WEBVTT 00:00:00.920 --> 00:00:07.179 I have the privilege this morning of preaching one of my favorite passages of Scripture 00:00:07.179 --> 00:00:12.060 and what may be one of the most beautiful passages of Scripture in the entire New Testament 00:00:12.060 --> 00:00:15.980 in Philippians chapter 2 verses 1 through 11. 00:00:16.199 --> 00:00:19.920 So if you would, take your Bibles, open them up to Philippians, book of Philippians, 00:00:20.359 --> 00:00:23.580 and chapter 2 verses 1 through 11. 00:00:23.859 --> 00:00:26.219 If you don't have your own Bible with you, that's alright. 00:00:26.300 --> 00:00:28.660 We've got Bibles for you and the seat back's in front of you, 00:00:28.660 --> 00:00:33.079 but I would encourage you to have a Bible open this morning as we hear from the Word of God. 00:00:33.200 --> 00:00:38.000 So when you've found it, Philippians 2, 1 through 11, let's stand in honor of the reading of God's Word this morning. 00:00:49.879 --> 00:00:55.100 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, 00:00:55.100 --> 00:01:00.660 any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 00:01:01.240 --> 00:01:06.599 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, 00:01:07.120 --> 00:01:09.519 being in full accord and of one mind, 00:01:10.320 --> 00:01:13.219 do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, 00:01:13.579 --> 00:01:17.079 but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 00:01:17.079 --> 00:01:20.500 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, 00:01:20.640 --> 00:01:23.219 but also to the interests of others. 00:01:24.259 --> 00:01:28.480 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 00:01:29.219 --> 00:01:31.599 who, though he was in the form of God, 00:01:31.719 --> 00:01:34.900 did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 00:01:35.159 --> 00:01:37.920 but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, 00:01:38.659 --> 00:01:40.200 being born in the likeness of men, 00:01:40.900 --> 00:01:42.579 and being found in human form, 00:01:42.579 --> 00:01:46.679 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, 00:01:47.200 --> 00:01:48.700 even death on a cross. 00:01:49.719 --> 00:01:52.340 Therefore, God has highly exalted him 00:01:52.340 --> 00:01:56.280 and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 00:01:56.459 --> 00:01:57.879 so that at the name of Jesus, 00:01:58.200 --> 00:02:00.560 every knee should bow in heaven and on earth 00:02:00.560 --> 00:02:01.700 and under the earth, 00:02:01.840 --> 00:02:03.400 and every tongue confess 00:02:03.400 --> 00:02:05.519 that Jesus Christ is Lord 00:02:05.519 --> 00:02:07.700 to the glory of God the Father. 00:02:08.860 --> 00:02:10.699 The grass withers and the flower fades 00:02:10.699 --> 00:02:13.239 but the word of the Lord endures forever. 00:02:13.919 --> 00:02:14.759 Let's pray once more. 00:02:14.879 --> 00:02:17.119 Father, we praise you 00:02:17.119 --> 00:02:20.479 for the beautiful truth of this passage, 00:02:20.599 --> 00:02:22.539 and we pray, God, would you now take it 00:02:22.539 --> 00:02:25.259 from our ears into our minds 00:02:25.259 --> 00:02:27.039 and down into our hearts 00:02:27.039 --> 00:02:28.259 and then out into our lives. 00:02:28.339 --> 00:02:29.299 We pray in Christ Jesus. 00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:30.159 Amen. 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:32.039 You may be seated. 00:02:33.500 --> 00:02:34.959 Well, a few weeks ago, 00:02:34.959 --> 00:02:36.379 I mentioned Hudson Taylor, 00:02:37.139 --> 00:02:38.639 a missionary to China. 00:02:39.099 --> 00:02:40.639 You remember that name, Hudson Taylor? 00:02:40.939 --> 00:02:43.280 He traveled to China at the age of 21, 00:02:43.560 --> 00:02:47.419 and he founded the China Inland Mission in 1857. 00:02:47.739 --> 00:02:50.159 He started with 22 missionaries, 00:02:50.259 --> 00:02:52.359 and by the time he died in 1905, 00:02:52.739 --> 00:02:56.099 there were over 825 missionaries 00:02:56.099 --> 00:02:58.919 in 18 provinces of China 00:02:58.919 --> 00:03:02.620 with over 500 local Chinese helpers 00:03:02.620 --> 00:03:06.739 and over 25,000 converts to Christ. 00:03:07.740 --> 00:03:09.659 It's amazing what the Lord did 00:03:09.659 --> 00:03:11.060 through the life of Hudson Taylor, 00:03:11.140 --> 00:03:13.760 and that sounds like a tremendous success, 00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:14.460 and it is. 00:03:14.520 --> 00:03:15.680 It is a tremendous success, 00:03:15.680 --> 00:03:19.420 but you should know that it wasn't always easy. 00:03:20.600 --> 00:03:23.140 Hudson Taylor took no salary whatsoever. 00:03:24.280 --> 00:03:26.740 He battled all sorts of sickness and illness. 00:03:26.740 --> 00:03:28.080 He had terrible headaches. 00:03:28.200 --> 00:03:30.700 He had inflammation in his eyes that was persistent, 00:03:30.840 --> 00:03:34.520 not to mention there was a looming civil war there in China 00:03:34.520 --> 00:03:37.560 that kept him on guard and on edge at all times. 00:03:38.060 --> 00:03:40.580 He was physically assaulted more than once. 00:03:40.659 --> 00:03:41.420 He was robbed. 00:03:42.379 --> 00:03:44.520 Hudson Taylor lost three children 00:03:44.520 --> 00:03:47.120 while he was there in the field. 00:03:47.120 --> 00:03:49.039 His wife battled serious sickness. 00:03:49.319 --> 00:03:51.280 He despaired of life itself. 00:03:51.520 --> 00:03:53.939 He even contemplated suicide at times. 00:03:54.060 --> 00:03:57.780 Hudson Taylor had years and years and years and years 00:03:57.780 --> 00:04:01.860 of this sort of selfless, humble sacrifice. 00:04:02.259 --> 00:04:03.900 Taylor, he gave his life away 00:04:03.900 --> 00:04:05.759 for the glory of God 00:04:05.759 --> 00:04:08.960 and the establishment of the church in China. 00:04:10.360 --> 00:04:12.000 Years later, towards the end of his life, 00:04:12.060 --> 00:04:14.400 as he looked back and reflected on all of this, 00:04:14.500 --> 00:04:16.340 reflected on all that God has done, 00:04:16.339 --> 00:04:17.560 and listen to what he said. 00:04:18.619 --> 00:04:21.639 I never made a single sacrifice. 00:04:23.339 --> 00:04:24.099 Not one. 00:04:25.199 --> 00:04:28.739 Never made a single sacrifice. 00:04:29.060 --> 00:04:29.699 And you ask yourself, 00:04:29.799 --> 00:04:31.699 how in the world can somebody say something like that? 00:04:33.099 --> 00:04:36.799 How in the world can somebody give so much of themselves? 00:04:37.219 --> 00:04:39.739 How in the world can somebody lose so much 00:04:39.739 --> 00:04:40.919 of what's precious to them? 00:04:40.979 --> 00:04:41.879 And yet at the end of the day, 00:04:41.959 --> 00:04:42.699 look back and say, 00:04:42.819 --> 00:04:44.299 none of that was lost. 00:04:44.300 --> 00:04:46.520 I never made a single sacrifice. 00:04:46.520 --> 00:04:48.100 The reason is, I believe, 00:04:48.680 --> 00:04:52.740 Hudson Taylor understood the message of Philippians chapter 2. 00:04:53.900 --> 00:04:56.580 The message that we're going to see this morning from our passage. 