Verses 1 – 4

 

• Last week we took an in-depth look at humility and how clear the Bible is on the topic.  The bible speaks of humility as key to ministry, key to a strong witness, key to intimacy with God, key to happiness and satisfaction....the list could go on and on...Martin Luther once said that God created the whole world out of nothing and so as long as we are nothing, He can make something out of us...

 

• We also peered into the truth that suffering always accompanies humility...Robert Chapman once said “humility is the secret of fellowship and pride the secret of division.”  Fellowship is so miraculous, division is so tragic.

 

• Tozer once was quoted saying that one who lacks humility is fooled about himself.

 

• In the last four verses of chapter 1 and in the opening verses of chapter 2, Paul speaks of a need for close relationships...and true fellowship among believers.  It is a matter of unity and there are two reasons why it is necessary. 

 

• The first is that unity is necessary in a time of war.  Look back at verse 27 for a moment and see how Paul says “stand fast” and “striving together”...that is battle language however see also that to do those things..stand fast and contend for the faith we much be in one spirit and with one mind.

 

• The second reason we should pursue unity with other believers is that we have a mutual relationship with Jesus.  

 

• The second is much stronger than the first because it is lasting...wars, battles, they come and go but our relationship with Jesus is everlasting......

 

• AW Tozer once said “Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become "unity" conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship. Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified. “

 

• Paul has bowed the spiritual knee to Jesus Christ.  He has walked with the Lord so intimately that he has made statements like “it is no longer I that live but Christ that lives in me” and “to live is Christ”

 

• Paul was the real deal...Locked down for committing no crime...hated by so many for simply speaking the truth in love...yet pens “let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself...”

 

• In reading Calvin's commentary this week I read “there is no man that is not eager to have superiority...esteeming oneself less than others, if anything in our whole life is difficult, this above everything else is so...

 

• We are treading within the Holy of Holies here as we step through Chp. 2.  This is getting to the heart of the whole issue.  The issue of Christianity: my attitudes...my attitude toward myself and my attitude towards others.

 

• Verses 5 through 8

 

• Paul reinforces the call to serve by evoking the power of the cross and the example shown in Jesus Christ. 

 

• To be great in God's kingdom is to be servant of all.  To be nothing is to serve few.
• Christ made Himself of no reputation which in the Greek there is “Kenoo” (Ken-a-oo) which literally means “emptied Himself.”

 

• The heart of the matter.  Kenoo.  This is the ultimate battleground of the Christian life. 

 

• The work of God the Father found in John 3:16, the work of God the Son found in John 3:17 (For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.)  The power of the cross is found in the deep mystery of God's act of Kenoo. The power of the cross in your life and in my life is Kenoo. 

 

• God has enabled us through His Spirit to take the lower seat.  He has instructed us that only by humility may we experience intimacy with Him...joy, power and satisfaction.  If you're lacking in your walk today, could it be that you refuse to empty yourself?  Could it be that you resist the breaking of the Holy Spirit?  God has something far better for you than the fruit, or more appropriately said, the refuse of your pride. (Matthew 7:11)

 

• Verse 9-11 > The name of Jesus, above every other name. Did you see in the news this week how a pastor in America quote/unquote causing death by his burning of a Koran?  The Muslims thousands of miles away are rioting and killing each other because a pastor somewhere in the US burned Korans.  What if a Muslim cleric burned a Bible...no one would say anything!

 

• I can say Muhammad, Buddha...as much as I'd like and noones ears burn but as soon as I mention the name of Jesus, all hell breaks loose...the name of power, Jesus.

 

• Jesus went from glory to glory with the cross in between...In the beginning He was with God and was God but then He humbled Himself and came as a man to bear the cross for which now He is exalted to the glory of God...what a pattern for our own lives, the only true pattern.  Adam was made in God's glorious image yet that image, distorted/perverted by sin...now through the power of the cross we are again able to return to that glorious state through God's grace.

 

• Grace is what sets Christianity apart.  All other formulas for spirituality, no matter what religion you study are works based...man getting back to God by good works but you see grace, unmerited favor is the work of a God who is so full of love, so longing for His creation, His children that He has Himself has done all that is required to set right what we cannot...Kenoo.
• There are  things today in your lives that need to be set right.  Maybe your marriage, maybe your relationship with a sibling, a coworker, a neighbor, an enemy...you know they may even reject you reaching out to them, they may attack you if you attempt reconciliation, but you know what, it can be set right...however it requires Kenoo...it requires you emptying yourself.  No matter how they respond, you take the place of humility and make your perspective, your viewpoint, your needs and pain of no reputation...

 

• Turn over to John Chp 12 > pick it up in verse 23.  Set a grain of wheat on a pedestal and come back in a year and it’s still one grain of wheat.  But put that little grain into the ground, it dies but out of that death comes a new form...all things about that grain of wheat have been made new and many many seeds are brought forth.  The potential of one wheat seed is tremendous.  Ten planting cycles and one little seed can cover the entire earth...The heart of the matter indeed. 

 

• I wonder, are you on a pedestal today?  Are you not willing to accept the breaking work of the Holy Spirit.  If that is true of you then my friend you are walking in the flesh...or may I say, you are stumbling...the gospel of Jesus Christ...the mystery of humility...according to Isaiah Chp 8 is either a sanctuary for you...or a stumbling block...

 

• Jesus said to His disciples “it is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh profits nothing.”  Then many of His disciples turned, went back, and followed Him no more. 

 

• I wonder if this is where you are today?  Do you come to the point, right up to the point where the cost of following Christ begins to hurt, really hurt and then you follow you?   The bible says that many followed Him however offended, they turned and only the 12 were left. Are you a follower, a believer, or a disciple?  Search your hearts on this matter...there is a decision to be made...

 

• Verse 12 > it is rather sad that many teachers stop at the end of verse 12 and give a strong exhortation concerning works...but we will not we will continue as verse 13 states that it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

 

• The bible says that God will give you the desires of your heart.  And then with those desires He will enable you to fulfill them to the glory of God.  I remember one night at church...I saw a young man stand.....

 

• So often we feel that our yearnings are of us...they are not...the bible says that man plans his way but God directs his path...He has placed eternity in the hearts of man and also God says that He writes His law on the fleshly hearts of men...What are you called to do?  What is God's will for you?  These are questions we all sincerely seek the answers to...but I want to tell you this morning, act on the urges you have in your heart to do and to work for the Lord and watch His will unfold so wonderfully in your life. 

 

• Wes Bentley is a great example of this...

 

• The story of this fellowship is a great example of this....