to Be Humble? By Mac Davis
Oh Lord it's hard to be humble
when you're perfect in every way.
I can't wait to look in the mirror
'cos I get better looking each day
to know me is to love me …
V.3a - Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit
Selfish ambition – ambitious people wanting power at all costs.
Vain conceit – having an exaggerated self-evaluation.
• Self-promotion is an epidemic in our culture. Social media and the internet make it easier than ever.
• Like personal portraits 300 years ago, it is the timeless humane desire for attention that emerges as the dominant theme of these vast virtual galleries.
• Our favorite topic is ourselves. “Enough about me. You talk about me” ?
• A recent study from Rutgers – 80% of Facebook & Twitter posts are Me-Formers (Me Now) – 20% Informers.
Humility is pushing others to the front of the line.
V.3b - consider others better than yourselves.
Humility is not thinking less about ourselves. It’s thinking about ourselves less.
Humility is believing God will promote you.
Insecure people believe God is idly standing by and not helping their cause!
Self-appointed = self-sustaining
God-appointed = God will sustain you
Humility is trust.
Many of us are trying to manipulate God to get more from Him, instead of just trusting Him with our worship.
God’s not a formula to figure out, but a God who can be trusted.
Philippians 2:5-11 NIV
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 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.”
The cross was the ultimate surrender.
God does not owe us an explanation. We owe God our worship.
Jesus gave up all his power to control and took all the responsibility.
