DOING WHAT IS UNNATURAL
Philippians 2:5-11
S: Jesus
Th: Courage at Christmas
Pr: WE SHOULD BE IN AWE OF JESUS.
?: Why?
KW: Truths
TS: We will find in our study of Philippians 2:5-11 four truths that will show us why we should be in awe of Jesus.
The _____ truth is that…
I. JESUS IS GOD
II. JESUS BECAME HUMAN
III. JESUS IS OUR SAVIOR
IV. JESUS IS LORD
Version: ESV
RMBC 30 November 03 AM
INTRODUCTION:
Have you ever been brought down to size?
ILL Notebook: Humility (Quayle)
One afternoon, former Vice President Dan Quayle was driving home after picking up his daughter Corinne from school. At a red light, a fellow motorist pulled alongside and rolled down his window. "You’re a double for Dan Quayle!" he shouted.
"Gee, I hope I don’t look like that guy," Quayle replied, jokingly.
"Yeah," the man shot back. "I know what you mean."
Ouch…that hurt!
I don’t know about you, but I would rather not be humbled.
I dislike being brought low.
I hate to be embarrassed.
And I don’t like putting myself in a situation that makes me look bad.
TRANSITION:
Today, we begin our Christmas series called “Courage at Christmas.”
1. Courage is a theme one finds in the Christmas story.
Today, we are giving consideration to someone that was willing to do the unnatural thing, to bring Himself low.
Jesus was willing to humble Himself, even to the point of bringing embarrassment upon Himself.
I don’t know if you have ever thought about it, but I have often wondered what it was like in heaven before the first Christmas.
I have wondered what the conversation must have been within the perfect fellowship of the Trinity.
It must have been difficult for the Godhead to watch from heaven and see the mess we had been making.
Our relationships with each other and with the rest of creation are marred by selfishness.
Not only that, the creation has consistently ignored is Creator.
I wonder if the Godhead thought, “Enough!”
“It is time to go and do something!”
“It is time to straighten out this mess!”
Think for a moment…
2. Have you ever considered what life was like for Jesus before He came to earth?
In our time past, He was the Co-creator with the Father and Holy Spirit.
Life in heaven was characterized by all that was perfect, including the ideal relationship they had with each other.
It was a way of life characterized by true joy.
Jesus had a limitless existence with all the glory and privilege at His disposal.
And what did Jesus choose to do.
He courageously chose to leave all that.
Because of the love He had for His creation, He decided to come to earth for you and me.
This means…
3. WE SHOULD BE IN AWE OF JESUS.
And today, I want to share with you why…
For…
4. We will find in our study of Philippians 2:5-11 four truths that will show us why we should be in awe of Jesus.
Here now our text written by the apostle Paul…
(5) Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, (6) who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, (7) but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. (8) And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (9) Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, (10) so 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.
OUR STUDY:
I. The first truth is that JESUS IS GOD.
Throughout history, and even now…
1. The nature of Jesus continues to be debated.
As one reads the many articles that have appeared in Newsweek and Time throughout the years, Jesus is always considered to be one of the great religious leaders of all time.
He is placed alongside Buddha, Confucius, Moses, and Mohammed.
But this is not where Paul places Him.
Paul states that Jesus, by His very nature, is God.
Jesus was in the form of God.
Since form speaks of that which is essential to one’s nature and character, the conclusion regarding the Deity of Jesus is to be expected.
Form is an outward expression of an inward reality.
This means that Paul understands that Jesus is the outward expression of the inward essence of God.
What He is today, He has always been and will always be.
He is always possessing what is required for Him to be God.
Note how else Paul describes it (Colosians 1:15-20)…
(15) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (16) For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things were created through him and for him. (17) And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (18) And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. (19) For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, (20) and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Note again…for in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.
This means that…
2. Jesus is “God with us.”
He is Immanuel – God with us.
And throughout His life, He proved it.
He gave signs for those that were willing to see them.
He calmed a storm, establishing His power over nature.
He casted out demons, demonstrating power over the spiritual realm.
He healed cripples, signifying His power over disease.
He even raised Lazarus out of his grave, proving that He had power over death.
Jesus is God with us.
Jesus is God.
II. The second truth is that JESUS BECAME HUMAN.
Paul states that Jesus was found in appearance as a man.
