Humility in Action

27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.

Philippians 1:29–30 NASB95

29 For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

The book was written to remind them that they were to live for Christ (1:21) to have confidence (1:25-26) and to be confident in tribulation and suffering (1:28) but there was a problem too, there was some division, disunity going on (4:2-3) and that needed to be addressed and taken care of before there could be true unity.

True unity is found in Christ, and when we are are Him, and He is us it comes from a place of humility.

See People can try to rob us of our joy, Paul was having problems in Rome, but it was not a joy killer. (php1:15-18)

Philippians 1:15–16 NASB95

15 Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; 16 the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel;

Philippians 1:17–18 NASB95

17 the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,

Epaphroditus brought the good news to Paul about the church, but also brought the bad news of the division that was happening. Paul was thankful for the gift that they sent to him, but was concerned about the problem that was happening.

Some division can happen because of false doctrine (Php3:1-3)

Philippians 3:1–2 NASB95

1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision;

Philippians 3:3 NASB95

3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,

and with the disagreeing members I mentioned before (Php4:1-3)

Philippians 4:1–2 NASB95

1 Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved. 2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord.

Philippians 4:3 NASB95

3 Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

There is a difference between “Unity” and “Uniformity” - - - spiritual unity comes from within, it is a matter of heart. Uniformity oftentimes comes from outside and is the doctrines of man.

Paul calls upon the One who is the ultimate authority, the greatest of examples to show those who are “in Christ” how to be unified.

I. Unity through Humility

The believers in Philippi were just that, believers, believers who were in Christ. He addresses them, to encourage them to work toward unity and love, not division and rivalry.

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.

Philippians 2:3–4 NASB95

3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

“If” - - - a huge two letter word, it is not a question if, it is more of since it is already there. Here is an example of a conditional “if” clause that we can look at before we break down the passage before us.

Galatians 3:29 NASB95

29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

Any encouragement, consolation, exhortation, comfort in Christ (v.1)

Any comfort, any consolation in Christ, then we are equipped for every good work (2The2:16-17)

2 Thessalonians 2:16–17 NASB95

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, 17 comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.

and that consolation, that comfort is for us and for others in the midst of tribulations as noted in 2Cor1:3-5

Any consolation (comfort) of love

Jesus could not love us more and He will not love us less (Rom8:37-39; 2Cor1:3-5)

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 NASB95

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

2 Corinthians 1:5 NASB95

5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.

This conditional “if” is for all who believe, who receive God’s gift of Grace by faith through Christ Jesus. For by receiving it then you receive the next point.

Fellowship of the Spirit

For all who have been baptized have received the Spirit (Act2:38, 5:32; 1Cor3:16, 6:19; 1Cor12:13; 2Cor13:14)

Acts 5:32 NASB95

32 “And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

And the Spirit dwells in us

1 Corinthians 3:16 NASB95

16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

By this Spirit we have been baptized into one body

1 Corinthians 12:13 NASB95

13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

and that we have communion with God through the Spirit of God

2 Corinthians 13:14 NASB95

14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

This now leads to the next one

any affection and compassion

They already had this in Philippi

Philippians 1:8 NASB95

8 For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

it was proven

Philippians 1:5 NASB95

5 in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.

The compassion in other versions says mercy and that mercy can only come from God (Eph2:4-7)

Ephesians 2:4–5 NASB95

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Ephesians 2:6–7 NASB95

6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

When we have these things, because of Christ, and know who we are in Christ then it will produce joy and brings unity.

“The secret to joy in spite o circumstances is the single mind. The secret to joy in spite of people is the submissive mind.” - Warren Wiersbe - Bible Exposition Commentary

As (v.2) says we are to be of the same mind, maintaining the same love, notice it says intent on one purpose. (v.3) tells us that purpose to regard others more important than ourselves.

In Php1 it was Christ First, now here in this section of Php2 it is others next. Paul was the soul winner in chapter 1, now is the servant in chapter 2 by following the best example Jesus here (vv.6-11) we will look at shortly.

The humble person knows himself and accepts himself (Rom12:3)

Romans 12:3 NASB95

3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

In humility we come before the Lord and we are submissive to Him

We are to have the same mind (the mind of Christ)

We are to have the same love (the love of Christ and from Christ)

We are to be of one accord (to live for Christ)

We are to have one purpose (to live, to work, to share Christ)

We accomplish this by being humble, by being selfless, by doing nothing out of selfish conceit (v.3) - for these things can kill, steal, destroy unity.

We can promote unity by serving, thinking of others more than ourselves (Rom12:10)

Romans 12:10 NASB95

10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;

And when we have the lowly, humble attitude we have the right attitude that helps us in our maturing process

Romans 15:1–2 NASB95

1 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. 2 Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.

Romans 15:3 NASB95

3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.”

So now let us move on to the example Christ illustrated.

