TO BE LIKE CHRIST
CGC Ministry (Central Gospel Church)
Philippians 2:1-11
Introduction
There is a true story about a man who hired somebody to record all the life of Hudson Taylor especially the negative sides. The hired man kept on following Hudson Taylor daily to record everything with him and after three months this guy became a Christian.
I believe with all my heart, for several weeks that we study the life of Christ, we can gain many things about him and live like Him.
To be like Christ is to be a Christian. And to be a Christian is to become like Christ! - William Penn
To be like Christ, there are 3 requirements. I started them with the acronym name very familiar to you – CGC
I. CONCERN FOR OTHERS (1-5)
In verses 1-5, the Bible emphasizes 2 things to show our concern to others:
a. Consider others better than yourself (v.3b)
Verse 3 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but in humility consider others better than yourselves."
What would it look like for us when considering others better than ourselves?
• Simple things like letting others go first.
• Giving up the biggest piece of dessert (or the last piece).
• Like keeping your promises. Showing up on time to appointments with others.
• Giving money away to others before you have everything you want.
· Appreciate others
One thing that I would like to Paul is his being appreciative. Although we know that they have negatives and weaknesses as well, but still he continuously appreciate their works and service of everyone. He always see the potential and room for improvement of every person!
You know, the problems of some Christians? They see everybody’s negatives and weaknesses.
One quotation is put like this “When I’m right no one remembers, when I’m wrong no one forget.”
Illustration: Parrot
Mahatma Gandhi is told that an advocate of Jesus Christ. But when asked why he did not become a believer of Jesus Christ he said, "Christianity is good but Christians are bad!"
Our application is simple. Whatever titles we may have earned, whatever degrees may hang on our wall, Apostle told us right now to consider others potential. And make them feel inferior to us.
b. Be unconcerned about your personal position. (V.4)
I have learned from life that not all things that you know its right should be defended to win because all persons think like that...
· Jesus is the perfect example of this. Although he has the right position… for so many times he did not defend himself but he remain silent!
Illustration: “You’re absolutely right!
Two men who lived in a small village got into a terrible dispute that they could not resolve. So they decided to talk to the town sage. The first man went to the sage’s home and told his version of what happened. When he finished, the sage said, "You’re absolutely right." The next night, the second man called on the sage and told his side of the story. The sage responded, "You’re absolutely right." Afterward, the sage’s wife scolded her husband. "Those men told you two different stories and you told them they were absolutely right. That’s impossible—they can’t both be absolutely right." The sage turned to his wife and said, "You’re absolutely right."
· E.g. Argument of husband and wife...
C. Serve others like Christ (v.5)
Physician, theologian, and philosopher Albert Schweitzer stated … “The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.”
Mark 10:42-45 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
It means willingly giving up your ‘rights’ in order to serve others; not grudgingly, but thankfully
· According to D. L. Moody “The measure of a man is not how many servants he has, but how many men he serves."
Do you not know that people serving others are the happiest people!
For people who suffer from loneliness and depression during the holiday season counselors give them the advice to go serve the homeless in a soup kitchen or do something for less fortunate people in need. The results are always the same, when they serve others they feel better about themselves and their lifted out their state of loneness and depression.
Chinese tradition of preparation before New Year!
II. GENUINE HUMILITY (5-8a)
"But made himself nothing (He made himself empty)
...Taking the very nature of a servant"
When asked what were the three most important Christian virtues, Augustine replied, "Humility, humility, and humility."
· Someone has said, humility is that, when you know you have it, you have lost it.
But look at Jesus did…. “nothing” “servant”
In Middle Eastern countries, it was the slaves who washed the feet of guests; but Christ took the place of a slave. He makes this clear to His disciples: if their Lord and Teacher has washed their feet, then they should wash one another’s feet, that is, serve each other in humility. This must have been a striking rebuke to the Twelve, for just that evening they had been debating who was to be the greatest! (See Luke 22:24–27)
· A well-known evangelist wrote that Pride is the number one reason why Churches and ministries are divided.
· Genuine humility will promote unity in the church and in our homes. The attitude binds believers together in mutual interest, respect, and appreciation. The world knows what it is to look out for number one, and to be concerned with number one.
Unfortunately many Christians have learned the lesson very well also. But that’s not what we are called to do.
· Jesus was willing to give up the privileges of deity in order to become one of us, in order to give his life for our sins. In the same way, we are to follow Christ’s example, and respond to one another in humility. That’s where unity comes from. Each person seeking to serve rather than to be served.
III. COMMITMENT TO OBEY (8b)
“Became obedient to death—even death on a cross!”
Commitment (Webster dictionary) “The act of committing, putting yourself into prison”
· Most Christians don’t know how to commit their lives!
· Jesus is committed to do everything that the Father had told him, even the death of the cross!
"One act of obedience is better than a thousand sermons."
Illustration:
A Roman Centurion was instructed to deliver a message by his commanding officer. In order to deliver that message, he had to go trough some dangerous territory. Now, one of the soldiers approached him and said, “sir, if you try to deliver this message, you could be killed.” The centurion looked at the young man and he said, “Soldier, it’s not necessary for me to live. It’s only necessary for me to obey.”
Quotation: Some people serve because the law requires it, others serve because love desires it.”
Illustration
An elderly Christian lady, who was crippled with arthritis, used to hobble to the services of the church on crutches. It was a great ordeal and required of her a considerable amount of toil and pain. A friend of hers observed her regular and faithful attendance and asked, "How do you manage to be at every service?" Her answer was, "My heart gets there first, and my old legs just follow after."
Conclusion
In verse 9-11 the Bible says: “God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
If we live according to Christ life, God will also bless us.
Yes, my beloved brothers and sisters! This Christmas, the Lord wants us to learn his life and follow Him. If you would like to do it now, you will need a CGC heart:
C- oncern for others
G- enuine humility
C- ommitment to obey
If you become a member of this ministry, you will become a true follower of Christ! A true Christian!
This is a script of my message at Central Gospel Church service December 25, 2005
Rev. Joel B. Santos
Founder/Senior Pastor
Evangelical Christian Church of Manila
http://www.eccmanila.net
Tel. 0632-3146493