00:04:56.720 --> 00:04:57.240 And it's this. 00:04:57.340 --> 00:04:59.580 It's because of the gospel, 00:05:00.360 --> 00:05:02.120 Christians like Hudson Taylor, 00:05:02.759 --> 00:05:04.340 and Christians like the Apostle Paul, 00:05:04.500 --> 00:05:05.240 Christians like me, 00:05:05.379 --> 00:05:06.220 Christians like you, 00:05:06.220 --> 00:05:08.100 because of the gospel, 00:05:08.600 --> 00:05:14.740 Christians are empowered to embrace the radical selflessness of Christ Jesus. 00:05:16.100 --> 00:05:17.940 That's the message for today, 00:05:18.060 --> 00:05:18.720 in a nutshell, 00:05:18.880 --> 00:05:19.300 in a sentence. 00:05:19.440 --> 00:05:20.500 Because of the gospel, 00:05:21.020 --> 00:05:27.880 Christians are empowered to embrace the radical selflessness of Jesus Christ. 00:05:27.879 --> 00:05:35.360 Christ has given himself for us in humble, radical, sacrificial love, 00:05:35.480 --> 00:05:38.839 and now we in him go and do likewise. 00:05:39.240 --> 00:05:40.779 That's the call of the Christian life. 00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:43.180 And so I have two questions for us this morning. 00:05:43.259 --> 00:05:44.379 This will be our outline today. 00:05:44.480 --> 00:05:46.079 Two questions for us this morning. 00:05:46.219 --> 00:05:48.399 First, what does that look like? 00:05:49.100 --> 00:05:50.339 To give your life away, 00:05:50.420 --> 00:05:51.279 what does it look like? 00:05:51.699 --> 00:05:52.879 And second question, 00:05:53.000 --> 00:05:54.199 where does that even come from? 00:05:54.199 --> 00:05:56.920 What does it look like? 00:05:57.120 --> 00:05:59.060 And where does it come from? 00:05:59.159 --> 00:05:59.779 First question, 00:06:00.439 --> 00:06:04.300 what does it look like to live in selfless love for others? 00:06:05.939 --> 00:06:07.259 Remember our context here. 00:06:07.339 --> 00:06:08.099 Remember what's going on. 00:06:08.159 --> 00:06:10.139 The Apostle Paul is in prison, 00:06:10.360 --> 00:06:13.959 and he's writing to a church that he labored for. 00:06:14.060 --> 00:06:17.719 He gave his life to establish the church there in Philippi. 00:06:17.819 --> 00:06:18.439 He labored. 00:06:18.539 --> 00:06:19.459 He prayed for them. 00:06:19.539 --> 00:06:22.740 And now he fully expects that now that he's left, 00:06:22.740 --> 00:06:23.699 now that he's moved on, 00:06:23.699 --> 00:06:27.740 he fully expects them to continue in what he has started. 00:06:28.579 --> 00:06:32.459 He expects them to continue to share his ambition for the gospel. 00:06:32.699 --> 00:06:36.379 He expects them to continue in unity and in love and in fellowship 00:06:36.379 --> 00:06:38.800 and to be of one mind and one mission. 00:06:39.000 --> 00:06:42.740 They're supposed to be advancing the gospel there in Philippi, 00:06:42.839 --> 00:06:45.699 but apparently there's an issue here. 00:06:45.800 --> 00:06:47.599 That vehicle is supposed to be running, 00:06:47.800 --> 00:06:49.620 but a cord is loose somewhere. 00:06:49.620 --> 00:06:54.840 There seems to be an issue of disunity in the church. 00:06:54.939 --> 00:06:56.899 I'm not sure exactly what that issue is. 00:06:56.959 --> 00:06:58.480 We're not told exactly what it is. 00:06:58.560 --> 00:07:04.420 We see in chapter 4 that Paul actually calls out two women in the church by name. 00:07:04.560 --> 00:07:07.740 Now, a couple weeks ago we said Paul doesn't care whether he lives or dies. 00:07:07.740 --> 00:07:11.480 I think that's obvious in the fact that he calls out two women by name, 00:07:11.540 --> 00:07:11.960 and he says, 00:07:12.040 --> 00:07:13.939 Y'all need to get along in the Lord. 00:07:14.860 --> 00:07:15.960 Y'all need to stop fighting. 00:07:16.100 --> 00:07:18.699 I call on you and the Lord to agree. 00:07:18.980 --> 00:07:22.160 And he's hinted at this theme already at the end of chapter 1. 00:07:22.280 --> 00:07:25.759 He says he wants the church to stand firm in one spirit, 00:07:26.400 --> 00:07:27.480 one mind, 00:07:27.639 --> 00:07:30.639 strive side by side for the faith of the gospel. 00:07:30.800 --> 00:07:31.980 That's the call. 00:07:31.980 --> 00:07:36.360 And so he picks up on that theme here in our passage starting in verse 1. 00:07:36.420 --> 00:07:37.020 Look there with me. 00:07:38.120 --> 00:07:38.680 Verse 1. 00:07:39.600 --> 00:07:40.040 He says, 00:07:40.460 --> 00:07:44.020 So, if there is any encouragement in Christ. 00:07:44.120 --> 00:07:45.460 Is there any encouragement in Christ? 00:07:46.740 --> 00:07:49.439 If there is any comfort from love. 00:07:50.360 --> 00:07:52.900 If there is any participation in the spirit. 00:07:53.040 --> 00:07:55.080 If you share this one spirit. 00:07:55.180 --> 00:07:56.280 If you have any affection, 00:07:56.520 --> 00:07:59.280 any sympathy for me and my chains. 00:07:59.400 --> 00:08:00.439 If you look at me. 00:08:00.500 --> 00:08:01.220 If you love me. 00:08:01.220 --> 00:08:02.600 If you share in my suffering. 00:08:02.780 --> 00:08:04.460 If you're a partner with me. 00:08:04.860 --> 00:08:09.560 Complete my joy by being of the same mind. 00:08:09.660 --> 00:08:09.960 How? 00:08:11.260 --> 00:08:11.680 How? 00:08:12.600 --> 00:08:13.700 Here in verses 2-4. 00:08:13.840 --> 00:08:16.680 He shares with the church what they are to be. 00:08:16.900 --> 00:08:18.820 And then what they are to do. 00:08:19.380 --> 00:08:21.720 That's what God has made them to be in Christ. 00:08:21.900 --> 00:08:26.360 And then the outflow of what that ought to look like in their lives together. 00:08:26.520 --> 00:08:27.740 And let me just tell you. 00:08:27.780 --> 00:08:28.520 This ought to be obvious. 00:08:28.519 --> 00:08:31.339 But this isn't just application for the church of Philippi. 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:34.240 We need to put this right here for us at Seawee Bay. 00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:36.279 He says, 00:08:36.379 --> 00:08:38.980 They are to be united. 00:08:40.819 --> 00:08:41.179 United. 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:41.939 Verse 2. 00:08:42.039 --> 00:08:45.960 Complete my joy by being of the same mind. 00:08:46.779 --> 00:08:48.579 Having the same love. 00:08:48.679 --> 00:08:50.259 Being of full accord. 00:08:50.379 --> 00:08:51.960 And of one mind. 00:08:51.960 --> 00:08:53.540 Do you hear these themes of unity? 00:08:56.180 --> 00:08:56.660 Unity. 00:08:56.660 --> 00:08:56.700 Unity. 00:08:57.480 --> 00:09:00.500 Is absolutely crucial. 00:09:00.860 --> 00:09:02.300 For the health of a church. 00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:06.720 And for the advance of the gospel through the church. 00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:12.340 We cannot hope to advance the gospel through the church. 00:09:12.340 --> 00:09:14.340 If the church is at odds with one another. 00:09:14.440 --> 00:09:15.259 If we are not united. 00:09:15.440 --> 00:09:17.300 If we are fighting with one another. 00:09:17.399 --> 00:09:19.060 If you bite and devour each other. 00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:20.180 What does Paul say in Galatians? 00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:22.820 Watch out that you don't devour each other. 00:09:23.379 --> 00:09:25.600 Unity is crucial for gospel advancement. 00:09:25.779 --> 00:09:26.279 You tell me. 00:09:26.320 --> 00:09:28.460 What happens when a team breaks the huddle. 