Against The Tide (Humility)

In his Footsteps

Contextually Paul was saying to walk like Christ in everything that we do

Philippians 2:1–4 CSB

1 If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.

How do you follow in the footsteps of someone who was perfect?

Live on purpose

Understand God placed you where you are for a reason

Matthew 28:18–20 CSB

18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Jesus was the greatest example of living on purpose. He had a mission and he stuck to it. He didn’t fall into distractions or get caught up thinking too much about himself.

Understand the vastness of eternity and that what we do here is meant to further God’s kingdom and bring people to him for eternity.

Living on purpose could mean Starting a bible study at school, forgiving someone, not falling into the peer pressure we sometimes will face in this life.

Living on purpose is living against the tide which is the ways of the world.

Abide in the Word

Share story of planting garden and not having knowledge of how to properly remove weeds.

Get a gardening book, Get a bible, Life is an open book test. Take advantage.

Jesus made it incredibly important to be well versed in the word. Think of satan twisting scripture and Jesus having the word in his heart to throw back at satan.

Matthew 4:1-10

Draw near to God

James 4:8 CSB

8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

How do we draw near to God?

Abiding in his word

Coming to church

Prayer

Discipleship

Matthew 6:5–6 CSB

5 “Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

God calls us to what seems like to distinctive types of prayer and that is certainly true. Public and Private. There is a power to both, but the primary call is to have a pure heart in prayer.

Our first response to any situation should be to pray.

Jesus was God and still made prayer a priority. What’s your excuse?

Think of Jesus praying prior to his crucifixion

Philippians 2:5–11 CSB

5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Christianity isn’t about holding a standard because Jesus already paid it all. Our job now is to bring his name glory. Are you walking in the footsteps of Christ?