Humility Proper Attitude

Introduction

Philippians 2:1-11

Did you ever hear an ostrich or an eagle sing? No, because they have no song. It is the smaller birds that offer the sweetest music-the mockingbird, the lark, the canary. Some of the most melodious music emanates from little-known Christians Spiritual songs are sweetest from those who are aware of their nothingness before the Lord.

Here we see Paul writing to a city that was not rich by Roman standards.

They did not have numbers like Ephesus, Corinth, or Rome.

But, they gave to Paul more than anyone else. They partnered with him in the ministry.

They were dealing with some who were preaching out of selfish ambition.

Philippians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Chapter 7: The Formula for Spiritual Unity (Philippians 2:1–4)

Perhaps the greatest danger facing the church is an attack on its source of authority, namely, the Word of God.

Philippians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Chapter 7: The Formula for Spiritual Unity (Philippians 2:1–4)

Equally to be feared is whatever attacks the unity of the church. All of these can disrupt, weaken, and destroy a church by causing discord, disharmony, conflict, and division.

Paul ends his letter to the Corinthians with fear of sins that destroy unity, 2 Corinthians 12:20 “For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults;”

Chapter 1 Paul talked about how his Joy in Christ was what kept him going. It was the key for the advancement of the Gospel, his imprisonment, trials, shipwreck, and hinderances of the Jews.

This Joy was found in Christ.

Body

Joy, Paul will explain in through humility toward others that is found in Christ.

Paul starts off with ‘Therefore’ in chapter 2. Looks back Philippians 1:27

What follows is subordinate clauses, If…then.

Encouragement (consolation): παρακλησις (paraklesis) has the root meaning of coming alongside someone to give assistance by offering comfort, counsel, or exhortation. It exemplified the Good Samaritan, who, after doing everything he could do for the robbed and beaten stranger went even further, Luke 10:35 “On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’”

Jesus used a word closely related (parakleton) when He said He was sending a another Helper.

Consolation (comfort): Paramythion: has the literal meaning of speaking closely with someone with the added idea of giving comfort and solace. Its basic meaning is close to that of paraklesis.

Fellowship of the Spirit” Koinonia: this is communion, the idea of everything belonging to the Spirit and nothing belonging to the individual.

For the Church of Philippi they would understand this because they understood it meaning. Their community might have been poor but they had communion with the Spirit therefore nobody did without.

Affection and Compassion: These qualities characterized Christ, who tenderly comforts and encourages the weak and oppressed.

Joy Complete

How would they make His joy complete?

First: be like minded. (phroneo) occurs 26 times in the NT and 10 are found in this Letter! Be in agreement. Paul wanted them to be in agreement with one another.

Romans 12:16 “Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.”

Maintaining the same love, united in spirit: Agapē (love), however, is the love of will, not of preference or attraction. It is based on an intentional, conscious choice to seek the welfare of its object. It is because agapē (love) is based on the will that it can be commanded.

Intent on one Purpose: Paul understood the purpose of the Church. To fulfill the Great Commission!

How would they accomplish this?

Humility

Verse 3: Regard One Another: remember they had some preaching out of selfish ambition? Philippians 4:2 “I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.” These two were the two who Paul was talking about.

It only takes two to cause dissension in the Church.

How do you regard others? as more important than yourselves. It was foreign in their time to have that kind of thinking.

Look out for the interest of others over your own.

Why would Paul tell them these things?

Christ exemplified this for us to model!

Christ’s Attitude

Verses 5-8 speak of the Deity of Christ but also the Miracles of all Miracles. God humbled Himself and became man to save man. "Some scholars believe this passage was originally a hymn, sung by early Christians to commemorate and celebrate the incarnation of the Son of God."

Have this Attitude: (phroneo) the same Greek word for “same mind” we are to have the same mind, attitude as Christ. Romans 15:3 “For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.””

How can we have the same mind and Attitude of our Lord? By His WORD!

Philippians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Chapter 8: The Model for Spiritual Unity (Philippians 2:5–8)

Unity in the church can come only from an attitude of genuine humility, of believers truly regarding others as more important than themselves—the attitude that was supremely manifested in Christ Jesus during His incarnation.

He existed in the Form of God: He has always been and will always be. John 1:1–3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”

He emptied Himself: have you ever seen a a rich man leave his wealth for the poor? Have you ever seen Royalty leave the throne to be with the peasants? Paul did. 2 Corinthians 8:9 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”

Took the Form of Bond Servant: Matthew 20:28 “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.””

He came to serve with Humility.

Bond servant: doulos- slave pertaining to a state of being completely controlled by someone or something. He was submissive to the Father’s will, to their plan.

He HUMBLED Himself, be becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Paul wanted them to know that for unity to ring true for the Church it had to ring true for each one of them by humbling themselves first.

They had to become slaves to Christ as he had. He was not in chains to Rome, he was in chains to Christ.

He was not shipwreck by man, he was shipwreck because God wanted him to preach the Word to those people where he was washed ashore.

He was put in prison not because some Pharisees or Sadducees, but Christ wanted that jailor and his family to hear the gospel.

1 Corinthians 10:33–11:1 “just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.”

Christ Exalted

Highly Exalted: sits at the right hand of the Father

Will judge

Is coming back

every knee will bow

every tongue will confess

all will Glory God

Application

1. The Proper Attitude in the Church creates One Purpose. Fulfill the Great Commission.

2. The Proper Attitude in the Church creates One Body. Humility thinking of others more importantly than yourself.

3. The Proper Attitude in the Church creates One Fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Communion with the Spirit is Communion with each other.

4. The Proper Attitude in the Church creates One Glory. Our glory belongs to God and nobody else.