00:09:28.560 --> 00:09:30.100 And they go off and they run different plays. 00:09:30.660 --> 00:09:31.440 Team loses. 00:09:31.660 --> 00:09:32.420 That's what happens. 00:09:33.159 --> 00:09:33.740 Or at worst. 00:09:33.779 --> 00:09:35.299 What happens if a team breaks the huddle. 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:36.679 And they start tackling each other. 00:09:37.219 --> 00:09:38.759 The team loses. 00:09:38.959 --> 00:09:40.299 And they look foolish. 00:09:40.799 --> 00:09:42.019 In the eyes of everybody watching. 00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:43.879 Paul says. 00:09:44.019 --> 00:09:45.860 You all have been given a mission. 00:09:46.079 --> 00:09:47.079 Go make disciples. 00:09:47.319 --> 00:09:49.379 Go make the name of Christ known. 00:09:49.379 --> 00:09:51.860 Go magnify the glory of God. 00:09:51.939 --> 00:09:53.500 In the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:09:53.599 --> 00:09:55.259 You've been given a common purpose. 00:09:55.479 --> 00:09:56.799 You've been given a common faith. 00:09:56.899 --> 00:09:58.579 You've been given a common goal. 00:09:58.699 --> 00:10:01.599 But in order for you to accomplish that common goal. 00:10:01.600 --> 00:10:04.759 You must be unified. 00:10:05.060 --> 00:10:06.740 That's what they must be. 00:10:07.019 --> 00:10:09.100 But what does it look like practically? 00:10:09.980 --> 00:10:11.540 What does he want them and us? 00:10:11.540 --> 00:10:12.980 What does he want us to do? 00:10:13.080 --> 00:10:14.120 Look there to verse 3 and 4. 00:10:15.180 --> 00:10:18.060 Verses 3 and 4 can be summed up like this. 00:10:18.120 --> 00:10:18.540 He says. 00:10:18.920 --> 00:10:21.460 Serve one another in radical. 00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:22.800 Humble. 00:10:23.800 --> 00:10:24.399 Sacrificial. 00:10:25.220 --> 00:10:25.779 Selfless. 00:10:26.379 --> 00:10:26.800 Love. 00:10:28.040 --> 00:10:28.879 That's the call. 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:32.259 Give your life away. 00:10:32.620 --> 00:10:35.399 In love for each other. 00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:38.639 You want to know how to promote unity in a church? 00:10:39.419 --> 00:10:44.500 Give yourself away in selfless love for one another. 00:10:44.620 --> 00:10:47.500 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit. 00:10:47.580 --> 00:10:48.000 He says. 00:10:48.759 --> 00:10:49.899 But in humility. 00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:53.600 Count others more significant than yourselves. 00:10:53.600 --> 00:10:57.340 Let each of you look not only to his own interest. 00:10:57.500 --> 00:11:00.840 But also to the interest in the others. 00:11:01.440 --> 00:11:01.840 In others. 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:05.460 You want to know what the biggest obstacle to unity in a church often is? 00:11:07.560 --> 00:11:08.500 It's our self. 00:11:10.180 --> 00:11:11.259 It's self. 00:11:11.460 --> 00:11:12.779 It's love of self. 00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:16.620 That's the biggest obstacle to unity in the church. 00:11:16.720 --> 00:11:17.220 And here's the thing. 00:11:17.300 --> 00:11:18.259 We all think that. 00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:21.399 Well the biggest obstacle to me being united with them. 00:11:21.399 --> 00:11:22.519 Is them. 00:11:22.699 --> 00:11:25.100 If they would just change and be a little bit more like me. 00:11:25.240 --> 00:11:26.720 Then I could be united with them. 00:11:27.459 --> 00:11:27.659 Right? 00:11:28.579 --> 00:11:29.500 We all think that way. 00:11:29.559 --> 00:11:30.279 That's how I think. 00:11:30.840 --> 00:11:31.259 We all. 00:11:31.319 --> 00:11:37.899 It is natural for us to be drawn to be unified with people that are just like us. 00:11:37.959 --> 00:11:40.959 But there's nothing supernatural about any of that. 00:11:42.360 --> 00:11:45.639 Christian unity is not like the unity that you see in the world. 00:11:45.740 --> 00:11:48.600 The unity that you see in the world is birds of a feather flock together. 00:11:48.939 --> 00:11:49.139 Right? 00:11:49.139 --> 00:11:51.419 If we share the same preferences. 00:11:51.799 --> 00:11:52.879 If we have the same background. 00:11:53.179 --> 00:11:54.799 If we have the same interest. 00:11:55.139 --> 00:11:56.259 If we like the same things. 00:11:56.319 --> 00:11:57.419 If we talk the same way. 00:11:57.480 --> 00:11:58.439 If we look the same way. 00:11:58.620 --> 00:11:59.740 We can be united. 00:11:59.879 --> 00:12:00.039 Listen. 00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:03.580 You can go to any frat house in America and find that sort of unity. 00:12:04.679 --> 00:12:05.980 Everybody dresses the same. 00:12:06.080 --> 00:12:06.620 Looks the same. 00:12:06.699 --> 00:12:07.240 Talks the same. 00:12:07.319 --> 00:12:07.919 Acts the same. 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:09.840 That's not Christian unity. 00:12:11.199 --> 00:12:14.259 Christian unity does not mean unanimity. 00:12:14.259 --> 00:12:18.759 We don't all have to agree on everything to be united in Christ. 00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:22.399 We can have all sorts of different preferences. 00:12:23.480 --> 00:12:26.879 We can have all sorts of different opinions on many different topics. 00:12:27.080 --> 00:12:29.919 We can have all sorts of matter of diversity. 00:12:30.419 --> 00:12:34.080 And yet we can in Christ be united. 00:12:34.240 --> 00:12:35.980 Unity doesn't mean unanimity. 00:12:36.179 --> 00:12:38.000 And it also doesn't mean uniformity. 00:12:38.899 --> 00:12:40.159 Everybody looks the same. 00:12:40.259 --> 00:12:41.000 Acts the same. 00:12:41.100 --> 00:12:41.879 Talks the same. 00:12:41.980 --> 00:12:42.720 Is the same. 00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:45.620 That's never been God's aim in the church. 00:12:46.840 --> 00:12:47.560 The church. 00:12:48.779 --> 00:12:59.779 It's meant to be this beautifully diverse and yet united group of sinners that are brought into one messy family by the grace of God and the gospel of Christ. 00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:03.320 So that others, outsiders, look at this and they say, 00:13:03.620 --> 00:13:05.420 How in the world are you guys friends again? 00:13:06.940 --> 00:13:07.960 Explain that to me. 00:13:07.960 --> 00:13:11.540 How in the world are you guys just a family? 00:13:11.539 --> 00:13:12.879 How is this a family? 00:13:13.139 --> 00:13:21.559 This group of people that are so different and come from different places and different backgrounds and different stories and yet you share this common bond. 00:13:21.620 --> 00:13:23.019 Would you explain that to me? 00:13:24.279 --> 00:13:28.879 The only answer is this is what God has done in the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:29.879 Moises Silva. 00:13:29.879 --> 00:13:32.019 Moises Silva. 00:13:32.840 --> 00:13:33.399 He says, 00:13:33.480 --> 00:13:42.080 The true obstacle to unity is not the presence of legitimate differences of opinion, but it's self-centeredness. 