Untitled Sermon (4)

Philippians 2:4

A mother was preparing pancakes for her young sons, David and Billy. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. “If Jesus were sitting here, He would say ‘Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.’ David turned to his younger brother and said, “Billy, you be Jesus!”

Over the past several weeks we have been studying the apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians. In chapter two, as in much of Paul’s writings we see him provide theological teaching and practical application. Last week we learned about the rich theological meaning behind Philippians 2:6-11 This morning I want to return to the practical application of this text.

A powerful theme of Philippians 2 is the notion of our “mindset” or how we think. The word “mind” is used several times throughout this passage. Moreover, throughout the New Testament over and over again Paul tells us to transform our way of thinking.

Why is he so keen on what we tell ourselves - what we think? Theologian and Pastor Dr. David Jeremiah explains, “You are not what you think you are, but what you think- you are.”

Did you know that what goes on in our thought life can actually alter your glandular, muscular, and neural behavior or in other words your thoughts effect your biochemistry and your emotions. What you think greatly impacts who you are.

Last week we studied the theological aspect of verses 6-8 that describes how Jesus, being in His every essence divine, relinquished His Heavenly home. Humbling Himself, He became a man and sacrificially served humankind. Fully God and fully man, He served and even gave of His life out of love for us. Notice that one of the main reasons Paul gives this description of Jesus is not to just tell us about who Jesus is but he uses Jesus as an example. “Have this MIND among yourselves.” What mind? The mindset that Jesus had. As Dr. Jeremiah explains,

“Philippians chapter 2 and verse 5: ‘Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus’ seems to say that you and I, the creatures of Almighty God, can have the same mindset, the same mind, that was given to the Lord Jesus.”

I am reminded of the story of a mother who was preparing pancakes for her young sons, David and Billy. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson and urged, “If Jesus were sitting here, He would say ‘Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.’ David turned to his younger brother and said, “Billy, you be Jesus!”

To have the same mindset as Christ is a daunting task. All too often we want to tell others, “you be Jesus, let me have what I want now instead.” But this passage in Philippians 2 shows us that it is possible to have the same mindset as Christ.

Now as you may know, when you read a verse in the Bible it is important to study it in its context. As Dr. Jeremiah states,

“The first thing you notice when you read verse 5 of Philippians chapter 2 is that it is connected with verse 6 and following. ‘Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,’ and there's no period there. There's a comma. ‘Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who’, and then there's a whole paragraph that follows that, that explains what is the mind of Christ… Now listen, if you study the Gospels, you will learn a lot about Jesus. All four Gospels tell the story of the life of Christ. Most of the Gospels, most of the four Gospels, have to do with the death of Christ, his passion. When you come to the Epistles that were written to the churches, you find out what all that means because Paul and Peter and John, they explain the cross. But only in Philippians chapter 2 do you have a chance to see the cross through the eyes of Jesus himself. What did it mean to him when he came to this earth to be our Savior? That's what Paul wants us to know about the mind of Christ. He says, ‘Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who,’ then he tells the story of the incarnation. He tells the story of what it meant to the Lord Jesus to come to this earth.”

Philippians 2:6-8

“Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

There are three important mindsets of Christ, identified in this passage: servanthood, humility, and obedience. This morning we will focus on the first:

· We must share Christ’s servant mindset.

Verse 7 says that Jesus took on the form of a servant. And if you remember from last week, that word “form” means essence or very nature. So Jesus added servanthood to His very essence or nature. He is not only God, not only man, but He is also a servant.

We are to be like Him. Take a look back at verse 4 that reads,

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

Perhaps the best way to understand this verse is to look at our human nature. It is natural for us to look to our own interests. In extension- the notion “I must be happy” or “I have a right to be happy” is a cornerstone of the American culture.

Our Nation’s Founding Fathers even made the idea a part of our Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men …are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

The “pursuit of happiness…” We do all kinds of things in our pursuit of happiness.

· We think, if only I looked like her or looked like him, I’d be happy. So we exercise, diet, change our wardrobe, style our hair all in an attempt to look better and be happy.

· Or we think, if only I had a new car, a nice boat, a bigger flat screen tv, a nicer garden, a better house, a remodeled kitchen, more extravagant vacations… then I’d be happy.

· Or we think, if only I had a better job, more money, a new romantic relationship, had more power and influence, had fame and popularity… then I’d be happy.

