The Power of Humility
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As a body we are in a crucial spot.
Unity is the key to help us get from our temporary location to our permanent home.
So today we are going to look at biblical unity & humility.
We will look at the END GOAL of UNITY, THE ACTION NECESSARY to create unity (HUMILITY), and the RESULT of it all being future GLORY.
Ph
1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Ph
Pray
So you get the END GOAL before you get the ACTIONS steps necessary.
The end goal hear being unity.
End Goal (Unity) 1-2
End Goal (Unity) 1-2
This passage breaks down like a movie that starts at the end, then gradually back tracks and plays out to the end.
So you get the END GOAL before you get the ACTIONS steps.
The end goal here being unity.
Paul is urging the Church at Philippi to be unified.
Ph
1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
Philippians 2:1
Key in on v. 1
Unity is essential for right relationships
1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
Unity is essential for right relationships
If we are unified we will console and comfort our brothers and sisters in Christ
If we are unified we will have the unique brotherly bond through the fellowship of the Spirit.
If we are unified, we will have a deep compassion and sympathy for our brothers and sisters.
On the contrary, if the body of Christ is not unified, all of these will be lacking, we will not have a deep compassion and sympathy for one another, we will not have deep meaningful relationships with one another, & we will not have a desire to comfort one another when times get tough.
We must have unity to have true biblical relationships with one another.
Unity is what makes the body of Christ stand out
It is a defining feature
We love each other as family despite all of our various differences
John 13:
3 endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Endeavoring = To be eager, intense desire
Paul is saying, have an intense desire to remain unified.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Disciples of Jesus want to right with their brothers and sisters in Christ.
I cannot stress enough how crucial UNITY is for the church.
2 fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Fortunately for us, Paul gives a simple formula for keeping unity.
Paul gives a simple formula for unity.
2 fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Be Likeminded
How do you become likeminded?
By having the same love
The same love being Jesus Christ & one another
30 and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
And obviously the second is like unto it
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
reiterates the point to loving people.
11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
When we are unified in our love for God and others, we will be likeminded.
This will get our mind off of ourselves and put it on others.
When we are unified in our love for God and one another, we will be likeminded.
Be of One Accord
Philippians 2:2
2 fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Accord = being unified in the same character, affections, and mindset as another. Or with united souls
How are we to be of one accord?
By being of one mind
Being on the same page doctrinally & spiritually
When we are on the same mission, with the same message, we will be unified.
Application
If we want to be healthy as a body, we must diligently seek to be likeminded and of one accord with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Now that we know the END GOAL of this sermon being Unity, lets look at the ACTION STEPS necessary to accomplish this.
Action (Humility) 3-8
Action (Humility) 3-8
Paul goes on to refine his point of how to bring unity by laying out some action steps.
If we are to live unified in community then it we must learn to sacrifice.
Particularly ourselves.
Specifically we must learn to humble ourselves so that we can see
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Don’t do this
Do no do anything through selfish ambition or for your own vain glory.
Do this
Humble yourself, become low
reckon others to be better that yourself.
the phrase “let each esteem other better than themselves” essentially means, “esteeming each other superior to yourselves.”
esteeming each other superior to yourselves.” Instead of fixing your eyes on those points in which you excel, fix them on those in which your neighbor excels you: this is true “humility.”
Humility is the key to right relationships.
We are to put others in a position of priority in our lives.
Andrew Murray put it this way
Humility is perfect quietness of heart. It is to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing done against me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised. It is to have a blessed home in the Lord, where I can go in and shut the door, and kneel to my Father in secret, and am at peace as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and above is trouble.
—
is a great
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
We are to put others in a position of priority over ourselves.
Dying to self
This is the mantra of a disciple of Jesus
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Through Christ we put to death our selfishness and as a result we begin to put others first.
Side Note:
This does not mean that we are to become doormats that people walk all over. We
Application
If we want to be healthy as a body, diligently seek to be of one accord and likeminded with your brothers and sisters in Christ. This is done through humbly esteeming others better than ourselves.
This concept of humility that leads to unity applies in all areas of life.
When I put my wife first, my marriage is strengthened
When I put my children first they know they have daddies heart.
When I put students first they will see that I genuinely love them, thus giving me credibility to speak the Word of God into their lives.
When I put the lost world first they will see that my faith is real and will be much more likely to listen when I share the gospel.
The way you live your life depends on weather your words have any validity.
Why would anyone listen to me if my life does not reflect my words?
Now Paul is going to give us a perfect example of humility.
Be Unified
1-2
Put Others First
3-4
Jesus’ Example
5-8
The result of humility
Jesus is the perfect picture of humility.