00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:51.019 In other words, the trouble in pursuing unity in the church is the one thing that all of us do have in common, which is that we all love ourselves. 00:13:51.019 --> 00:14:02.100 Paul knows this and so he makes clear to the Philippians, selfishness breeds disunity, but selflessness breeds unity. 00:14:03.480 --> 00:14:10.139 Selfishness harms the advance of the gospel, but selflessness, that will promote the advance of the gospel. 00:14:10.340 --> 00:14:15.059 Pride will destroy a church, but humility is going to build the church. 00:14:15.059 --> 00:14:19.839 Pride says I'm most important, but humility says you're most important. 00:14:21.519 --> 00:14:26.119 Pride says I'm something, but humility says I'm nothing. 00:14:27.099 --> 00:14:28.799 Christ is everything. 00:14:29.799 --> 00:14:34.279 And because Christ is everything to me, others are more significant than me. 00:14:34.279 --> 00:14:47.019 I think that we get this in theory, conceptually, but if we want the gospel to be advanced through this church, we have to put this type of humility into practice, each one of us. 00:14:48.139 --> 00:14:56.740 We all have to be constantly on guard to humble ourselves and to put each other's needs above our own, and even above our own wants and our own needs. 00:14:56.839 --> 00:14:59.339 Put others' interests even above our own interests. 00:14:59.459 --> 00:15:01.919 In fact, this is part of our church covenant. 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:02.939 You realize this? 00:15:02.940 --> 00:15:19.480 In the covenant that we make together as members of Seawee Bay Baptist Church, it says we will put each other's needs above our own, rejoicing in each other's happiness and helping carry each other's burdens and sorrows. 00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:21.460 That's a high call, church. 00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:25.840 I'll give you a couple examples of what this might look like. 00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:29.280 To look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 00:15:29.400 --> 00:15:32.100 To rejoice with those who rejoice and to weep with those who weep. 00:15:32.100 --> 00:15:41.220 So, one example might be, well, maybe one person in the church gets a big, fat raise while you are struggling to make ends meet. 00:15:42.440 --> 00:15:46.940 What does it look like to look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of the others? 00:15:47.040 --> 00:15:50.180 Well, the big, fat, raised guy, he doesn't need to flaunt his wealth. 00:15:50.820 --> 00:15:54.139 He doesn't need to act in a way that would cause the other brother to stumble. 00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:56.660 In fact, he should say, what's mine is yours. 00:15:56.659 --> 00:15:57.240 You've got a need. 00:15:57.279 --> 00:15:58.019 We're going to meet it together. 00:15:58.100 --> 00:15:58.600 We're family. 00:15:59.860 --> 00:16:05.539 And the other brother here who's struggling to make ends meet, well, he ought to rejoice in what God is doing to bless his brother. 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:07.579 That's not normal, church. 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:10.399 That requires supernatural grace. 00:16:10.399 --> 00:16:18.500 Or maybe it could look like one couple announces that they are pregnant with their sixth or seventh child. 00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:20.399 And it's a surprise. 00:16:21.399 --> 00:16:22.620 Didn't plan on this. 00:16:23.899 --> 00:16:28.139 While another couple is weeping and struggling with infertility. 00:16:28.139 --> 00:16:36.240 What does it look like to rejoice with those who rejoice and yet to weep with those who weep? 00:16:36.279 --> 00:16:39.059 To count others' needs more significant than yourselves. 00:16:39.159 --> 00:16:41.120 We could apply this a thousand different ways, can't we? 00:16:41.460 --> 00:16:47.379 What does it look like for you, men, husbands, to count your wives' needs more significant than your own? 00:16:48.500 --> 00:16:54.779 What does it look like for you, kids, to count your brother's interests as more important than your own? 00:16:54.779 --> 00:16:58.980 What does it look like for us, church members, church members, as we come in to see Wee Bay Baptist? 00:16:59.459 --> 00:17:11.740 And not just think about what I want to hear, what songs I want to sing, what I want things to look like, what my needs are, who's going to talk to me, who's going to help me, who's going to serve me, me, me, me. 00:17:11.879 --> 00:17:16.299 But instead, to come in here looking around with a head up, looking for the needs of others. 00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:21.220 How can I come in here today and meet others' needs? 00:17:21.220 --> 00:17:25.400 And you know, the beauty of it is, when we all think that way, guess whose needs are met? 00:17:26.120 --> 00:17:27.400 Every single one of us. 00:17:28.380 --> 00:17:31.940 But not by taking and grabbing and selfish gain. 00:17:32.140 --> 00:17:36.980 It's met by humble, selfless, sacrificial love. 00:17:43.019 --> 00:17:44.259 Let me just tell you, church. 00:17:45.819 --> 00:17:49.039 I think I'm preaching to the choir here on this. 00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:52.639 God, I think that this is a strength of our church. 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:56.519 I'm not telling you to do something that you're not already doing. 00:17:56.639 --> 00:17:58.899 I'm saying, praise God, I see this at work in you. 00:17:59.000 --> 00:18:01.559 Do so more and more and more. 00:18:01.619 --> 00:18:05.839 When I read this passage, I think of people like Miss Sally. 00:18:08.139 --> 00:18:14.659 Coming over to Miss Martha's house multiple nights a week for a couple months when she has surgery. 00:18:14.660 --> 00:18:17.440 Because she needed some help and you were there for her. 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:18.660 I praise God for that. 00:18:20.980 --> 00:18:22.100 I think of Miss Regina. 00:18:23.160 --> 00:18:30.220 You give up time hearing your husband teach every single week in Sunday school so that she can invest in the lives of my children. 00:18:30.360 --> 00:18:31.279 I praise God for that. 00:18:31.480 --> 00:18:34.440 That's sacrificial, humble love. 00:18:34.440 --> 00:18:35.519 I think of Craig and Patty. 00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:46.240 Who when they heard about Seawee Bay, they said, we're in. 00:18:47.360 --> 00:18:48.360 We're coming. 00:18:49.400 --> 00:18:51.799 So that they could be an encouragement to me. 00:18:52.320 --> 00:18:55.279 And help me and be there for me. 00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:56.460 I look at this room. 00:18:56.460 --> 00:19:02.620 I see countless examples of humble, selfless, sacrificial love. 00:19:02.680 --> 00:19:04.720 That is evidence of God's grace in you. 00:19:04.819 --> 00:19:06.019 I praise God for it, church. 