WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.240 I want to start with a passage here. 00:00:02.339 --> 00:00:05.639 This is from 2 Corinthians 10, 3-5. 00:00:06.299 --> 00:00:08.919 And this is not our focal passage, by the way. 00:00:08.980 --> 00:00:09.480 We'll get to that. 00:00:09.580 --> 00:00:10.200 I want to start. 00:00:11.560 --> 00:00:12.359 It says, 00:00:12.480 --> 00:00:17.080 For although we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh, 00:00:17.679 --> 00:00:21.019 since the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:27.460 but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. 00:00:27.460 --> 00:00:36.120 We demolish arguments and every proud thing that's raised up against the knowledge of God. 00:00:36.760 --> 00:00:39.920 And we take every thought captive to obey Christ. 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:47.240 So a few, well, it's been four weeks ago, something like that, four or five weeks ago, 00:00:48.600 --> 00:00:52.560 Philippians 2, 3 really impacted my life. 00:00:52.560 --> 00:00:59.219 God just gave me a whole new sense of understanding of different concepts. 00:00:59.359 --> 00:01:01.280 A lot I want to share with you today. 00:01:02.800 --> 00:01:06.480 But, so, I was not on the preaching schedule, 00:01:07.320 --> 00:01:12.659 but I asked Seth, and he graciously allowed me, to speak on this particular passage. 00:01:12.980 --> 00:01:14.780 So, I'm very, very interested in that. 00:01:14.780 --> 00:01:20.659 So, where we are is in Philippians 2, verses 111. 00:01:22.659 --> 00:01:27.879 What I will do today is there are some things I'm intentionally doing differently. 00:01:28.960 --> 00:01:35.079 And it's sort of a long story, but it is according to this passage. 00:01:35.079 --> 00:01:39.780 And it goes back a lot of years in my own life and things like that. 00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:48.439 Part of what I want to do differently and think differently is in this very work of speaking to you right now. 00:01:49.719 --> 00:01:57.239 There are just specific things that God needs to be glorified. 00:01:57.239 --> 00:02:01.699 In all that we do, in all that we say, in how we operate, 00:02:02.319 --> 00:02:03.819 He is to be glorified. 00:02:04.739 --> 00:02:06.239 And not ourselves. 00:02:06.919 --> 00:02:13.759 And that is part of the crux of Philippians 2, verse 3 and 4, which we'll read. 00:02:14.259 --> 00:02:19.199 So, first let's read that whole passage, and then I will come back to my notes. 00:02:19.659 --> 00:02:21.500 But let's get an idea of what we're studying. 00:02:21.500 --> 00:02:27.439 I put most of these verses in my notes. 00:02:29.680 --> 00:02:30.479 Okay. 00:02:31.340 --> 00:02:35.120 Chapter 2, starting with verse 1. 00:02:36.259 --> 00:02:46.060 So, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation or partnership in the Spirit, 00:02:46.060 --> 00:02:56.719 any affection and sympathy, complete my joy, Paul says, by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 00:02:58.379 --> 00:02:59.199 Verse 3. 00:02:59.580 --> 00:03:03.379 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit. 00:03:04.980 --> 00:03:09.140 But in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 00:03:09.139 --> 00:03:15.619 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 00:03:17.019 --> 00:03:22.639 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 00:03:23.459 --> 00:03:29.199 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God, nothing to be grasped, 00:03:29.959 --> 00:03:31.319 but emptied himself. 00:03:31.319 --> 00:03:40.620 By taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men, and being found in human form, 00:03:40.739 --> 00:03:46.819 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:54.340 Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 00:03:54.340 --> 00:03:59.920 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 00:03:59.920 --> 00:04:06.400 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. 