What is your motivation?

Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented
0 ratings
· 2 views
Notes
Transcript

Introduction

What is your motivation for the things that you do in your life? I am new to this area and I do not know your names yet or what your background is or what you enjoy and what you do not enjoy doing in your life. Yet, whatever you do, what is the motivation for the things that you do? I understand that you are memorizing some verses in Philippians 2. In fact the first four verses.

Philippians 2:1-4

Philippians 2:1–4 NKJV
Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Context

OK. Great words from the Apostle Paul, but these words are part of a context. They were written in a letter or you might hear the word epistle (which is basically an English transliteration of the Greek word for letter or message). But it is a letter or message that these four verses show up in. If you get a text message, email, Facebook message, Snapchat message, or Instagram message from a friend would you only read a few lines of it? Or would you read the whole thing? It is good to see where the Apostle Paul started in this letter at least a few verses earlier before thing to get an idea about these verses in question.

Review of Chapter 1

The Apostle Paul at the time of writing this letter is in Rome in prison and he is writing to the church in Philippi from this prison cell and Timothy is with him as he is writing this.
He is thankful for the believers in Jesus in Philippi. Philippians 1:9–11 “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
He mentions that the Gospel is being preached while Paul is in prison, but some are doing it for the right reasons and others for the wrong reasons. Philippians 1:15 “Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill:” Yet, Paul writes: Philippians 1:18 “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.”
What Paul is writing is, what is your motivation? He said some where preaching the Gospel for the right motivation. In an earlier epistle that Paul wrote (1 Corinthians) the Apostle talks about a believer’s work. Is it done for Christ or not. Keep your finger in Philippians and turn back to 1 Corinthians 3:10.
1 Corinthians 3:10–17 NKJV
According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
The work is destroyed (no reward), but he himself will be saved. What is the motivation of the work you are doing? You might be doing the school work because you have to do it, but how can you do it for the LORD and do it in His strength. It is easier said than done even for me. Don’t think that once you become an adult that it gets any easier in fact it gets harder.
So what is the motivation?
Then Paul talks about the struggles he has with the prospect that he might soon be in glory, but he doesn’t know what the future may hold. Then we get to the verses before the four verses you are memorizing.
Philippians 1:27–29 NKJV
Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,
Whether Paul is able to come to them or is absent and he hears about them he wants to hear a good report.

that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. 29

that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God

Chapter 2

So the fact that you are standing firm in one spirit with one mind, together (side by side). Therefore or since we are of this one mind how do we need to respond? These four verses are actually one long sentence in the original Greek; the Apostle Paul asks the church in Philippi and by extension us the readers of this letter this rhetorical question. As one commentary puts it Paul wants to “provoke the Philippians so that they will reflect on whether these qualities are evident in their lives.” (ESV study Bible). Are these qualities evident in your life? The Word of God is a mirror to see what we are reflecting and the Holy Spirit can show us where we are lacking or how we are growing.
James 1:22–24 NKJV
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

Verse 1

Philippians 2:1 “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,”

Consolation (Encouragement) in Christ

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,

act of emboldening another in belief or course of action, encouragement, exhortation

Philippians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Right Motives for Spiritual Unity

coming alongside someone to give assistance by offering comfort, counsel, or exhortation

As a believer in Jesus Christ, how are you coming along side someone in the faith? How are you being an encouragement to them? How are you building them up?
One of the people in the New Testament whose nickname literally meant Son of Encouragement was Barnabas. He would be one of the first to accept Saul of Tarsus after Jesus met him on the road to Damascus. He encouraged Paul and traveled with him on the first missionary journey and while they had a disagreement about Barnabas’ nephew John Mark (where we get the Gospel of Mark from) he encouraged John Mark and Mark grew and wrote the account of Peter (the Gospel) and Paul saw his growth. Toward the end of Paul’s life (2 Timothy) he writes 2 Timothy 4:11 “Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.”
So how can you be a Barnabas and encourage someone and build them up? It is in Christ’s strength and not your own.

Comfort in Love

Comfort from love.
The Apostle Paul continues on with Comfort in love or comfort from love, going back once again to “in Christ.” The love that comes from Jesus Christ. That agape love from Jesus Christ. As one paraphrase puts it “Now if you have known anything of Christ’s encouragement and of His reassuring love...” (JB). Christ’s reassuring love to us and us comforting one another in love. These are all building one another, which ultimately Paul will link to the ultimate example found in Jesus Christ in verses 5-11.
1 John 4:18–19 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.”
God’s love has been poured out on us. Romans 5:5 “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
John 3:15–17 “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

Fellowship of the Spirit

Participation in the Spirit

Any fellowship together in the Spirit?

