“Developing our Attitude to Imitate Christ” - Philippians, Part 4
Philippians Sermon Series, Part 4
Philippians 2:5-11
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:
- IMP: The encouragement is primarily with serving the community, but …
- APP: Obedience begins with the individual before the community can be served
- Paul was more than likely reminding some who had forgotten this
-- Truth: We must community minded; the greater good is for all to know Christ
-- Once we realize and grasp this, we can then press on to the next section
- I want to say up front - this is tough stuff
-- When you begin to examine the application of what Paul says, it’s gritty stuff
- Read (NLT Version) Philippians 2:5-11 / Pray
- TR: Paul’s opening salvo is really where are lives need to adjust …
Point 1 – Recognize today that our spiritual attitude, matters.
- Paul answers us VERY clearly on what’s next … no ambiguity
-- What Paul reminds us of is more important than anything we attempt (v5)
- Most of us want to live life with our own mindset, especially as we get older
-- The older we get, the more hardened we get in our ways …
- Obvious examples of how our attitude can affect our approach:
• (kids) I don’t want to try that because I won’t like it
• (adults) I think that music is too loud, and it needs to be turned down
• I don’t want to go to church because I can just watch online
- Harder examples to face:
-- “I don’t want to serve God because frankly, I’ve done enough already”
-- Did you know, there is no such thing as the Christian retirement home?
- Paul encourages the church (quite matter of fact) on how/why we should live
-- We should live to treat one another with Christ’s frame of mind
-- And in that treatment, we are doing the things He did so others can see
- (deeper) When Jesus sent us to make disciples, it wasn’t just for salvation!
-- FREE: Matthew 28:18-20, “Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
- Could unpack this forever … but see the application in light of today’s word
- For us, v5 is pretty clear: Jesus’ example (mind, attitude, etc.) is what we need
-- GR: phroneite; to have understanding; to think; (implied) attitude/mindset
-- How we think things are to go is not what matters … LIFE is about Him!
- Paul amplifies this truth for us today: Romans 12:2, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
-- APP: We must choose to surrender ourselves to His example, and execute
- TR: If we are to commit to developing His mindset or attitude …
-- … we have to start by understanding the motivation of Jesus’ activities
-- Then, we will be able to choose to …
Point 2 – Resolve that your attitude will match your actions
- Re-read verses 6-8 – three things to see here
1) Jesus did think He could ever be equal with God (v6)
-- He is fully man, fully God, and yet – He is not God … only God is God
-- Paul drives this out so that we would grasp the criticality here … humbleness
-- GR: not; not, no
-- GR: isa; equal or equivalent (implied: to be the same as)
- Now, remember, this is the same cause that got Satan thrown out of Heaven
-- Satan was a beautiful angel, part of God’s servants in Heaven, until …
- Isaiah 14:12-15, “How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world. For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.’”
-- Effect: Seen in v15 to see what happens to Satan: “Instead, you will be brought down to the place of the dead, down to its lowest depths.”
- Jesus knew (saw) exactly what presuming to be like God leads too
-- BIG: He didn’t do it, and so we cannot think like we are like God either
-- What Jesus did do, is humble Himself under the authority of the Father
-- GR: doulou; enslaved (masculine form)
- The servanthood of Christ is something we must emulate daily
-- His serving God is what you and I are called to match today
-- RE last week: Phil 2:3, “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.”
2) He made himself a servant (v7)
-- Can’t we do that? Can’t we be servants like Christ was? Of course!
-- What we’ve received from Christ is a gift; only earned by and through the cross
-- And because of the cross, we now have a model/path/redeemer to follow
- BIG: Aren’t we capable of pouring into others what we have freely received?
-- Many will answer “absolutely” … but most will never take a step forward
- Admittedly, some think that serving in a church involves three areas:
-- Preaching, teaching, singing … but how can that be all there is? Nope!
-- Romans 12:4-5, “Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.”
- Fact is there are lots of places to serve! Why? We each have gifts from God
-- Some have the gift of administration, others of outreach, others of mercy
-- Some are teachers, some have gift of hospitality, some love to cook/clean
-- And even some are prayer warriors, and others are servants/protectors
- But most importantly … ALL can show love; and all can give to others!!
-- * We have not been given anything from God that is not useful to serve Him *
-- IMP: Together we make up the body of Christ; together we succeed and fail
- No man or woman is able to do it all; see this: Jesus surrendered to the Father
-- Took on the very nature of a servant, demonstrating how to love one another
-- In showing how to love, He served willingly and openly for all to come
- So, let me ask: Do you want to serve? Do you want to do something? (pause)
- If you’ve noticed over the past few Sundays, we’ve had more families/kids
-- My cards on table: This is a personal answer to prayer!! God would draw!
-- REAL: Children mean life in the church; gives opportunity to impact for Jesus
- As you know, we are rebuilding our youth and children’s ministries
-- But this is an area that Will, and I cannot do alone … it is impossible to take on
- Our children could use someone to help plan lessons and to teach faithfully
-- Even our youth are receptive and HUNGRY for the word of God
- Straight forward: When you have an audience that is attentive and innocent
-- The work that you do is rewarding and (in some cases) easy to do!
- Both positions are available for serving, and this is where you are needed
-- Can’t you serve for one hour to show children the love of Jesus?
- Jesus has already demonstrated how to serve (see v7), now it’s your turn!
-- APP: It’s time we step up, and do the things Christ has called us too
3) Jesus gave all that He had so God would receive honor (v8)
- Life was never about Jesus and His preferences … He surrendered to the Father
- Even the plan was to the glory of God: Isaiah 53:10, “But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.”
-- Jesus surrendered because you and I were worth it; you are worth everything!
-- His surrender paid the penalty for what we deserve … to the glory of God
- TR: If God would do this with His Son for us, how can we not respond?
Point 3 – Our attitude transformation moment is: Choose to follow Jesus!
- Reread verses 9-10
- Because He was willing, God exalted Jesus to the highest place (v9)
-- Jesus is given all authority to judge and to send us out for Him
-- In following we see we are called to be servants of His; to emulate Him!
- Be clear here … God is not going to exalt you to the highest place
-- Don’t let the devil do what he did to Adam and Eve (re: Gen 3, “be like God”)
-- Verse 10 spells out VERY clearly who gets the honor of being exalted
-- APP: When you choose to surrender and serve is when you show Him to all
Big Idea
- Re-read Verse 11
- RE: Life is not about us … and that will never change (thankfully)
-- Why? Because we make lousy gods, we will always fail in our brokenness
- Everything that happens will be to the GLORY of GOD …
-- Our feelings/desires are not in the equation; why? B/C we don’t own ourselves
-- RE last week: 1 Cor 6:19-20, “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”
- This is how we are to live … this is how we draw others to Jesus
-- This is what God’s Word is crying out to us today; to be LIKE Jesus Christ
-- To develop an attitude that reflects Him, in everything that attempt to do
-- We are called to BE THE CHURCH, to magnify Jesus to all we meet
-- APP: Accepting it and serving as Christ did is our only job today and tomorrow
-- We cannot change the past, but you surely can get in on the future
- IMP:
-- Before you can serve you must be saved … it’s the first (most important) step
-- If you don’t know Him, I want to introduce you to Him right here this morning
- But, if you are child of the King, then your calling to service is never ending
- It’s time to get busy … it’s time to imitate Jesus … time to go/do what He did
- Pray