The apostle John also described the same phenomenon (John 1:14)…
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…
ILL Notebook: Jesus (Nixon greatest moment)
When President Nixon was the president of the United States he said in a speech that the greatest moment in human history was when man walked on the moon. But Billy Graham corrected him and said, “No, the greatest moment in history was not when man walked on the moon but when God walked on earth.”
God walked the earth.
And when He did in the form of Jesus, it was both extraordinary and ordinary.
For…
1. Jesus imposed limitations on His earthly appearance.
As the text says, He did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.
For 33 years, the privileges of being God in glory were set aside and He became limited by space and time.
In the person of Jesus, God experienced flesh and bones.
He suffered and grieved.
He got thirsty and hungry.
He was frustrated and disappointed.
He could no longer be everywhere at one time.
He had to have clothes to wear.
If you hit Him, it would hurt.
If you cut him, He bled.
So…
2. Don’t ever discount the humility of the Incarnation!
When we see the pictures of Christmas, the pictures all look so pristine.
There was no sweat, or disheveled clothing.
But that was not how it was…
God was born to peasants among all the smells that come with being in a barn.
God was born.
And as we know, birth is messy, painful, and from what I hear (and I mean from what I hear), it is mighty uncomfortable.
Jesus was right there in the middle of it.
Then He was placed in a feeding bin.
If that was not humble enough for you, Jesus was born a Jew in an occupied country.
His parents lived in the backwoods of Galilee, from a small town that hardly anyone ever heard of.
His mission as an adult was to communicate God to people.
But He had only measured success.
For Jesus championed a cause, so just, yet so radical, He was hated and condemned by every major, traditional religious authority.
Then He was betrayed by His closest friends, brought up on false charges, tried before a prejudiced jury and a cowardly judge.
Is that humiliating enough for you?
Jesus was a God you could touch, feel, hear, and see.
Jesus became human.
Jesus became human for a reason.
For the Bethlehem star shone brightly that first Christmas night, but if you look closely, a cross was looming in the shadows.
For…
III. The third truth is that JESUS IS OUR SAVIOR.
You see…
1. Jesus goes to the extreme to show us His love.
Jesus made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant.
Why?
Because the human race was given a perfect environment; but we messed it up.
We were given the opportunity to live for God; we messed that up too.
We were given law to live by; we did not have the ability to do it.
So to help us, Jesus became one of us, to serve us (Mark 10:45)…
You see, Jesus came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Jesus came all the way from heaven to start the process at the bottom of the order of things.
Jesus did not come to be recognized or praised.
He did not seek accolades or the prestige of this world.
He was not about self-promotion.
No, He made Himself no reputation.
But instead of appreciating this and embracing Him, we rejected Him.
The people of His day wanted a king, not a servant.
No one really listened.
The leaders rolled their eyes, insulted his family, and attempted to find holes in His theology.
So…
How do you get from interrupted, eternal fellowship from eternity past with the Godhead to a stable where you are messing your diapers and you’re completely powerless?
How do you get there?
You get there when you have a purpose.
For…
2. Jesus was “born that man no more may die.”
Jesus was born to die in our place.
Note how Martin Luther said it…
ILL Notebook: Jesus (Martin Luther poem)
Lord Jesus,
You are my righteousness,
I am Your sin;
You have taken upon Yourself what was mine.
You have set upon me what was Yours.
You have become what You were not
That I might become what I was not.
ILL Notebook: Christmas 2 (BC comic strip)
One Christmas, the B.C. Comic strip read like this:
One ant said, “Dad, who is Jesus?”
The father ant replied, “He’s the reason for the season.”
The next panel says, “But Dad, I thought Santa Claus was the reason.”
And the father ant replies, “He is - if you prefer Nintendo to everlasting life.”
Jesus is our Savior.
And…
IV. The fourth truth is that JESUS IS LORD.
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, (10) so 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.
1. We must note the contrast of the Incarnation and the Exaltation.
Jesus went from a birth in a smelly stable to the highest place imaginable.
Jesus was once a weak, helpless baby, but now is the ruler and Lord of the universe.
But please, note this…
2. The issue of Lordship is both a universal and a personal one.
What we have done so far here today just scratches the surface about Jesus.
Nevertheless, a personal decision about Jesus is still required.
