Practical Examples of a Christlike Mindset
Notes
Transcript
Philippians 2 has centered on the command to have the mindset of our Lord Jesus Christ.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
The mindset of Christ Jesus is explained for us in vv. 3-4
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.
In a wonderful glorious text we are reminded exactly how Jesus displayed this mindset for us.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
He lowered Himself / submitted Himself to the will of the Father in becoming a sacrifice for our sins.
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
He emptied Himself through addition- he took upon Himself 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.
He humbled Himself through obedience to the will of the Father to the point of death- even a cross death as the substitute for the sins of the world world.
This is a Christlike mindset displayed by Jesus Himself.
We also see a Christlike mindset being display by the Apostle Paul in v. 17
17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.
Paul was willing to pour out his lifeblood just like a drink offering as a spiritual sacrifice of worship to God for progress and joy of the faith of the Philippian believers. And he was not just willing- but he was glad and he rejoiced together with the Philippians for this opportunity to serve Christ in gospel ministry.
In our text this morning we are going to look at two other individuals who displayed, in a very practical manner, what it looks like to live out a Christlike mindset.
How does a Christlike mindset manifest itself practically in our lives?
How do we know if we are living with the mind of Christ?
How do we know if we are putting a Christlike mindset into practice in our ministry in the church?
I. A Christlike mindset causes us to have genuine concern for the welfare of others
I. A Christlike mindset causes us to have genuine concern for the welfare of others
We see this put on display, or practically lived out for us, in the life and ministry of Timothy.
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you.
Hope- confident expectation
Send Timothy to you soon- Paul in Roman prison cannot go himself
Why does Paul want to send Timothy? To be cheered by new of you.
So that I also might be encouraged / made good of SOUL when I learn about you.
What news about the Philippian church would cause Paul to be encouraged / or made good of Soul?
This question speaks to the very purpose of the NT church. If the Philippians were fulfilling the intended function of the NT church then Paul would be made good of SOUL. So what news do you think Paul would want to hear from Timothy?
New building / good offerings / large attendance
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
Revelation 3:8 (ESV)
8 I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.
For I have no one else who is like / equal SOULED
[1] like souled adj. — having the same character, affections, and especially mindset as another.
who genuinely will be concerned about your welfare;
Illustration- Mom and Dad care for me when I was in the ER, Dad taking care of the boys school pick up this week, Member greeting me on Wednesday night and giving me a hug and telling me he had been earnestly praying for me, calls and texts to find out how I was doing.
This is the way relationships in the church should be. They should be motivated by genuine concern for others.
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.
21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
Who is the they?
15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.
Paul could not send just anyone who was part of the church in Rome for some of them were seeking their own interests!
For they all are continually seeking their own interests / concerns
Illustration- Checking into the ER- making me wear a mask / asking me to do a phone interview.
No those of Jesus Christ = genuinely concerned for your welfare!
Being genuinely concerned for the interests of other people is the exact interests of Jesus Christ! Wow.
22 But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.
But you know his proven character / worth-
In other words you know that Timothy has a genuine concern for the welfare of others, you know that Timothy is seeking the very interests of Jesus Christ.
HOW did they know his proven character or worth?
Because like a father and son he has served with me unto the gospel.
Genuine concern for others / deep relationships with other people come from a common fellowship in the gospel.
This kind of proven character / genuineness never comes from surface level relationships. If you go to church and all you want is a social gathering- all you do is talk about family / jobs / news / sports- you will never develop this genuine concern. It only comes from close fellowship in gospel ministry.
Deep fellowship, a unity in spiritual matters, is the stuff that connects us and builds family like relationships- father / son. And it builds in us a genuine concern that is not faked.
It starts with the mindset of Christ-
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.
Get involved in gospel ministry with someone else in your church. Get involved with disciple-making ministry!
Illustration- Heard through the grape vine from several people who are studying God’s word together- “I have never had friendships like this before.”
How does a Christlike mindset manifest itself practically in our lives?
How do we know if we are living with the mind of Christ?
How do we know if we are putting a Christlike mindset into practice in our ministry in the church?
A Christlike mindset causes us to have genuine concern for the welfare of others.
