Philippians 2:1-11 The way up is Down

Philippians 2:1-11 The way up is Down

Presidential races

Old songs like “have thine own way Lord’…….
Newer songs like “Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me……
express the desire to be used by God. And we want to be used by God in some significant way.
In this passage Paul tells us of the strange shaped spiritual ladder.

1.       The desire for significance
a. vs 9-11 part of the glory
b. touchdown pass, a scoring kickoff return, or the winning field goal
c. in our hearts we want to be used by God, important to the kingdom
d. how do we get there? THEREFORE

2.       The same mind as Jesus
a. vs 1&2 same mind and same love as Jesus
b. vs 5 This mind which is in Christ Jesus

3.       What mind
a. vs 3 selfish ambition
b. conceit
c. humility
d. count others as more important than self
e. other interests not self-interests
f. emptied himself, humbled himself, obedient even to death.

Do you want your life to have meaning, accomplish something great for God? Remember on God’s ladder of success the way to the top is down. The way to be exalted is to humble yourself in service. To save your life you must give it up. For the way up is following Jesus, down.

Philippians 1:27-30 Caught in the War

Philippians 1:27-30 Caught in the War

                Kim Davis, a court clerk in Kentucky, sits in jail today because she is a Christian. She will not compromise her faith by approving same sex marriage. As the law stands the clerk’s office cannot issue a license without the clerk’s signature on it. The law and her faith are in conflict and she has chosen her faith.

                Floweriest, bakers and others are being sued because the will not work for same sex weddings. Who would have thought that this issue would become a thing that brings persecution to Christians who desire to practice Biblical Faith?

1.       Real Life
a. “standing firm” “striving for the Gospel” “opponents” “suffer for His sake” “engaged in conflict”
b. we have battles going on around us. Battles for our minds, our hearts, our families, our marriages, our faith.
d. 1 Peter 5:8

2.       Real faith
a. standing, striving, not afraid, suffer for His sake, engaged in the conflict.
b. one mind, side by side,
c. a life worthy of the Gospel of Christ

 

3.       A Real War
a. Every day on the news we see the casualty’s
b. broken lives, refugees, killings, rapes, broken families, addictions
c. What will we sacrifice for the sake of winning this war?
e. What will we do to win the battle around us?

 

Paul’s joy in Jesus was not in the absence of conflict, but in knowing that in the midst of the conflict people’s lives were saved. Saved not for the moment but for eternity. His joy came from the privilege he had to suffer for Jesus as Jesus had suffered for him. Are you engaged in the battle or hunkered down in a fox hole waiting for the battle to pass?