II. Christ’s Example: He thinks of others

The mind of Christ as it says in some versions is the attitude of Christ. We are to have this exampled attitude.

Philippians 2:5–6 NASB95

5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,

After all, outlook determines outcome. How we look at things is important and will directly impact the outcome of things.

Took on the form of man

we can know from Jn4:24 that God is Spirit and that Spirit took on the form of man

John 4:24 NASB95

24 “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

So as we look at this, it is the outward expression of the inward nature of God Himself displayed in human form.

He was equal with God; but was not something to be grasped

God in the flesh as you know from (Jn1:1-4, 14; also Col1:15; Heb1:1-3)

Hebrews 1:1–2 NASB95

1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

Hebrews 1:3 NASB95

3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Christ’s attitude displayed was that He could not hold on to His privileges in heaven, He had to used them for others, and He empty Himself to do it (v.7).

The attitude of Christ was that the Father loved us, and He loved us and laid down His life for us. We too need to live, love one another. There are many one another passages and I will only mention a few now.

The mind of Christ spoken in the “One Another’s”

Prefer one another (Rom12:10)

Edify one another (1The5:11)

Bear burdens for one another (Gal6:2)

Not judge, but admonish one another (Rom14:13, 15:14)

The submissive mind works hand in hand with the single mind! That brings us to the next part of the example from Christ

III. Christ’s Example: He Serves

What love, what grace we see when we look at Christ. From heaven to earth, from glory t shame, from Master to servant, from life to death, “even death of the cross.”

Philippians 2:7 NASB95

7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

Look at the elements of Christ servitude here.

He emptied Himself

He laid aside all His own attributes as God to take on the form of man.

When we take on His attributes, His attitude, His mind; we empty ourselves and we allow Him to live in us and through us today! Remember we are not our own, we were bought with a price. (expand on this; time permitting)

He became human

Think about this, He became fully man, born of a virgin (Mt1:18)

He then was destined with all the same things we were, the temptations, the pain, the sorrow, and even death

He humbled Himself so that we could be lifted up

He became a bond-servant

He did not just say He was a bond-servant, His life, His character, His nature was that of a servant - remember form, is the outward expression of the inward nature.

What is our nature? Do we have the mind of Christ, do we have the attitude of Christ? Do we love and serve like Christ?

As the bond-servant he came to give His life as a ransom for many (Mt20:28)

Matthew 20:28 NASB95

28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

So, service is the second mark of the submissive mind. The first was attitude.

IV. Christ example: He sacrifices

Jesus spoke of counting the cost, and on the cross He showed the cost. Paul look’s at Christ’s example in this exhortation to the church.

Philippians 2:8 NASB95

Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Many people are willing to serve if there is no cost to it.

“Dr J.H. Jowett has said, “Ministry that costs nothing accomplishes nothing. If there is to be any blessing, there must be some bleeding.”

The one with a singleness of mind, with a submissive mind, does not mind, does not avoid sacrifice. He is willing because it is for the glory of God and for the good of others. You know the common good, the furtherance of the Gospel.

Paul’s example is found (Php2:17)

Philippians 2:17 NASB95

But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.

Sacrifice that is joy building!

Sacrifice that Timothy embraced

Philippians 2:20 NASB95

For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.

As did Epaphroditus

Philippians 2:30 NASB95

because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me.

The test of the submissive mind is not just how much we are willing to suffer for the cause of Christ, how much we are willing to take in the terms of suffering. But, how much we are willing to give in terms of sacrifice.

A great Christian paradox that holds true is “the more you give the more you receive.” The submissive, sacrificing life is one that is is lead to being filled with you, regardless of circumstances or cost. We do it when we have the right motive _ _ _ LOVE_ _ _

So something to consider, is there a cost, a sacrifice associated with your Christianity?

This brings us to the last point tonight

V. Christ example: He glorifies God

Here we see the divine response because of the attitude of Christ when He took on the form of man (the outward expressing of the inward nature).

Philippians 2:9–10 NASB95

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,

Philippians 2:11 NASB95

11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

For this reason:

Because of Christ’s mind, Christ’s attitude, Christ’s sacrifice the Father highly exalted Him

The only way up, is down, to be exalted came through humility. In Christ’s case it was humiliation, it was shame, it was in obedience even to death on a cross.

For Christ to be exalted it started in being humbled first

By being the humble bond-servant; Christ set an example for us to follow of love. even when it was not easy.

One day everyone will confess Him as Lord

What in the confession, whats in a name? When it comes to the name of Jesus it is everything.

Acts 4:12 NASB95

12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

It is in His name we have our salvation. It is in His name we have the forgiveness of sins. It is only through Him do we have our entrance into heaven. While in this life, in our flesh we may suffer, we may have affliction, we may have sacrifices to further the gospel know that it is only temporary! (See 2Cor4:17-18)

2 Corinthians 4:17–18 NASB95

17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.