The Mind of Christ

I would like to deviate a little this morning from our study in the book of John and look at a needful passage as we have just kicked off our Soul-Winning at Sharon Baptist Church.

This year, we are endeavoring to have 100% involvement from God’s people in SoulWinning from this local church.

I realize for some that will mean praying on Saturday’s.

For some that will mean laboring as part of the bus ministry.

For some that will mean door to door personal evangelism.

Any of these labours that I just mentioned done rightly, as pleasing the Lord will require what we find in this passage.

Let me set the scene for you before we read the passage.

You will remember how it was that Paul the apostle endeavored to follow the Lord’s leading and direction concerning his missionary journeys.

We find what many have called the Macedonian call in Acts chapter 16.

It is very interesting that it took Paul some time to finally get an understanding as to which direction God would have Him to go.

And just as a side note, for you and I endeavoring to serve the Lord, this paramount lesson is for you and I that we must be sensitive to God’s leading in all that we do.

Let’s turn and look at it together.

Acts 16:8-15 “8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. 10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. 11 Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; 12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. 13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. 14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. 15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.”

In the verses that follow this, we read about Paul and Silas arrest, because of a damsel possessed with a spirit of divination.

Let’s read those verses continuing in this passage.

Acts 16:16-31 “16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. 18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. 19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, 20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, 21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. 22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. 23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely. 24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. 25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

It is from this place in Acts where the Philippian jailor and his household and Lydia and her household that the Philippian local church begins.

Paul is writing this epistle to the Philippians.

And in chapter 2, Paul pens down one of the most significant passages in all of the Bible concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.

It speaks of a mystery in part that too wonderful to fully grasp.

With that being said, let’s read chapter 2 verses 1-16.

Philippians 2:1-16 “1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”

Let’s pray

I want you to think on this phrase found in verse 5, “Let this mind be in you...”

Make this personal. This letter is written to a certain groups of folks.

But God had it recorded for you. So, as we are talking about Christians in a local church, you can take this as an high calling from God in your life.

Now Paul is writing to a local church born out of adversity, from a place of adversity. He is dealing with a group of folks that were not stranger to difficulties.

In verse 5 through verse 16, we have a high and holy bar set for us.

It ultimately is for us to look to our supreme example, the Lord Jesus Christ.

When you look at this passage in particular you discover that Paul is calling them to be “likeminded..” v2 of “one accord”… “of one mind...”

“This literally means that they were to ‘think the same things’. Paul did not want them to act like robots, primed and controlled by their leaders; rather, he wanted them to have a common purpose as their aim in life. Our thinking always controls our actions. We cannot hope to do the right thing if our thinking is twisted and going in the wrong direction.”

These are all words the Bible uses to describe us as individuals joined together for the Gospel.

The truth for you and I, is there is only one kind of Christian. And that is what Paul is speaking about here. There are not many standards, there is but one standard.

God says, Be ye Holy, for I am Holy. (Leviticus 11:44-45; Leviticus 19:2; I Peter 1:16)

The opposite of these descriptive words are found in verse 3, which is strife and vainglory. (We might say this are the enemies to being of one mind, they are enemies to being of one accord.)

The word vainglory is interesting, it is a compound word just as we see in the English and it is the same in the Greek. It is found only once in the NT, here in Philippians 2:3.

It means empty-glory. It is the idea of self-conceit.

It is glorying with no background.

We see that God is worthy of all glory and praise… there is a base for that glory. In other words concerning the Lord He is worthy of all glory.

But vain glory as it concern you and I is without truth.

It is lying about one self.

It’s me looking in the mirror and stating I am the most handsome man in all the earth… that statement has no base.

The other word is strife and is interesting as well.

It speaks to gathering followers, or creating factions…

Thayer goes as far as to define in electioneering.

It is mentioned 7 times in the NT and in Galatians 5:20 it is identified as a work of the flesh.

It is often found connected with envy.

And so, as we think about the call for us to have the mind of Christ in the life of the individual, we can think about the opposite of this kind of mind as well.

I would like to describe for you three minds mentioned here in particular that are necessary for us to consider as we continue on this path of outreach at Sharon Baptist Church.

