IMB Conference: Philippians 2:1-11: Joyful Humility

Introduction

The Anonymous Letter… A Shot to my pride… set the stage for difficult ministry… Considered quitting ministry… “I deserve better...” Instead of humbly saying, “I’m where God wants me to be...”

Paul is exactly where God wants him to be - and he exudes humble joy instead of prideful entitlement.

Ph. 2:1-11 - Paul wants the church at Philippi to exude humble joy.

Church at Philippi beginning to face persecution because of their faith in Jesus Christ, but even more disheartening, there was conflict within their church. In this letter, Paul calls out two women for stirring up trouble in the church.

If the church at Philippi was going to thrive in a world that was hostile to the Gospel, they needed to be unified and unity happens as individual members of the body of Christ embrace humble joy.

Paul pens some of the most powerful words in the New Testament to encourage these believers to stay unified.

Two truths from this passage to help us embrace humble joy:

A prideful heart will always be an empty heart.

Fighting driving Paul crazy… Simple words: Remember what you have in Christ… (vs. 1) Remember the encouragement, the love, the Spirit’s work, the fellowship in the Spirit...

vs. 2 - My joy will be complete when I know that you are of the same mind - a unified mind.

vs. 3 - In humility count others as more significant than yourselves. The only way to stay unified: humility. Tim Keller: Humility is not thinking less of yourself (low self-esteem, I’m a nobody, etc.) Instead, humility is thinking of yourself less. That’s the problem… You don’t think of yourself less. You think of you more than anyone else.

Thinking of yourself more than anyone else results in:

Selfish ambition or Rivalry (HCSB) - Always competing to see who’s going to come out on top. “I have to prove that I’m better than…”

Conceit - “I know that I’m better than…”

Rivalry and conceit come from a heart of pride. Pride is the opposite of humility. Humility is thinking less of self. Pride is thinking too much of yourself - specifically, a heart attitude that says, “I am somebody.” (I am somebody - they know me @ Chik-fil-a - worker missing me during COVID)

Prideful people long to be known - hear accolades, have pats on the back, etc.

Evidence of a prideful heart, you think or say these things:

I sacrifice more - (temptation to think that in ministry.)

I do more - (No one works as hard as me…)

I know more - (Listen to me…)

I deserve more - (More accolades, more pay, better assignments, etc. After all, I have proved myself worthy…)

Very possible to have a prideful heart in ministry.

The problem with a prideful heart:

A prideful heart will never be a heart full of joy. Something’s missing… You think you deserve more… You think you’re better than… So, you try to fill your heart with getting what you want, because after all, you deserve it.

A prideful heart will never have enough. Pride says, “Look at me. I’m impressive. Pat me on the back. Listen to me. I’m right. Serve me. Meet my needs. Care for me.” A prideful heart always says, “Give me more...” You’ll never have enough attention, pats on the back, etc.

You and I need a cure for our prideful hearts. Paul says that we need a completely different way of thinking. (vs. 5)

The way you need to think is with the mind of Christ.

A humble heart will always be a full heart.

vs. 6-11 - These words are probably not original to Paul - may have been the words of a hymn that the early church sang. Could be Paul’s way of saying: “You know that song we sing? Its words are full of truth that you need to think about.”

People who are fully of humble joy can always live to empty themselves for others. Empty people always want to be full and end up hurting others in an attempt to be full.

No person has ever lived who was as full as Jesus. He was full of joy, peace, hope, contentment, wisdom, power, etc. Out of His fullness, He emptied Himself for us. You can share in His fulness!

Consider the great truths about Jesus that Paul calls us to think about:

Jesus emptied Himself of His place.

Form of God = same nature. Colossians 1:15-16 - Jesus is the image of the invisible God all things created through Him and for Him. Hebrews 1:3 - Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God.

At the right hand of the Father for eternity past - Did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped. He didn’t hold on to His place. The Creator of it all temporarily let go of His His heavenly position and descended to the world He created - a world broken by our sin. Jesus stepped into a broken world to rescue us from our brokenness.