We as believers in Jesus Christ have been united with the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:12–17 NKJV
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
1 Corinthians 3:16–17 NKJV
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
1 Corinthians 6:19–20 NKJV
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Ephesians 1:13–14 NKJV
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
We have been adopted into God’s family and the Holy Spirit has come in to reside inside of us. He has sealed us with the guarantee of our salvation and the inheritance of Heaven that we are promised. So how are we living this out?

Affection and Mercy

Affection and sympathy.

Are your hearts tender and compassionate?

Colossians 3:12–13 “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”
Do you have a caring heart that has compassion on those around you?
Galatians 6:1–3 NKJV
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
How are we bearing with one another? Once again, what is our motivation? What is your motivation in what you do?

Verse 2

Philippians 2:2 “fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”

complete my joy by being of the same mind

The word translated fulfill or complete my joy is a command. To the church in Philippi, Paul is not giving a suggestion, but commanding the church and us as believers to fulfill his joy.
Philippians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Right Motives for Spiritual Unity

To so reward a faithful servant of the Lord is a legitimate goal for believers to have. The New Testament makes it clear that churches are to love, honor, respect, and appreciate their human leaders.

Being of the SAME MIND. Once again this is going back to the unity that we talked about in the first chapter of Philippians. Philippians 1:27 “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,”
​
It is so easy to NOT be of one heart or one mind.

having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

One Accord - united in spirit
The English word accord has the idea of “come into agreement.”

[Middle English, from Anglo-French acorder, from Vulgar Latin *accordare, from Latin ad- + cord-, cor heart—more at HEART] verb transitive 12th century

1: to bring into agreement: RECONCILE

2: to grant or give especially as appropriate, due, or earned verb intransitive

“be of one heart, bring heart to heart”
One Heart and One Mind.
​

Verse 3

Philippians 2:3 “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”
He has moved from one heart and one mind in the Body to once again what is the motivation behind what you do.
If you don’t agree with something and you try to pull these verses out of context and try to say someone is not being of one heart or mind you need to stop and continue on with these verses.
Let nothing be done through:
Selfish Ambition
Nor Conceit
So Paul is addressing motivation front and center. Is what you are doing because of your own selfish motivations?
What is the heart attitude and mindset behind what you are doing? Is it going to hurt someone or save them or build them up? Are you doing it for a vain reason? Who is going to benefit for what is happening? Are you backbiting or gossiping behind someone’s back?
Paul says to take a different course:
lowliness of mind and esteeming others better than yourself.
This does not mean that you are a doormat. Lowliness does not mean putting yourself down to get trampled underfoot.

but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

You are being humble and a servant.
Mark 9:35 “And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.””
How can you serve someone today? How can you be an example of Jesus Christ to someone today? How can you esteem or count others higher than you today?
This is not just for you, because we as adults also struggle with this too. Don’t think it get easier as you get older. In fact it gets harder.

Verse 4

Philippians 2:4 “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”
The Apostle Paul re-emphasizes this point the believers in Philippi, but also to. Let each of you look out, not only for your won interests.

Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

That does not mean, you don’t care for yourself.
When you are on an airplane during a safety briefing they talk about if the plane depressurizes and oxygen masks will fall. Put the mask on you first before you help others. We want to be Christ focused and others focused. Great Commandment from the Old Testament that Jesus told to the lawyer. Love God, Love People. Yet, we need to take care of ourselves also so we can serve God and serve people.
Luke 10:27 “So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ””
How are you looking out for others? Maybe the ones that no one else is looking out for? How can you serve them?

The Example is Jesus Christ

Ultimately, Paul is using these examples in the first four verses to show how Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of these qualities.
Philippians 2:5–11 NKJV
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Let this mindset that is in you was also in Jesus Christ. You are not measuring up to anyone, but Jesus Christ.
He served, He loved. He had one mind and one heart with His Heavenly Father.
Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Jesus Christ is our example. How are we, how am I, how are you being of one mind and heart with His mind and heart.

Application / Conclusion

As I mentioned above, this is just as hard for adults as it is for you. It is challenging, but that is why we need the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and direct us in this. So today, how can you follow the example of Jesus Christ? I would encourage you write down something and ask God to help you today to be of one heart and one mind with Jesus.
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more
Copyright 2024 Logos Bible SoftwareFeatures|Pricing|Privacy|Terms of Use|Support