Let The Mind Of Christ Lead You

Let The Mind Of Christ Lead You

Philippians 2:1-9

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:

(Read)It is tenderness and compassion which Paul wants the Philippians to practice, and he endeavors to win them to the practice by the recognition and proclamation of the tenderness and compassion that were already theirs.

Philippians 2:1

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.

Listen, he says—listen to the love-beatings within you, and be loving. though you carry within you a proud and brotherly sensibility, expand and apply it. He would draw them on to be kinder than they are by setting before them the emotions they feel.

Philippians 2:2

Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

And this is the best way of helping and persuading men to improve, the best way in which to try and lead them from lower things to higher purpose, from unworthy to worthier conduct, namely by fastening upon what they are, in the midst of their faultiness, that is good and beautiful, upon what they have of good and beautiful emotions within themselves, by touching these, and calling their attention to them, and demanding that they should be cultivated and followed.

(Read)Paul is asking the Philippians to cultivate love, the Apostle points them to Christ, it would be surely no comfort which he meant them to find in Him.

Philippians 2:3

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Paul is trying to enlighten them to the love to which he was so anxious to lead them. And the figure of Jesus, the foundation of their lives. For men to be a little better than they are, to be less worldly, less selfish, to rise from their low levels to higher ways, with a nobler and purer spirit?

(Read)Paul's happiness was not quite complete, he wanted to see them walking in unity, To be unified without acquaintance, and unity amidst variety.

Look at where we are in this country right now, where different groups are fighting for there humanity. To sit at the table and be counted as equals, to be given the opportunity to live free from persecution. It was true back then, and even more so today.

Paul shows us what they are, he points out the two conditions. humility and unselfishness.

(1) Humility. Act not he says, on principles of vain glory, but in your humility count each superior to yourselves.

(2) Unselfishness. That grace has their roots in each other, Look not on your own things, but look at the things of others. Vanity is a cause of dissension, which lies at the foundation of selfishness.

(Read) Paul says, I beseech you, by every comfort and by every privilege of the Gospel. If there be any such thing as compassion, find consolation in Christ, if there be any such thing as comfort in love, if any such thing as a joint participation in the Holy Spirit, if any such thing as a heart of compassion, then by all these things I beseech you to be of one soul and of one mind.

Comment!

We must be men of the same faith, all inspired by the same Spirit, unified for Christ's end. In harmony with one another.

Let me ask this question, are we in harmony with one another right now? Is the cause of Christ greater that our on personnel gain?

Are we a nation in harmony, when the rich sympathize with and help the poor, and the wise help the ignorant.

We all may live many years, but the poor you will have always to the end of time, and men must be self-disciplined who have these blessings and seek to use them the right way. A prosperous Church and a nation where there is health in the body.

Philippians 2:4 ESV

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Christian Character

The Christian character is set before us, it allows us to partner with the presents of the holly spirit living and guiding us each day. Though we fall short, the redeeming Love shared by him, pushes use forward to achieve a heavenly goal.

The bible lays out a road map of fallen men, who choose to repent through their suffering for the cause of Christ. The Christian character in its completeness is the result and growth of all men in a series of events of which the Bible reveals their story, this form of christian character.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

Paul invites you to be a part of the mind of Christ, to learn according to our measure, to assimilate and reproduce this charter of the savoir.

Christianity never encourages a degrading view of human nature. Man is to be esteemed by man. Christians are to recognizes each other's excellencies.

Here is where the fallen man has opportunity to reach for something greater than himself. (Scripture) Where he can take on the very presents of the savior and demonstrates the suffering and shame in declaring the father.

Christians must have a level of self- sacrifice which gives up a great look at the stain of sin within our nature. This self- reflection reveals the true nature of man, this glimpse of the truth, allows use to humble ourselves through prayer and supplication.

The holy spirits awaken us to devote our whole souls to God, this self-sacrifice moves us closer to a communion with Jesus.

The purpose of which is to live in our thoughts and in the impulses and emotions of our hearts more entirely in the Lord's presence, closer to Him, drawing us into our souls the light of His love.

Philippines 2:6-7

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.

Paul makes it very clear that Jesus did not hold on to his presents, but choose to forfeit his life to death, and did not grasp on to it.

(Read)Paul sees in the Passion of our Lord, being found in fashion as a Man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient, submitted Himself to the will of the Father, even to the point of drinking the cup, to His true human nature the bitter cup, of death. He came to do His Father's will, and He did it—"felt all, that He might pity all," bore what to man is the extremity of pain and shame, that He might save man from pain and shame.

He humbled Himself, because He pleased God, expressed the very mind of God, "God also hath highly exalted Him," and we are allowed to reason that with and in him we too shall rise.

The master and the disciples together, walked the valley of humiliation, shall together sit on the throne. To be partakers of the sufferings is the sure pledge of participation in the glory.

Acts 8:32

He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.

Conclusion

Work out your salvation, your moral obligation to God, by following Christ, by cross-bearing, by self-denial, by descending into darkness with your light, into misery with joy, by holding yourself at the service of Christ; by making life a sacrifice and yourself a living victim; by filling yourself with the tenderness and Divine passion and love of the Cross.

Amen!