great so we're in philippians chapter 2 and verses 1 to 11 let me pray and then i will
read the passage for us let me pray uh loving father we want to just ask now for your um
particular help as we look at this section of your words and lord we want to ask that you might give
us the concentration that we need we want to pray that we might uh not just learn stuff with our
minds but that we might be moved in our hearts to love and trust you say lord we pray that you might
impress upon us the great humility of the lord jesus that we might bow the knee to him and give
him all the glory in jesus name amen okay so i'm in philippians chapter 2 i'm going to read to you
verses 1 to 11 and then we're going to think about it together it's on page 1179 but most of you like
you're there already anyway philippians chapter 2 therefore if you have any encouragement from being
united with christ if any comfort from his love if any common sharing in the spirit if any tenderness
and compassion then make my joy complete by being like-minded having the same love being one in
spirit and of one mind do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit rather in humility value others
above yourselves not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others
in your relationships with one another have the same mindset as christ jesus who being in very nature
god did not consider equality with god something to be used to his own advantage rather he made himself
nothing by taking the very nature of a servant being made in human likeness and being found in appearance
as a man he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death even death on a cross therefore god exalted him
to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name that at the name of jesus every knee
should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue acknowledge that jesus christ is lord
to the glory of god the father now i think those verses are probably so familiar and so brilliant
that really i feel like i should perhaps just read them through a few times and then sit down and shut up
if you are in any way minded to commit verses of the bible to memory you could do a lot worse than memorizing
these verses especially verses 6 to 11 as a really central and important part of the new testament theology
of who jesus is anyway but i'm not going to just read them and sit down and shut up i have got some more
things to say as we try and have a look through and see what the lord is saying to us tonight
but to try and keep your interest on a sunday evening i am going to point out three surprises
in the verses three surprises the first one is this depending on exactly how you read it i think
there is only one instruction here so you have the passage printed out in the front of your handout i
would like you to circle the instruction what is the instruction in these verses have a think about
that maybe on your own you can cheat and talk to the person next to you if you'd like to
and circle what is the imperative or the instruction that do this in these verses there is one possibly
two depending on how you break it down or which exact greek text you choose to use
letters
yes
you
This is like exam conditions.
I'm liking this.
I think I might pace up and down just to make you feel all nervous.
So, yes.
I think it's my dream of a sort of teaching.
Even if you want to.
But that's my assumption.
There's more than that.
Oh.
It's pretty English.
I'm trying to understand.
I guess it's not.
Okay.
Now, it is possible that one of the imperatives is in verse five.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.
We're going to deal with that in a moment.
But there is one more in verses one to four.
One imperative.
What is the imperative?
The instruction in verses one to four.
It's only one.
Yes.
Make my joy complete.
That's the imperative.
That's the instruction.
That's the request.
I think it's surprising that, right?
But this is Paul's emphasis.
Everything else around it essentially is a description of the actions that that would require.
So things required to make Paul's joy complete, which is the instruction.
And it's arranged in fours.
Okay.
There are groups of four around that imperative.
So he starts, doesn't he?
If you have any.
And he starts with encouragement from being united with Christ.
That's the first one.
If any.
Second one.
Comfort from his love.
If any.
Third one.
Common sharing in the spirit.
Fourth one.
If any.
Tenderness and compassion.
And of course, the answer to all of those is, yeah, of course I have that.
Of course, I have encouragement from being united with Christ.
That there is great encouragement in being united with Christ.
If I have any comfort from his love.
Of course, the love of Christ is of great comfort to me.
I am hugely comforted by the love of Christ.
If we share in the common spirit.
Common sharing in the spirit.
Of course.
Because believers are recipients of the Holy Spirit.
If any.
Tenderness and compassion.
Of course, we are tender and compassionate towards one another.
If that's the case, well then, make my joy complete.
And afterwards, the descriptions of what filling that command looks like.
So continue.
By.