00:04:08.780 --> 00:04:17.379 As I study through this, this passage, it just gets deeper and deeper and deeper. 00:04:17.379 --> 00:04:25.139 There is no end, I do believe, to the concepts that are in this passage. 00:04:25.740 --> 00:04:29.839 What I want to do is a mix of different things. 00:04:29.980 --> 00:04:35.839 Number one, I want to walk through this scripture and exegete it just a little bit, okay? 00:04:36.459 --> 00:04:43.279 I'm going to use my experience, what God has done in my life, as illustrations. 00:04:43.279 --> 00:04:51.519 And I'm going to also press you a little bit in the same vein. 00:04:51.699 --> 00:04:56.979 So one of the things is, are you familiar with this passage? 00:04:57.139 --> 00:04:58.239 Who's read this passage? 00:04:58.419 --> 00:04:58.959 Who's read this? 00:04:59.319 --> 00:04:59.559 Yes. 00:05:00.259 --> 00:05:03.019 Who's read this probably 5,000 times, right? 00:05:03.819 --> 00:05:04.519 Me too. 00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:05.879 I've read it a lot. 00:05:06.519 --> 00:05:07.139 But you know what? 00:05:07.139 --> 00:05:12.620 It's when we open our hearts and our minds and we sit down and hear from the Spirit. 00:05:13.259 --> 00:05:16.060 And then, boom, he teaches. 00:05:16.800 --> 00:05:23.860 And opens up something brand new that you never even knew was there, right? 00:05:23.860 --> 00:05:29.139 I spent 53 years hiding from some of this. 00:05:29.139 --> 00:05:37.860 So, the first thing, verse 1, he says, so. 00:05:40.300 --> 00:05:44.039 Well, so is kind of a therefore statement, right? 00:05:45.159 --> 00:05:48.219 So, he's looking back. 00:05:48.459 --> 00:05:49.379 He's looking backwards. 00:05:49.919 --> 00:05:50.719 So let's look backwards. 00:05:51.419 --> 00:05:54.759 Let's go back to Philippians 1, 27 through 28. 00:05:54.759 --> 00:06:03.699 This is, since Philippians 1, 27 through 28 exists, then blah, blah, blah, right? 00:06:03.800 --> 00:06:05.180 That's what this so is there for. 00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:07.579 So, Philippians 1, 27. 00:06:07.579 --> 00:06:36.799 There is a way to walk here, a manner worthy of the gospel. 00:06:36.800 --> 00:06:42.920 So, this passage really starts out, he throws it back to what he had talked about. 00:06:43.220 --> 00:06:46.520 He talked back to this way, how we walk in unity. 00:06:47.340 --> 00:07:00.379 And so, that's the ground that we go into chapter 2, is the same concept of unity and our character, our part of unity, how we approach that together. 00:07:00.379 --> 00:07:06.040 And then he says the second word of verse 1. 00:07:06.040 --> 00:07:13.220 And so, if, I promise we'll go faster as time goes here, but if is the second word. 00:07:13.900 --> 00:07:16.920 If here, basically, is since. 00:07:16.920 --> 00:07:21.000 So, if you look at the rest of that verse 1. 00:07:21.340 --> 00:07:28.420 So, since there is encouragement in Christ, since there's comfort from love. 00:07:28.640 --> 00:07:30.980 So, it's a given, in other words. 00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:32.580 These things exist. 00:07:33.280 --> 00:07:41.080 There's an encouragement in Christ, a comfort from love, a participation in the Spirit, and affection and sympathy. 00:07:41.079 --> 00:07:47.500 So, there, verse 1 and 2, we have a parenthetical almost here. 00:07:47.979 --> 00:07:56.719 So, it starts with, so, and then you can skip down, complete my joy by agreeing, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 00:07:57.959 --> 00:08:03.579 Paul is, so first, we please God. 00:08:03.579 --> 00:08:07.139 And he gives us these things. 00:08:07.399 --> 00:08:09.219 That's encouragement in Christ. 00:08:09.519 --> 00:08:11.120 It's not something we manufacture. 00:08:11.579 --> 00:08:12.979 Not something we come up with. 00:08:13.939 --> 00:08:15.219 It's comfort. 