Did you know that research shows that serving your own self interests will NOT produce happiness. Instead of boring you with details from those studies, consider the rich and famous. Has their wealth made them happy? What about fame? Would you say that the Kardashians are a truly happy, well adjusted, and healthy family?

How about Tom Brady…

By the age of 30, NFL superstar Tom Brady had three Super Bowl rings, ranking him as one of the best quarterbacks of all time. To date, he now has seven, plus a multi-million dollar contract, numerous endorsements, incredibly good looks, a supermodel wife, a franchise built around him, and before Covid stadiums full of 80,000 + who worshiped him and chanted his name. However, despite all his accomplishments, in a 2005 interview with 60 Minutes Brady confessed,

“Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there is something greater out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, ‘Hey man, this is what it is.’ I reached my goal, my dream, my life. Me, I think, ‘God, it’s got to be more than this. I mean this isn’t, this can’t be what it’s all cracked up to be.'”

Friends, serving your own interests will not bring you happiness. The human appetite is never satisfied, it always wants more, more, more. You will never consume, acquire, accomplish, or exercise your way into happiness. Instead, studies show that people who consistently serve others, who put the interest of others above themselves are more fulfilled and happy. If you don’t believe me, go home and google it and you will find that study after study has discovered that there is an overt connection between volunteering, serving others, and putting others above oneself- and happiness, contentment, and even one’s health. A study conducted in the UK where they took 40 different studies conducted over 20 years asked the question, -is there a connection between happiness and selfless service? They discovered overwhelming evidence that those with a lifestyle of serving others have less stress, less cardiovascular disease, and less depression. These people report to have stronger relationships, more contentment, and greater overall happiness then their non-serving counterparts.” In other words, those who look to the interests of others above their own have better mental health, physical health, and overall quality of life.

Creator God, has known this all along. It may be in our sinful nature to be selfish but God created us to be apart of a loving one another community where it is our sincere interest to serve the needs of others.

Philippians 2:4,

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

In his exposition of this verse theologian John Piper suggests that the word “also” implies, that we should FIND our interest in the interests of others. He explains, “In other words, be the kind of person who finds his joy in the joy of others. It is not as though Paul is saying that the Christian life is a joyless life as you serve other people. The point is- get a mindset that makes the interests of others your own interests. So that you are thrilled when you can do them good, as Jesus said in Acts 20:35, “’It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Later in Philippians 2, Paul gives 2 further examples of this Christlike mindset of selfless service.

Turn with me to Philippians 2:19-24,

“ I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.”

In verse 20, the Greek word for “welfare” is the same word Paul uses up in verse 4 for “interests.” Paul is saying that there is no one like Timothy because he is genuinely concerned for the interests of others. He then explains that there are others around him who are selfishly seeking their own interests instead of those of Christ. Paul wants us to emulate Timothy instead. His concern and service is genuine. He has made the interests of the Philippians his own.

Then Paul gives another example, of the selfless servant Epaphroditus. Take a look at Philippians 2:25-30,

“I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.”

Epaphroditus was sent by the Philippians on the long journey to Rome to help Paul while he was in prison. We discover later in the letter that Epaphroditus brought a monetary gift from the Philippian church to Paul because they learned that Paul was suffering and in need. The trip, from Philippi to Rome, under perfect conditions would have taken Epaphroditus six weeks. Sadly, he got sick along the way and he almost died. What a beautiful example of Christlike service. This man sacrificed so much to serve Paul and serve his church family. He gave up months of his life to journey to and from Rome. His loving service almost cost him his life!

Timothy and Epaphroditus took on the mindset of Christ and whole heartedly served. Can that be said of you?

In conclusion consider for a moment that you are attending a funeral. The pastor gets up and gives the following eulogy,

“The deceased was a great man! He really loved to look at himself in the mirror and what a figure! He worked out hours each day and ignored his family. What an inspiration! He didn’t care about other people or their needs at all but instead he spent his money on great cars and amazing stuff. He was really wonderful at looking out for number one! What a great guy and a life well lived.”

If the “seek my own interest” moto of our culture is correct then why is it that we don’t hear eulogies like this? I urge you this morning to evaluate your life’s priorities.

· What kind of eulogy do you want to be given at your funeral?

· Will you seek only your own interests or will you have the servant mindset of Christ?