So how do I make the joy complete?
Well, by being like-minded.
Number one.
Number two.
By having the same love.
Number three.
By being one in spirit.
And fourthly, by being of one mind.
Okay.
So there's four more.
Four at the beginning.
Then the instruction.
Four at the end.
And then, four more descriptions of that.
With the sort of negative connotations included.
Nothing out of selfish ambition.
Nothing out of vain conceit.
In humility, valuing others above yourself.
Not looking to your own interest, but to the interest of others.
Four more there.
So here's the instruction from Paul.
Essentially, and I don't want to oversimplify it.
But it is essentially, make me happy.
Or make me full of joy.
By enjoying and building Christian community.
That's what he's saying.
There's, I suppose, more to it than that.
But that's the distilled essence of it.
Paul literally wants to be filled up with joy.
Full to the measure of joy.
By seeing the Philippians pulling together.
In a way that reflects the gospel that's at work in them.
Now I think, I think when you get that.
That's a massive surprise.
Why is Paul so obsessed with his own joy.
That he makes this the central instruction of verses one to four.
Turn to the person next to you.
Why is it that Paul is so obsessed with his own joy.
That he makes that the central instruction in these verses.
Have a think.
With the person next to you if you want to.
And then I'm going to ask you to answer.
You okay.
To, can I say.
I'd like the.
You better.
Thank you.
Or make the Lord's joy complete, if you can do such a thing, because the Lord is as joyful as it's possible to be joyful.
Why his joy?
Any suggestions?
what have you been talking about
Nick what did you think
we were just saying that Paul's joy
is in
Christ has given him a mission
Christ has sent him out
and he's absolutely Gentile
he's out to let people know
about Christ
and for everyone that turns to Christ
it's like
it's a wonderful thing
and he's sharing God's joy
so people like
Paul's joy is God's joy
people get saved and grown
it's kind of the same
yeah so Paul has joy in them
growing in the faith just in the same way
as that is joyful for the Lord
to see the outworking of the work of Christ on the cross
yes
there is a particular sense though
in which I think he seems to be suggesting
that the sort of
the underlying little niggles in Philippi
Philippi like Iodia and Syntyche
sort of not getting on with each other
or this selfish ambition of the preachers
in verse 15 of chapter 1
is in some sense
making Paul's joy incomplete
now I think the answer
probably the most helpful way to look
come at the answer is in chapter 4 verse 1
where he mentions joy there
so chapter 4 verse 1
just turn over the page to it
he says this
that there is a link between
their godliness and Paul's joy
because he says chapter 4 verse 1
therefore my brothers and sisters
you whom I love and long for
my joy and my crown
stand firm in the Lord in this way
dear friends
it seems doesn't it
in chapter 4 verse 1
that the perseverance of the Philippians
is somehow connected
to the crown
and reward
that Paul is looking forward to
on the day of Christ
Paul is anticipating
that on the day of Christ Jesus
his joy on that day
is not just in one sense
a joy in the Lord
although it will be
but it's a joy that comes from
seeing others there on that day
whom he had a part
in ministering to
they are his crown
and his joy
look at what the gospel did
in their lives
and I got to be part
of sharing it with them
now if that's right
then the instruction
in chapter 2 verse 2
becomes something like
make my joy complete
is something like
live in the light of Christ's return
isn't it
my joy is linked
to your perseverance
I get joy
from seeing you
persevering
in the Christian faith
until the return
of the Lord Jesus
so it is
look forward to
and long for
that day
remember that Christ
is coming again
and all this petty
squabbling
and all this selfish ambition
is a total waste of time
remember where my joy
is Philippians
don't go robbing me
of joy on that day
by your petty arguments