00:08:16.339 --> 00:08:20.240 First Corinthians, I'm comforted as he has comforted me. 00:08:20.479 --> 00:08:21.919 This is from God. 00:08:22.519 --> 00:08:28.399 Same thing, participation in the Spirit, partnership in the Spirit, and mercy comes from God. 00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:33.100 So, all of these attributes, all of these things are from him. 00:08:33.580 --> 00:08:39.320 Not something that comes from within, that we somehow build up. 00:08:40.120 --> 00:08:42.560 So, so, complete my joy. 00:08:42.700 --> 00:08:45.720 So, we are obedient to God. 00:08:46.139 --> 00:08:48.540 Paul is saying, that pleases me. 00:08:48.820 --> 00:09:03.140 That pleases me as one that has oversight, one that has looked out for you, one that wants to see the Lord grow you in all ways. 00:09:03.580 --> 00:09:09.060 So, these are important keys. 00:09:09.180 --> 00:09:21.580 This encouragement, comfort, participation, and affection and sympathy is like, what did I have? 00:09:21.660 --> 00:09:22.960 Compassionate hearts. 00:09:23.540 --> 00:09:25.240 Like having compassionate hearts. 00:09:25.240 --> 00:09:25.940 Compassionate hearts. 00:09:25.940 --> 00:09:25.940 00:09:25.940 --> 00:09:26.940 Compassionate hearts. 00:09:26.940 --> 00:09:27.940 Compassionate hearts. 00:09:27.940 --> 00:09:27.940 00:09:27.940 --> 00:09:28.940 Compassionate hearts. 00:09:28.940 --> 00:09:32.600 So, therefore, walk in a manner worthy of the gospel. 00:09:34.399 --> 00:09:37.740 These qualities, they unify us. 00:09:37.740 --> 00:09:40.779 They unify us as a church. 00:09:41.580 --> 00:09:47.440 They unify us as individuals and then as family. 00:09:47.440 --> 00:09:49.260 We've been talking about family. 00:09:51.360 --> 00:09:53.460 Josh preached on that last week. 00:09:53.800 --> 00:09:55.000 How do we get family? 00:09:55.400 --> 00:09:56.960 He gave us all different points. 00:09:57.540 --> 00:10:02.680 Here is just another way of talking about that same thing. 00:10:02.980 --> 00:10:04.880 How does family come about? 00:10:04.879 --> 00:10:11.439 Encouragement in Christ and comforted by God. 00:10:12.399 --> 00:10:13.939 Partnership in the spirit. 00:10:14.620 --> 00:10:16.279 This is how the church should interact. 00:10:16.419 --> 00:10:18.439 This is fruit that we will see. 00:10:23.559 --> 00:10:32.399 So, I'm going to speak in terms of, when it comes to an illustration of myself, I'm going to speak in terms of a fortress. 00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:35.059 Because this is how I first pictured it. 00:10:35.819 --> 00:10:41.879 And so, I pictured a, almost like a hut or a fortress. 00:10:42.100 --> 00:10:43.059 I'll use the word fortress. 00:10:43.539 --> 00:10:47.299 Something very strong and secure that nothing gets in. 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:50.519 And only certain things can get out. 00:10:51.259 --> 00:10:55.579 Only the certain things that I allow out get out. 00:10:56.299 --> 00:10:56.659 Okay? 00:10:57.059 --> 00:10:58.299 Do you have that picture in your mind? 00:10:58.699 --> 00:11:01.659 So, how I constructed this fortress. 00:11:02.399 --> 00:11:11.819 How I constructed this was over years of having different thoughts about myself. 00:11:12.199 --> 00:11:17.100 Having different, the input that came in from outside of myself. 00:11:17.379 --> 00:11:18.579 Starting from childhood. 00:11:18.580 --> 00:11:27.100 It sort of put me in the spot where I said, I don't care what happens outside of me. 00:11:28.100 --> 00:11:33.160 I need to control or fortress what comes in and what comes out. 00:11:33.420 --> 00:11:36.060 I need to control what happens here. 00:11:36.400 --> 00:11:39.540 Because I don't trust anything outside of me. 00:11:39.540 --> 00:11:44.540 I don't trust what I can't manage in some way on my own. 00:11:44.539 --> 00:11:54.299 So, once this was constructed, these particular, look at these qualities again. 00:11:54.719 --> 00:11:58.759 Encouragement, comfort, participation, affection, and sympathy. 00:11:58.759 --> 00:12:03.379 The fruit of us as a family. 00:12:04.259 --> 00:12:13.200 How can a person live in a fortress and be able to effectively receive those things? 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:17.379 Or effectively share those things? 