Phil 2:1-11 Having The Mind of Christ

 

Intro: Philippians is the Epistle of Joy!! It was written while Paul was in Prison in the Imperial city of Rome

A)What is interesting is although Paul was in Prison & Shackled to a Roman Solider – He was overflowing w/ Joy

 

B) So much so that He was able to make the Most of Difficult Situation – Sharing the gospel

1)   Overlook the Wrong Motives of Others v.15-18

 

C) And  Paul was able to keep his Hope alive in the mist of a Hopeless Situation  v.19-20  Christ Glorified

 

In this letter I believe that Paul gives us some tremendous insights to help us be people who are overflowing w/ Joy even though chained down

A)Even though we are going thru difficult times or difficult situations

 

B) This letter presents us w/ a key understanding that Paul develops in this letter concerning Joy - & that is

1)   Although Joy might be felt in our Hearts – it is definitely true that is not where Joy Starts

 

C) Joy doesn’t start in the Heart but rather Joy starts in the mind : How I choose to think will sooner or later affect the feelings I have in my heart

1)   But that is where it starts is in the mind

 

Paul mentions the mind or the thoughts 15 times in these 4 short Chapters / While 19 times talks about Joy or rejoicing

A)15 times the Mind or thinking / 19 times Joy or rejoicing – Significant because the two are connected

 

B) How I think is going to have a lot of bearing on how I feel !! Courson at men’s retreat :

 

I cannot Change my heart – but God can change my heart, I can’t change the way that I feel in my heart – but God can change my heart –However I can Change my mind – but God won’t Change my mind. But if I choose to Change my mind then God will Change my heart

 

I cannot Change my heart but I can Change my mind – If I choose to Change my mind then God will change my heart But if I change my mind then God won’t Change my heart

 

So the Key to Joy & having a Changed heart is to think Right

A)Now in Ch. 1 We saw that the emphasis of Paul was on thinking w/ a single mind – v.21 For me to live is Christ ……gain

 

B) No matter what situation I don’t have to let those things Rob me of my Joy if my focus is Christ : Thinking of Christ – For me to live is Christ

1)   So the Key in Ch. 1 Single-minded – Thinking of Christ

 

C) But here in Ch.2 Paul tells us that we are not only to have a Single mind thinking of Christ – but a Submitted mind – thinking LIKE CHRIST

1)   He will say Let this mind be in you ……Christ Jesus

 

D) Then he proceeds to talk about how Jesus willingly submitted Himself to the Plan of His Father

1)   So the Key to Joy isn’t just thinking about Christ – staying focused on Christ – but thinking LIKE CHRIST – having the same mind / rd v.1,2

 

If Christ has been there for you / been good to you…. Fulfill my Joy by being of One mind & one accord This I believe is Our  Father’s HEART

A)  Love to come home – find my kids playing together - / watching a movie together – HARMONY  - Nothing delights me more

 

B) Our heavenly Father is the Same – Behold how good & Pleasant it is …

1)   Paul says Fulfill my Joy by being of One accord / One mind – But How does that Happen – v. 3a

 

C) Self ambition – Strife / Conceit – Vain Glory – Two things that are involved in Competition

1)   Strife to be the best – Strife to out do someone else – Toot my horn

What Develops is this Competition thing

 

Competition can be such a horrible thing in the Body of Christ – doesn’t belong at all!!!

A)Strife or Selfish Ambition stems from an attitude of pride that says I am better than you / more important than you

 

B) When attitude is My ministry or my thing is more important than yours { That attitude breeds Strife & competition

1)    Not the Attitude that God wants us to have – Rather v.3b In Humility esteeming others better than yourself

 

C) I have 3 great kids – love them – marvel at them – so different

1)   Aaron my oldest 13 teenager Pray for Denise & I – Aaron is a computer Genius – Sharp – smart / good grades / Creative – Writing

 

D) I believe God is going to radically use his Creative gifts

 

Amy 11 – She is the hardest worker – Athlete – 4 yr olds B.Ball – Determination –{ Great effort

A)Amanda – is the Artist – the Dancer { Expressive side – stands out in a crowd –

 

B) Basketball game – Aaron hanging out – Checking out the school enamored w/ the Announcer guy –

1)   Amy was into the Game – can’t wait to Play Jr. High next yr. Guess where Amanda was focused ? – Cheerleaders

 

C) So my kids are all different – all excel in areas – but sometimes they get into this Competition mode – I am better than you at this or that

1)   I am smarter – I do this better – And when they do that I get so grieved

 

D) But what a Joy it is when they recognize each other’s Strengths & complement each other in those things { I am So blessed

 

That is how the Lord is w/ us when we are competing w/ each other putting down one another – Churches Striving against each other

A)Thinking we are the only way to do ministry – everything else is Chaff that kind of Prideful competitive nature grieves the Lord

 

B) But when we realize the different gifts that we all posses and are able to rejoice in the Diversity – Blessing

 

C) SO Paul says v.3b Esteem others as Better than yourself –/ put it another way – realize everyone is better than you at something

1)   Everyone is better than you at something – Our Staff – so blessed gifts here – Privilege to hang w/ these guys {

 

D) Can’t play Guitar like Howard / Piano or sing like Evan { Missed Calling

1)    Eddie – Blessed w/ Practical Wisdom – Tedious stuff / Steve Building Maintenance / Doug accounting / Jason D. Creative / energy