on this day
live for the return
of the Lord
by living out the unity
you've been given
in Jesus Christ
letting that flow
into love
and one spiritedness
one mindedness
as you look out
to the interests of others
counting others
above yourself
I don't know whether
I've used this before
but Rico Tice
who wrote
the Christianity Explored course
has an illustration
about living in London
but having a flat in
wait
living in Paris
but having a home in London
have you heard this story before
have I told you this before
no
okay well let me use it again
because it's quite helpful here
Rico Tice says this
he says imagine that your home
is in London
but you are sent with work
to Paris
and in Paris
you get given an apartment
that you are allowed to live in
for your time in Paris
but home is still back in London
okay
and you are paid a salary
in Paris
and you're allowed to spend that salary
in whatever way you choose to
you know you're supposed to provide
for your needs from that
but there is one rule
anything that you buy
for your apartment in Paris
you cannot take
from Paris
it has to remain there
but it is possible for you
to wire money
forward to London
so that you can have it there
when you finally arrive
back home in London
and you can enjoy it there
and Rico's question to you then is
okay
if that's
if that's the scenario
that you're working in
what do you do with your money
what does your apartment
look like in Paris
do you fill it
full
right to the brim
with all sorts of different
trinkets and furnitures
well no of course you don't do you
what you do is you live as simply
as you possibly can
in order to send as much money
forward as you can
so that you can enjoy it
when you arrive home
in London
and he says in one sense
that's
that's kind of Christian living
we are living here
temporarily
but it is possible
says Paul
and
it's not
treasure here
is it
it's joy here
it is possible
if you like
for us to
wire joy forwards
for that day
by Christian perseverance
on this day
so why would you
indulge so much
in trying to be right
now in an argument
or a discussion
and that sort of thing
with one another
squabbling with one another
in Philippians
when that robs you
of sending joy forwards
for the day of the Lord Jesus
that's I think
Paul's assumption here
that it is
this sense of living
in the light
of Christ's return
the future joy
that means
that present squabbles
are not really worth having
and you can kind of see
how that works
can't you
yeah
I remember
maybe this is too much
for admission
but I'll go for it anyway
I remember when
Vanessa and I were first married
we were
we were having an argument
it was a very rare occasion
but we were having an argument
we lived in a small flat
in Sheffield
which
it was like
the bishop's old house
in Sheffield
had been turned into apartments
and I think they'd just like
put paper between the apartments
it wasn't
you know
you could hear everything right
and so we were having this argument
and then someone just started
banging on the wall
to tell us to shut up
and
and then all of a sudden
we just started laughing
and we couldn't even remember
what we were arguing about
but that's
that's the sense here isn't it
that there's a sort of
there's a pettiness
to selfish ambition
which forgets
that there's a day coming
a day of future joy
when we'll stand before the Lord
when actually
that
that idea that you were making
a name for yourself
in the church
will seem to be so pathetic
and silly
why were you so bothered about that
there's a day of future joy
why are you so bothered about
being right in that discussion
with other euodia and syndicate
because there's a
there's a day of future joy
and that will
you won't be bothered
there'll be a banging on the wall
and you'll forget
what you were arguing about
and that's the sense here
okay so
just in your pairs
I think I put one question
for discussion there
what would it look like
for you to pay joy forwards
what would it look like
for you to pay joy forwards
have I written that on your
invest in future joy
have a talk with the person
next to you about that
