The Humility that Preserves Unity
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Last week we looked at the subject of the “Danger of a Haughty Heart” (prideful heart) from the Book of Proverbs. Today I want us to look at the opposite of pride—WHICH IS humility. My original plan was to take this message from Proverbs as well, and there is much to say about humility from Proverbs, but the more I looked at it I kept coming back to Philippians 2:1-11 and decided we needed to look at this text a little closer together as a church family. However, before we get to Chapter 2, we need to take a look at an important passage in Chapter 1. Note...
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,
Notice closely what Paul is asking for...He wants them to “STAND FAST IN ONE SPIRIT” and he’s urging them to “WITH ONE MIND STRIVE TOGETHER FOR THE FAITH OF THE GOSPEL.”
You may be asking yourself what does UNITY have to do with humility, but as we will see from Chapter 2 it has EVERYTHING to do with humility! Chapter 2 will show us that...
BECAUSE OF WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE FOR US, WE CAN AND SHOULD PRESERVE THE UNITY OF HIS CHURCH BY REJECTING SELF-CENTEREDNESS, REFLECTING CHRIST’S HUMILITY, AND LEARNING TO TRUST GOD WITH THE OUTCOME!
Let’s be reminded of what Christ has done for us. Let’s...
Remember Christ’s Provision (vv. 1-2)
Remember Christ’s Provision (vv. 1-2)
Notice Philippians 2:1-2
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.
Paul is using an interesting tactic to remind the Philippians of what they’ve received through the Gospel.
He points to 4 thoughts or questions that remind us of Christ’s provision for us...
Have you received “consolation (encouragement) in Christ?” The obvious answer is yes.
Have you received any “comfort in His love?” The obvious answer is yes.
Have you enjoyed the “fellowship of the Spirit?” The obvious answer is yes.
Have you received “affection and mercy” since coming to know Jesus? The obvious answer is yes.
These four clauses assume each of these things to be true.
Since you have experienced these blessings of life in Christ, let those blessings reshape the way you live with Christ's people.
These things aren’t just for the SAKE of the Philippians to embrace for self-centered reasons, but rather to do what he called on them to do in 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,
We don’t receive Christ’s encouragement, comfort, fellowship, affection, and mercy to selfishly hoard for ourselves, but rather use that as a motivating springboard to be a CONDUIT through which those things FLOW THROUGH us TO ONE ANOTHER! We receive these things FROM CHRIST and then He uses us as VESSELS to deliver them TO other believers.
I remember when we were in Erie, Pa and we had purchased our first building for $86,000. We didn’t know how we were going to pay for it, but God allowed us to get a loan and then THREE WEEKS LATER He gave us a $100,000 gift. He used a church that was about to close its doors as a CONDUIT to provide for us the money!
Just as He has used people in your life to spread His comfort, and encouragement, and the Gospel, He wants to use YOU and I to do the same for others!
When we reflect on all that Christ has done for us, and provided for us it should PROPEL us to come TOGETHER as the body of Christ and WORK TOGETHER as the body to SPREAD the Gospel of Jesus!
In order to do this we must be:
likeminded and being of ONE MIND and in ONE ACCORD
having the same love
The Greek word that is translated “likeminded” in verse 2 is used ELEVEN times throughout the book of Philippians and is KEY to understanding much of what Paul is saying throughout the book.
When Paul says we should be LIKEMINDED he is not saying we should all “THINK ALIKE” but rather we should all “HAVE A MIND LIKE CHRIST—WE SHOULD ALL THINK MORE LIKE JESUS!”
If we are going to have a mind like Jesus we are going to have to...
Replace Destructive Habits (vv. 3-4)
Replace Destructive Habits (vv. 3-4)
Notice with me Philippians 2:3
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
Selfishness Out. Humility In (v. 3)
Selfishness Out. Humility In (v. 3)
We must replace the poison of selfishness with the antidote of Christ-centered humility!
Selfish Christians and believers create “me” centered worship and “people” centered churches. Worship isn’t about us...worship is about CHRIST!
The question shouldn’t be...”Will people like our worship?”
WE AREN’T WORSHIPPING PEOPLE!
The question should be “Is God pleased with our worship, because we want to worship Him!”
We must come to the understanding that our preferences aren’t more important than the unity of the body. We aren’t competitors, we are STRIVING TOGETHER (PARTNERS) FOR THE FAITH OF THE GOSPEL (SEE PHILIPPIANS 1:27)
Selfish ambition and conceit says, “WHAT DO I WANT?”
Conceit asks “WHAT DO I DESERVE”
Humility asks, “HOW CAN I SERVE CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH?”
