A Witness of the Mind of Christ

MAY 2, 2021 STUDY NOTES PHILIPPIANS 2:17-18 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES A WITNESS OF THE MIND OF CHRIST INTRODUCTION Paul has instructed us to be a living witness of the “mind of Christ,” Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Then Paul told us of the service and sacrifice of Christ, Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Paul gave us the example of the humility of Christ in Philippians 2:1-8 Then he explained the exaltation of Christ in Philippians 2:9-11 Paul then instructed Christians to be a witness for Christ in this wicked world (vss. 12-15) Christians are to “Hold forth the Word of Life,” Php 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Which is so important because the “day of Christ” will come, Jesus will return one day Paul knew that every day of his life was accountable unto God, we are all accountable unto God Christians will stand before the “Judgment Seat of Christ,” 1Co 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. Paul lived his life so that when that day came his life would not have been “in vain” That is why Paul’s service to the Lord went beyond normal work, his life was a life of labor, 1Co 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10 is a good commentary on the verses we are going to study this morning Paul knew that it was the grace of God that allowed him to serve God Paul often identified himself as a servant of God, Rom 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, He not only worked as a servant, he labored, Col 1:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. Our study today should encourage us to take a close look at our daily life Are we working for the Lord on a regular basis, or is our daily life lived in vain? Do we go beyond the regular duties of a Christian and labor for the Lord? If so, do we serve the Lord in a spirit of humility, or do we labor in vain? In our service for the Lord is there any sacrifice of self? Sacrificial service is not what is on the mind of most Christians today The most popular teaching of today is not that of sacrifice of self but personal prosperity Too many today are seeking personal recognition and success through religion I use the word religion because their selfish desire is not that of Christianity They are not willing to make a sacrifice of self because of what they have been taught The most popular teaching of today is that the Christian is to be rich, famous, and successful That is not the priority of what we are going to learn from Paul in our study today Paul presents to us the humble attitude of service which calls for work, labor, and sacrifice Paul was not seeking his own comfort and success, his goal was to glorify God Paul was ready to give his life as a martyr if necessary as he labored for the Lord Page 1 of 4 Many have called the book of Philippians the Epistle of Joy, and that is correct Joy and rejoicing are often referred to in Philippians, joy is a major theme in the book But we must pay close attention to what Paul says about his joy in Philippians 2:17 THE JOY OF SERVICE AND SACRIFICE Php 2:17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. “Yea” directs our attention to the previous verse and a contrast Instead of the experience of a vain life and service for the Lord, Paul is going to rejoice But what he says about his life of service for the Lord is not the normal teaching of today American Christianity needs to renew their mind, they need a new view of a Christian witness We need the same mind-set that Paul had and was teaching the Philippians We need to think about the mind of Christ when He left Heaven and came to earth He came as a servant to offer Himself as a sacrifice for our sins on the cross, Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Paul said, AND IF I BE OFFERED, which literally means, “poured out as a drink offering” He used a term that identified with a drink offering, an offering of wine poured out upon the altar It was connected with the daily offerings of the lambs given as a sacrifice to God Paul is sharing his willingness to totally give himself in sacrifice for the benefit of others Which was his commitment throughout his ministry, 2Ti 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. “Am now ready to be offered” is the same word translated “if I be offered” in Philippians 2:17 Paul was in a Roman jail because of his service to God, he knew he was not going to be released He said, “the time of my departure is at hand,” which referred to his death Death was now certain for him, yet Paul was rejoicing, he was always rejoicing Paul rejoiced as he considered THE SACRIFICE AND SERVICE of the Philippians His point is their sacrificial service which was a result of their faith Peter uses the same word translated “sacrifice” and helps us understand what Paul is saying, 1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Jesus offered on the cross the perfect sacrifice which was acceptable to God Through Jesus we are now qualified to offer up “spiritual sacrifices” Our “Spiritual sacrifices” are from Christ, through Christ, and for Christ Our sacrifice is not dead but living, it is not an animal sacrifice, but our own spiritual life The real question is not would we die for Christ, but will we live for Christ, are you? We are to offer our body as a living sacrifice, Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, (same word) holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Which is the life that we live through the Holy Spirit, for the-purpose of praising God, Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice (same word) of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. “Spiritual sacrifices” are the words we speak for Christ and the deeds we do for Christ, Heb 