00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:12.980 But we need to ask, second, where does that type of sacrificial love come from? 00:19:14.519 --> 00:19:17.400 Where does that type of selfless love come from? 00:19:17.460 --> 00:19:21.140 Because it may be that you don't think that that's a strength for you. 00:19:21.420 --> 00:19:23.140 Or maybe you want it to be. 00:19:23.140 --> 00:19:30.820 Maybe you're not even a Christian and you're wondering how in the world a group of sinners like us can come together and love each other like family. 00:19:31.080 --> 00:19:32.120 Where does that come from? 00:19:32.180 --> 00:19:32.800 How do we do it? 00:19:32.900 --> 00:19:38.440 So it comes, Paul says, by putting on the mind of Christ. 00:19:39.880 --> 00:19:47.060 That battle between self-focus and self-sacrifice, that battle is fought in the mind. 00:19:47.140 --> 00:19:47.780 You see it twice. 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:49.860 Paul says here in verse 2, he says, 00:19:49.860 --> 00:19:51.080 Complete my joy, how? 00:19:51.180 --> 00:19:52.840 By being of the same, what? 00:19:53.820 --> 00:19:54.660 Same mind. 00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:56.720 Verse 5, you see it again. 00:19:56.820 --> 00:19:57.040 He says, 00:19:57.400 --> 00:20:02.700 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus. 00:20:02.900 --> 00:20:06.160 I love the way kids speak sometimes. 00:20:06.780 --> 00:20:10.980 One of my boys, sometimes when he's thinking about a decision, he'll say something like, 00:20:11.040 --> 00:20:13.660 Well, my mind is telling me this. 00:20:13.660 --> 00:20:18.120 A couple weeks ago, we drove two cars down to Georgia. 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:19.140 We made two different trips. 00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:20.340 We left on different days. 00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:24.720 And at first, he said, Well, my mind is telling me that I want to stay with Dad. 00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:27.299 And they thought more about it. 00:20:27.299 --> 00:20:31.220 And later that night, he said, Well, now my mind is telling me that I think I'm going to go with Mom. 00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:33.579 And that's what he did. 00:20:33.579 --> 00:20:37.480 He's not far off, is he? 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:39.980 Our minds, they speak to us. 00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:41.819 They tell us things all the time. 00:20:41.899 --> 00:20:44.720 And usually, you know what the default message of your mind is? 00:20:45.539 --> 00:20:47.500 It's what self wants to hear. 00:20:48.440 --> 00:20:50.299 Me, me, me, me. 00:20:50.380 --> 00:20:51.279 I don't like that. 00:20:51.380 --> 00:20:52.319 I don't want that. 00:20:52.460 --> 00:20:53.200 I, I, I. 00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:53.900 Me, me, me. 00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:55.900 And Paul here, he says, No, no, no, no, no. 00:20:56.099 --> 00:20:57.880 You tell your mind what to think. 00:20:59.160 --> 00:21:00.380 You tell your mind what to think. 00:21:00.380 --> 00:21:02.900 You tell that selfish mind to take a rest. 00:21:03.019 --> 00:21:05.980 And instead, you have this mind. 00:21:06.380 --> 00:21:07.799 Have this mind. 00:21:07.900 --> 00:21:13.119 And if you think that this sort of call is impossible to count other people more important than you, 00:21:13.720 --> 00:21:17.319 if you think that it is impossible to look to not only your own interests, 00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:19.980 but to give your life away for the good of others, 00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:20.919 Paul says, guess what? 00:21:21.099 --> 00:21:23.240 It's already yours in Christ Jesus. 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:30.359 Christ has died to purchase this mind for you. 00:21:30.439 --> 00:21:33.139 If you are in Christ, you can do this. 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:38.220 And you're called to do this if you are in Christ. 00:21:38.339 --> 00:21:39.119 And that's key, isn't it? 00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:40.879 That's key. 00:21:41.639 --> 00:21:47.139 Because this type of selfless love, it must be rooted in the person and work of Jesus. 00:21:47.319 --> 00:21:48.379 That's absolutely key. 00:21:48.519 --> 00:21:51.700 Paul doesn't just say, do this because it's good for you. 00:21:51.779 --> 00:21:53.419 Do this because that's what you're supposed to do. 00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:55.179 Do this because it's good. 00:21:55.299 --> 00:21:56.240 Just go be nice. 00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:56.899 Go be good. 00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:58.099 That's not what it says, is it? 00:21:58.720 --> 00:22:01.259 And I've got to guard against this myself as a parent. 00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:02.400 It's not. 00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:04.460 The message is not just do this. 00:22:04.539 --> 00:22:05.559 You ought to be kind. 00:22:05.640 --> 00:22:06.500 Be kind to your brother. 00:22:06.619 --> 00:22:07.299 Stop doing that. 00:22:07.379 --> 00:22:08.160 Start doing that. 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:12.160 The message has to be look to Christ. 00:22:13.160 --> 00:22:14.379 Look to Christ. 00:22:15.160 --> 00:22:16.299 Look to Christ. 00:22:17.099 --> 00:22:19.019 Be kind because Christ. 00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:22.140 Be others focused because Christ. 00:22:22.500 --> 00:22:25.779 Root your actions and your life in Christ. 00:22:25.779 --> 00:22:25.940 Christ. 00:22:29.059 --> 00:22:30.700 Look with me starting in verse 5. 00:22:30.819 --> 00:22:35.559 This has got to be one of the most beautiful passages in Scripture. 00:22:35.819 --> 00:22:41.779 And they answer, these verses, verses 5 through 11, answer at least three questions for us about Jesus Christ. 00:22:41.899 --> 00:22:42.599 Who is he? 00:22:42.899 --> 00:22:44.059 What has he done? 00:22:44.339 --> 00:22:45.339 What is he owed? 00:22:46.220 --> 00:22:47.599 Look with me starting in verse 5. 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:49.420 I'm just going to read it again because it's so beautiful. 00:22:49.420 --> 00:22:59.759 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:08.940 but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men, and being found in human form. 00:23:09.019 --> 00:23:14.720 He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:20.940 Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 00:23:21.319 --> 00:23:28.200 so that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 00:23:28.400 --> 00:23:34.500 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. 00:23:34.640 --> 00:23:36.180 Who is Christ Jesus? 00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:39.779 Jesus is God in the flesh. 00:23:39.779 --> 00:23:46.879 But we believe that this man, Jesus, is God. 00:23:47.819 --> 00:23:50.059 He's not just a teacher. 00:23:50.899 --> 00:23:52.839 Not just a prophet. 00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:55.180 He's not just a good example. 00:23:56.299 --> 00:23:59.420 Jesus is God in the flesh. 00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:00.759 He was not created. 