did anyone have a really
helpful answer
that they want to share
no
just a no
come on Florence
yes
so there are issues
that become a priority
in this life
which they probably shouldn't be
in the light of the future
we can be obsessed with
present blessing
rather than future blessing
yeah
there's a
there's a really
helpful Puritan
prayer that
um
that gave something like this
we
uh
we hasten to a day
where it will be
immaterial
whether we were rich
or poor
happy
or sad
and
you know
there's that
it's that sense isn't there
we are
we are running
towards a day
where actually
much of what we worry
about today
will be completely
immaterial
and so we live
in the light
of that day
we make
our joy complete
we make Paul's joy complete
we make one another's joy complete
by living in the light
of Christ's return
yes
there are things
concerning us
but if the Lord
took us tonight
we'd be
yes
why would we say
worried about it
yeah
great
Christian
second surprise
okay
we're going to move
a little bit more
quickly
uh
Christian community
starts with
Christ-like
thinking
I am told
because I'm not really
very good at this anyway
but verse 5
is quite difficult
to translate
and there are
a couple of different
Greek
possibilities
in terms of
background text
as well
so the question
is whether it's
really a command
or it's passive
so the NIV translation
is really a paraphrase
of what's there
in your relationships
with one another
have the same mindset
as Christ Jesus
the ESV
if you have one of those
translates it
have this mind
among yourselves
which is yours
in Christ Jesus
and that sort of
captures the spread
of the possibilities
either this is an imperative
you have the same mindset
as Christ Jesus
you know
make sure you have that
or
have this mind
it's yours
in Christ Jesus
so live it out
now
you can
read
any number of commentaries
which
will tell you
any number of things
about that
but basically
it comes down to this
I guess
in a sense
is that
Christ Jesus
thought in this way
you also
should think
in that way
and it's right
to say isn't it
that as we become
Christians
we are given
the mind of Christ
we by the spirit
of God
we think like
the Lord Jesus
we are being transformed
into his likeness
to think like him
so that's also true
but it's also true
that we should strain
every effort
to think like Christ
so I don't think
there's any
great battle
to have
in the translation
of verse 5
particularly
but the idea
is that
Christian living
starts with
Christ-like
thinking
Christian living
starts with
Christ-like
thinking
and the community
the Christian community
which Paul is so
eager to see formed
is a function
of how they think
before it's a function
of what they do
and what then
is that thinking
well it's outlined
in the verses
that follow
in verses 6 to 8
Christ Jesus
who being
in very nature
God
did not consider
equality with God
something to be used
to his own
advantage
he's not making
himself less than God
he is in very nature
God
but he is not using
his divinity
to overcome
the weakness
of human flesh
which he is taking
on to himself
instead verse 7
he is making himself
nothing
taking the very
nature of a servant
being made
in human likeness
Jesus takes
to himself
full humanity
even as he is
in very nature
God
he becomes
human
being made
in human likeness
and then
being found
in appearance
as a man
he humbled himself
by becoming
obedient to death
even death
on a cross
it's the steps
down isn't it
from the
from the glories
of heaven
to the weakness
of human flesh
to the humble
status of a servant
to the service
of death
on a cross
for the sake
of others
now again
I don't want to do
all the talking
this evening
so I just wonder
whether you could
think of a way
that you might
describe Jesus'
thinking
if you could
encapsulate
Jesus' thinking
in verses 6 to 8
how would you
encapsulate it
what would you
describe Jesus'
thinking as
in verses 6 to 8
and then what would it
mean for you
to think the same way
okay
how would you
encapsulate Jesus'
thinking
how would you
describe Jesus'
thinking in verses 6 to 8
what would it mean