This doesn’t mean that we are never going to disagree. Some disagreement is good because it can cause us to come together and seek the mind of Christ and what is best for the church and His glory. Someone put it this way:
Church unity isn’t demonstrated by never disagreeing. It’s demonstrated by refusing to allow our preferences to become more important than our Gospel partnership.
Counting others or “esteeming others” better than ourselves simply means that we are willing to deny ourselves for the benefit of others. It doesn’t mean denying our worth, but it means that we focus on what is “best” for them...in FINDING JOY IN MAKING OTHERS JOYFUL!
Too often we are deceived into thinking that our identity and worth is based upon advancing ourselves. Our identity and worth is already settled in CHRIST!
While the first part of verse 3 focuses primarily on our attitude about ourselves, the last part of verse 3 and verse 4 focus on our attitude toward other people.
Self Out. Others In (v. 4)
Self Out. Others In (v. 4)
Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Paul gives us an almost identical admonition in 1 Corinthians 10:24
No one should seek his own good, but the good of the other person.
As we will see this verse does not promote “sinful people pleasing” but rather is an act of worship to our Creator. We are looking out for the INTERESTS of others. This doesn’t mean that we don’t look out for our own interests, but it does mean that while we are looking out for what is in our own spiritual interest (not prideful, self-centered interests), we are also looking out for what is in the best-interest of our brothers and sisters in Christ and the collective body so that we can fulfill the command to “strive together for the Gospel” (1:27)!
Verse 4 is not only a command, but it’s also a bridge...a bridge to Christ’s own example of SELFLESS LOVE!
Reflect Christ’s Example (vv. 5-8)
Reflect Christ’s Example (vv. 5-8)
Notice Philippians 2:5-8
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.
As we examine verse 5 a little more closely we find that the instruction
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
is a “present, active, imperative.”
It is a PRESENT TENSE VERB which means this isn’t something that we just do once or for a day. This means that we are to CONTINUOUSLY “let this mind be in us.” In other words it is PERPETUAL. We are called to do this when we FEEL like it and when we DON’T. We are to do it with people who are EASY to love and with people who aren’t easy to love. We are to MAINTAIN and CULTIVATE having the mind of Christ! It’s not a destination we reach, but something we continuously move forward toward.
This present tense verb is in the ACTIVE VOICE. This means that we, as believers have the responsibility to ADOPT this mindset. This isn’t something God does for us, though He will enable us as we move forward in obedience. IT REQUIRES OUR DELIBERATE PARTICIPATION!
Finally it is in the IMPERATIVE MOOD. In other words this is not a suggestion, but it is NON-NEGOTIABLE! If we are going to be obedient to the Lord and pleasing to Him we are going to HAVE TO LET THIS MIND BE IN US WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS!
Christ’s example serves as the FUEL for us. As believers united with Christ, we are united with His love and his Spirit, which will enable us to adopt this mindset and live out the things Paul emphasizes here.
Notice how Christ EMBODIED humility in the incarnation:
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.
Before Christ robed Himself in human flesh He enjoyed perfect fellowship with the Godhead, but chose to make Himself of NO REPUTATION!
This idea reminds us that Jesus VOLUNTARILY gave up the VISIBLE DISPLAY of His divine glory and majesty (not His divine nature) by taking on the form of a SLAVE! He gave up the environment of GLORY and moved into the environment of the broken earth and lived among broken people and took on humanity with its hunger, and weariness, and tears!
We cannot rightly follow Jesus and hold on to an ENTITLEMENT mentality. Jesus is the only ONE who was entitled, but He used WHO He was and WHAT He had for OUR good and His glory.
Just because we HAVE something, just because we have a position, or wealth, or talent...DOESN’T MEAN THAT WE ARE ENTITLED TO USE IT FOR SELF-CENTERED PUPROSES BUT TO STRIVE TOGETHER FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL! That’s the example He set for us...
Jesus not only entered into this broken world, to live among broken people, and experience the effects of a limited body, BUT HE HIMSELF WAS BROKEN FOR US...HE HIMSELF DIED THE DEATH WE SHOULD HAVE DIED, EXPERIENCED THE WRATH OF GOD WE SHOULD HAVE EXPERIENCED, AND SUFFERED THE SEPARATION FROM THE FATHER THAT WE SHOULD HAVE EXPERIENCED! He didn’t use His glory for His advantage, BUT FOR OUR ADVANTAGE! Think about this...
HE BECAME OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH—EVEN THE DEATH OF THE CROSS:
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
One translation puts it this way:
For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
Think with me through this...Christ set the example for us by LAYING ASIDE the opportunity to use His power and glory for purposes that He alone was worthy of, and choosing to take on HUMANITY, so that we might be RECONCILED to the Father rather than get what we were deserving of which is eternal separation from the Godhead.
