TRY THINKING THIS WAY!
Philippians 2:1-11
If ever a culture had a right to think of itself as superior it was the Greek culture that had excelled for three hundred years when Paul wrote to the Philippians.
They are still the standard in athletic accomplishment, as we are frequently reminded by the Olympics which reminds us of their days of glory.
They set the standard for great architecture, with their majestic buildings and ornate columns.
They are yet renowned for their great philosophic systems, and their great literature.
The Greeks had many accomplishments to be proud of.
Yet the day came when the Greeks were overpowered by the great military prowess of the mighty Roman empire.
No one could overpower them.
They considered themselves as gods; no one dared try to stop them.
The Romans could also boast of their highly developed legal system.
Also prevalent in Paul’s day was the religious system in Israel.
Initiated by God Himself, Jewish theologians had developed it into a great system of rules and regulations that controlled every area of their life.
No one had a religious system like theirs.
All these great human movements took great pride in their accomplishments.
No one could hold a candle to them in their areas of expertise.
Each had much to brag about.
Paul comes to people who were accustomed to this kind of thinking with a revolutionary thought:
GOD ISN’T IMPRESSED BY OUR GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS!
Godliness isn’t enhanced by proud boasting about what WE have pulled off!
God is seeking humble people who acknowledge that He has given us everything we have!
None of these great cultures was impressed by humility.
To the Greek mind, humility was a detestable trait!.
God exalts the humble and humbles the exalted!
In recent weeks, as we have considered Paul’s letter to the Philippians, we have identified ...
Satan’s two major weapons:
Discouragement
Division
These two problems were disturbing an otherwise ideal church!
Paul first addresses the problem of discouragement as he gives a . . .
REPORT CONCERNING IMPRISONMENT 1:12-26
What has served to discourage them, is not a discouragement to him.
God is at work to glorify Himself!
The gospel is advancing inside and outside the prison.
People have been encouraged to preach the gospel.
Paul believes God is going to free him from prison to continue his ministry on their behalf.
Whatever happens to him, Paul is convinced that God will be glorified through it.
EXHORTATIONS TO UNITY 1:27-2:18
Five imperatives reveal the conduct Paul desires us to live by.
Most important is unity which is reflected in all five exhortations.
The primary emphasis of these exhortations is summarized in the first:
CONDUCT YOURSELVES WORTHILY OF THE GOSPEL 1:27-30
A call to unity
We should stand firmly together so we can help one another when confronted by opponents.
UNITY IN THE FACE OF EXTERNAL OPPOSITION
In suffering we tend to focus on self-defense–every man for himself!
Paul urges God’s people, as an appropriate response to the gospel to stand together.
As members of the same team, we ought to unite to face the opposition.
Don’t let the opposition divide us!
Stand firmly together . . .
* United in one spirit.
*Striving together for the gospel.
* Not intimidated by opposition.
BE OF ONE MIND 2:1-4
Motivation for unity 2:1
We are encouraged by being in Christ.
We have become one with Him.
We are comforted by God’s love.
We enjoy the fellowship of the Spirit.
We enjoy a personal relationship with Him–He dwells in us.
We partner with Him–He works through us.
We experience God’s compassion and mercy.
All these things are true!
That ought to be enough to make anyone happy!
Only one more thing is still needed:
Demonstration of unity 2:2-4
We can finish the process of making Paul happy by . . .
(7 attitudes of people transformed by the gospel: )
These flow naturally from the benefits Paul just mentioned that we have received as God’s children.
If we are members of his family, we ought to act like family!
These are appropriate attitudes for children in a healthy family!
As parents, when our kids act this way, it delights us!
If we live this way, it will delight the heart of God–and of Paul!
UNITY IN THE FACE OF INTERNAL DIVISIONS AND SELF-CENTEREDNESS
* Agreeing wholeheartedly with one another.
Being of one mind
* Loving one another.
Having the same love
* Working together with one heart and purpose.
United in Spirit United in purpose
* Not living selfishly.
*Not foolishly bragging about ourselves.
* Humbly considering others better than ourselves.
Consider each other more important
* Not just taking care of what concerns us,
But also what concerns others.
Seek others' interests-taking interest in others' things
3rd command Paul introduces to encourage us to unity:
THINK AS CHRIST THOUGHT 2:5-11 5
One of the most radical thoughts ever proposed in a proud, self-sufficient, culture of great accomplishments, is that God Himself, the One who designed and made everything, didn’t cling to HIS rights and privileges, but was willing to let go of everything and give Himself for us!
We should follow Christ's example and humble ourselves for the good of our brethren.
What is the point of this example?
He let go of His rights and humbled Himself!
Jesus didn't cling to equality with God 2:5-6
He is God.
He has the same form as God Himself.
He is identical to the Father.
Colossians says, “All that God is (the totality of God) was pleased to dwell in Him.”
He lacks nothing.
He didn’t consider equality with God something to cling to,
even though He was identical in form to God Himself.
His equality with God was not a treasure that He felt He had to hang on to.
Therefore He endured the “seven stages of humiliation.”
McGee: “I wish we could grasp how high He was and how low He came.”
Jesus gave up His rights 2:7
“He emptied Himself” indicates that He let go of everything he had a right to hold on to.
JDP: “He divested Himself of the prerogatives of deity and of the manifestation ot the glories of deity, but His essential person was not changed.”
He took the form of a servant.
He took upon Himself, exactly the same form as a servant.
The Master of all was willing to become a servant.
He became just like a man.
Jesus humbled Himself 2:8
He was willing to become a man
He eternally existed in the form of God (His essence).
Yet He was willing to take the form of a man.
The Creator became like one of His creatures.
He was willing to die.
He was obedient even to the point of dying, according to the plan
The Eternal One was willing to be terminated.
He was willing to die on cross. (= criminal)
This was such an abhorrent form of death that even Rome forbid it, for all but the grossest kind of criminal.
That makes it all the more incredible that the people demanded it for Jesus.
The Holy One became sin and died as a criminal.
Therefore, God exalted Him!
Jesus was exalted by God 2:9-11
God exalted Him.
Ultimate application of universal biblical principle affirmed in Luke 14:11.
“Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled
and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
That principle leads to Peter’s words in 1 Peter 5:6
“Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,
that He may exalt you in due time.”
God gave Him a name above every name.
Every knee will bow at the mention of His name.
Purpose: That every knee should bow
at His name
every knee -in heaven
-on earth
-under the earth
Every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.
Purpose: That every tongue should confess that Jesus is Lord
=> So that => God might be glorified.
God will be glorified through Him.
IMPLICATIONS FOR US TODAY:
That’s the principle that we are to imitate:
God still exalts people who humble themselves.
Humble ourselves => God exalts
1 John 4:11 Dear friends, since God so loved us,
we also ought to love one another.
If God loves us that much, we ought to love one another.
If Jesus was willing to give up His rights for us,
we should be willing to give up our rights for others.
If anyone had a reason to “stand up for his rights,” it’s Jesus!
Yet He was willing to let go–to surrender His rights–for us.
How then should we respond to others around us?
We shouldn’t cling to our rights either.
If He had clung to His rights, where would we be?
If Jesus, being God Himself, didn’t cling to His rights, why should we?
Paul tells us to imitate Him.
Give up our rights
Give up our agenda
. . . to pursue what will draw others to the Savior
. . . to pursue what will benefit others, what will benefit the body of Christ