Philippians Chapter 2 verses 1-11
Humility, the ability to submit to one another, and concern for what others want and need are key to the unity we should have within our fellowship of believers. The more mature and the more we have to be prideful about, the more humble we ought to be. Arrogance and pride serve only the self and too often hurt those around us. Paul encouraged s this way in verses 1-4,
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Humility and unity show the world a picture of the Kingdom of God that is more intricate than any spiel or sermon. The way we treat one another is a testimony to Jesus. Is there encouragement in Jesus? Do we have reason to be hopeful, joyful, and steadfast?
Do we have participation in the Spirit? Is He actively working in our lives, are we working with Him? Is He transforming us with our cooperation or is He dragging us kicking and screaming from the flesh to the Spirit? Is He manifested in our lives through the traits of Jesus, the fruit of the Spirit?
How humble are we? Imagine a group of people who all behave and think with humility, considering themselves as the least important, concerned with each other’s interests. That group of people would glorify the Lord, serving Him, not so they look good, but to show how good and great Jesus is. That group of people would not have a needy person among them. That is how our church is supposed to be. It is how we are supposed to be. We can’t wait for the entire church to repent and be humble before we are willing to be humble. We have to be like Jesus first. We have to be humble, serving, compassionate, kind, and patient regardless of whether there are one or two or twenty among us who are not.
We could tell someone how Jesus saved us and Jesus loves them until we are blue in the face. But when they see how we respond to hardship, hate, and hurdles with joy and love it speaks volumes. And they will wonder, and they will ask. Then when we answer they’ll listen because they’ve seen it for themselves in our hope, actions, and relationships.
When we were adopted as sons of God, He gave us His name, His nature, and His mind. Maybe some ignore these gifts, but He gave them to us and He wants us to exercise them. Jesus Christ, the Son of God came to earth not be served but to serve. We His children, His brethren, and His friends have so much less reason than Jesus to be proud or self-serving. We must exercise His nature and mind and be as unassuming as Jesus. We must remember how He served, even to the point of the worst kind of death imaginable, and serve like He did. Verses 5-8 read,
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
We are capable of serving and loving the way Jesus did, because we have His nature, His Spirit, His name, and His mind. While the world looks to see who can have the most power, recognition, and stuff, we strive to be humble and united giving all glory to God. We have the mind of Christ to enable us to understand the deeper value, the treasures and mysteries of the Gospel, and the Kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 says,
“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”
Jesus lowered Himself to servant. He was and is God, He could have come with fanfare. He could have come with His angel armies and simply destroyed and cut down all who refused to bow to Him. But instead He came as baby, born to a poor couple, raised in a poor town. He told people and showed people the truth through His service and wisdom. He gave everyone a chance to submit. If anyone ever had the right to be proud, to expect people to serve Him it was Jesus. But He served instead. He cared about others needs and trusted the Father to meet His needs. Verses 9-11 read,
“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
The name of Jesus Christ is the name above all names. He is so awesome that even His name is Holy and powerful. We only have to call on His name and He answers. We pray in His name because our will aligns with His and His righteousness is ours. He gave us His name! We are Christians, emulators of Christ, ambassadors of Christ, and brothers of Christ.
And one day He will come with all the fanfare He deserves. Trumpets will blow to announce Him. The clouds will carry Him. He will ride His horse and carry His sword. He will lead the angel armies and every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. All those who were proud will be on their knees in submission. All those who loved Jesus will be on their knees praising Him.
One day every person will acquiesce to the Truth. It is better to do so now in faith and of free will, then to do it then when it will not take any faith to see the King of kings and bow down to the Lord God of Hosts.
Are you living the humble life Jesus did? Are you serving others? Are you as concerned with others’ needs as much as your own? Are you trying to be important? Are you exalting yourself or Jesus? Are you participating with the Spirit?
Humility, the ability to submit to one another, and concern for what others want and need are key to the unity we should have within our fellowship of believers. The more mature and the more we have to be prideful about, the more humble we ought to be. Arrogance and pride serve only the self and too often hurt those around us. Paul encouraged s this way in verses 1-4,
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Humility and unity show the world a picture of the Kingdom of God that is more intricate than any spiel or sermon. The way we treat one another is a testimony to Jesus. Is there encouragement in Jesus? Do we have reason to be hopeful, joyful, and steadfast?
Do we have participation in the Spirit? Is He actively working in our lives, are we working with Him? Is He transforming us with our cooperation or is He dragging us kicking and screaming from the flesh to the Spirit? Is He manifested in our lives through the traits of Jesus, the fruit of the Spirit?
How humble are we? Imagine a group of people who all behave and think with humility, considering themselves as the least important, concerned with each other’s interests. That group of people would glorify the Lord, serving Him, not so they look good, but to show how good and great Jesus is. That group of people would not have a needy person among them. That is how our church is supposed to be. It is how we are supposed to be. We can’t wait for the entire church to repent and be humble before we are willing to be humble. We have to be like Jesus first. We have to be humble, serving, compassionate, kind, and patient regardless of whether there are one or two or twenty among us who are not.
We could tell someone how Jesus saved us and Jesus loves them until we are blue in the face. But when they see how we respond to hardship, hate, and hurdles with joy and love it speaks volumes. And they will wonder, and they will ask. Then when we answer they’ll listen because they’ve seen it for themselves in our hope, actions, and relationships.
When we were adopted as sons of God, He gave us His name, His nature, and His mind. Maybe some ignore these gifts, but He gave them to us and He wants us to exercise them. Jesus Christ, the Son of God came to earth not be served but to serve. We His children, His brethren, and His friends have so much less reason than Jesus to be proud or self-serving. We must exercise His nature and mind and be as unassuming as Jesus. We must remember how He served, even to the point of the worst kind of death imaginable, and serve like He did. Verses 5-8 read,
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
We are capable of serving and loving the way Jesus did, because we have His nature, His Spirit, His name, and His mind. While the world looks to see who can have the most power, recognition, and stuff, we strive to be humble and united giving all glory to God. We have the mind of Christ to enable us to understand the deeper value, the treasures and mysteries of the Gospel, and the Kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 says,
“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”
Jesus lowered Himself to servant. He was and is God, He could have come with fanfare. He could have come with His angel armies and simply destroyed and cut down all who refused to bow to Him. But instead He came as baby, born to a poor couple, raised in a poor town. He told people and showed people the truth through His service and wisdom. He gave everyone a chance to submit. If anyone ever had the right to be proud, to expect people to serve Him it was Jesus. But He served instead. He cared about others needs and trusted the Father to meet His needs. Verses 9-11 read,
“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
The name of Jesus Christ is the name above all names. He is so awesome that even His name is Holy and powerful. We only have to call on His name and He answers. We pray in His name because our will aligns with His and His righteousness is ours. He gave us His name! We are Christians, emulators of Christ, ambassadors of Christ, and brothers of Christ.
And one day He will come with all the fanfare He deserves. Trumpets will blow to announce Him. The clouds will carry Him. He will ride His horse and carry His sword. He will lead the angel armies and every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. All those who were proud will be on their knees in submission. All those who loved Jesus will be on their knees praising Him.
One day every person will acquiesce to the Truth. It is better to do so now in faith and of free will, then to do it then when it will not take any faith to see the King of kings and bow down to the Lord God of Hosts.
Are you living the humble life Jesus did? Are you serving others? Are you as concerned with others’ needs as much as your own? Are you trying to be important? Are you exalting yourself or Jesus? Are you participating with the Spirit?
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