If a HOLY GOD was willing to do that for “SINFUL US” then why shouldn’t those of us who He has redeemed not be willing to lay aside our SINFUL and SELFISH AMBITIONS for the sake of our brothers and sisters in Christ, SO THAT WE MIGHT STRIVE TOGETHER for the benefit of the church, the lost, and the GLORY of God!
YOU SEE IT’S NOT A MATTER OF WHETHER “THEY” DESERVE IT, IT’S A MATTER OF WHETHER OR NOT HE IS WORTHY OF IT!
AND HE IS!
Recognize His Worthiness (vv. 9-11)
Recognize His Worthiness (vv. 9-11)
Notice Philippians 2:9-11
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.
Verses 5-8 demonstrate what Christ did for humanity, BUT NOW VERSES 9-11 DEMONSTRATE WHAT HUMANITY WILL DO FOR THE WORTHY KING THROUGH WHOM WE LIVE, AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING!
One thing you may not realize about verses 10-11 is that Paul is quoting from Isaiah 45:23
I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath.
Hold on to your seatbelts...we are talking about the WORTHINESS OF OUR SAVIOR. We have been talking about the INCARNATION of the Lord Jesus Christ...
Guess who is speaking in Isaiah 45:23? It is YAHWEH! YAHWEH (Hebrew name for LORD) is speaking and He says there is coming a day that EVERY KNEE WILL BOW TO HIM and every tongue will take an oath (Paul tells us what this oath will be—THAT EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF THE FATHER)
The Greek word translated “LORD” in Philippians 2 is KYRIOS...guess what word they used in the Greek translation of the Scriptures (LXX) to translate the Hebrew word YAHWEH...you guessed it KURIOS!
THIS IS ANOTHER REMINDER THAT JESUS CHRIST IS GOD!
The very One who emptied Himself of His royal surroundings and took upon Himself the robes of humanity, the very One who came to this broken world, and lived among broken people, and was spit upon, and beaten, and misunderstood, the very One who hung in shame on the cross to take away our sin and provide a way for humanity to be saved...
HE IS ALSO THE VERY ONE WHOM WE ONE DAY WILL BE PRIVILEGED TO BOW BEFORE AND CONFESS WITH ALL OF CREATION THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER!
It is also this same one, that the vast majority of humanity REFUSED to bow to on this earth, will be FORCED to bow and recognize His glory and worthiness!
All those who denied that Jesus is God, all those who denied the INCARNATION, all those who suggested that Jesus was just a radical teacher, or a good man, or simply a prophet...THEY WILL ONCE AND FOR ALL RECOGNIZE HIM FOR WHO HE TRULY IS AND WILL FALL DOWN AT HIS FEET AS THEIR RIGHTEOUS JUDGE!
Now we may need to go back and ask ourselves some important questions...what does this glorious scene that will take place at the end of time have to do with STRIVING TOGETHER for the sake of the GOSPEL today as a UNIFIED CHURCH?
It has everything to do with it!
WHEN WE THINK BACK TO HOW CHRIST HUMBLY BOWED HIMSELF IN THE INCARNATION, SERVING THE OUTCAST AND WASHING THE FEET OF THE DISCIPLES, AND LAYING DOWN HIS LIFE IN ORDER TO SAVE OUR UNDESERVING SOULS THEN WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE TO BE UNWILLING TO BOW TO THAT SAME LORD AND SAVIOR TO SERVE HIM, HIS GREAT COMMISSION AND HIS CHURCH!?
WHEN WE THINK BACK TO HOW CHRIST HUMBLY BOWED HIMSELF IN THE INCARNATION, SERVING THE OUTCAST AND WASHING THE FEET OF THE DISCIPLES, AND LAYING DOWN HIS LIFE IN ORDER TO SAVE OUR UNDESERVING SOULS THEN WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE TO BE UNWILLING TO BOW TO THAT SAME LORD AND SAVIOR TO SERVE HIM, HIS GREAT COMMISSION AND HIS CHURCH!?
Next week we are going to look at how to practically live this out, but today I want to challenge you to:
Remember Christ’s Provision
Remember Christ’s Provision
Replace Those Destructive Habits
Replace Those Destructive Habits
Seek to Reflect Christ’s Example
Seek to Reflect Christ’s Example
Recognize and Reflect Upon Christ’s Worthiness
Recognize and Reflect Upon Christ’s Worthiness
We can never be unified as a people, we can never be unified as a church, we will never humble ourselves for God’s glory if we don’t do those 4 things...
Salvation
Baptism
Church Membership
