Good morning.
I trust everybody had a happy Thanksgiving. Very good. I know I didn't.
I've got those who joined me for Thanksgiving here this morning, so that's a blessing as well.
So I don't know if most of you remember the last time I spoke here, got up it's been a while, but I spoke that time on Philippians.
Chapter one. In fact, I by remember correctly, I memorize the chapter, and I quoted it, and so I'm gonna continue this morning and chapter 2 of Philippians, however, I'm not going to quoted this morning.
I found that the last time when I did that I spent a lot of time memorizing all those verses, and not feeling as much studying as I would have liked in the verses and though it, I I thoroughly enjoyed the memorizing that chapter, I thought this time I would
Just do a little bit more in depth, study into it, and share those thoughts with you this morning.
So before we get started here I'd like to pray and ask the Lord for his guidance.
Heavenly, Father, we do thank you for this time that we can spend together, and to open your word and look into your word.
Father, and it is just so precious to know that we have the Word of God, and that we can study that word and to share our thoughts with others.
Father about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who indeed is the Word who to dwelt among us, and we give you thanks for that we just pray your blessing upon this word to evening, and pray that you would give me clarity of thought as I as I relate those things that you have put on my heart this
Morning. So we ask these things in Jesus, name, hey, man.
So the last time I spoke, of course, on Philippians one, and I'd like to go over a few of those passages that I think, relate directly to chapter 2 in Flippians and verse 12 I'm gonna read through 12 through 26 I'm gonna read through it
This time. I'm don't have it memorized again, but I want you to know about brother in the things that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the Gospel so that it is become evident to the whole palace garden to all the rest that my chains
are in Christ, and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Some indeed preach Christ, even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill.
The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely supposing to add affliction to my chains, but the latter out of love knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel what then only that in every way whether in pretense or in truth Christ is
Preached, and in this I rejoice, and yes, I, or yes, and I will do.
Rejoice, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer in the samelication of the Spirit, of Jesus, Christ according to my earnest expectation, and hope that that in nothing I shall be a shame, but with all boldness, as always so now also Christ will be
Magnified in my body, whether by life or by death, or to me.
To live is Christ. And to die as gain. But if I live in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor.
Yeah, what I shall choose I can not tell, for I'm hard pressed between the 2, having it a desire to depart to be with Christ, which is far better.
Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you, and I'm and being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you for your progress and joy of faith that you're rejoicing may for me.
May be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again
So here we see Paul relating some encouraging words to the Philippians.
Paul at this point is in prison in in Rome, and he's in chains, and yet he's encouraging them, not being able to be there with them.
But to tell them that these chains that I have are not change from Rome.
They're changed from the Lord Jesus Christ. He is a bond servant to the Lord Jesus Christ, and Christ has put him there for a reason, and that became evident because the whole palace guard and all the rest of the people.
Knew that his chains we're in Christ, and what a encouragement that is, knowing that through those trials that he is still doing the work of the Lord Jesus Christ and serving Christ and is an encouragement to the flippings, but also to Paul and so I want to go down now to chapter
2, and I will come back to these verses because chapters 2 in the new King James, which I'm reading from which is interesting because I memorized it in the Esp.
So if I mess some things up, that's why, anyway, chapter 2 of Philippines starts with a therefore, and of course, as Jeff Takis so often tells us.
If there's a therefore you have to look and see what the therefore is.
Therefore so chapter 2 verse. One says: therefore, If there is any consolation in Christ, any comfort of love, any fellowship of the spirit, if any affection and mercy fulfill my joy.
By being like minded, having the same love being of one accord of one mind and I'm gonna stop there.
And the the therefore we see, and I believe relates back to verse.
12, in in chapter one, and now I'll get to that.
But the if there is any, is not a question mark.
If there is something, it's more of an argument. If there is any consolation there is, and it could be better.
Red, as since there is consolation in Christ, since there is comfort of love, since there is fellowship of the spirit and affection and mercy that's a that's kind of a a better interpretation, of it because Paul is not questioning whether there is any he's making a statement of of
Argument here. There is these things, and if we go back to verse 12, I think verse 12
Really, as I said, is an encouragement to the Flippians, and an encouragement in Christ.
So the consolation in the new King James in in the Esp.
It's if there's
Any encouragement, and so I like that word encouragement, too, because I think this is what Paul is getting at here in Philippines one.
112. He's encouraging them that he is is in chains, but it is actually turned out for the furtherance of the Gospel, which is Paul's main thing in all his letters.
It is to further the gospel to be preaching the gospel that others can hear.
The godspel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and he is so good at it, that even the whole palace garden all the rest knew that his chains are in Christ, that he is there because he is a bond servant to the lower Jesus Christ and he is able to preach, freely the gospel of
The Lord Jesus Christ, and and he goes on down to say that even those who would from selfish ambition would supposed to add affliction to his chains.