Do you have this concern for others in your church? Why not? Are you connecting with people on a deep gospel level? Are you going deep in your fellowship with each other through the Word?
II. A Christlike mindset causes us to accept risk for the sake of the gospel
II. A Christlike mindset causes us to accept risk for the sake of the gospel
We see this put on display, or practically lived out for us, in the life and ministry of Epaphroditus.
25 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,
Who is Epaphroditus?
To Paul?
Brother-
Fellow Worker-
Fellow Soldier-
To the Philippians?
Your Messenger
Minister to my need
Member of the church of Philippi
Chosen by the church to carry a gift of money to Paul for support in ministry
18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.
Paul is sending Epaphroditus back to the Philippians first (carrying this letter), then sometime soon afterward he would send Timothy.
26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill.
Reasons Paul is sending Epaphroditus?
He has been longing for you all- we again see the genuine concern and love for the other members of the church.
He is in distress- why? because you heard that he was ill.
Illustration- Sharon having an emotional day on Monday / one of the things that I did right away was to text (couldn’t call) and let her know that I was OK. Why? Because I didn’t want her to be under undo stress or worry! Why did I tell her? Why didn’t I text my insurance agent right away? Because there is not a longing in my heart for them. I appreciate that many of the people in the church were praying and concerned for me and I know many of you stayed up to date on my situation. Why? That is the way it should be in the church- there should be a longing concern for each other.
27 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.
You heard he was ill, and Paul confirms this- he wasn’t just ill- he was near to death.
God had mercy on him! God is given credit for his recovery.
God had mercy on Paul also- In what way?
Lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow! If Epaphroditus had died Paul would have have wave and wave of sorrow. This is an important point. Paul felt sorrow when someone died.
Sometimes we treat death flippantly and that can do damage for people who are grieving.
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
Rejoice, don’t be sad, don’t sorrow when a Christian dies- wrong attitude!
35 Jesus wept.
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
But we still grieve! We still have sorrow over death- yet not as others who have no hope. Death is an enemy on the one hand, and yet death is a door way to being face to face with Jesus.
It is OK to have sorrow when someone dear to you dies, it is OK to grieve- and we need to let people grieve, and also encourage people with the hope we have in Christ.
28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men,
Paul’s intention- that the Philippians would rejoice at seeing Epaphroditus again, and he would be less anxious or less sorrowful (not an elimination of sorrow from the life of Paul- also important to realize this!)
Paul’s command- receive him in the Lord with all joy and honor such men!
Honor such men? What kind of men or women? Those involved in service or ministry for the gospel. What else?
30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.
Honor such men? Why?
For / Because he nearly died for the work of Christ!
What kind of people do you honor? We need to honor people that spend their lives for the sake of the gospel for the sake of the work of Christ.
Notice what else Paul says:
He risked his life!
he exposed to danger his SOUL,
35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.
Illustration: COVID and the idea of risk- not willing to accept any risk, people stay isolated in their homes because they are waiting until the risk of venturing out of their homes is 0.
What kind of risk are we willing to take for the sake of the gospel?
If we put on the same mindset as Jesus then does that mean we should be willing to accept risk?
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.
Epaphroditus- traveled from Philippi to Rome, brought Paul a gift of money, served Paul and took care of his needs while he was in prison (complete what was lacking in your service to me), became deathly sick, risked his life- he gave his life away for Christ’s sake and for the gospel’s.
Illustration: John Paton Story, Tim Smith, others
What have you risked for the gospel lately?
Risked being embarrassed? Risked ridicule? Risked your free time?
Those that would risk their lives for the gospel are worthy of our honor! I would be proud for my boys to risk their lives for the sake of the gospel. I would encourage them to have this mindset.
Have this mindset in you that was also in Christ Jesus!
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.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
How do we know if we are living with the mind of Christ?
A Christlike mindset causes us to have genuine concern for the welfare of others
A Christlike mindset causes us to accept risk for the sake of the gospel
May we all put on the same mindset as Christ Jesus. May we be of the same mind, having the same love, joined in soul, thinking the one thing-
May we stand firm in one spirit, with one soul, striving shoulder to shoulder together for the faith of the gospel. All for the abundance of the glory of God! Amen!