THE ULTIMATE EXAMPLE (PART 2)
PHILIPPIANS 2:9-11
02/15/95
There is an old story of how a farmer tried to teach his how to plow a straight furrow. After the horse had been hitched up and everything was ready, to told the boy to keep an eye on some object at the other end of the field and aim straight for it.
The farmer pointed to an old cow lying down at the other end of the field. "Do you see that cow lying down over there?" He said to the boy, "Keep your eye on her and plow straight ahead."
The boy started plowing and the farmer want about his chores. When he returned a little later to see what progress the boy had made, he was shocked to find that instead of a straight row, there was something that looked more like a question mark. The boy had obeyed his father, the only problem was that the cow had decided to move.
So it is with life that if we want to stay on the straight and narrow path we need to keep our eyes on an object that will not move, and the object, or should I say person is Jesus Christ. He is the rock that will not move, he is as we talked about last week the example that we all must have.
We has keep him as our example in all ways, in His oneness with the Father, in His lowliness, as we saw what He gave up to become man and die for our sins. And we also need to follow His example in the many ways in which He showed us how to be a servant.
We need us Jesus as our example in the area of sacrifice, as noted last week there are far to few Christian who understand what it means to make sacrifices to the Lord, in the area of our lives, our time, our money, and our witnessing to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
As we will see today that example that Jesus gives to us did not end at the cross. The example He gave to did not stopped when they laid Him down in that tomb. He did not come to show us that you need to give your live to God, make sacrifices to God, and then die and it’s over. No, Jesus’ example does not end there.
Jesus also showed that when we live a life of obedience to Christ we also share in His reward, and that is what we will talk about today, the exaltation and glorification of Christ. Both of which can be ours when we follow His example.
Turn with me now to passage for today Philippians 2:9-11. I am going to read that passage along with 5-8.
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
So we see from this passage is Paul giving to the example of Christ, which He has commanded from us in the first 4 verses of Chapter 2. He states this is the mind you could have, the mind Christ. This is what is to have this mind, this is the example given to us by our Lord. The example of oneness, humilities, sacrifice and obedience.
And because of that obedience Christ is exalted and we to can expect that same reward by following His example. Let us take a closer look at verse 9.
We see that Christ was highly exalted by God. This refers to that fact that Christ was raised from the dead, he ascended into heaven and at this very time sits on the right hand of the almighty Father. What Jesus did was live the example that is taught through our scripture.
Some verses for you to consider,
Matthew 23:12 "And whoever exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be
exalted.
Luke 14:11 "For whoever exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
1 Peter 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
This is the Biblical truth which Christ taught by His example. He humble himself before God, so God exalted Him. This is the example he give to us, if we humble ourselves before God through obedience He will, (he promises to) exalt us.
We also see the principle at work in the Old Testament times as well. Joseph spent 13 years in prison. He humble himself before the Lord and we see that the Lord made him number two man in all of Egypt.
I think of David. He was anointed king of Israel when he was just a boy. Yet he had to wait until he was a man before he was to be exalted to the position of King. And during that time David humbled himself to God.
So the same is true with us. If we humble ourselves before God, He promises to exalt us. He did for Joseph, He did it for David, He did it for Christ. We may have to wait as Christ did until the next life, but God promises to do it.
Another thing concerning this verse I would like to point out is the fact the it states the Christ was "highly exalted", this word could also be translated "super", He was super exalted. Christ received an exaltation which no other being will ever receive. Because He humbled Himself so deeply, from the throne of heaven to dying on the cross, He will be exalted so highly.
I think the lesson we can learn for this is that however far we decide to humble ourselves and obey God, will be proportionate to the exaltation we will receive in heaven. Let me just say that whatever reward there are in heaven, there is nothing on this earth that can compare to them.
Also note from the first part of verse 9 that the exaltation of Christ is an act of the Father. It states that "God" was the one who highly exalted Christ. Even at this point Jesus does not seek to exalt himself, but remain humble. As it is the Father the exalts Him to this position.
In looking at the second part of this verse we see that Jesus is given a name which is above all other names. He has been given a name which will be above all names forever.
Ephesians 1:20-21 ..."He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come."
Understand that there is power in the name of Jesus. I don’t mean that in some magical sense, but that fact that there is authority associated with the name of Jesus.
Names mean things to us. We think of certain things when we thing of certain names. When we think of Moses, we may think of parting the Red sea, or Egypt. When we think of David we think of a shepherd boy who killed a giant. Even in the secular world when we names bring to mind certain things. The name Ford brings to mind cars. Lincoln brings to mind the Civil War and so on.
