Reading…

Philippians 2:1-5

Introduction …

  • Last week … Rejoicing in Christ
    • We spoke about the
    • importance of having the correct hub for our wheel of life.
      • With the Lord Jesus as our hub life takes on new meaning ...
        • So for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.
          • Our lives have real purpose …
          • Circumstances don't dictate joy …
            • Our relationship with Him does.
          • Our relationship is not based in our effort but His saving work.
            • It is not of us but it is the righteousness of God.
        • This is all foreign to the world we live in.
          • But it is a safeguard for us.
      • The choice of hub is ours …
        • Eternal joy in Christ
        • Or the never ending pursuit of short term joy.
  • Today we move on to... rejoicing in humility …

Humility the foreign attitude …

  • Here again is a principle that is foreign to the world we live in.
    • And again, for them it is circumstances that dictate status.
      • If you have wealth and position you have greater status.
      • With that status goes privilege, power and acceptance.
  • But it is all very tenuous and can be obliterated at the drop of a hat.
    • Often featured on the internet are articles about so-called celebrities who have lost it all …
      • Actor Burt Reynolds … Bankrupt 1996 …
      • Boxer Mike Tyson …Bankrupt, jail, now in Marijuana farming.
      • Boxer Money Mayweather … came out of retirement... tax $22m
      • Singer Michael Jackson … $400m in debt
      • Writer ...Mark Twain … Declared bankrupt 1894
      • Cricketer Hansie Cronje … Love of money was his hub.
        • How the mighty are fallen …
          • Due to their ill directed pursuit of short term joy.
  • By contrast 2 weeks ago Andrew read Romans 8 to us …
    • Nothing can separate us from the love (and joy) that is in Christ Jesus…
      • Small wonder Paul can write and say …
        • Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.
      • And 2000 years later we collectively say … AMEN

Context ...

  • But where did it start …(Developing context) ...
    • Chapter 1 …
      • Rejoice/joy … 5 times
        • Joy in partnership with the church in the gospel ...v4
        • Rejoicing in the gospel preached … v18
        • Joy in deliverance anticipated … v18
        • Joy in progress in the faith of believers ...v25
        • Overflowing joy … v26
          • It is all about joy ...
  • But the mood changes ...in v 27
    • Whatever happens …The alarm bells should ring ...
      • Conduct yourselves worthy of the gospel of Christ ...v27
        • Context is the continued labouring together in the church…
      • Clearly the hub of this church is Christ …
        • And their duty is service for him …
        • Paul says ...
          • Stand firm … Shields up
          • One spirit … don’t break the line
          • Contending for the faith … fighting with strength
          • Fearlessly … to the death...v28
        • This is war talk …
          • Fighting the good fight of faith
      • For you are not only to believe in Him … and enjoy all the blessings
        • But to SUFFER for him ...v29
          • That is part of our calling as soldiers of the cross..
            • There are a multiple of blessings but also suffering.
      • Whatever happens …
        • The good …
          • The rejoicing in labouring together in Christ …
        • The bad …
          • Fighting the good fight of faith
        • The ugly …
          • The call to suffer for the sake of Christ

The Mind of Christ …

  • As he begins chapter 2 Paul details more of the blessings to those in Christ …
    • Encouragement in Christ
    • Comfort from His love
    • Fellowship with the Spirit
    • Tenderness and compassion …
  • Then he continues our responsibilities, as Christ’s partners in the gospel, to walk worth…
    • Being like minded
    • Having the same love as Jesus
    • One in spirit and purpose
    • Without personal ambition or vain conceit
    • Considering others more important than self
    • Caring for the interests of others not your own
  • Then he, seemingly, digresses as he highlights the humiliation and glorification of Jesus… Philippians 2:6-11
  • Question …
    • What one attitude is required to draw a group of diverse, multi talented people together.
      • Humility.
        • So before he discusses the extent of Jesus humility he says
          • Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.
            • Jesus is the standard and example.
          • Ours the responsibility to serve with humility.
  • All of these things are only made possible thru the single attitude of humility.
    • King David was a man after God's own heart
      • We are expected to have the mind of Christ.
  • I am sure most of us have heard many great sermons on vs 6-11
    • Giving graphic details about the humility demanded of Christ in order to procure our salvation…
      • Equal with God because He is God
      • Setting His glory aside to become a man
      • Taking on the role of servanthood
      • Giving up His life in death
      • Becoming a curse in terms of God's law on the cross.
      • In order to satisfy the demands of that law.
        • From glory to a curse …
        • The innocent for the guilty
        • Just for the unjust.
          • That is the standard
  • But the purpose of this passage is…
    • Let this mind be in you …

Challenge …

  • Question …
    • Am I willing to take up the challenge …
  • Because of our differences all relationships demand humility…
    • Marriage, friendships, colleagues, team sports, road safety.
    • The church should be the example to the world.