He even encourages them with that saying It doesn't matter how the Lord is preached.
How the Gospel is preached as long as it is preached, he will rejoice in that.
So, even these, whoever it was who were trying to afflict him in his chains by the preaching of the gospel.
Paul said, it doesn't matter as long as the Gospels preached he will rejoice, and it's interesting to that he uses that that it that supposing to add a friction to my chains when he, just said that his chains are in Christ Jesus so he doesn't he doesn't
Consider himself chained in and imprisoned, but he is about servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, so he encourages the Philippians with that, and then the comfort and there, are 4 points he makes comfort or encouragement comfort fellowship and affix affliction and mercy the comfort he here he
Receives is from the Philippians themselves in verse.
19, it says, for I know that will turn out for my deliverance.
Through your prayers. So the the comfort of love is knowing that the flippings are praying for him, and that they love him, and they are concerned for him.
And this is also a part of the fellowship of the Spirit.
We know that when we pray for others that is, fellowshiping with them when we bring them before the throne of grace, we are actually lifting them up before the Lord and and fellowshiping with them, in that way, and so the fellowship that of the Spirit is here, and in this verse as well, is
that deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
So we see how that is, therefore their edification as well.
And then the affection and mercy in the verse versus 19 and 9, and I'm not gonna go through that all again.
But Paul here is talking about his is being in chains, and it, it appears that he is considering that he may depart soon.
May may die soon. So he says he he is relating to them that for me to live as Christ, and to die as gain, and he can't decide which one he would choose, for because he is hard-pressed between the 2 having a desire to depart to be with Christ, which is far better but then he comes to the
Conclusion here, that he's, and he says, nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you, and because of this he is confident that he shall remain and continue with them, and Paul is is expressing his affection and his love and his mercy for the Flippians, in that he desires
To be with Christ, and he desires to leave, but he understands that it is not time yet he that the Flippians need him, and so he he is convinced that he will remain for the progress and joy of the faith so, we see here that these the therefore here really refers back to what he was
Talking to them about in Flippians, first 11 through 2026.
And now Paul goes into this other part. The the next part of his is a letter to them, and he says: Fulfill my joy by being like minded having the same love being of one accord of one mind Paul's encouraging the Philippians 2 be like minded in the Lord Jesus Christ apparently although the
Phone's. The book is very positive book, and an encouraging book to the Flippians.
Apparently there was a a problem in the Flippians in verse or in chapter 4 verse.
2. It talks about the the 2 ladies. Hmm!
Yoda, and Sintica, that they'd be of the same mind also and that's kind of the theme of the book of Philippines to being of the same mind in the Lord Jesus Christ.
And they had been his companions apparently when he first came to Philip Pie and started the church that they worked with Paul.
And now they're having this disagreement. So Paul is here in encouraging and exhorting the Philippians to be of the same mind.
Be like minded, and he's and he says, and let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit.
But in loneliness of mind. Let each esteem others better than himself.
Let each of you look not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of of others.
So we see here Paul is encouraged thing encouraging them, and telling them that the way to be like-minded and having the same love and one accord in one mind is that to be selfish or to be conceded or to have any selfish ambitions but to be low lowly in
Lowliness of mind. Let each esteem others is better than himself.
Now imagine, if we we all have that mine 31, 365 right.
Imagine that putting others is steaming others before yourself, and looking that out not only for your own interests, but for the interests of others.
Oh, what what an amazing assembly it would be!
What a what a light to this neighborhood, to this community!
To everywhere. If we exemplify Jesus Christ in that way, putting others before ourselves, others needs before ourselves and others, interests
Before ourselves, and then then he gets to kind of the meat of his is a letter here which is just an amazing part of Scripture.
In this.
These next 6 verses here are are very well known, and
Well, I just just just going to says in verse, 5, let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.
And so he is just
Told the Philippians to fulfill his joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord in one mind now he's telling them to let this, mind, be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus and you think wow!
How do we? How do we do that like? Who can know the min of the Lord?
Right well.
Paul isn't just telling us as this, for no reason.
If you turn back to let's see second Corinthians, why is it?
I always lose my notes here
Let's see I have it
I'm sorry. Let me just find that
Passage
Okay, I don't have it. But I know I know what it. Says.
Paul and Second Corinthians.
Thank you. 2, 16 Paul and Second Corinthians, 2, 16, says, who has known the mind of the Lord that you should instruct him, and but then he says, But we have the mind of Christ?
So Paul, here is saying, Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, and we can do that because we have the mind of Christ, and he says, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God so Paul's point here is this robbery is a form
Of grasping or holding on to, or or not letting go of it.