 

E) Body – gifted –

 

Some people sit back & think – How come so & so gets to do that / I don’t instead of looking – God I am so blessed to be w/ such great people

A)Seen some people in ministry who because of their own insecurity surround themselves w/ People just like them – Personality wise

 

B) Everyone is just like the leader – here comes the gang – If everyone around here was just like me – BORING 

1)   But if we were all like Howard – Scary !!!!! –

 

C) But when I am esteeming others better than myself – I am rejoicing in their strengths & the gifts that God gave to them

  v.4

 

Now I think that v.4 is really the key to v.3 I will esteem others as better than myself if I take the time to look into the interest of others

A)If I take the time to hear their story & to see what they are about – as I get to know them – I am going to Esteem them more

 

B) That is hard for many of us – Not be focused on our own interest – most of us are quick to want to tell our stories – talk about our thing

1)   But it really blows peoples mind when you treat them like they are better than you – by saying – Tell me your story – what into

 

C) Find yourself being impressed w/ them – Esteeming them – or Having compassion on them – Wow they have been thru a lot

 

Jesus ability to not just look on people – Look into People

A)I can look on people – JERK – guy cuts me off on the way to work –

 

B) Maybe that guy just had a fight w/ wife / marriage is on the rocks – not doing well – that is why he is acting like that –

 

C) Jesus didn’t just look on people – Look into them – saw what was really going on

1)   Retreat crowd – disciples reaction – Jesus Compassion – sheep ……

 

D) If we could see the people around us who aggravate us the way that Christ does – we wouldn’t have the animosity toward them but compassion

1)   Spat on Jesus / cursed him – Father forgive ….. what they do

 

So we need to look not just on people but into them – Showing that we are interested in them – get to know them –stories / Blow their minds

A)Discipleship w/ Kids – Books vs Hanging out -  I am interested in you !!

 

B)Husband want to add Joy to your Marriage – Esteem your wife better than yourself – Put her interest over your own –

1)   Show interest in what she is into – Art – show – Ok

2)   Wives same – Football game ok

Now this is hard because it goes against our flesh – so me centered – so often our flesh says – not going to esteem others /

A)I am going to put them down so that I can make myself look better or feel better about myself

 

B) We need the Power of the HS working in us – daily to achieve this

 

C) So that is what Christ modeled for us – that is the ideal –v.5a

 

So let this MIND be in you – Let it – Choice we make –

A)God isn’t going to force it upon you but if you want that mind He will work it into you    Rd v5 again

 

B) This is holy ground – this is heavy stuff – one of the most profound passages in the NT – v.6

5  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,7  but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

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.

 

Now Vincent & Kenneth Wuest 2 Greek scholars who have  - word studies in the greek N.T. are very helpful  in dealing w/ this .

A) 1st Understand that  To say,  Christ was in the form of God , is to say that 

    He existed  as one with God. It is an expression of His deity

 

B) I think we all understand that - it is not talking fashion or shape - but it is talking - the very likeness in every aspect .

1)  Jesus was totally God - and it was expressed in His form - when we

     see Jesus’  - Heart & actions - seeing & viewing God

 

C) But it is this second phrase that we need to understand  / that He did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, What does that mean.

1)  The word robbery is translated 2 ways in the Greek.

D) 1st   A Robbery something unlawfully seized or taken . 

1)  2nd  how it is used here - most enlightening  A Prize - a treasure to be clutched & retained at all cost. 

 

E) The 2nd translation is used in this instance - He did not consider His equality w/ God as a treasure to be clutched & retained at all cost.

1)  Instead we are told that He made Himself of no reputation which is Literally  translated - He emptied himself and took the form of a bondservant & came in the likeness of men.

 

G) Now in the book of Col. 1:15 we are told that Jesus is the express image of the invisible God. ( In the Beg, word .. God / Word became flesh…)

1)  Now if that be the case What Part of His God hood did Jesus empty himself of  in becoming a man . 2 things

 

1st It was His glory -

A)The glory of God was concealed in the humanity of Jesus. It was hidden

      under or with  in the physical body that He possessed.

 

B) Glimpse of it at the Transfig.

 

2nd He emptied himself of his Power : Jesus made Himself Subject to his Father & dependant upon His Father

A)Only did what the Father wanted Him to do - & only thru the Power of the H.S dwelling in Him

 

B) Note – Jesus didn’t start ministry or do any miracles until HS came upon Him at his Baptism

1)   Jesus made Himself just like us – as a man – fully dependant upon the HS / Fully submitted to His Father

 

C) His life was marked by a day by day dependency upon the HS / walking in communion w/ His Father / following the leading of His Father

1)   Application for us – Jesus was modeling the way the Father wants us to live – the things that Jesus did we can do/ He is in us / thru us

D) So the Gospel stories that we read – are models for us & examples of what God can do for us & in us

1) Which is one reason Paul Prays in Eph. That we would Know the Power that is in us available to us -  Christ from the grave  

 

So what this is saying is that Jesus died to his rights to move in the power &  to manifest the glory He possessed as God

A)But instead made Himself completely dependent upon & obedient to His Father even to the point of Death on a Cross

 

B) Fulfilled the Plan – of Salvation   Result v.9-11

 

Application for us : Illustration of Biblical truth – Humble – Exalted

Exalt – Humbled