Challenged to Change

Challenged to Change Phil 2:5

Background Phil 2:5-11

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

Paul, the writer of the letter to the Philippians, also he wrote 12 other letters to various churches and people. Paul was in a Roman prison when he wrote to the Philippians. Therefore his letter would contain his sincere feelings and thoughts of one who was held captive, uncertain of his fate. That being said, his primary focus was not on his personal plight, but rather on the affairs of the people in the Philippian church. Remember that the Philippian jailer, a member of that congregation, had himself imprisoned Paul and knew that what Paul writes in this letter is consistent with the way he saw Paul act on that occasion. He had heard Paul singing and praising God after taking a brutal lashing that left open wounds all over Paul’s back. Therefore, he had first hand knowledge confirming Paul’s statement “I rejoice in the Lord always”. In our text, Paul wants his readers to prepare to make a change in the way they view humility. Paul begins by challenging them to theoretically take on the mind of Christ. The word says “Let this mind, be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”. First, in order to have the mind of Christ, we have to know the mind of Christ. How do you do that? You ask. Get to know His character. Verse 5 proves him to be the supreme example of humility. Therefore we must emulate him, be like him, live up to His standards. What were his standards? He humbled Himself. Matt. 23:12 says “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased (hated) and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted” (favored, lifted up, loved). Not only is Christ the supreme example of humility, but this passage of scripture says that Jesus Christ is God. Yet, he humbled himself and became a man. Jesus Christ is the person in all the glory of perfection, but he humbled himself and came to this corruptible world that knows little else other than selfishness, greed, and death. Just imagine, if you will, the enormous step down, and change that Jesus Christ had to make, in order to become a man. It is utterly amazing how he had to pull off immortality, something impossible to imagine or grasp the humility it took. Yet, this is exactly what he did and it is what we have to do. The very same mind that existed in Jesus Christ---that very mind is to be in us. The only way the problems of the world can be solved is for every person to let the mind of Christ flood their minds. Consider the problems of…war, hatred, anger, arguing, abuse, prejudice, greed, stealing, envy, selfishness, pride, cockiness, arrogance, cursing, hunger, homeless, poverty, disease, jealousy, and immorality. The list could go on and on. How can these problems ever be solved unless we are challenged to make a change, and step down from where we are to where needy people are? Unless we get off our high horses, step down and humble ourselves—step down to where hurting people are---these problems will never be solved. Realistically, most people are not going to change. Most people are not going to take all they are and have and get down to where the needs really are. But the Christian believer is challenged to do this. Jesus Christ set and focused his mind upon humbling himself. He took all he was and had and came down where we are and met our need. Now it’s our turn to “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Not only is Jesus Christ the supreme example, but Jesus Christ is the very form or nature of God. Verse 6 says “who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God”. This is critical to take notice of, because it means that Jesus Christ was NOT like God; He is God. It means that Jesus Christ did not just achieve a high level of righteousness while on earth, He was the very embodiment of righteousness. Being the very nature of God. It means that Jesus Christ did not just walk perfectly than other men walk, He was the picture, the essence of perfection. And by being the very nature of God, Jesus Christ did not become God when he was on earth, He has been God throughout ALL eternity. Not only did He have the nature of God, He is equal with God. The word ‘equal’ in the Greek means to be on an equal plain or basis with God; to possess all the qualities and attributes of God Himself. Notice the word ‘robbery’, ‘He thought it not robbery. It is the picture of a thief seeking to snatch or take something that is not his. When Jesus Christ was on earth, he was constantly claiming to be God, to be the Son of God. He was claiming to have the nature of God, to be one with God, and to be on an equal basis with God. Was He a thief? Was He robbing and snatching the title of God or was He truly God? The answer is a profound truth. Jesus Christ did not have to rob or snatch at equality with God. He did not have to rob and grab after the deity of God; He was already on an equal basis with God. John 10:30 Jesus says “I and my Father are one”. John 8:58 “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am”. Not only is Christ the supreme example, and the very nature of God, according to verse 7 Christ emptied Himself and became a man. “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men”. Christ emptied himself and became a man. Remember that we are dealing with the subject of humility--- the fact that Jesus Christ took one great step down from heaven to earth. The step down was so great that and so far that theologians do not call it the humility of Christ; but the humiliation of Christ. The sovereign Lord of the universe---He who who existed in eternity and perfection…in glory and majesty; in dominion and power. He who existed above, stepped down and became a man. But more than this; He who was the Lord and master of the universe the one who deserved ALL the honor and service of all living creatures, took upon Himself the the form of a servant. He became the servant of men. Imagine! The LORD whom we are to serve, came and served us! The Lord whom we are to adore came and adored us! The Lord whom we are to wait upon came and waited upon us! The Lord whom we are to minister to, came and ministered to us. And, the Lord whom we are to seek, came and sought us. The great distance between the majesty of Christ in heaven and the humiliation of Christ upon earth can NEVER be measured. Our understanding of the distance would amount to no more than a small bucket of water compared to the great ocean. But we are commanded to let the same mind of humility flow through us; therefore, we must study the deep humility of Jesus Christ and do our best to grab hold of and practice humility. Next Christ humbled Himself to the point of utter humiliation— to the very point of death— “even the death of the cross”. Two things are said here. 1. Jesus Christ humbled Himself to the Father. He was obedient to God the Father. It was the Father’s will for Christ to come to earth and to die for the sins of men. And Christ did it; He obeyed God the Father. John 10:18 says “No man taketh it [His Life] from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father”. 2. Jesus Christ humbled Himself to men. He willingly allowed men to kill him. Christ humbled Himself to die. Christ humbled himself to come out of the spiritual and eternal world (dimension) into the physical and corruptible world in order to die. Finally, notice that Christ was rewarded— God highly exalted Him. Christ had humbled Himself in obedience to God the Father, and because He was faithful in being humble, God rewarded Him by exalting Him highly. Listen, God will reward and exalt any believer who will walk as Christ walked— humbly before Him and men. To us, His Name is the most glorious name ever uttered by human voice. For His name is the name that forgives our sins. His name is the name that gives us access into God’s presence. As we Close, Not only that, but God has given Christ name supreme power and authority. For at the NAME of Jesus, EVERY knee has got to bow down, before Christ! The knees of every creature in heaven and earth, and under the earth. Not only that, but another of the many realities that prove and proclaim Jesus Christ to be God and that magnifies and glorifies Jesus Christ AS God is His WORD. It is his Word and His Word alone, that is the one tangible, touchable connection between God and man today, but that is totally sufficient and truly satisfying! His WORD is a light to walk by AND without it man stumbles in the darkness! His Word is a sure foundation, and without it, man builds on sandy philosophies! YES he does! His word is a SHARP sword, and without it, man fights a losing battle. His Word is a satisfying table, and without it, man’s soul remains hungry! YES YOU ARE challenged to change! So, humble yourselves before the mighty hand of God! “LET this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”. You have a choice today. God made the ultimate choice of giving his only begotten Son, to die for you and for me! Jesus PAID it all to set us free, WAY BACK on CALVARY! YES HE DID! He ALLOWED MEN to drive NAILS in his hands, and a rivet through his feet! He hung his head in the locks of his shoulders and gave up the ghost. Somebody was so mean that they took a spear and pierced him in the side! Blood and water came streaming down. The blood was for the remission of sin, and the was for the baptism of the Holy Ghost! He was buried in a borrowed tomb,,, YES HE WAS! He stayed therein the tomb...