13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices (same word) God is well pleased. The meaning of the word “service” also brought joy to Paul, he rejoiced over their “service” Their service was without compulsion, it was not forced upon them, it was not for personal gain Their “service” was because of their faith in Christ, their “service” was an act of worship to God Page 2 of 4 Paul said, OF YOUR FAITH, which refers to the life you live because of what you believe Paul explains it in, Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, Paul is not praying for the lost to receive Christ He is praying for Christians, who have Christ in their life, to put Jesus first in their life, Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. As Paul considered the faith of the Philippians he rejoiced, he said, I JOY, literally “I rejoice” There was greater joy in Paul because of the “joy of Jesus” in the faith of the Philippians The “joy” of the Christian life is something that the world cannot understand Peter explains it, 1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 1Pe 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. Peter does not mean that we share in the redemptive work of Christ Jesus suffered while He was upon this earth because the world hated him To be persecuted as a Christian is to share in the earthly sufferings of Christ Today we share in His sufferings, when He returns we will share in His glory Today we can experience unspeakable Joy and unbelievable Glory, 1Pe 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: That is what Paul means when he says, AND REJOICE John rejoiced over Christians who were faithful to Christ, 3Jn 1:3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 3Jn 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. (Spiritual children) Our “walk” refers to the way we live our daily life and Christians are to walk “in the truth” Which means more than claiming to believe the “truth,” it means live what you say you believe Pray that our church family can rejoice because Prairie Grove Baptist is walking in truth That together we will “joy and rejoice” Php 2:18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me. “For the same cause” literally means “for the same reason,” which Paul is urging us to do Paul is commanding Christians to share with one another their sacrifice and service for Christ Then they will share in the joy and rejoicing, they were to rejoice in Paul as he rejoiced in them In most American churches today that is not their experience when they meet-together Too many churches today need to hear what Paul said in, Php 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: Our world today has experienced all of the murmuring and disputing we need It is time for Christians to rejoice, Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Joy should fill the life of every Christian, why should the Christian experience joy? Because of the good things that God has given us in this life, Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Because of the expectation of God’s work in us in the future, 1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. Because Christian joy is founded on the truth of Jesus, the Person and Work of Jesus So, Christian joy should not be affected by changing world conditions Our joy should not be affected by unexpected circumstances or unwanted difficulties Joy and rejoicing should be our testimony to the world, Col 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord Page 3 of 4 unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Col 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Our testimony must be a worthy walk of the Lord, being fruitful in all of our work Continually learning more about God and strengthened by His power as we do The evidence of that taking place in our life will be patience and longsuffering The results of all of the above will be “joyfulness” What a testimony, God’s power working is us, patience, longsuffering, and rejoicing A good study for you is the joy shared because of other Christians: Acts 2:46; Romans 15:32; 2 Cor 1:24, 6:7; 7:13,16; Col 2:5; 1 Thess 2:19-20; 3:8-9; 2 Tim 1:3-4; Heb 13:17; 2 John 4,12; 3 John 3-4; Philemon 4-7, 20; We need to learn the real sources of joy as revealed in Philippians and then be a witness of joy CONCLUSION Our testimony to a troubled world must be a life of joy, which is the truth of, Psa 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Jesus in us is joy, His word in us is joy, Joh 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. Remember that Paul has presented to us a witness of the mind of Christ He presented to us the joy that is found in sacrifice and service, Php 2:17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. Php 2:18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me. Too many Christians are seeking the joy of the world, the joy of ease and worldly pleasure Jesus is our source of joy, Jud 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, “Now unto Him” is a word of praise, give honor to God, glorify God, why? Jude said, praise God for His protection, He “is able to keep you from falling” The word “to keep” has the meaning of providing protection from an external attack Satan is the one who attacks the Christian, one of his attacks is to steal our joy The promise of Jude is that God has provided the way for our protection against Satan As Christians we must be faithful to the provisions of God for our protection Our protection will not always be physical, but it will be mental, emotional, and spiritual Which is why we will one day stand before Christ with “exceeding joy” Christians are to be filled with “exceeding joy” today Which we will experience as we daily walk close to Jesus, pay attention to the song Page 4 of 4