And he says he, Christ did not consider it robbery to be equal with God.
He did not hold on to that high position, that lofty position that he had with God the Father.
He was, he willingly came to this earth, and he in verse 7 says: but he made himself of no reputation
Taking the form of a bond servant, and coming in the likeness of men, he and being found in appearance as a man, humbled himself and became obedient to the point point of death even the death, of the cross, so here we see the Lord.
Jesus Christ, not holding on to his position in heaven with the with the Father, but willingly giving that up forsaking all that he had in order to come to this earth to humble himself, or make himself of no reputation and take on the form of a bond servant a servant who is willing to
Sacrifice all that he has to go to that cross.
He humble himself, and became obedient to the point of death.
Even the death of the cross, and he did that all for us so
The the love of God. Here the love of the Lord Jesus Christ is just so amazing, and we root.
We read, and Romans 5, 8, that God demonstrated his love for us and that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, and here we have a picture of what it.
Was what exactly the Lord Jesus Christ did in humbling himself, and being obedient to the point of death.
Even the death of the cross, in order that we He might do for our sins, and and take our place on the cross.
It the Lord placed on him the the the sins, the punishment for our sins, that we deserved.
He laid upon the Lord Jesus Christ on that cross at Calgary, and it's such a such an amazing picture there.
And Paul says that this is the mind that we are to have with others that were putting others first, like Christ, put us first, and he humbled Himself, made himself of no reputation for us. A we're supposed to have that love that same mind for our brothers.
And that's a that's a difficult thing to to consider.
And yet here we see Paul using this example, this extreme example of the Lord Jesus Christ making himself of no reputation.
John one says that in the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God and Jeff.
4, 1 14 says that the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld him as the only begotten, of the Father full of Grace and truth.
And here we see that again. Here in Paul's
Paul's example of the incarnation of Christ.
Here that he humbled himself. And this is what we are to do as well.
We are to have that same mind in us. And Paul here is speaking about the unity of the body of Christ.
Here that we need to all be willing to count E, or be willing to look at not only our own interest, but the interests of others to be having the mind of Christ goes even farther than that in that we are the Christ, made Himself of no reputation and humbled himself and became obedient to the point
Of death. Wow! You know Paul is telling us. That's the mind we are to have
And to have unity in the body. And he said: He's saying, This is when how you will fulfill my joy by being like minded having the same love being one accord and of one mind.
And having the mind of Christ. And that's an amazing thing to think about her name
Of course Paul here is talking to the believers in Philip.
I, and he is expressing. This is how we should live as believers in Christ.
We are to be bond servants of Christ, just as he is a bond servant, and he's in that jail, and Rome, and he's in those chains and yet he does not regard those chains as chains.
From Rome, but chains from Christ. He is a bond servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that's how we are to be, and
In our lives as well to to be willing to give up the things that we desire, the things that we love, some of those things that keep us from having a better relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Those those things should be come of no value to us light of the Lord Jesus Christ, and what he has done for us.
So Paul is encouraging them in his own life, and showing them how the things that he experienced, the trials that he was going through, and his imprisonment were for Christ, and he if he looks at him that way then he doesn't.
The he doesn't become upset. He doesn't become depressed.
He doesn't think about that situation with whoever was speaking and using that seeking to add to his affliction.
No, it was all for the gospel of Lord Jesus Christ. As long as the Gospel is pretty.
He rejoices in that, and he rejoices in the Philippians by them having being like minded, and having the same love of one corner.
One mind.
And that mind is in the Lord Jesus Christ
That's what I just find.
So
Paul is a Paul. Here is pleading for the Flippians to have them to let the mind of Christ be in you, and he uses this great example to encourage them to be of one mind and Paul then, goes on, to say, that there after the even the death of the cross first 9 says therefore
And of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father
So we see that we see Christ love for us in that he willingly left the Father's side, willingly left His throne on he to come here for us.
We see His His love for us, that he did not consider it robbery to be that thing to be grab a robbery with got got a thing to be grasped, and he he made himself of no reputation and he humbled himself, to the point of death, even the death in the
Cross, because of His great love for us
And it was at a high cost to him, too, because he did suffer.
He was beaten for our iniquities. He was bruised for our transgressions in the chastisement of our piece, was upon him, and then he took our sins upon himself on that cross at calvary so he it was a high cost that he had to pay but he willingly paid
That. And and if we are to have that same mind, that mind of Christ, if we are to let that mind be in us, wow
Are we willing to hummel ourselves and become bond servants of Christ, and give up all those things that we hold dearly and are we willing to do that at any cost?
And this, to me really was struck home because there's so many things in this world that we have a tendency to grasp to hold on to to not want to let go.
There's so many things that maybe hold us back from having a deeper, more closer relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, and with others with the body of Christ.