The first is found in verse number 3.

I. The Selfless Mind

You will notice in verse 3 some very descriptive words used. This selfless mind is described as lowliness of mind.

This matter of lowliness of mind is not speaking of a lack of intelligence.

This matter of lowliness of mind is not speaking of having a poor opinion of yourself or beating yourself up.

But rather has to do with humility.

It is a right understanding of who you are in Christ.

It is being in subjection to the Lord and His ways.

Notice what the Bible says,

Philippians 2:3 “3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”

This is the selfless mind.

DL Moody referenced Humility in one of his sermons and stated this, “We read of the three men in Scripture whose faces shone, and all three were noted for their meekness and humility. We are told that the face of Christ shone at His transfiguration; Moses, after he had been in the mount for forty days, came down from his communion with God with a shining face; and when Stephen stood before the Sanhedrim on the day of his death, his face was lighted up with glory. If our faces are to shine we must get into the valley of humility; we must go down in the dust before God.”

As you look at this passage, “The greatest example which Paul could give them to imitate was the Lord Jesus Christ.”

When we think about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, He ministered to others.

When we think about this, this is exceedingly amazing because of who the Lord is.

“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” II Corinthians 8:9

We understand that the Lord Jesus Christ is God in the flesh.

We understand that the Lord stooped in great condensation taking to himself the form of a servant… being found in fashion as a man.

The Bible tells us in Mark 10:45 “45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

When we think of the Lord and His majesty and His royalty being Almighty God, being the King of kings, rightfully He deserved all of the worship and adoration.

But yet we find concerning the mind of Christ, He came ministering unto others.

His earthly ministry was concerned with the will of the Father.

My wife and I were just talking about Matthew 11:28-30 “28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

And when we begin to think of that, we have to ask ourselves the question,

“Do we possess the selfless mind?”

“Do we esteem others better than ourselves?”

Soul-winning, whether we are talking about the organized efforts at SBC or living a life of telling others about the Lord is a selfless calling.

It is a call to confront those that oppose themselves and oftentimes will even oppose you.

It is a call to put others before yourself.

It says, I am concerned with the lives of others.

And Paul states in this verse that it must be accomplished without strife and without vain-glory.

Let me say it this way…there should not have to be fightings to get God’s people to do God’s work.

Nor should it be motivated by any kind of vain-glory.

Where strife and worthless glorying exist, we are operating in the flesh.

Now this is so important that the Word of God dwells on this for quite a few verses.

Notice in verse 6-8 what it says concerning the lowliness of mind, the humility of the Lord and His servanthood.

Philippians 2:6-8 “6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Think of these marvelous words of example. Think of this wonderful display of God’s love.

In verse 6, the Bible stating emphatically that Jesus is God.

Think of the word the Lord used in John 17:5 “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”

And then it turns on verse 7 with the word ‘but.’

In other words, even though Jesus is God,

He made Himself of no reputation.

He took upon Himself the form of a servant.

He was made in the likeness of men.

He became obedient....in not just the easy things…teaching…performing a few miracles… having the masses follow Him around…

He became obedient in all things…the Bible says even the death of the cross.

Study for yourself sometime what that meant.

Read over and over again, the crucifixion of the Lord.

Study and find out what it meant to be crucified in this time.

I am reminded of that great Hymn Wherever HeLeads Ill Go

“Take up thy cross and follow Me," I heard my Master say; "I gave My life to ransom thee, Surrender your all today." Wherever He leads I'll go, Wherever He leads I'll go, I'll follow my Christ who loves me so, Wherever He leads I'll go.”

“My heart, my life, my all I bring To Christ who loves me so; he is my Master, Lord, and King, Wherever He leads I'll go. Wherever He leads I'll go, Wherever He leads I'll go, I'll follow my Christ who loves me so, Wherever He leads I'll go.”

Not only do we see in this passage, concerning the mind of Christ, the selfless mind, we see secondly the Working Mind.

II. The Working Mind (Yielded Mind)

This is the practical outworking of the Humble Mind.

We might use this phrase, this is where the rubber meets the road.

It is one thing to sing, “Wherever He Leads I’ll Go” and it is another to go when He leads.