The One who had it all freely gave it all.

What are you grasping for? What are you holding on to with tight fists saying, “This is mine?” Aren’t you thankful that Jesus did not grasp at what He had and refuse to come down to this sinful world? Aren’t you glad that Jesus let go and came to this earth to lay His grasp on you? If Jesus has laid His grasp on you, why are you still grasping at stuff that will never give you joy?

Jesus emptied Himself of His privilege.

vs. 7 - emptied himself - Does not mean that he emptied himself of His divinity. When Jesus was on this earth He was fully God. Jesus did not empty Himself of His deity, but He did lay aside the privileges of His deity.

Our way of thinking: Because I’m privileged, I’m entitled.... Not the way Jesus thought...

Theologians: Remaining what He was , He became what He was not. Incarnation: The One who was fully God became fully man.

Experienced the limitations of humanity: grew tired, he needed to eat, he could feel pain when he stumped His toe, ultimately experienced death - no restrictions before incarnation.

Veiled His glory - If you saw Jesus crossing the street, you wouldn’t have said, “Look, there goes God!” Instead, “Isn’t this the carpenter?” (Mark 6:3) Revealed at certain times (e.g., Transfiguration). Jesus’ own disciples had a hard time seeing His full glory.

Took on the lowliest form of humanity. He didn’t come as a King. He came as a servant. Not born in a palace, but in a manger. Not born to an audience of royalty awaiting His birth, but born to peasants with the shepherds being the first to receive the birth announcement.

John 13 - The God of all creation - the One worthy of all worship - The Master and The Lord - washing the stinky feet of 12 ragtag men.

Yet, we hold to privilege. “I deserve...” We think privilege should get us somewhere. I have an education - so I should get certain privileges. I have wealth, so I should get certain privileges, etc.

We hold up privilege as a means to entitlement while Jesus laid aside His privilege to serve all of us. What if we cared more about laying down our lives as humble servants of the Gospel than clinging to our privilege?

Jesus never walked in pride.

No pride in Jesus - instead, humble obedience. Instead of saying, “Give me...” Jesus said, “Father, take my life.” Jesus willing to empty Himself of His life so we could find life.

Instead of pride - humility - not just humility - but humiliation. Jesus willingly experienced the pain of the cross, the pain of humiliation, and the pain of rejection for the sake of those He loved. But, in the pain of suffering for us, Jesus found joy. (Hebrews 12:2 - For the joy set before Him.)

The result of Jesus’ suffering was complete exaltation! Matt. 23:12: Jesus said “Whoever humbles Himself will be exalted.” Jesus rose from the dead, and ascended to the Father and has been given a name that is above every name - the name Lord. Because of His death and resurrection, we know He is God who has come to save us. A day will come that ALL will know His true identity.

Before a group of prideful people, Paul holds up Jesus as an example of humility. Look at Jesus - this is how you need to live! AND, if you do, you will be exalted with Jesus. As a child of Jesus, you will one day live in His glorious presence, ruling and reigning with Him!

Choice: Pride or Humility. Pride says, “Because of who I am, I deserve more...” Humility says, “Because of who Jesus is, I have more than enough… (More than enough to give away…) Staci’s 48 LB watermelon - more than enough to give away…

How could Jesus choose humility? Because He was full of peace, love, joy, goodness, mercy, grace. He had it all.

How can you choose humility? By realizing you have it all as a follower of Jesus. You don’t deserve it all, but you’ve been given everything through the death and resurrection of Jesus. You don’t have to want more because you have been given more.

Full people can always live to be emptied. When you realize how full you are, you can empty yourself of your possessions, your privilege, and your pride for the sake of others.

This morning: see the humility of Jesus for you and embrace the Gospel. Turn to the One who willingly left heaven and came to earth for you. Trust the One who died in your place and rose again. Give your life to Him.

Believer: Quit grasping and start giving. Quit grasping at possessions. Quit grasping at privilege. Quit grasping at pride thinking you deserve more. Start giving your life away because you are in the Grasp of your savior.