00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:02.720 He was not made into a God. 00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:07.359 We believe that he is the second person of the Trinity, the eternal Son of God. 00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:11.019 He is God of God, light of light, very God of very God. 00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:15.539 In the beginning, the Word was God, and the Word was with God. 00:24:15.779 --> 00:24:17.759 And all things were made through him. 00:24:17.819 --> 00:24:20.179 Without him was not made anything that was made. 00:24:21.199 --> 00:24:22.699 We believe Jesus is God. 00:24:22.819 --> 00:24:25.319 Jesus showed that he was God in his life. 00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:27.759 He said that he was God. 00:24:27.879 --> 00:24:29.279 He claimed to be God. 00:24:29.359 --> 00:24:32.379 And everybody knew what he claimed because they killed him for it. 00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:34.539 Paul says, 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:36.639 Jesus is God. 00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:38.240 He was in the form of God. 00:24:38.320 --> 00:24:38.960 He is God. 00:24:39.020 --> 00:24:40.200 But shockingly, what has he done? 00:24:40.259 --> 00:24:41.740 Second question, what has he done? 00:24:42.100 --> 00:24:42.680 It says, 00:24:42.820 --> 00:24:46.400 Jesus did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped. 00:24:48.140 --> 00:24:54.620 But emptied himself by taking the form of a servant. 00:24:56.759 --> 00:25:00.240 God became a servant. 00:25:02.300 --> 00:25:05.100 Just let that truth sit with you for a minute. 00:25:05.099 --> 00:25:07.799 Don't grow numb to this truth. 00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:10.819 God became a servant. 00:25:13.099 --> 00:25:15.859 Christ emptied himself, Paul says. 00:25:15.919 --> 00:25:16.879 Now we've got to be careful here. 00:25:18.379 --> 00:25:20.719 I need to be careful how I speak here. 00:25:21.319 --> 00:25:25.000 We've got to be careful how we talk about this and how we speak about this 00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:31.299 because we can very easily misinterpret this and wind up in some heretical ditch. 00:25:31.299 --> 00:25:33.180 And I don't want to do that this morning. 00:25:33.180 --> 00:25:34.759 So let me be very clear. 00:25:34.759 --> 00:25:39.759 It does not say Jesus emptied himself of his divinity. 00:25:41.079 --> 00:25:46.039 The Son of God did not cease to be God when he became man. 00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:46.440 Okay? 00:25:46.440 --> 00:25:47.200 We have to get that clear. 00:25:48.159 --> 00:25:54.579 He did not count equality with God, which he had, which he has now, which he always will have. 00:25:54.579 --> 00:26:01.919 He did not count equality with God as something to be exploited, as the NRSV says. 00:26:02.980 --> 00:26:08.379 He didn't want to take advantage of this divine right that he has as God. 00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:13.359 He didn't turn up his nose at the thought of humbling himself to come and to become man. 00:26:13.799 --> 00:26:14.759 Instead, what did he do? 00:26:14.859 --> 00:26:21.379 He says he came down in humble, selfless, sacrificial love for others. 00:26:21.380 --> 00:26:24.380 Just think about this with me. 00:26:25.760 --> 00:26:33.500 The Son of God, in becoming man, he wrapped up all of his glorious divinity in human flesh, 00:26:33.560 --> 00:26:34.840 just like mine and just like yours. 00:26:36.020 --> 00:26:36.880 Just think about it. 00:26:38.260 --> 00:26:46.760 Now the infinite, eternal Son of God who has had no beginning, has always existed for all eternity, 00:26:47.100 --> 00:26:49.960 now in the flesh he has a beginning. 00:26:51.380 --> 00:26:53.640 And now he has a human birthday. 00:26:55.300 --> 00:27:00.780 And now the God who is omnipresent, who's everywhere at all times and all places, 00:27:00.940 --> 00:27:03.280 now in the flesh he's like you and me. 00:27:03.320 --> 00:27:04.980 He can only be in one place at a time. 00:27:06.040 --> 00:27:12.060 He voluntarily restrains himself to human flesh with all the limitations that come with it, 00:27:12.100 --> 00:27:12.680 like you and me. 00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:15.860 He's limited in his flesh. 00:27:15.859 --> 00:27:18.899 He who knows all things. 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:24.959 He who is omniscient, knows all things in his divinity, now in human form, he learns. 00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:27.339 He grows. 00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:30.799 He has to learn how to walk. 00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:32.199 And think about this. 00:27:32.200 --> 00:27:38.960 The very word of God, who, as Hebrews says, he's upholding the universe by the word of his power. 00:27:39.100 --> 00:27:42.779 This very eternal word of God, he has to learn how to speak. 00:27:44.460 --> 00:27:50.340 It begins with little babbles and coos and things that are barely intelligible as words. 00:27:50.460 --> 00:27:53.759 He has to grow and develop and learn. 00:27:53.759 --> 00:28:00.319 He who is sovereign, who's completely in control of everyone, everywhere, the entire universe, everything in it. 00:28:00.379 --> 00:28:02.279 He who's king of all the universe. 00:28:02.420 --> 00:28:08.640 He can now be picked up and carried from place to place by his mother and his father. 00:28:09.900 --> 00:28:11.900 He who is holy, holy, holy. 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:16.460 He comes down in human flesh and right in the middle of our mess in this sin-cursed world. 00:28:16.539 --> 00:28:18.680 And he has that holiness put to the test. 00:28:18.779 --> 00:28:22.720 He's tempted and tried in every way as we are, yet without sin. 00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:28.680 And if that weren't enough, Paul says, he became obedient even to the point of death. 00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:35.180 That ought to just cause us to marvel, church. 00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:40.140 We ought to marvel that God would become man. 00:28:40.240 --> 00:28:45.079 But we ought to marvel that God would enter into the pain of death on our behalf. 00:28:45.640 --> 00:28:46.600 Not just any death. 00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:50.420 Paul says, even death on a cross. 00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:54.160 It's humiliating. 00:28:55.839 --> 00:28:56.279 Shameful. 00:28:56.660 --> 00:28:59.140 A public execution of a criminal. 00:29:03.380 --> 00:29:04.299 Death on a cross. 00:29:04.400 --> 00:29:09.120 That would be a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. 00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:13.160 This is stunning humility on display, is it not? 00:29:13.160 --> 00:29:18.140 We ought to ask ourselves, why did he do it? 00:29:19.880 --> 00:29:22.540 Why did he do all of this? 00:29:22.600 --> 00:29:24.560 And the answer, church, is twofold. 