Humility of Believers

Humility of Believers

Rev. Thomas A West, St

September 15, 2024

Philippians 2:1-11

Humility

Let me ask you a very simple question,

Have you ever wondered what role you have as a Believer?

This morning we are going to look at one aspect of that role, it is a role each of us has, and its vital for seeing people get to heaven.

{{INTRODUCTION}}

In the summer of 1986, two ships collided in the Black Sea off the coast of Russia. Hundreds of passengers died as they were hurled into the icy waters below. News of the disaster was further darkened when an investigation revealed the cause of the accident. It wasn’t a technological problem like radar malfunction--or even thick fog.

The cause was human selfishness. Each captain was aware of the other ship’s presence nearby. Both could have steered clear, but according to news reports, neither captain wanted to give way to the other. Each was too proud to yield first. By the time they came to their senses, it was too late.

Listen,

if there is selfishness and pride in our lives this can be damaging to us and others.

Today we will be talking about humility.

Today looking at Philippians Chapter 2.

We need to learn about:

1) seeing things from Gods perspective

2) living and suffering as Believers

Thing is that when we are going through the struggles of life we need a place of refuge – the church where there is love and acceptance.

Church unity does 2 things:

1) encourages Believers to continue walking with God, and it

2) brings unity, which encourages non-Believers to take up their walk with God

Read

Philippians 2:1–2 NASB95

1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

Here’s a question for each of you: have you ever received any benefits from being a Believer?

Here we find Paul asking if the Philippian church had ever experienced encouragement, love, fellowship or compassion since becoming believers. He was expecting them to say yes, despite all their struggles and suffering God is alongside them.

-

{{Illustration}}

Running For Touchdown Or For Life

📷 Boddy Dodd, Georgia Tech’s athletic director, tells of the coach who, with his team leading 7 to 6 in the last minute of play, carefully instructed his quarterback not to pass under any condition. But when the ball was carried within the opponent’s ten-yard line, the quarterback was overcome by temptation.

He passed and the ball was intercepted by the rival’s fleetest back, who broke into an open field and raced toward pay dirt. He was speeding past midfield when suddenly, out of nowhere, the quarterback who had passed overtook him and brought him down.

After the game, the losing coach remarked to his barely victorious counterpart, “I’ll never understand how your boy overtook my fastest back.”

“Well, I’ll tell you,” came the reply. “Your back was running for touchdown—my boy was running for his life.”

—Wall Street Journal[1]

That’s the same for us.,

God is with us, wanting to help us.

If we let Him. Despite our struggles God is with us.

So, what is our response?

Read:

Philippians 2:2 NASB95

2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

[2]

As believers we must be in unity

I have another question for you;

Why is unity so important? It provides encouragement for both Believers and non-believers

Here are three areas of unity:

1) like minded – united in our thinking.

2) Same love – united in heart.

3) Same Spirit and purpose – united in action.

OK, I’m full of questions today: How can people from all different backgrounds, and ages be in unity?

{{Illustration}}

As I was watching college football yesterday, the school band played in between plays and at half time. The music sounded fantastic. Why? It’s simple, they all played from the same music. They followed the conductor

They were all playing their instruments to the best of their ability. Sounded great to people listening

If we liken that band to church life and living in unity as Believers. As Believers the music we all follow is the Bible. The Conductor who leads and guides us is the Holy Spirit. The instruments we play are the gifts that God has given each of us. When this happens beautiful music is created that is enjoyed by the band and those listening.

Read

Philippians 2:3 NASB95

3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;

[3]

The opposite of unity is pride it’s our nemesis.

The thing is that we are to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.

Back in Philippians 1:17, Paul talks about those Believers who act out of selfish ambition. The result was division in the church. The direct opposite of being united in mind, heart and purpose is to be selfish. To go back to the illustration of the band. United they played good music but what if some were selfish and thought of themselves better than others?

We could get people playing their own song and not following the music. People following themselves and not the conductor. We could have people who choose not to play their instruments and just listen and watch everyone else play without them. Do you see any application to us?

Living a selfish life as a Believer, is to do what we want to do and not following the Word of God.

It’s to disregard the leading and direction of the Holy Spirit and base our choices on what we want to do and its to chose not to use the gifts that God has given us. The result is that the music created is not beautiful to the band or those listening

Read:

Philippians 2:4 NASB95

4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

[4]

Look around the room at others. The people you are looking at are the others that Paul is talking about here.

We are to look out for them as well. This is the total opposite of what the world tells us.

They say you are number one, you need to look out for yourself because no one else will. As Believers we no longer think this way because why? Jesus didn’t think this way!

Philippians 2 and 5 tells us …

Philippians 2:5 NASB95

5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

[5]

In order to have unity among believers we need to have Christ’s attitude. We need to have Christ’s outlook on life. We need to emulate how Christ viewed Himself and how He viewed others.

Read:

Philippians 2:6–11 NASB95

6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

[6]

Question: if you could come to earth and be born into any family that you wanted who would you choose? Jesus had this choice. It shows his humility.

These seven verses show us the ultimate act of humility. These verses are often used theologically to learn about Jesus.

The main point of this being here is to illustrate what Paul has been saying – when you are humble God can use you to fulfill his plans. When Jesus was humble God was glorified.

Paul told this illustration, so that we as believers can have the attitude of humility in order that others might be saved. Humility brings unity which brings salvation. When there is unity, there is encouragement. When the world sees this, they will know God and He will be glorified.

I want to close with this reading from John 17:23

{{Read}}

John 17:23 NASB95

23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.

[7]

So my final question is, what is going to stop us when we humble ourselves for the sake of unity? Absolutely nothing.

{{PRAY}}

References:

[1] Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc., 1996), 862–863. [2] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Php 2:2. [3] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Php 2:3. [4] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Php 2:4. [5] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Php 2:5. [6] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Php 2:6–11. [7] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 17:23.