to think the same way
have a think about that
just for a moment
because we're going
to
okay
how would you
describe Jesus'
thinking
what's Jesus'
mindset in verses 6 to 8
anybody
so he's thinking
of humanity
he's thinking
of people
yeah
and not using
his divinity
as a reason
not to
serve humanity
in the way
that they needed
yeah
he's not
like he's not
going
I'm above this
right
these guys are
messed up
right
what am I doing
here
these guys are
not worthy
of my
service
I am
leaving them alone
he's not thinking
like that at all
is he
he's
he's giving
himself up
yeah
thanks Claire
others
I feel like
Liz is on the
cusp of a
thought
but it's
I just think
somewhere
there was
because there's
another scripture
there was
joy
in actually
doing
this
because
we're
human
beings
we wouldn't
naturally
want to
leave
our status
and to
become
nobody
yet Jesus
was willingly
doing that
so he must
have thought
they're worth it
you know
it's in another
reason
yeah
this is
Hebrews 12
2
isn't it
he for the
joy that
was set
before him
endured
the cross
scorning
its shame
and sat
down at
the right
hand of
the throne
of God
consider him
who endured
such opposition
from sinners
that you will
not grow
weary
and lose
heart
yeah
the joy
set
before him
yeah
so what
do you think
it would
look like
for us
to think
in the same
way
I think
I've
before
I summarized
it like
this
I think
at
Redeemer
yesterday
and I
think I
did this
before
for us
that
this is
self-sacrificial
service
for the
eternal
well-being
of others
to the
glory
of God
right
that's
what's
going on
here
what would
it mean
for us
to think
that same
way
so
at least
had a good
phrase
which she's
borrowed
from a
book
that she's
read
go on
yes
not to
think less
of yourself
but to
think of
yourself
less
yeah
it's not
like a
continual
putting down
of yourself
but just
not actually
thinking of
yourself
in those
situations
yeah
that's a
Tim Keller
ism
it's helpful
yeah
yes
there is
we should
be willing
to consider
whatever it
is that
we're asked
to do
by the
Lord
however
humbling
it is
yeah
because
actually
if these
verses
are right
then
it's
okay
for us
to be
asked
to do
big
things
and
significantly
humbling
things
and to
lose
things
that
are
precious
to
us
for the
sake
of
other
people's
eternal
well-being
it's
okay
yeah
I think
that's
what you're
saying
isn't
it's
okay
for God
to ask
you
to lay
that down
for the
eternal
well-being
of somebody
else
yeah
it's
profoundly
challenging
isn't it
profoundly
challenging
Vanessa
are you
going to
say something
or we
just
yes
so it
is a
concern
for the
glory
of God
over and
above it
is for
the pat
on the
back
of people
yeah
okay
let's just
move on
and do
the third
thing
the third
and final
surprise
is that
humility
is divine
greatness
and maybe
this isn't a
surprise
because I
think we're
perhaps so
used to
it but
the
therefore
in verse
nine
is supposed
to come
I think
as a
surprise
or a
shock
that it
is
as
God
sees
the
humility
of the
son
in human
flesh
that he
exalts
him
to the
highest
place
I think
literally
the word
there is
is hyper
exalt
or super
exalts
him
that
we've got
to be careful
haven't we
the son
is eternally
divine
verse six
he is in
very nature
God
has been
and continues
to be
in very
nature
God
this is
not the
elevation
of the
son
to a
status
that he
did not
have
before
in eternity
past
God
the son
was
and is
divine
rather
this seems
to be
related to
the
humanity
of Jesus
Christ
the God
man
Christ
Jesus
it is
God
the son
in flesh
that is
super
exalted
he is
given the
name
that is
above
every
name
he is
the
king
Jesus
is
Lord
it's
the
summary
of the
gospel
isn't
it
he is
Lord
the ruler
over
God's
people
he is
the
fulfillment
of all
the
kingship
in the
old
testament
that we've
been
looking at
on
Sunday
mornings
he is
the
head
over
God's
people
he is
the
new
Adam
the
new
head
of
humanity
so that
God
the
father
looks
on
Jesus
and
says
yes
amen
that is
my
divine
eternal
son
in
human
flesh
who
has
accomplished
all
that we
laid
before
him
his
humility
has
exposed
his
divine
DNA
if you
like
Jesus
has
exposed
God
and
made
him
known
in
his
humility