00:12:18.059 --> 00:12:19.120 You can't. 00:12:19.879 --> 00:12:20.720 You can't. 00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:22.759 It doesn't work that way. 00:12:23.960 --> 00:12:34.360 Those principles are so important in how we work together that any way that you may hinder it can't be. 00:12:34.740 --> 00:12:40.860 You cannot stop this and expect to have unity, which is what he's focusing on. 00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:43.100 You can't stop encouraging. 00:12:43.259 --> 00:12:45.519 You can't stop receiving encouragement. 00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:53.720 You can't stop having mercy for one another and only letting in so much. 00:12:54.579 --> 00:12:59.939 Because that will hinder and stop unity and family and closeness. 00:13:01.480 --> 00:13:02.600 Well, that's what I construct. 00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:07.740 Some of those things were fear of rejection. 00:13:09.220 --> 00:13:11.439 Being looked at a certain way. 00:13:11.480 --> 00:13:13.059 Well, I don't want to be looked at a certain way. 00:13:13.059 --> 00:13:14.759 I don't want to be looked at. 00:13:14.819 --> 00:13:15.919 I don't want to be looked down on. 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:22.759 I don't want to feel like people are going to leave me or reject me if I say something. 00:13:23.019 --> 00:13:29.579 If I try to encourage, if I try to give a word and it falls flat, forget it. 00:13:29.599 --> 00:13:30.500 Then I'm not going to do it again. 00:13:31.139 --> 00:13:32.339 I'm not going to try that anymore. 00:13:32.899 --> 00:13:34.119 I'm going to close that up. 00:13:35.099 --> 00:13:37.519 I'm going to shut down unity. 00:13:37.659 --> 00:13:39.079 I'm going to shut down family. 00:13:40.179 --> 00:13:41.119 Does that make sense? 00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:45.539 That's what I did. 00:13:46.659 --> 00:13:48.299 And it took a lot of years. 00:13:48.539 --> 00:13:52.860 And it was a lot that parted across the line that made that happen. 00:13:53.220 --> 00:13:55.000 Started when I was young. 00:13:55.980 --> 00:13:58.100 And there were different events that happened in my life. 00:13:58.259 --> 00:14:00.620 And that's when I started to build. 00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:05.120 As time went, then expectations are laid on. 00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:12.360 So as a young person and in high school and things like that, I said, I'm going to separate off. 00:14:13.940 --> 00:14:17.019 After that, then it ends the church. 00:14:17.159 --> 00:14:21.299 And maybe you guys were a part of church other than Bellicose at some time. 00:14:21.299 --> 00:14:25.379 And they put all kinds of expectations on you. 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:30.359 They expect you to look a certain way, be a certain way, speak a certain way. 00:14:30.779 --> 00:14:33.539 And those things aren't spoken necessarily. 00:14:34.219 --> 00:14:35.799 But it's part of the act. 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:37.579 It's part of how the whole thing looks. 00:14:38.620 --> 00:14:40.399 And you go to church on Sunday. 00:14:40.599 --> 00:14:43.120 And you look like everybody else. 00:14:43.179 --> 00:14:44.579 You behave like everybody else. 00:14:44.580 --> 00:14:45.780 And then you leave. 00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:47.500 And there's no unity. 00:14:47.980 --> 00:14:48.900 And there's no family. 00:14:49.320 --> 00:14:51.060 And no one looks out from their fortress. 00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:53.980 Because no one really wants you to look into their fortress. 00:14:54.920 --> 00:14:55.960 It's two-way thing. 00:15:00.759 --> 00:15:01.580 Second thing. 00:15:03.100 --> 00:15:04.220 The fruit of unity. 00:15:05.480 --> 00:15:12.980 How will it look to be a person who is in the family and unified? 00:15:12.980 --> 00:15:14.520 What will that look like? 00:15:15.379 --> 00:15:16.340 Verse 3. 