Following the Servant Attitude of Christ
Good morning!
Today my message is entitled “Following the Servant Attitude of Christ!”
We started on the book of Philippians this month and have looked at chapter one so far. Today we start on chapter two and how Paul encouraged the Philippians to have Christ’s attitude.
Philippians 2:1-13 NIV
1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
Eugene Peterson, in the Message, states: “For it is a life that not only happened at a certain point in history, but continues to happen, spilling out into the lives of those who receive Him, and then continues to spill out all over the place. Christ is, among much else, the revelation that God cannot be contained or hoarded. It is this “spilling out” quality of Christ’s life that accounts for the happiness of Christians, for joy is life in excess, the overflow of what cannot be contained within any one person. 1
This is the joy that we looked at in chapter one, the joy that Paul had and has passed on to all of us.
Hebrews 1:9 NIV tells us of this joy from God.
“You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”
We have this joy because we seek God first and follow God’s plan for us.
We are not supposed to “lord it over” others, but to put others above ourselves.
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of the others.
True joy comes from giving to others therefore we need to give, just like Jesus gave – our all! Give to all because that is what God would have you do!
Now we consider what Paul tells us about what our attitude should be.
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature [in the form of] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature [the form]
of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
The Devotional Bible puts this light on what Jesus did: “Jesus deliberately stripped Himself of everything – His divine rights and privileges – and crossed the unthinkable chasm between God and man. Try to imagine the span of that chasm… The unlimited God became limited man… Jesus Christ is God. … From the world’s viewpoint, Jesus had descended as low as a man – to say nothing of god – could go. But there was one more downward step, in heaven’s eyes the deepest descent of all: from sinless to sin stained…. Truly, He could go no lower.” 2
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 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.
Jesus is the Messiah, the Holy One, God Himself in human form! We need to remember the incredible awesomeness of that fact.
We are to sing praises to His name, we are to give glory to God through our lives and words.
Do we really understand just how magnificent God is? The gift of Salvation is not some little trivial present – it is the most precious gift that can be received, eternal life in the presence of this awesome God we are talking about.
Be alive for Christ! Look to God’s Word for direction and inspiration! For God has a plan for you, a plan to richly bless you and use you for mighty works.
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.
Peterson’s “Message” puts it this way: “What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God Himself willing and working at what will give Him the most pleasure.” 3
Follow the servant attitude of Christ! Sounds simple but it is hard work. Gathering together for worship, study and fellowship are essential to growing closer to God.
Join us as we have a lunch together. All are welcome to stay for food and fellowship. After lunch, Ivan and Wendy Brausse will share a slide presentation of the ministry they have been developing in Africa for those that can stay.
Let’s pray!
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