Philippians: "Mindset" Philippians 2:1-11
Notes
Transcript
Today is our 5th sermon,
in our series called the book of Philippians
We are in Philippians 2:1-11.
Before we read our text this morning,
I will give a couple of takeaways from Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi that we have already covered.
Like I said last week,
it seems like in every section in Philippians there is a verse that many of us have probably have already memorized.
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,
last week...
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
In chapter 1 of Philippians Paul has already demonstrated a great love for the church in Philippi.
Paul has communicated,
his belief that God is going to continue to work in Philippi,
because God finishes what he starts. (fruit of righteousness)
Paul has articulated that God works in everything.
And because God works in everything.
Paul is confident that his life or his death will help in advancing the Kingdom of God.
Paul closes chapter one by explaining that,
as he continues to live an unashamed life for the sake of Christ, (life is Christ),
Paul encourages Philippi to also live unashamed lives and live like citizens of heaven.
(continues on this thought and communicates the greatest example that we can follow)
Philippians 2:1–11 (ESV)
1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Amen!
Paul begins this passage with giving 4 rhetorical questions.
Philippians 2:1 (ESV)
1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
These are rhetorical question because Paul knows that these are basic things that Philippi already knows.
It is like if I were to say does Krystal's have the worst burgers in the south…
(Devil went down to Georgia and stopped by Chattanooga TN to start a chain called Krystal’s)
1. any encouragement in Christ
2. any comfort from love
3. any participation in the Spirit,
4. any affection and sympathy,
Because of this…
Philippians 2:2 (ESV)
2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
Have a mindset of unity.
Philippians 2:2 (ESV)
2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
Philippians 1:27 (ESV)
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
Mindset of unity means that we working side by side for the sake of the gospel. (Singular focus)
To be of the same mind, same love, being in full accord of one mind Paul explains that this is what needs to happen.
Philippians 2:3–4 (ESV)
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Story... (Pocket .22)
worked with someone selfish? (the worst) [Robin membership meeting]
(Being selfish is not being kingdom minded) Amen
Paul gives this list of these things that you can’t do to have a mindset of unity.
Paul communicates that to have a mindset of unity,
you will not live a life from a posture of selfish ambition or conceit.
Furthermore to have a mindset of unity you are not going to look out only for you own interests.
(born selfish) [old nature has to die]
Paul does not only articulates these things we can’t do to have a mindest of unity
but he also gives a list of things we need to do to have a mindest of unity.
Paul communicates that to have a mindest of unity we need to selfless.
To have a mindset of unity we need to walk in humility and count others more significant than ourselves.
Story of Jacklynn (Jack) Lucas. 14 years old Pearl Harbor. (17 gun jammed) {Medal of Honor}
(Takes humility to count others as more significant than yourself.)
Paul communicates what a mindset of unity looks like.
To sum up Paul’s point to one word,
of what a mindset of unity looks,
the one word would be sacrifice.
(It takes sacrifice to look out for others before yourself, it takes sacrifice to walk in humility)
1. Have a mindest of unity
2. Have a mindset of Christ
Philippians 2:5 (ESV)
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
Philippians 2:5 (NLT)
5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
What was Christ’s attitude? What what Christ’s mindset?
45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus mindset was to lay down is life for others.
To have true unity in the church,
we need to be willing to lay down our lives for one another.
Paul wants the church to understand that unity is not an idea or concept,
but rather unity is a lifestyle that we live by each and everyday.
Unity is a community of faith that is kingdom minded,
which means we are the hands and feet of Jesus and live a life of service to one another.
Think of it this way,
Jesus demonstrated a life of service so much that right before His death he picked up a bucket and washed the disciple’s feet...
Paul’s describes Jesus heart…
Philippians 2:6–8 (NLT)
6 Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Having the mind of Christ,
means our hearts are postured toward a life of sacrifice for one another. (stepped down from His throne) [Hypostatic union]
death was not the end…
3. Have a mindset that will be rewarded.
Philippians 2:9–11 (ESV)
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Notice how the Father exalted his humble Son…
12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Self promotion vs God promotion.
Because Christ humbled himself,
the Father stepped in and rewarded His Son by exalting him to have the name that is above every other name.
God will reward each and everyone,
who are willing to lay down our lives for one another.
close with this…
13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
Galatians 6:7–9 (NLT)
7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature.
But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
1. Mindset of unity
2. Mindset of Christ
3. Mindset that is blessed