THE WAY UP IS DOWN PART 2

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

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,

He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross.

Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor and gave Him the name above all other names,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

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

INTRODUCTION

Good Morning Southpointe!! We are in this mini series “The way up is down” this is the second talk and we been dealing with how to live a life that is successful and fulfilling.

I think deep down inside everybody wants to be happy. We want to be loved. We want to live a life that matter.

I don’t know many people that want be live a unhappy life and one where you are hated, and your life just doesn’t matter at all.

I think for the most part we all want live meaningful lives.

But the question how do we get there?

If we look at this culture today for the answers than we have some mess up answers.

What do we need to do be happy? What do we need to do to succeed?

This culture today, answers are whatever life you must ruin it is fine. Whatever pleasure you must partake of. Whatever corner you must cut. whatever lie you must tell. Whatever it takes to get you where you need to get.

That is fine. It is all good.

But if you have lived life for any time it doesn’t work.

Play the video of Whitney Houston

Look at Whitney Houston: What a tragic is her story. I mean such talent, very beautiful young woman. Raised in Church. And what a career she had. Her voice was unbelievable.

Then she went down that predictable road of drinking, smoking, and drugs and all the rest that goes with it.

She was old before her time. Then the tragic ending. it is just horrible.

We see this happen with person after person. Generation after generation. It just goes on and on.

Malcolm Muggeridge said this: The pursuit of happiness is responsible for a good deal of the ills and miseries of the modern world. The pursuit of happiness soon resolves it into the pursuit of pleasure, which is a mirage of happiness and surest way to miss it altogether.

So we know where it isn’t. So where is it?

In the book of Philippians we have a complete different plan for one to have happiness. Because in God’s economy the way up is down.

The way to be great you must learn to be humble. If you want self-fulfillment then you seek to the fulfillment of others.

There is no greater example of this upside down life than Jesus Christ.

In our text this morning, we might describe it as Theology 101. Every Christian needs a good working understanding of these verses. because it is broken down to us who Jesus is and what He came to do.

Jesus asked this question:

"What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is He?" They replied, "He is the son of David."

People are still confused about this question to this very day.

Oprah Winfrey said, “Jesus cannot be the only way to heaven.”

Paul McCartney in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine was asked if he believed in God. His answer was this:

I believe in a spirit. that is the best I can put it. I think there is something greater than us and I love it and I am grateful to it. But like everyone else on the planet I can’t pin it down. I am happy not pinning it down. So I pick bits out of all of the religions. I like many things that Buddhists say. I like a lot of things that Jesus said. That Mohammad said. And the He said, Be cool and you will be all right that is rock and roll religion. Paul McCartney

So many religion don’t know Him as the Son of God.

The Buddhists believe that Jesus was a good teacher. Some Buddhist teach that Jesus was Buddha reincarnated.

Hindus believe Jesus was just one of many incarnations or sons of gods. Hinduism teaches Christ was not the Son of God. He is no more divine than any other man and He did not die for man’s sin.

Muslims believe that Jesus Christ was only a man. But He was a prophet equal to Adam, Noah or Abraham.

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus was God’s first creation, before He was conceived in Mary and became a man He was Michael the archangel.

Mormon believe that Jesus is one god among many. because Mormons believe that we can become gods, if you are a faithful Mormons.

Mormons also believe that Jesus is the spirit brother of Lucifer.

Scientologist believe that Jesus was a good man who achieved a high level of spiritual awareness but Jesus did not attain the highest level possible.

Tom Cruise said “We are the authorities of the mind. We are the way to happiness. We can bring peace and unite cultures. Now is the time.

The problem with people living a happy life is in our cultures because we are so confused on who Jesus Christ really is.

Jesus continued, "You are from below; I am from above. You belong to this world; I do not.

That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I AM who I claim to be, you will die in your sins."

In our text, there’s a summary of who Jesus is and many don’t like the picture that is being painted here of what they want their god to be.

And one of the main reason is the begin verses:

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

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,

He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross.

I believe that Jesus Christ’s attitude is the kicker and we will never find true happiness until we have the same attitude.

And Christ’s attitude is the complete opposite of everything taught in this world.

This is where the way to up is down comes in play.

The way to success is through humility. Do you remember the quote from Malcolm Muggeride: Where then does happiness lie?

So we need to ask ourselves a few questions. Is it in forgetfulness? In not indulgence of self. In escaping from our sexual appetites.

No, Jesus basically said it this way:

If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for Me, you will find it.

You must be willing to give up your privileges or your so called rights and become a servant. That is what Christ did!!

He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to Him, and said, "Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else."

But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,

And what we must understand To have true happiness this must be a voluntary surrendering .

He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross.

He was obedient to death even the death of the cross.

Jesus said no man take my life, I lay it down of my own accord. Jesus was not crucified against His will.

I often say this it wasn’t the nails that held Him to the cross but it was love.

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne.

Jesus willing laid His life down. It was the joy that was set before Him that kept Him marching toward Golgotha. All the way to the cross and the empty tomb. And that joy was us.

Serving others.

And because of this willingness to do the Father’s will, giving up, and serving others, and being obedient to God this is the results.

Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor and gave Him the name above all other names,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

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

Jesus set the example, let’s follow. The way up is down.