“Living with the Right Attitude” - Philippians, Part 3
Philippians Sermon Series, Part 3
Philippians 1:27 – 2:4
Introduction
- Reminder about our level-set from series opener:
1. Christians must reflect the joy of Christ in everything we do
2. This means you and I are to make the Gospel personal, because it is!
3. Not telling shows them that we have nothing different/special to offer others
- This is a great book of discipleship; prayerfully help us draw closer to Christ
-- Living worthy of the Gospel means that we are to be found doing the work
-- RE: As Christians, we are in this together – but not for our ego, desires, or needs
- Quick summary of last week:
- Paul’s true desire about being a slave of Christ is to see Jesus exalted
-- His longing is that others would know the One that he knows so intimately
-- Wants to see others, fall in love with a Savior who has done so much for him!
-- Why? So, he can rejoice when Jesus is preached because Christ can redeem all!
- Read (NLT Version) Philippians 1:27 – 2:4 / Pray
- TR: Paul’s encouragement is on over drive here, beginning with …
Point 1 – We should live as representatives of our eternal home
- When it comes to living each day – the command and purpose is clear:
1. We are representatives of the Kingdom of God, and,
2. Because of that we should live accordingly until we get there
-- RE: If you belong to Jesus, you are not our own: 1 Corinthians 6:20, “For God bought you with a high price. So, you must honor God with your body.”
- Even as we live daily, we are to exemplify what Christ has done for us
-- Why? So, when we are joined together with other believers we fight together
- This is Paul’s rally cry to the Church – join as one for one common purpose
-- For us to not be intimidated; but to stand firm in the faith that we have
- Big question: “How?” Hebrews 12:1-3, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. (get this) Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.”
- It is in this unity that we see our strength building, and why we are encouraged
-- Take this home: (v29) in trust, we also experience (privilege) suffering with him
-- GR: paschein; to suffer, or to endure, (implied) to remain faithful
- Here is where you might ask: “How can this be a good thing?”
-- Look at v30 … We are in this together, even now I’m struggling, and I’m living
-- Living how? With the joy of Christ and thankfulness (refer Phil 1:3-6)
-- Paul is not crazy, he’s not insane, his confession is because Jesus is real to him
- Don’t miss: Our attitude affects how we live, and we can (must) choose joy
-- We can choose to live righteously before Christ – and show Him to others
-- How? By joining together and knowing we are not alone!
- TR: So, let’s dive into this concept of togetherness and unpack …
Point 2 – It is unity that strengthens our witness for Christ
- v1: “Therefore” (ties to what was just said and directs us to act)
-- Since we are partners in this calling, we must see Paul as our encourager
-- He has been strong enough to make it; will we be brave enough as well?
-- APP: We are walking on the same truth, with testimony about Christ
- Paul makes four statements which challenge us and how we live
-- These are opportunities to check yourself and your own testimony
- Check out the implied IF statements (posed as questions):
1) … is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ,
2) … if there any comfort from his love,
3) … is there fellowship in the Spirit,
4) … is there any tenderness and compassion within you
- All four of these are basically asking the same thing:
-- “If you are truly a believer in Christ, how are you showing it today?”
-- I think it is safe to say that if you are a Christian; these four “Ifs’” cover us all
- WATCH THIS: An “IF” statement is almost always followed by “then” …
- v2: “ Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.”
-- APP: Then make me proud by showing Christ’s love to everyone you meet
-- Now, this “proud” thing is not for him, but for the sake of the Faith (encourage)
- Encouragement: We can do this, especially if we show love to each other
-- But, if we are not united, our witness to the world will be weak and ineffective
- Paul calls us to demonstrate that they (WE) are living at peace with each other
-- APP: How? By loving through the example that you have received in Christ!
- THOUGHT: Too many try to outdo one another and hide our sin
-- Easy one: Prayer requests turned into gossip chains and speculations of sin
-- Tougher to admit: Working for God & considering yourself better than another
-- The joy in Christ comes from living and serving faithfully, without competition
-- That is where we see this truth exemplified in our lives, daily
- TR: If we are unified, we will find it easier to encourage one another that …
Point 3 – Obedience to Jesus is an individual responsibility
- So, what then? Paul sets up an appeal in the first two verses
-- But rather than tearing into them, his direction is more subtle and hopeful
-- APP: Anyone can bash another person; Paul chooses to not do this here
- Phil 1:3-4, “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”
- The first thing Paul does is appeal to who we are at the core of our being
-- “Don’t be selfish …” Painful truth incoming …
-- APP: This is who we are: we tend to be bent on self-promotion
- IMP: It is the mature Christian who can identify this in themselves
- Paul does this quite effectively, because at his core he knows who he is
-- 1 Tim 1:15, “This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” - and I am the worst of them all.”
- HUGE: Knowing who you are, and your own weaknesses will help you
-- It shows you where you need a Savior, and where Christ’s strength must reside
-- It gives grace us an opportunity to work and serve our redeemer
- Once you do that, the next part is the instruction for living:
-- v3b, “Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves”
- Quote from IPV New Testament Commentary: “As with humility, this last phrase does not mean that one should falsely consider others better. As Philippians 2:4 will clarify, we are to consider others not in our estimation of them--which would only lead to the very vices Paul has just spoken against--but in our caring for them, putting them and their needs ahead of our own. (Here is the application) Others in the community are not necessarily "better" than I am, but their needs and concerns "surpass" my own.”
- Paul’s direction is crystal clear: The community is called to come together
-- “Each of you” look into “the interests of the others” … this is our “family”!
- At no time, does God ever encourage us to focus on ourselves …
-- We do that all too well as it is, even from the very beginning
-- Remember the lie we believed from Satan, Genesis 3:4-6, “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil. The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful, and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So, she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.”
- Deep down we desire to be “gods” because we want to be our own rulers
-- However, given the chance, each of us will fail – it’s why we need Jesus!!
-- We cannot save ourselves; we simply cannot do what Jesus can do
-- So, all we can do is submit ourselves to Him … and let Him lead
- APP: What Paul is saying here is really critical for the church today:
-- Obedience begins with the individual before the community can be served
-- Once you submit, then you can be used to serve the greater community
- TR: We must community minded; the greater good is for all to know Christ
-- The church’s mission is to lead others to Him, not to the church building
Big Idea
- When you consider the whole passage, you see a wonderful direction of life
- Re-Read v1-4 of Chapter 2
- Can’t we take these words and apply them to our life right now? Absolutely!
- Pray
