In Cahoots with God
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 24 viewsNotes
Transcript
Me
Me
This last story proving the importance of teamwork is about a US jet fighter pilot in Vietnam – Charles Plumb. He had completed 75 combat missions when he was shot down. Plumb was ejected and parachuted into enemy hands, where he spent six years in a Vietnamese prison.
One day, a man came up to him and said, “You’re Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!”
Plumb was confused and asked how the man knew about that. “I packed your parachute,” the man replied.
The man then shook his hand and said, “I guess it worked!” Plumb assured him it had and said, “If your chute hadn’t worked, I wouldn’t be here today.”
Plumb thought a lot about that man who held the fate of someone he did not even know, in his hands. He kept pondering how many times he might have seen the guy, and not even said anything because he was a fighter pilot and the stranger was just a sailor.”
We
We
Who’s packing your parachute?
Jesus has worked long before we ever arrived on the scene. When Jesus was here 2000 years ago, He provided a security blanket, a parachute for each of us through the cross.
He has now put each one of us on a mission. His mission. Jesus has entrusted us with a mission straight from heaven and because of our parachute there is no way we can fail.
God
God
In Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi, he addresses the mission of the church which just so happens to also be Jesus’ mission while He was still on earth.
He begins letting His readers know that this isn’t simply a mission that God has given us, but this is the focal point of Christianity. If we can follow Paul’s instructions we will complete the joy of heaven.
1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Paul says that if we were to make a deep search for encouragement in Christ, for comfort within love, for how to participate within the Holy Spirit, this is what God would have us do.
Because this one thing, accomplishes all those things. This one continual act provides encouragement in Jesus, it brings comfort from love, and it makes us a participant in the work of the Holy Spirit.
2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
We are called to be of the same mind and focus. Because when we as a group are focused on one thing instead of 10 or 12 things, we become productive.
We know that this is true in life. Business thrive not when they focus on many things but when they can specialize on one or two things. Jesus wants the same specialization with His church.
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:
This is what God wants us to focus in on.
Count others as more significant and important than ourselves; and to pay attention to the interests of others.
What would happen if this was our focus as a church?
This causes us to empty ourselves of our plans, wants, and desires and we begin to ask questions of other people.
What is important to them?
How can I be a blessing to others?
What are the needs of the people around me?
What will begin to happen is that my life is not about me anymore but it is now about others.
When our life is about caring for others we become contagious. Because this is how we become like Jesus.
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
In the next couple of verses, Paul gives us a view of the mind of Christ.
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
Jesus had the highest, the most powerful position ever. He is God. He is part of the ruler council of the universe. Jesus had much value when he was on earth. He could have taken charge and made everything anyway He saw fit.
Philippians 2:5-7
But He didn’t. He didn’t associate His value while on earth to His heavenly authority. He took his value from servanthood.
He emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant. He went from the highest position in the universe to the lowest one. Because Jesus realized something. He didn’t have to change who he was to come to earth.
Because in heaven. Being a king and being a servant is the same exact thing.
What completed God’s joy, heaven’s joy is not simply obedience, but serving and caring for others.
This is how Jesus viewed everyone around him.
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Philippians 2:
He viewed all as more important than his eternal existence.
Which is why Jesus was willing to die on the cross. Yes He died for our sins, but He also died because Jesus didn’t want to exist in a world without you.
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 9-11
Now check out what Paul does next.
He tells us that God has highly exalted Jesus. Jesus has every right to be exalted, but Paul tells us Jesus was exalted not because He is God. Not because Jesus performed miracles, the context of the chapter tells us that Jesus is exalted because He put others first and loved to the point of death.
Heres a lesson to take home with you:
In the Bible, those who exalt themselves are humbled by God. And those who humble themselves are exalted by God.
When we put others ahead of ourselves by deeming them as more important and valuable, we have taken on the mission of Christ.
Jesus’ mission on earth was to show the character of God. He did that through His words and actions. Specifically the cross.
You
You
But that was just the beginning. He has called us all to join in on that mission. God wants us to be in cahoots with Him.
We are called to have the same mind of Christ. Who didn’t consider His spirituality a thing to be grasps or attained but took hold of what it meant to be a follower and believer of God. He emptied himself and became a servant.
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
We
We
As a church and a people our desire is for connection with God. We desire heaven, we desire the love of Jesus. This, friends, is what Jesus is all about.
Caring deeply about others.
How can we be a Christ centered church?
By having the mind, the focus of Jesus.