The Mind of Jesus

Philippians 2:5-8

Adopt the same attitude (Some translations say mind) as that of Christ Jesus

Who existing in the form of God,

Did not consider equality with God

As something to be exploited.

Instead he EMPTIED Himself

By assuming the form of a servant,

Taking on the likeness

Of humanity.

And when HE had come as a man,

He humbled Himself

By becoming obedient

To the point of death -

Even to death on a cross

Will you take a journey with me as we attempt to Adopt the Same Mind, Same ATTITUDE as that of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Last night I was watching my current binge show “Castle” and I had this overwhelming urge to jump into the Word of God. THere was something I was looking for, but I did not know what.

See I had this idea that we would be in Phil 2:5, and meditate on that. We will be! But not as I thought.

Chuck Lawless

Dean of Doctoral Studies

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

At the Pastors Conference on Monday.

So follow me please.

Adopt the same mind and attitude as that of Christ jesus.

Jump over to 1 John 2:6

The one who says he remains in hima should walk just as he walked.

So we are to adopt the same mindset as Jesus.

We are to Walk just as He walked.

Now we can know the mind of Christ. That is what the bible helps us to do. As we have the attitude of Christ, we learn to walk the way He walked. But you know what, the bible also tells us HOW to walk like Christ. But it is not just about God telling us how to walk, Jesus MODELED how we are to walk! He SHOWS us the mind of CHrist and the WALK that we are to walk.

Matthew 4:19 - this is when Jesus FIRST calls His disciples - the very first thing that He says to the 2 brothers - Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew

Jesus says - FOLLOW ME!

It was right here, these 2 words that struck so much inside me that I realized that there was something more to the sermon today.

Follow me implies that Jesus was going to be leading them somewhere - leading them in some way - leading them in something

Obviously we follow through on that Verse and we read: and I will make you fish for people.

Clearly that was the intention - the goal - to have disciples who would go and make disciples of all the earth, baptize them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy SPirit, and to teach them everything that Jesus has commanded. CLEARLY that was part of the plan.

But there was a HUGE JOURNEY between Matt 4:19 and Matt 28:19!

So let’s take a journey through the Gospels and see where Jesus would be leading His disciples.

(Lk 3:21-22) At His Baptism.

(Mk 1:35-36) In the morning before heading to Galilee.

(Lk 5:16) After healing people.

(Lk 6:12-13) Praying all night before choosing His 12 disciples.

(Mt 11:25-26) While speaking to the Jewish leaders.

(Jn 6:11) Giving thanks to the Father before feeding 5000.

(Also see: Mt 14:19, Mk 6:41, Lk 9:16)

(Mt 14:23) Before walking on water.

(Also see: Mk 6:46, Jn 6:15)

(Mk 7:31-37) While healing a deaf and mute man.

(Mt 15:36) Giving thanks to the Father before feeding 4000.

(Also see: Mk 8:6-7)

(Lk 9:18) Before Peter called Jesus “the Christ.”

(Lk 9:28-29) At the Transfiguration.

(Lk 10:21) At the return of the seventy.

(Lk 11:1) Before teaching His disciples the Lord’s Prayer.

(Jn 11:41-42) Before raising Lazarus from the dead.

(Mt 19:13-15) Laying hands on and praying for little children.

(Also see: Mk 10:13-16, Lk 18:15-17)

(Jn 12:27-28) Asking the Father to glorify His name.

(Mt 26:26) At the Lord’s Supper.

(Also see: Mk 14:22-23, Lk 22:19)

(Lk 22:31-32) Prayed for Peter’s faith when Satan asked to “sift” him.

(Jn 17:1-26) Prayed for Himself, His disciples, and all believers just before heading to Gethsemane.

(Mt 26:36-46) In Gethsemane before His betrayal. (He prayed 3 separate prayers.)

(Also see: Lk 22:39-46, Mk 14:32-42)

(Lk 23:34) Right after being nailed to the cross, Jesus prayed, “Father forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

(Mt 27:46) While dying on the cross, Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

(Also see: Mk 15:34)

(Lk 23:46) In His dying breath, Jesus prayed, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.

(Lk 24:30) Prayed a blessing on the bread before He ate with others after His resurrection.

(Lk 24:50-53) He blessed the disciples before His Ascension.

What we see is no less than 25 Scripture references to Jesus praying. Add the ones that imply it, and you have even more.

He prayed in Private, Public, before eating, before important decisions, before healing, after healing, constantly, consistently - and His disciples were always around.

Philippians says that Jesus EMPTIED HImself -

Instead he EMPTIED Himself

By assuming the form of a servant,

Taking on the likeness

Of humanity.

And when HE had come as a man,

He humbled Himself

By becoming obedient

To the point of death -

Even to death on a cross

Jesus humbled Himself to the point of being a servant to the Father - He said he could do nothing apart from the Father.

Brothers and Sisters - if Jesus could do nothing apart from the Father, then we must understand that we can do nothing apart from the Father!

Dr Lawless asked a question that ripped my heart in half and brought tears to my eyes:

If I were to spend 24 hours with you, walk with you, eat with you, work with you, everywhere you go, everything you do, I do it with you, right beside you - would I

Is prayer something constant in your life? OR is prayer something that you do at bed time. Before eating. UNtil you grow out of it.

Do the people around you ever SEE you pray?

DO they see you read your bible?

Brothers and sisters - we can do nothing apart from the father. Prayer is how we connect with the father. Its how we commune with the Father.

See what I realized is that I do a good job talking about Prayer - I do a good job PRAYING, BUT THE PROBLEM IS - i failed to SHOW prayer! We pray, but to SHOW PRAYER!

We all have to get better together at this!