The Mind of Christ
Study in Philippians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Title: The Mind of Christ
1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
Encouragement: Greek word that means “to come alongside and help”.
Comfort from his love. The Greek word translated “comfort” portrays the Lord coming close and whispering words of gentle cheer or tender counsel in a believer’s ear.
2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
Where there is disunity, the spirit of God backs up. Conversely, where there is unity, the Spirit of God is at home.
A football team is unified, not because every player plays the same position—that would be uniformity. A football team is unified because they are operating in harmony to reach the same goal line. Each player is playing his position with the objective of either helping his team score or stopping the opposing team from scoring. Everyone is moving in the same direction.
Great example of this last Sunday at our Leadership Board mtg.
We start with prayer praising God for who He is and what He has already done for us. Inviting the Holy Spirit to guide and lead us. Then many members prayed for unity.
A decision had to be made regarding extra year-end profits from our P.S.
Do we put funds toward budget use or other ministry projects?
We did not make budget last fiscal yr. The extra funds would get us ahead for this year.
The decision was unanimous, to use the funds for other ministry projects. But not just for ourselves. Top of the list was for a project for our sister church.
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
Do nothing vs. Don’t do most things (Much easier)
That would allow us an escape clause. But “nothing” requires ongoing commitment to humility.
Selfish ambition: Speaks of the pride that prompts people to push for their own way and wants.
Conceit: This word refers to the pursuit of personal glory, which is the motivation for selfish ambition.
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
Ppl think we must devalue ourselves to value others.
We are commanded: Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Means you should love yourself and love others in the same way.
Mother Teresa is known to have had badly deformed feet: Believed to be a result of her habit of choosing the worst shoes for herself from the donations she received. She would consistently pick the the wrong size or the most worn-out pair, ensuring the better ones went to the children and the poor. This act of self-sacrifice over many years is said to have caused significant damage to her feet.
4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Interest of our sister church and their school.
We expect unsaved people to be selfish and grasping, but we do not expect this of Christians, who have experienced the love of Christ and the fellowship of the Spirit.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
More than twenty times in the New Testament, God instructs us how to live with “one another.”
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
Jesus did not think of Himself; He thought of others. His attitude was that of unselfish concern for others.
This is “the mind of Christ,” an attitude that says, “I cannot keep my privileges for myself, I must use them for others; and to do this, I will gladly lay them aside and pay whatever price is necessary.”
7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
Emptied himself - He didn’t empty himself of deity; he didn’t stop being God. Rather, he poured the fullness of his deity into his humanity.
7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
He took on human flesh and became a servant.
Serving was never a threat to Jesus because he never lost sight of who he was. The King of kings and the Lord of lords.
During the American Civil War, Gen. George B. McClellan was put in charge of the great Army of the Potomac, mainly because public opinion was on his side. He fancied himself to be a great military leader and enjoyed hearing the people call him “a young Napoleon.” However, his performance was less than sensational. President Lincoln commissioned him General-in-Chief, hoping this would get some action; but still he procrastinated. One evening, Lincoln and two of his staff members went to visit McClellan, only to learn that he was at a wedding. The three men sat down to wait, and an hour later the general arrived home. Without paying any attention to the President, McClellan went upstairs and did not return. Half an hour later, Lincoln sent the servant to tell McClellan that the men were waiting. The servant came back to report McClellan had gone to bed!
His associates angry, Lincoln merely got up and led the way home. “This is no time to be making points of etiquette and personal dignity,” the President explained. “I would hold McClellan’s horse if he will only bring us success.” This attitude of humility was what helped to make Lincoln a great man and a great President. He was not thinking of himself; he was thinking of serving others.
Dan Cathy: Servant / picking up trash was not to small for him.
As of October 2024 his net worth was $10.6 billion.
How did Jesus serve at the end?
8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Many people are willing to serve others if it does not cost them anything. But if there is a price to pay, they suddenly lose interest.
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
At a religious festival in Brazil, a missionary was going from booth to booth, examining the articles offered for sale. He saw a sign above one booth: “Cheap Crosses.” He thought to himself, My Lord’s cross was not cheap.
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
I Used To Think That Jesus Christ Was Simply A Swear Word Until One Day.
https://mwtb.org/cdn/shop/products/1086ENES-1_370x.jpg?v=1593439217
Regular profanity does not effect me. But when someone uses Jesus’ name it hurts me to the core. Sometimes if used over and over again, I ask politely for them not use the most precious name that way. I then pray for them to come to know him as I do.
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Acknowledge / Confess in full
Oxford dictionary: accept or admit the existence.
Bowing can now be done voluntarily, but one day all will do it mandatorily.
Bow now in worship and accept Him as Lord and Savior.
Bow later and it is to late.