Notice with me in the passage in verses 12-16.

Philippians 2:12-16 “12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”

Again, as we look at this passage we understand that it centers on the person of Christ, we can see not only the Lord’s humility on display in His life, but we see His work.

I reminded of the Lord’s surprising response in Luke 2:49 we find these words, “49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”

I must be about my Father’s work...

This needs to be the placard displayed over every Christian.

“I must be about my Father’s work!”

It’s a call to obedience. And Paul makes an important connection here for us that many miss.

Its the reason the so many Christians feel down and out.

It’s the reason that there seems to be no real satisfaction in life.

It’s the reason that many may have worldly success but are lacking in what they understand as success in the Christian life.

It is found in the phrase, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

This troubling phrase for some, “work out” your own salvation has a peculiar reference to the gold and silver mines in the region of Philippi.

This is common mining term.

Paul is not stating that you are to work for your salvation, but rather work out, the gold and silver of your glorious Salvation.

Paul is dealing with Christians not lost people.

And further, he tells us that this is the yielded life. Give place to God’s call, allow Him to work in and through you!

The very ore of silver would need to be “uncovered” and brought into the light for all to see.

Think of all the treasures of silver and gold…as they sit in darkness in the heart of the earth. There they are surrounded by darkness and un-mined.

And so it is with you and I.

There is a connection my friend with the triumphant Christian life and labouring for the child of God.

We are to uncover the treasures of our Salvation through our labours; through obedience to God.

Not only to we see the Selfless Mind, The Working Mind (Yielded Mind) but lastly, I want you to see the sum of this all and that is the Christlike Mind.

III. Christlike Mind

Philippians 2:15-16 “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”

This would be called the punchline, the sum of it all.

Every time I think about this, I think about that sound Spencer often sings called the Mind of Christ.

“To receive when others reject To treat each one with true respect To shield when others throw stones To be with one who's all alone To think and choose to see the very best To live like this Is nothing less than to possess The mind of Christ”

Notice this wonderful phrase,

“…among whom ye shine as lights in the world… “

The fact us you and I live in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation. We live in the midst of a crooked and perverse world.

It is a world that is under the influence of the prince of the power of the air.

It is world of darkness. Just as it was in Paul’s’ time. Just as it was when the Lord Jesus Christ the true Light came in the fullness of the time.

Christlike mind is concerned with the family name. Being blameless and harmless the sons of God, without rebuke shining as lights in the world.

I like this the Lord Jesus Christ said in Luke 12:35 “Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;”

What does it look like for a Christian to shine as a light in this world?

Paul uses the same word as is used for stars in the night sky. We can imagine in our minds standing on the hillside where there are no lights and see how it is that the stars shine forth against the darkness. They twinkle and burn.. our burning lights even as John the Baptist pointing other to the Lord.

The Bible says it is one that is “blameless and harmless.”

It is someone who is “…holding forth the word of life…”

One expositor said it this way, “Philippians 2:14–15 (RR): Many Christians today are minimalist Christians. We want to go to heaven. What’s the least we can do to get there? We want to be church members. What’s the least we can do to have church? We want to do missions. How can we do missions in the most painless way possible without offending anyone to whom we offer our gospel? We don’t want to be different. We want to be like ordinary people. We don’t want to be known for zeal on Christ’s behalf; that would be bad form. So how can we get this job done and look as much like “worldlings” (to use C. S. Lewis’s term) as possible? Paul, on the other hand, would have none of this way of thinking. He wanted his children in the faith to be illustrations of the finished product. He wanted them to look, act, and react like Jesus.”

I know no better way to hold forth the Word of life, than to speak to others about the Lord Jesus Christ. To be an active purposeful witness for Him,

Consider this verse, II Corinthians 5:11 “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”

It is true that the Lord Jesus Christ came to this earth, made in the likeness of man. He is fully-God and fully-man.

But He already knew the rejection of man, He already knew the sinfulness of man. He already knew the darkness and depravity of man.

And yet He still came and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

I want you to consider that phrase, ‘Let this mind be in you…” What mind? The selfless mind, The working mind, The Christlike mind…

“Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;”