The name of Jesus should bring to mind salvation, power, glory and holiness. The Scripture give allot of authority to the name of Jesus. The Bible teaches that we are to pray in Jesus name, that we are saved by the name of Jesus, Acts 4:12 tells us concerning the name of Jesus, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Scripture tell us that we are justified by the name of Jesus, we are to give thanks in the name of Jesus, it is the name we are to but our faith in, the name we have security in, and as Col. 3:17 we are to do all things in the name of Jesus.
So in looking at the scripture we can certainly see that the name of Jesus as been placed above all names by the heavenly Father.
As we move onto verse 10 and 11 of our passage we can see from these the reason or purpose of the exaltation of Jesus Christ.
The first item we can see is for the purpose of worship, verse 10 states that "at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow." This certainly prescribe worship to the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact Christianity itself is the worship of Jesus.
And we see many forms of worship many form of bowing before the Lord Jesus. We sings songs to Jesus, we pray to Jesus, our lifestyles should show to others that we are followers of Jesus, we should preach the words of Jesus. All these show worship to the one whom God has highly exalted. They show worship to then name that is above all names, the name of Jesus.
Note in the verse there three classes that will bow to Jesus. Those in heaven, meaning the angels and also the redeemed saints who have died and gone to be with the Lord.
Those on the earth. This refers to those will remain alive when the Lord returns.
Those under the earth. Even those who have been condemned to hell, be they people, demons, and Satan himself, they will all one day bow down before the Lord Jesus and worship Him.
There will come a time when all will realize who Jesus is. Be they dead alive in heaven or in hell, all of God’s creation will one day bow down to the Lord Jesus Christ and worship.
The second purpose for Jesus’ exaltation is that with it comes and open profession of the Lordship of Jesus. Every tongue, again be it heaven, earth or hell, will proclaim the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
The word Lord here means, supreme ruler, owner. This title is given to the Lord Jesus over 650 times in the New Testament alone. Almost always by His disciples. But the day is coming when all will proclaim Him ruler.
To bow down before Jesus as Lord now means salvation,
Romans 10:9-10 "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation."
But if you insist on waiting until the judgement it will mean condemnation. Every person here will one day bow before Him and confess him as Lord. My prayer is that each one of you do it now. Make him your Lord and saviour today.
The third purpose of the exaltation of Jesus Christ is that it is fulfillment of prophecy. Throughout the Old Testament we see prophecy concerning the coming, the death, and the exaltation of Jesus Christ. 2 Sam 7:13; Psalms 2:7-9; 110:1; Isa. 53:10-12, and many many more. All tell of the coming and the exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ. God promised He would do it and God cannot lie.
This purpose should comfort us with the thought that just has God fulfilled the promise the saviour would be exalted, he will fulfill the promise that He will exalt us, if we are obedient to Him.
And finally we have the main purpose of the exaltation of Christ, which is found in our passage today, that is for glory of God.
"and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
This is and should be the purpose of all things, to bring glory to God. When we confess Christ as our saviour, it bring glory to God. When we live as we should, it brings glory to God, when we make sacrifices as we should, it brings glory to God, all we do should bring Him glory, that should be our goal in all things.
So there is our example of not only how to life, but our example of what obedience to God will do for us.
We need to remember that our exaltation can only come as Christ’s came, we must humble ourselves before God. We must submit ourselves to His will.
Humbling ourselves mean we must realize the we are sinners in need of a saviour, realize that we need Christ.
In John 3:3 we hear Jesus saying "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
We need to be born again if we hope to have this exaltation as Christ had. We need the Spirit of God working in us. There is no other way then the way shown to us by Jesus.
So as we leave this portion of Scripture let us keep in mind that we to us the Lord Jesus as our example. Each one us is to repeat the Lords life. Share in His humility, His sacrifice, something has I have said before, which is foreign to a lot of Christians.
We must share is His cross. Jesus us told to take up our cross and follow him.
We must share in His crucifixion. Paul writes in Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;"
We too must be crucified with Christ. We are also to share in his servanthood. Serve others as Christ did, serve each other as Christ has served us.
And when we have shared in His humility, His cross, his crucifixion, His servanthood, then may we share in his exaltation, or as Rev 3:21 puts it; "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."
Or as some unknown author once put it, "First the cross, then the crown".
SHALL WE PRAY