So many things that may hold us back from that? And are we willing to have that same?
Might my mind that Christ had
Put all that aside in order to be bond servants for the Lord Jesus Christ.
As Paul was so had I, I mean it to me. That just is it's it's an amazing thing to think about how cause there is so many things like I said that can hold us back from that be it jobs homes.
Whatever.
But there is a reward there there is a reward for for that.
If you would turn with me to second Timothy 4
And verse, 6,
And Paul here, writing to Timothy, says, for I'm ready already being poured out as a drink, offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race.
I have kept the faith. Finally, there's laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved his appearing
So we might think that is a really high price to pay to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, to have that same mind to be his bond servants.
And yet Paul is showing us here that
There is a there is a reward for doing that that
The righteous judge will give to me on that day, and not only to me, but also all who have loved his appearing.
So we do look forward to that day when the Lord Jesus Christ will return.
I look forward to that day. I see that day is getting much closer as we look around, and what things that are going on in this world.
I believe the the Lord Jesus Christ is coming soon to take his church home, and this admonition of Paul here
Is that much more important, because, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we should be out sharing the good news of the Gospel, just as Paul was whether it be in chains or just freely going out into the neighborhood which we can do sharing Christ with others because
Second. Timothy says that got is not slack, as some counts slackness, but he is long suffering.
Not willing that any should perish but that all should come to know the Lord Jesus Christ.
And that should be our our mind as well
And that's a difficult thought as well, because there are people out there and on the news and other places that we just don't agree with.
Sometimes, and yet those people need to know the Lord Jesus Christ as well
So
In conclusion. Here everything that we do as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ should be done to the to bring glory in honor to His name, to the Lord Jesus Christ.
We should be willing to to do whatever he, whatever he has for us to do, we should be willing to do that gladly, and do it as unto the Lord, and to break bring him the glory and honor and one of those things is being like minded in the body we can't be an effective body.
Of Christ. If we don't have unity and unity is not being uniform, or being totally the same.
We all have different upbringing and different things that we do.
Unity is being of the same mind in the Lord Jesus Christ, and having His mind in us, and that's how we bring unity into the Church, and what we what we do.
Is a body of Christ, and being unified and being, and having that mind in us, then we can have the same love and be in one accord as Paul has talked about and fulfill fulfilling His join not just the joy, of Paul, but the joy of the Lord that's what he desires
Of us to be unified, and to be of one mind that we can be able to be effective witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ
So and being that way, that's how we would glorify the Lord wherever we are, whether it be in the church, here or in our community, and our families on the job wherever it is, if we are willing to oh, share.
The Lord Jesus Christ, and willing to let other know what others know that we are there because of Christ.
Just as Paul said, he was in prison because of Christ, not because Rome put them there, but because Christ put them there because he's a Bonser, and wherever we are we are put there for a reason God has put us there to share the good news of the gospel.
Of Lord Jesus Christ.
And of course, in order to do that, we must also have.
Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We need to have Him as our Lord and our Savior, and if you're here today, and you don't know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, I would encourage you to get into His word to read His word and to seek out maybe one of the
elders, or myself, or someone, and talk to them about how you become a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and it's so important, especially in these days, because the time is short.
The Lord is coming back soon, so I'm also reminded.
Of Hebrews 14. When I read this
Hebrews, 12 to another familiar verse. It says, looking to Jesus: Let me go to the new king, James, instead of USB looking unto Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame and is seated at the right hand of the
throne of God.
Jesus Christ, the author and perfector of our faith. And that's what Paul is saying.
Let this mind be in you, which was in Christ Jesus. He is the author and perfector of our faith.
And what is faith? The acronym for faith? I'm sure you all know it, or I've heard it before, forsaking all.
I trust Him. Just this Christ for sok all, and for took his position in heaven and came to this earth
And made himself of no reputation
And humbled himself to the point of death. Even the death of the cross.
He first call, and that's what faith is forsaking all.
I trust him so let's look to the Lord now and give him thanks, and thank you for listening, and I'll just give him thanks, father.
We just thank you and praise you for your love for us.
A tremendous love that would send your son to this earth to die for us on that cross at Calvary.
And Father, we thank you for the Lord Jesus Christ, who did so willingly, who made himself of no reputation, and took on the form of a man, and humbled Himself. To the point of death even that death on the cross that we might have eternal life in him oh, Father that we could
See these words of Paul, and apply them to our lives into our heart, and be willing to have that same mind that was in Christ, so that we can be effective in our oh, in our lives is believers in Christ sharing the Gospel, of the Lord Jesus Christ to others.
Encourage us today and help us going forth too, live our lives for the Lord Jesus Christ to bring honor and glory to him in Jesus, name, hey, man!