00:29:26.080 --> 00:29:27.240 For our good. 00:29:29.160 --> 00:29:30.600 And for his glory. 00:29:30.599 --> 00:29:35.039 We'll be singing Christmas songs soon. 00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:39.719 And we will sing one of my favorites, I guarantee you. 00:29:39.719 --> 00:29:44.879 Thou who wast rich beyond all splendor, all for love's sake becamest poor. 00:29:45.919 --> 00:29:48.219 Thrones for a manger did surrender. 00:29:48.439 --> 00:29:50.859 Sapphire paved courts for stable floor. 00:29:51.339 --> 00:29:56.259 Thou who wast rich beyond all splendor, all for love's sake becamest poor. 00:29:56.259 --> 00:30:02.599 Thou who art God beyond all praising, all for love's sake becamest man. 00:30:02.940 --> 00:30:08.039 Stooping so low, but sinners raising heavenwards by thine eternal plan. 00:30:09.019 --> 00:30:14.839 Thou who art God beyond all praising, all for love's sake becamest man. 00:30:17.019 --> 00:30:21.700 Christ Jesus lived and died in our place, church. 00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:23.259 That was our death. 00:30:23.259 --> 00:30:27.480 That was God's wrath against our sin. 00:30:27.559 --> 00:30:28.440 And why did he do it? 00:30:28.640 --> 00:30:30.779 All for love's sake. 00:30:31.660 --> 00:30:38.400 He did it out of humble, selfless, sacrificial, others-focused love. 00:30:39.779 --> 00:30:44.119 And now he says, if you're in me, you go and do likewise. 00:30:47.720 --> 00:30:52.579 Humble, selfless, sacrificial love for those who least deserve it. 00:30:52.579 --> 00:30:53.980 But not only that, that's one reason. 00:30:53.980 --> 00:30:55.899 The second reason Jesus came. 00:30:56.379 --> 00:31:00.299 The ultimate reason that Christ came and endured all of this. 00:31:00.359 --> 00:31:03.980 The ultimate reason for Jesus' incarnation and His humility. 00:31:04.759 --> 00:31:07.019 The ultimate reason for His death on a cross. 00:31:07.319 --> 00:31:14.079 Is that at the end of all of this, He might be exalted to the praise and glory of God. 00:31:15.559 --> 00:31:17.079 That's where all of this is headed. 00:31:17.079 --> 00:31:20.039 That's what all of this is about. 00:31:20.259 --> 00:31:28.559 That King Jesus might receive the praise of a chorus of redeemed sinners like you and me from every tribe and tongue and nation. 00:31:28.639 --> 00:31:30.740 That we might bow on bended knee and say, 00:31:31.099 --> 00:31:35.759 Worthy are you, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and praise. 00:31:35.859 --> 00:31:38.460 For you have come and you've died in my place. 00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:41.619 And without you, I have no hope of eternity with God. 00:31:41.619 --> 00:31:44.219 And without you, I'm lost in my sin. 00:31:44.299 --> 00:31:46.179 I'm dead in my trespasses and sins. 00:31:46.459 --> 00:31:51.299 But because you came in humble, radical, selfless, sacrificial love, 00:31:51.439 --> 00:31:53.179 Now I get to spend eternity with you. 00:31:53.459 --> 00:31:54.199 Praise God. 00:31:57.199 --> 00:31:59.219 Thou who art love beyond all telling, 00:31:59.379 --> 00:32:01.719 Savior and King, we worship Thee. 00:32:01.779 --> 00:32:02.699 That's where this is going. 00:32:03.859 --> 00:32:05.419 Emmanuel within us dwelling, 00:32:05.799 --> 00:32:08.059 Make us what Thou wouldst have us be. 00:32:08.059 --> 00:32:10.259 Thou who art love beyond all telling, 00:32:10.419 --> 00:32:13.019 Savior and King, we worship Thee. 00:32:13.119 --> 00:32:18.299 Jesus stooped low for a moment that He might be exalted for eternity. 00:32:19.519 --> 00:32:21.460 Which is the answer to our third question. 00:32:21.559 --> 00:32:23.099 What is He owed, church? 00:32:24.019 --> 00:32:31.579 He is owed all glory, honor, and praise from the lips of His people for the rest of eternity. 00:32:32.519 --> 00:32:34.539 Look with me to verse 9 here. 00:32:34.539 --> 00:32:36.919 It says, 00:32:36.920 --> 00:32:58.940 See, Jesus' story, 00:32:58.940 --> 00:33:02.160 It doesn't end in humiliation. 00:33:05.000 --> 00:33:08.420 Jesus' story does not end in His suffering. 00:33:08.680 --> 00:33:11.400 His story does not end in the grave. 00:33:12.480 --> 00:33:14.700 And Jesus' story doesn't end in weakness. 00:33:14.900 --> 00:33:18.080 This Jesus meek and mild, tender Jesus, 00:33:18.259 --> 00:33:19.920 that was momentary, church. 00:33:19.980 --> 00:33:21.519 He's returning soon. 00:33:21.960 --> 00:33:23.180 And when He comes, 00:33:24.400 --> 00:33:26.500 He's coming in power to reign. 00:33:26.500 --> 00:33:29.579 Never again to bleed. 00:33:31.099 --> 00:33:32.579 Never again to suffer. 00:33:33.839 --> 00:33:36.240 Never again to be mocked or scorned, 00:33:36.279 --> 00:33:39.420 but to be worshipped and adored for the rest of eternity. 00:33:39.859 --> 00:33:40.759 And when He comes, 00:33:40.839 --> 00:33:41.880 every eye will see Him. 00:33:43.599 --> 00:33:44.779 Every knee will bow. 00:33:46.039 --> 00:33:47.380 Every tongue will confess, 00:33:47.380 --> 00:33:48.160 that's the Lord. 00:33:51.600 --> 00:33:53.000 Christ came humbly, 00:33:53.660 --> 00:33:54.440 sacrificially, 00:33:54.440 --> 00:33:57.120 to meet our greatest need. 00:33:57.120 --> 00:33:59.080 And ultimately, you know what that greatest need is? 00:33:59.200 --> 00:34:01.880 It's that we would see Him as Lord now, 00:34:02.160 --> 00:34:05.120 and bow the knee to Him as Lord now. 00:34:05.480 --> 00:34:07.520 And that we would worship Him, 00:34:07.519 --> 00:34:08.840 and praise Him, 00:34:08.980 --> 00:34:12.139 and call Him God right now. 00:34:12.219 --> 00:34:15.280 That is our greatest need, church. 00:34:16.119 --> 00:34:16.960 That's why He came. 00:34:18.380 --> 00:34:22.460 So let's close just by applying this passage to us, church. 00:34:22.559 --> 00:34:23.800 If you're not a believer, 00:34:23.940 --> 00:34:24.400 first of all, 00:34:24.780 --> 00:34:28.460 the application of this passage is so clear for you this morning. 00:34:28.980 --> 00:34:30.940 It's bow the knee to King Jesus right now. 00:34:30.940 --> 00:34:35.119 Do not wait to bow the knee on that day, 00:34:35.200 --> 00:34:36.340 when you'll bow in shame. 00:34:36.940 --> 00:34:38.900 Bow the knee to King Jesus now, 00:34:39.099 --> 00:34:40.539 in worship and adoration. 00:34:40.679 --> 00:34:40.820 Say, 00:34:41.000 --> 00:34:43.159 You are Lord right now. 00:34:45.179 --> 00:34:46.320 And for you, Christian, 00:34:46.440 --> 00:34:48.960 let's get very practical here as we close. 00:34:49.059 --> 00:34:52.900 And I want to close by pointing you to another servant of the church, 00:34:53.019 --> 00:34:55.599 named Dietrich Bonhoeffer. 00:34:56.420 --> 00:34:57.380 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 00:34:57.480 --> 00:34:59.300 who wrote in his book, 00:34:59.380 --> 00:35:00.079 Life Together, 00:35:00.079 --> 00:35:01.759 and he gave seven principles 00:35:01.759 --> 00:35:04.840 for snuffing out selfish ambition in churches. 