For we know enough!
ILL Notebook: Jesus (D. S. Lockridge)
Listen to this description of Jesus by a man named D. S. Lockridge:
He’s enduringly strong,
He’s entirely sincere,
He’s eternally steadfast.
He’s immortally graceful.
He’s imperially powerful.
He’s impartially merciful.
He’s God’s Son.
He’s a sinner’s savior.
He’s the centerpiece of civilization.
He stands alone in Himself.
He’s unparalleled.
He’s unprecedented.
He’s supreme.
He’s preeminent.
He’s the loftiest idea in literature.
He’s the highest idea in philosophy.
He’s the fundamental truth in theology.
He’s the miracle of the age.
He’s the only one able to supply all of our needs simultaneously.
He supplies strength for the weak.
He’s available for the tempted and the tried.
He sympathizes and He saves.
He guards and He guides.
He heals the sick,
He cleans the lepers.
He forgives sinners,
He discharges debtors,
He delivers captives,
He defends the feeble,
He blesses the young,
He serves the unfortunate,
He regards the aged,
He rewards the diligent,
He beautifies the meek.
Do you know Him?
Well, my king is the king of knowledge,
He’s the well-spring of wisdom,
He’s the doorway of deliverance,
He’s the pathway of peace,
He’s the roadway of righteousness,
He’s the highway of holiness
He’s the gateway of glory,
He’s the master of the mighty,
He’s the captain of the conquerors,
He’s the head of the heroes,
He’s the leader of the legislators,
He’s the overseer of the overcomers,
He’s the governor of governors,
He’s the prince of princes,
He’s the king of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
His life is matchless.
His goodness is limitless.
His mercy is everlasting.
His love never changes.
His word is enough.
His grace is sufficient.
His reign is righteous.
His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
Well, I wish I could describe Him to you.
But He’s indescribable.
Yes. He’s incomprehensible.
He’s invincible,
He’s irresistible.
I’m trying to tell you,
the Heavens cannot contain Him,
let alone a man explain Him.
You can’t get Him out of your mind.
You can’t get Him off of your hands.
You can’t outlive Him,
and you can’t live without Him.
Well, the Pharisees couldn’t stand Him,
but they found out they couldn’t stop Him.
Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him.
Herod couldn’t kill Him.
Death couldn’t handle Him
and the grave couldn’t hold Him.
That’s my king!
He always has been, and He always will be.
I’m talking about He [who] had no predecessor
and He [who] has no successor.
There was nobody before Him
and there will be nobody after Him.
You can’t impeach Him,
and He’s not going to resign.
We try to get prestige and honor and glory to ourselves,
but the glory is all His.
Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, and ever, and ever, and ever.
How long is that?
And ever, and ever, and ever, and ever,
and when you get through with all of the forevers,
then Amen.
Oh I wish I could describe him to you.
Do you know Him?
He is so worth knowing!
APPLICATION:
If you do know Him, let me ask another question…
1. Is it in you to have the courage of Jesus?
He has given us the example.
He has demonstrated the courage of self-sacrifice.
He has shown us the courage of love.
It is this kind of act, it seems to me, to be so unnatural.
Isn’t it true that most of us prefer to be honored rather than humbled?
Isn’t it true that most of us don’t want to leave a good house for a poor house?
That would be so unusual.
It would be so unnatural to us.
But you know, if Jesus adopted our viewpoints on promotion and advancement, we would never have had Christmas.
Jesus didn’t look to move up the ladder, He moved down the ladder with love.
2. Are you in awe of Jesus?
God has gone all out to demonstrate His love for us.
Jesus set aside the powers and comforts of heaven, because He wouldn’t give up on His Creation.
It is that kind of courageous love that deserves worship that comes from our innermost being.
Let your heart declare today that Jesus is the Lord of your life.
Serve no other.
Be in awe of no other.
Love the One who loves you with unending love.
BENEDICTION: [Counselors are ]
Be in awe of Jesus…because He became a man; He went from limitless to limited; from the extraordinary to the ordinary – to serve His lost creation.
Be in awe of Jesus…because He is our Savior; He was determined to show His love, He was born that man no more may die.
Be in awe of Jesus…because He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords – a truth for us to either humbly receive or selfishly reject.
Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
