To Be Like Christ

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)