May 05, 2024

“OVERJOYED”

“SELFLESS HUMILITY”

PHILIPPIANS 2:1-11

Romans 15:13 “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

The purposes of ministries are to introduce people to Jesus Christ, to encourage them to become more like Him, and equip them to serve others along the same path of faith, love, and hope.

So how do we truly live like Christ? We are told what it take to live like Christ: “Selfless Humility”

Philippians 2:1 “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy.”

*“Therefore” vs.1-is showing that vs. 1-4 is building on the preceding verses from chapter one. The exhortation is based on four spiritual realities these people had experienced as a result of being children of God and members of Christ’s body: 

1.   Encouragement from Being United With Christ.

vs.1 “if there is any consolation in Christ…”

2 Corinthians 1:5 “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.”

The believers union with Christ provides encouragement, and the love of Christ produces comfort.

2.   Comfort From His Love.

vs.1 “if any comfort of love…”

Christ’s presence encourages and love comforts. The primary question is whose love is meant, Christ’s, Paul’s, or the church’s?

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

3.   Common Sharing In The Spirit.

vs.1 “…if any fellowship of the Spirit…”

The Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to fellowship with Christ and with other believers.

Ephesians 1:13-14 “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14.who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”

The Spirit brings us together in oneness and removes the very basis for conflicts and power struggles among us.

4.   Tenderness and Compassion.

vs.1 “…if any affection and mercy.”

*The Secret Of Joy

Philippians 2:2 “Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”

The secret of joy in spite of circumstances is the single mind.

vs.2- be of the same mind “like-minded”

*The Primary Need For Humility.

Philippians 2:3-4 “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

The “one mind” Paul urges the Philippians, and for us, to have is one of selfless humility. But how is such a feat accomplished?

So our focus is on others not ourselves. 

2 Corinthians 4:5 “For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.”

Paul gives us the first of four examples of people with a submissive mind:

*Jesus Christ- Philippians 2:5-11

Jesus Christ is the supreme example and source of true selfless humility. 

1.   Jesus Thinks Of Others Not Himself.

Philippians 2:5-6 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God.”

The “mind” vs.5 of Christ means the attitude Christ exhibited.

vs.6 “the form of God”- means the outward expression of the inward nature. This means that in eternity past, Jesus Christ was God. In fact, Paul states that He was equal with God.

Colossians 1:15 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”

Romans 12:10 “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;”

Others is the key word in the vocabulary of the Christian who exercises the submissive mind.

2.   Jesus Serves.

Philippians 2:7 “But made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.”

Jesus emptied Himself, laying aside the independent use of His own attributes as God.

What grace! From heaven to earth, from glory to shame, from Master to servant, from life to death, even the death of the cross.

vs.7 “form” the outward expression of the inward nature.

Matthew 20:28 “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

3.   Jesus Sacrifices.

Philippians 2:8 “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

4.   Jesus Glorifies God.

Philippians 2:9-11 “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

God not only exalted Jesus to the highest position of authority, but He also bestowed upon the God-man the name of highest significance, “the name which is above every name.” vs.9

“every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,” vs.10.

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5

Following Christ’s example and by the Holy Spirit’s enablement, I will reject self-seeking glory and vain pride, and I will strive to humble regard _________________ as more important than myself. Rather than constantly looking out for my own interest, I will also look out for the interests of ______________________.

Don’t just wait for opportunities to put this into practice, find opportunities. Live the Christ-like life joyfully, with selfless humility.