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Text: “Have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 2:5
Introduction: I want to urge you to lose your mind.
Now, before you say, “Too late; that’s already happened,” let me clarify.
You need to lose your mind so that you might take on the mind of Christ.
We are working through Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi.
We have already learned that this was perhaps Paul’s favorite church.
He was instrumental in its establishment.
It was in Philippi that Paul was imprisoned and miraculously released.
It was the church in Philippi that had responded to his personal needs at a critical time.
He writes this letter to “the elders, deacons and all the saints.”
He’s in prison again; this time in Rome.
From there he sends word that he is praying for them often and hopes to see them again.
While this letter is a joyful letter mentioning “joy” and “rejoice” no less than 14 times in this brief letter, he also senses that there may be some troubles also brewing.
One of Paul’s concerns for every church he was connected with was that the church be healthy.
So today we consider one of the most important things any Apostle ever said to any group of Christians.
So, we read in verse five of chapter two, “Have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”
And we have titled this message, The Christ Mind.”
So...
I. What Does Paul Mean by the term the “Mind of Christ”?
Note the title of our message this morning, “The Christ-Mind.”
I would imagine that in some of your minds there’s a question that you have already asked, “What is the meaning of such a title, The Christ Mind?”
Do we mean by that title that we’re going to consider the intelligence aspect of the mind of Christ?
Or his capability to learn?
His IQ? Surely when we look at God’s Word it reveals clearly that Jesus was the divine Son of God and as such would have supreme intelligence.
However fascinating such a study may be to consider; that’s not what I mean by the Christ Mind.
Maybe we’re referring to His knowledge.
He was the Son of God you know.
He knew all things.
And we might even get a brain strain thinking about all that He knows in His omniscience.
He knew and knows all things just as God, the Father does.
However fascinating that may be that is not the intent of our consideration of The Christ Mind.
So maybe we should consider His perception of things.
The Bible indicates that he knew men’s minds.
He knew the thoughts and intents of those he talked with.
He knew their motives even though they many not have said a word.
So, the perception of the mind of man was divinely keen.
However fascinating that may be to us as a mental exercise to think about the perception of Christ, that is not our intent of study this morning.
Maybe we could think just about what He thought about.
What were his thoughts as He roamed the Galilean shores?
What were his thoughts as he sat on the mountain side preaching and teaching?
What were His thoughts when He looked over His shoulder and saw the multitudes following Him?
Surely Jesus thought much about God, because we see him retreating time after time for long periods of time to be in solitude and prayer with His Father in heaven.
We may say that His thoughts were the exact will of the Father and that would be true.
He had the most intimate relationship when He was here on planet earth with His Father who reigned in Heaven.
However inspirational that may be to us, that is not the intent of Paul’s use of the term in his letter to the Philippian church.
To have a right understanding of this term Paul used we must have an understanding of the situation in the Philippian church.
If you look at verse one of chapter two you’ll notice that the first thing Paul says is, “If therefore...” That opening word really tells us a lot about what Paul is preparing to say.
Every time you are reading the Bible and you come across the word “therefore” or “so” you always need to reflect upon what was just said because it has a lot to do with what is going to be said.
So, let’s see what he says, “So, if there is any encouragement in Christ...” Now that doesn’t really tell us much until we reflect back to see what he’s talking about.
That word “therefore” or “so” goes all the way back to verse 27 of the first chapter, where Paul said, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
So we understand that Paul is talking about the worthy life.
He’s referring to the kind of lifestyle that Christians are to have.
The kind of behavior that befits our claim to be a follower of Jesus.
That would also include the kind of attitude that we have as we live day by day.
In this sense, the Philippian letter is a lot like the letter of 1 Peter because both are concerned with the behavior pattern of Christians amidst an ungodly environment.
Both are concerned that we realize that we are Christian citizens of God’s Kingdom even though we may live in man’s world.
Therefore, our manner of life as Christians, our pattern of lifestyle, must take on a certain kind of quality and characteristics.
That’s what Paul is getting at when he writes, “let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Paul was concerned with the type of witness the Philippian church was living before a watching world.
A paraphrase of verses 27 and following might go something like this: I have one single desire, and it is that your daily life matches the worth of the gospel.
Without such a life you will never be able to face the world and hold your ground.
Strengthened by what God has done for you, now, work together for the faith.
Such steadfastness brings worthwhile results.
It will convict the world and also yourselves, though in different ways.
The world it condemns, the church it confirms.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, make my joy full be being of the same mind.
Paul’s concern for the unity of the believers in Philppi is also the concern God has for the believers of Burnham Christian Church.
The world in which we live is fragmented.
Society is shaky.
The church, therefore, in order to have an effective witness must be unified and firmly established on the solid rock.
That rock is Christ.
Toward the end of chapter one and verse 2 of chapter 3 Paul is saying, in effect, I would need no further happiness if I can only hear that you are a united church!
Paul said that to the Philippian church.
He was in prison yet what he says is that the only thing that will complete my happiness is to learn that you are a united church.
That was the attitude and the hope of the Apostle Paul.
It was expressed from a heart that is concerned about the body and the health of the church.
He was concerned about people just like you and me.
God’s desire for this church and every church is that it be a healthy body.
Did you know that there is a “gang” in our body.
Actually it’s proper name is ganglia.
The ganglia nerves are the tiny nerve branches which go out from the main nerves.
The ganglia nerves so cover our body that we cannot stick a pin into the body without a message flashing to the mind to warn us of an invasion to our body.
This is a fantastic warning system that protects our very life.
Spiritually, we must have the same sensitivity which warns us of harmful danger to our spiritual life.
That’s why we need the “mind of Christ.”
The health of the Body of Christ is in serious danger if we don’t.
Which leads to...
II.
Paul’s Counsel to the Church
Now, let’s come back about to the first verse of chapter two: “Therefore, if there is any encouragement...” That little word “if” is going to occur four times.
Now let me clear something up.
Paul’s use of that word here...the way he uses it, is not to express uncertainty.
No, Paul knows exactly what he’s talking about.
He’s not being uncertain by any means.
What he really says as far as the language and grammar is concerned is, If there is any encouragement in Christ, and there is.
If there is any incentive of love, and there is.
If there is any participation in the Spirit, and there is.
If there is any affection and sympathy, and I know that there is.
Paul was concerned that these Philippian Christians be acutely aware that those things were present in their lives.
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