00:35:05.019 --> 00:35:05.139 Okay, 00:35:05.179 --> 00:35:06.400 I'm just going to read through them. 00:35:06.819 --> 00:35:07.920 And by the grace of God, 00:35:07.960 --> 00:35:10.759 if you hear one or two that you'd like to take away, 00:35:10.860 --> 00:35:11.139 and say, 00:35:11.440 --> 00:35:12.380 that one's mine. 00:35:12.400 --> 00:35:13.860 I want to put this one on. 00:35:14.319 --> 00:35:15.099 By the grace of God, 00:35:15.159 --> 00:35:18.259 I want to grab that and apply this to my life. 00:35:18.299 --> 00:35:19.119 I'm going to read seven. 00:35:19.199 --> 00:35:20.319 If you take two, I'm happy. 00:35:20.659 --> 00:35:20.840 Okay? 00:35:23.179 --> 00:35:24.239 Christians should, 00:35:24.340 --> 00:35:24.819 he says, 00:35:24.900 --> 00:35:25.440 number one, 00:35:25.519 --> 00:35:26.239 hold your tongue. 00:35:27.739 --> 00:35:29.719 How do you want to protect unity in a church? 00:35:29.719 --> 00:35:30.439 Hold your tongue. 00:35:31.439 --> 00:35:34.419 Refuse to speak uncharitably about a Christian brother or sister. 00:35:34.819 --> 00:35:35.319 How are we doing? 00:35:36.739 --> 00:35:37.379 Number two, 00:35:37.500 --> 00:35:38.879 cultivate humility. 00:35:39.159 --> 00:35:39.419 How? 00:35:39.779 --> 00:35:40.939 By remembering your sin. 00:35:42.099 --> 00:35:44.339 And by remembering your need of God's grace. 00:35:44.480 --> 00:35:48.539 It's very hard for somebody who understands the depth of their sin to be proud. 00:35:48.539 --> 00:35:51.440 Number three, 00:35:51.599 --> 00:35:53.340 listen long and listen patiently. 00:35:54.639 --> 00:35:55.659 If you listen, 00:35:56.279 --> 00:35:57.619 as we speak to one another, 00:35:57.759 --> 00:36:00.019 if you listen long and listen patiently, 00:36:00.300 --> 00:36:03.820 you will hear needs all around you. 00:36:04.059 --> 00:36:04.920 And then you have a choice. 00:36:05.000 --> 00:36:09.300 Will I turn the blind eye or will I lay myself aside and meet my brother's need? 00:36:09.440 --> 00:36:10.079 Listen long, 00:36:10.699 --> 00:36:11.440 listen patiently. 00:36:11.440 --> 00:36:12.079 Number four, 00:36:12.800 --> 00:36:21.019 refuse to consider your time and your calling so valuable that you can't be interrupted to help with unexpected needs. 00:36:21.320 --> 00:36:23.820 No matter how small or how menial. 00:36:23.920 --> 00:36:24.519 In other words, 00:36:24.840 --> 00:36:28.019 your to-do list is not more important than your brother or sister in need. 00:36:29.760 --> 00:36:30.280 Number five, 00:36:30.380 --> 00:36:33.519 bear the burden of your brothers and sisters in the Lord. 00:36:34.659 --> 00:36:35.280 Bear their burden, 00:36:35.280 --> 00:36:41.920 both by preserving their freedom and by forgiving their sinful abuse of that freedom, he says. 00:36:43.320 --> 00:36:44.040 Number six, 00:36:45.360 --> 00:36:49.140 declare God's word to your fellow believers when they need to hear it. 00:36:49.320 --> 00:36:49.980 I love that one. 00:36:51.280 --> 00:36:52.060 I love that one. 00:36:53.260 --> 00:36:56.160 How can you serve your brothers and sisters in Christ? 00:36:56.280 --> 00:36:58.780 How can you fight for unity in this church? 00:36:58.880 --> 00:37:03.000 How can you keep us on the rails of our mission together? 00:37:03.000 --> 00:37:08.119 Let's all work from the same playbook and speak truth to one another in love. 00:37:08.219 --> 00:37:12.139 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold and a setting of silver. 00:37:12.260 --> 00:37:13.539 Proverbs 25 tells us. 00:37:15.280 --> 00:37:16.119 Number seven, 00:37:16.199 --> 00:37:20.699 understand that Christian authority is characterized by service 00:37:20.699 --> 00:37:25.500 and does not call attention to the person who performs the service. 00:37:25.500 --> 00:37:27.599 In other words, 00:37:27.900 --> 00:37:28.340 pastor, 00:37:28.739 --> 00:37:29.039 elder, 00:37:30.619 --> 00:37:31.440 Sunday school leader, 00:37:32.260 --> 00:37:33.239 women's ministry leader, 00:37:33.380 --> 00:37:33.639 deacon, 00:37:34.300 --> 00:37:35.940 it's not about you. 00:37:36.920 --> 00:37:38.099 It's about Christ. 00:37:39.260 --> 00:37:41.320 Draw attention to the King, 00:37:41.559 --> 00:37:43.219 not to yourself. 00:37:43.360 --> 00:37:44.340 And I would add with Paul, 00:37:44.659 --> 00:37:46.480 one final important piece, 00:37:46.559 --> 00:37:47.960 which I'm sure Bonhoeffer would gladly, 00:37:48.139 --> 00:37:48.440 amen, 00:37:48.719 --> 00:37:50.900 which is look to Christ. 00:37:52.000 --> 00:37:54.539 Look to Christ. 00:37:54.539 --> 00:37:54.659 Christ. 00:37:55.259 --> 00:37:55.860 Church, 00:37:56.059 --> 00:37:58.279 look to Christ. 00:37:58.480 --> 00:38:00.739 We love because He first loved us. 00:38:01.679 --> 00:38:05.820 We serve one another because He first served us. 00:38:06.679 --> 00:38:10.840 We sacrifice because He sacrificed Himself for us. 00:38:10.940 --> 00:38:14.779 We die to self because He came and He died for us. 00:38:14.860 --> 00:38:17.039 It is an impossible call, 00:38:17.039 --> 00:38:19.659 but it is yours in Christ Jesus. 00:38:22.059 --> 00:38:24.219 Come behold the wondrous mystery. 00:38:24.539 --> 00:38:25.759 In the dawning of the King. 00:38:26.880 --> 00:38:27.079 He, 00:38:27.179 --> 00:38:28.940 the theme of heaven's praises, 00:38:29.159 --> 00:38:31.019 robed in frail humanity, 00:38:31.880 --> 00:38:32.800 in our longing, 00:38:33.259 --> 00:38:34.179 in our darkness, 00:38:34.400 --> 00:38:36.460 now the light of life has come. 00:38:36.940 --> 00:38:38.000 Look to Christ, 00:38:38.539 --> 00:38:39.480 who condescended, 00:38:40.340 --> 00:38:42.840 took on flesh to ransom us. 00:38:43.880 --> 00:38:44.400 Let's pray. 00:38:44.400 --> 00:38:45.119 Lord, 00:38:45.119 --> 00:38:45.139 Lord, 00:38:45.940 --> 00:38:49.139 this is an impossible call. 00:38:51.280 --> 00:38:52.960 Not a single one of us 00:38:52.960 --> 00:38:56.760 can rise up in our own flesh 00:38:56.760 --> 00:38:59.039 and do what You've called us to do here, 00:38:59.099 --> 00:39:01.160 to count ourselves less important, 00:39:01.420 --> 00:39:03.700 to look to not only our own needs, 00:39:03.760 --> 00:39:04.720 but to the needs of others, 00:39:04.820 --> 00:39:06.420 to love one another in humble, 00:39:06.700 --> 00:39:07.260 selfless, 00:39:07.599 --> 00:39:08.660 sacrificial love. 00:39:08.659 --> 00:39:09.199 And yet, 00:39:09.519 --> 00:39:09.759 Father, 00:39:09.859 --> 00:39:10.519 You tell us, 00:39:10.879 --> 00:39:12.359 it's already ours in Christ. 00:39:13.699 --> 00:39:14.739 Christ has come. 00:39:15.279 --> 00:39:16.859 He's modeled it for us. 00:39:17.019 --> 00:39:18.019 And by doing so, 00:39:18.079 --> 00:39:20.279 He's purchased that power for us 00:39:20.279 --> 00:39:21.980 by Your grace through Christ. 00:39:22.099 --> 00:39:23.019 And so we pray now, 00:39:23.099 --> 00:39:23.299 Lord, 00:39:23.379 --> 00:39:25.279 would we put on this mind, 00:39:26.599 --> 00:39:27.759 would we love one another 00:39:27.759 --> 00:39:29.399 as You've loved us. 00:39:29.460 --> 00:39:30.359 We pray in Christ's name. 00:39:31.219 --> 00:39:31.539 Amen. 00:39:31.539 --> 00:39:31.679 Amen. 00:39:31.940 --> 00:39:32.539 Amen. 00:39:32.539 --> 00:39:32.980 Amen. 00:39:33.000 --> 00:39:33.539 Amen. 00:39:33.539 --> 00:39:33.599 Amen. 00:39:33.599 --> 00:39:33.659 Amen. 00:39:33.659 --> 00:39:33.679 Amen. 00:39:33.679 --> 00:39:33.699 Amen. 00:39:33.699 --> 00:39:33.759 Amen. 00:39:33.759 --> 00:39:33.779 Amen. 00:39:33.779 --> 00:39:33.799 Amen.