now
creation
will
worship
Jesus
because
in
Jesus
we
see
the
divine
rule
and reign
of
God
so that
God
the
father
is
glorified
by
Jesus
being
worshipped
and
submitted
to
how
is
the
father
glorified
by
Jesus
being
worshipped
well
because
Jesus
being
worshipped
is the
exposure
of
divinity
because
you
see
in
Christ
what
it
is
to
be
God
and
so
God
is
glorified
I
don't
know
whether
can you
remember
those
magic eye
pictures
you know
when you
there was
like a phase
at Christmas
when there
were all
the rage
when you
hold them
up to
your eyes
and then
you move
them away
and all
of a sudden
the image
pops out
or if
you're
like me
you do
that for
ages
and
nothing
happens
at
all
I
think
you have
to be
slightly
cross-eyed
to see it
does anyone
know what
I'm talking
about
Florence
you have
no idea
she's
too young
Florence
I know
what I'm
getting you
for Christmas
right
a magic
eye picture
magic
eye picture
so
it is
I mean
this is
maybe
a slightly
silly
illustration
but it
is as
if
Jesus
as you
hold him
up to
your face
as you
see Jesus
in his
humility
on the
cross
out pops
the glory
of God
the divinity
this is
God in
flesh
this is
what God
looks like
this
humility
is the
exposure
of God's
greatness
and his
majesty
and his
glory
that we
may
worship
him
as
king
of kings
and lord
of lords
every knee
bowing
every tongue
acknowledging
that Jesus
Christ
is lord
to the
glory
of God
the father
and that
second half
from verse
nine
down to
verse
eleven
picks up
old testament
images
of God
and his
greatness
and applies
them to
Jesus
in his
humanity
which is
a remarkable
thing
for Paul
to do
so let
me just
end with
this
and we
can talk
about this
in our
groups
just before
we finish
how is
the humble
greatness
of Jesus
good news
for us
as we
seek to
live like
him
this is
meant
I think
to be
an inspiration
for us
to have
this mindset
that Christ
Jesus
has
so how is
this humble
greatness of
Jesus
good news
for us
as we
try and
live for
him
how I
think
about that
anyone want
to share
their answer
or the answer
of the person
they were
talking with
say
Jesus
in his
humble
greatness
demonstrates
to us
and shows
us what
God is
like
and gives
us something
that we
could never
earn
right
he gives
us
salvation
a place
in glory
forgiveness
of sins
new life
by the
spirit
a hope
of future
glory
so he
gives us
that
and that
makes us
want to
serve
others
in humble
sacrificial
service
for their
eternal
well-being
but if we
do that
we will be
empty
so where
are we
going to
go
we're going
to go
to the
saviour
who
humbly
serves
us
for giving
us
what we
can't
earn
ourselves
in his
humble
sacrifice
for us
and as
we see
and experience
that it
makes us
want to
humbly
serve
others
even more
but where
are we
going to
go for
the
resources
to do
that
we're
going to
come
back
to
Christ
who
humbly
serves
us
which
sends
us
round
and round
looking
perpetual
motion
as we
live for
Christ
and his
glory
it's
brilliant
news
isn't
it
it's
brilliant
news
because
Jesus
it's easy
I think
for people
in the world
to ask
you to
give up
stuff
and ask
you to
be humble
and say
that you
should be
self-effacing
but where
is the
power and
the strength
going to
come from
to do
that
it has
no power
or strength
to do
that
actually
our
power and
strength
to humbly
give
ourselves
up
for the
eternal
well-being
of others
comes from
the fact
that at
the centre
of our
story
is God
himself
in human
flesh
humbly
serving us
that we
might be
saved
and therefore
we go and
pass that
on to
others
let me
pray
and then
we'll
sing
to
play
heavenly
father
how we
thank you
for
Jesus
thank you
for his
humble
greatness
thank you
that he
made himself
nothing
he took
the very
nature
of a
servant
and was
made
in human
likeness
and being
found in
appearance
as a
man
he
humbled
himself
becoming
obedient
to death
even
death
on a
cross
that we
might
be
saved
oh
lord
what a
great
delight
what
great
joy
for us
we
pray
please
that you
might
help us
with like
minds
to serve
others
that they
too
might enjoy
what we
enjoy in
the lord
Jesus
and we
pray lord
that we
might do
that
like
Christ
for your
glory
in
Jesus
name
amen