9-11
He is the standard that we shoot for.
A true disciple of Jesus has a heart to be just like Him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Not to mention it is God’s will that we be conformed to the image of Jesus
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn amongst many brethren.
Romans 8:
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Romans 8:
Application
In light of this truth, let’s look at Jesus’ example.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
We must have the same mind as Jesus.
Even though He was God, made himself nothing, serving the world as a man.
He went lower still, humbling himself in obedience unto the death of the cross.
“From heaven to earth, from glory to shame, from Master to servant, from life to death, “even the death of the cross!””
From heaven to earth, from glory to shame, from Master to servant, from life to death, “even the death of the cross!”
Because Jesus chose to humble himself and sacrifice himself on the cross, we now have the ability to be saved.
This example of humility led to our salvation.
This is incredible. The Creator of all, King of Kings & Lord of Lords, did not think highly of himself but became so low that He was executed on the cross.
Consider the implications of this.
If there was anyone in history that could rightfully live a prideful life it would be the God man.
He can literally do anything perfect.
He was the smartest, strongest, etc… you name it He could do it.
But he humbled himself. He was made low.
He
“He used his equality with God as an opportunity, not for self-exaltation, but for self-abasement, or emptying Himself. “
No
Now let’s contrast this with the god of this world. Satan.
Isaiah 14:
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Lucifer said, “I will!” but Jesus said, “Thy will.” Lucifer was not satisfied to be a creature; he wanted to be the Creator! Jesus was the Creator, yet He willingly became man. Christ’s humility is a rebuke to Satan’s pride.
“Lucifer said, “I will!” but Jesus said, “Thy will.” Lucifer was not satisfied to be a creature; he wanted to be the Creator! Jesus was the Creator, yet He willingly became man. Christ’s humility is a rebuke to Satan’s pride.”
Jesus is the polar opposite of Satan
We are to be humble as He is humble.
18 Pride goeth before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: But with the lowly is wisdom.
The humble person is not one who thinks meanly of himself; he simply does not think of himself at all! Humility is that grace that, when you know you have it, you have lost it. The truly humble person knows himself and accepts himself. He yields himself to Christ to be a servant, to use what he is and has for the glory of God and the good of others.
The humble person is not one who thinks meanly of himself; he simply does not think of himself at all! Humility is that grace that, when you know you have it, you have lost it. The truly humble person knows himself and accepts himself. He yields himself to Christ to be a servant, to use what he is and has for the glory of God and the good of others.
Application
We must have the same mind as Jesus. Let us not think of ourselves, but others.
We have seen the END GOAL of UNITY, and the ACTION STEPS necessary to get there, being HUMILITY, now we will look at the RESULT of living HUMBLE & UNIFIED.
Result (Glory) 9-11
Result (Glory) 9-11
As a result of Jesus’ humility He will be glorified for all of eternity.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Because Jesus chose a place of lowliness in this life, God hath highly exalted him.
He will receive all glory and honor for all eternity.
One day all will bow the knee to Jesus and confess that He is Lord.
This ultimately brings glory to God the Father.
This, of course, is the great goal of all that we do—to glorify God. Jesus humbled Himself for others, and God highly exalted Him; and the result of this exaltation is glory to God.
This, of course, is the great goal of all that we do—to glorify God. Paul warns us against “vainglory” in . The kind of rivalry that pits Christian against Christian is not spiritual, nor is it satisfying. It is vain. Jesus humbled Himself for others, and God highly exalted Him; and the result of this exaltation is glory to God.
The whole purpose of Christ’s humiliation and exaltation is the glory of God. As Jesus faced the cross, the glory of the Father was uppermost in His mind
1 These words spake Jesus, and lift up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
Suffering for future glory is found all throughout scripture.
Joseph suffered and served for thirteen years; but then God exalted him and made him the second ruler of Egypt.
Joseph suffered and served for thirteen years; but then God exalted him and made him the second ruler of Egypt. David was anointed king when he was but a youth. He experienced years of hardship and suffering, but at the right time, God exalted him as king of Israel.
David was anointed king when he was but a youth. He experienced years of hardship and suffering, but at the right time, God exalted him as king of Israel.
When you live a life of humility and sacrifice the Lord will lift you up.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
6 The Lord lifteth up the meek: He casteth the wicked down to the ground.
Allow the Lord to lift you up
Application
Application
Application
Our Christ centered humility ultimately leads to God being glorified.
CONCLUSION
As a body we must remain UNIFIED, as a believer we must be HUMBLE, so that ultimately God would get the GLORY in our life and ministry.
"Humility is the key that unlocks the hearts of the lost."