Humility brings glory …

  • But it does not end there …
    • Verse 9 starts with a THEREFORE …
      • Therefore … because of humility …
        • The consequence is...God exalted Jesus …
          • Humility and glory are bound together.
        • And gave Him a name that is above every other name
      • Notice two words there …
        • Above …
          • Jesus' position is above … higher, greater, bigger.
        • Every means just that …
          • Every single one, without exception there is no other.
      • So on earth, in heaven and under the earth …
        • Every knee will bow to Him …
          • Recognising Him as Lord and Christ.
  • The important point to note is that the humility that Christ suffered brought unspeakable glory…

Glory in Christ …

  • So what has this got to do with us …
    • How did you become a Christian …
  • For our purposes this morning I take 3 verses …
    • The Philippian jailor asked “What must I do to be saved”... Acts 16:31
      • Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.
    • Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord …
    • The Apostle John wrote …
      • If you confess your sins He is faithful and just to forgive all unrighteousness… 1 John 1:9
  • But to get to this point you had to acknowledge two truths …
    • That you need salvation…
      • But you are not able to accomplish your own salvation …
    • Jesus Christ is Lord and Christ ...
      • And is therefore able to save …
  • But to get to this point you have to humble yourself before God and bow the knee to Jesus…
    • In other words, abandon yourself to Jesus for salvation …
      • Because this is God’s way … you can not achieve self righteousness
    • In salvation humility is essential …
  • Turn to Matthew 23:12 …
    • Whoever humbles himself will be exalted …
  • What is the consequence of humility that bows the knee to Jesus as Lord…
    • And like the Lord Jesus we are exalted and given a name that is above every other name… for mankind …
      • We are the CHILDREN OF GOD… Romans 8:16-17
        • Those led by the Spirit of God are the children of God
        • By His Spirit we call Him Father
        • As children we are heirs of God
        • And co-heirs with Christ.
      • There is no greater name for us.
        • We glibly pass over it without registering the importance or privilege.
          • A child of the King of Kings.

Children of God …

  • How little we appreciate this fact that we are CHILDREN OF GOD ...
    • We often would love to have what the world has in material terms …
      • We envy the great sports stars, film stars, business people etc.
    • If only I could win a R20m lottery … I would be able to????
      • The imagination goes wild … not so …
    • But listen to Paul’s conclusion … Philippians 3:17-21
      • Follow my example … take note … v17
        • Many live as enemies of the cross … v18
        • Their destiny is destruction ...v19
        • Their god is their shame
        • Their mind is on earthly things
        • And their glory is in their shame …
      • Then he deals with the destiny of the CHILDREN OF GOD …
        • We are citizens of heaven … with all its privileges
          • As citizens we cannot be denied access.
          • We eagerly await our Saviour Jesus Christ …
            • Who will transform our lowly earthly bodies so that we will be like his glorious body … v21
        • Our destiny is guaranteed…
          • Citizenship in heaven
          • Bodies like Jesus' resurrection body …
      • Humility brought unspeakable glory to the Lord Jesus
        • Our humility as we bow the knee to the Lord Jesus ensures unspeakable glory for us.

Application ...

  • Choose this day … said Joshua to Israel …
    • What is your choice …
      • R100m on the lottery …
        • Along with all the uncertainty of the celebrities…
          • And their shame
        • Think of the shame Cronje suffered because his hub was wrong.
      • Or with Paul saying …
        • Even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice
  • And you should rejoice with me … Philippians 2:18
    • In your God given glory.
  • This morning I say to you …
    • Rejoice with them in your humility..
  • The hymn writer penned these words. …
    • I’m not ashamed to own my Lord or to defend His cause

Maintain the honour of His name, the glory of the cross.

At the cross at the cross

Where I first saw the light

And the burden of my heart rolled away

It was there by faith I received my sight

And now I am happy every day.