00:15:17.200 --> 00:15:19.780 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit. 00:15:20.280 --> 00:15:24.200 But in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 00:15:25.240 --> 00:15:30.240 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:35.900 Do nothing from selfish ambition. 00:15:37.800 --> 00:15:39.280 This is holding back. 00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:41.720 Selfish ambition is holding back. 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:43.940 It's stealing God's glory. 00:15:44.580 --> 00:15:50.600 And I'm going to tell you this can happen from the loudest of us to the quietest of us. 00:15:51.200 --> 00:15:52.500 And we have a good mix of all. 00:15:53.620 --> 00:15:54.100 Right? 00:15:54.280 --> 00:15:54.400 Yeah. 00:15:54.399 --> 00:16:05.840 If we don't look at what we're doing on how we're thinking, we will be selfish, selfishly ambition. 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:08.100 We will be conceited. 00:16:08.420 --> 00:16:11.780 We will be in that fortress that I'm describing. 00:16:11.779 --> 00:16:12.779 Glory-stealing. 00:16:12.779 --> 00:16:16.919 Glory-stealing selfish ambition. 00:16:16.919 --> 00:16:19.139 Let me tell you a couple areas this could be. 00:16:19.620 --> 00:16:22.319 Number one, compare yourself to others. 00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:27.320 That is an enemy of contentment. 00:16:27.940 --> 00:16:31.300 When I look at somebody else and I say, how come I'm not like them? 00:16:31.560 --> 00:16:33.160 How come I don't have what they have? 00:16:33.540 --> 00:16:37.320 How come, you know, I need to look like this? 00:16:37.420 --> 00:16:38.940 I need to be as good as that. 00:16:39.700 --> 00:16:41.420 All those things are comparisons. 00:16:41.419 --> 00:16:45.679 I need to be as pretty as that or as good of a mother. 00:16:46.439 --> 00:16:48.959 These things also weigh in sometimes, don't they? 00:16:51.179 --> 00:16:53.000 2 Corinthians 10, 12. 00:16:53.000 --> 00:17:17.859 Comparing ourselves or not being content steals God's glory because he has given you to be you. 00:17:17.859 --> 00:17:26.719 He has given you what you need and the grace you need to be here in this family now. 00:17:27.459 --> 00:17:34.259 And if you think he must be something else, that is an ambition, right? 00:17:34.679 --> 00:17:40.899 That is your ambition, my ambition, which is selfish. 00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:43.559 That's the selfish ambition. 00:17:43.559 --> 00:17:51.740 Desiring something that I need to be what I think I should be, not what God needs to be. 00:17:53.700 --> 00:17:55.659 Second thing, approval of man. 00:17:57.799 --> 00:18:00.039 Praise, acceptance, approval. 00:18:00.740 --> 00:18:02.919 God had this from other people. 00:18:04.200 --> 00:18:05.220 Approval of man. 00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:06.759 It's insidious. 00:18:07.480 --> 00:18:09.419 John 12, 42 through 43. 00:18:09.420 --> 00:18:12.320 Nevertheless, even among the rulers, many believed in him. 00:18:12.320 --> 00:18:14.500 But because of the Pharisees. 00:18:15.340 --> 00:18:20.660 So people around the synagogue, people hearing Jesus, they were believing. 00:18:21.340 --> 00:18:25.320 But because of the Pharisees, they did not confess him. 00:18:26.279 --> 00:18:28.920 Lest they should be put out of the synagogue. 00:18:29.460 --> 00:18:33.279 For they love the praise of men more than the praise of God. 00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:40.460 This particular one is big for me. 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:50.299 It's very, like I said, it just gets into the fabric of my life, personally. 00:18:50.299 --> 00:18:53.839 What kept me in the fortress. 00:18:54.399 --> 00:19:00.500 What put me in there and wouldn't let anything in is a fear of man. 00:19:01.379 --> 00:19:04.339 A fear of looking dumb. 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:07.720 A fear of saying the wrong thing. 00:19:07.859 --> 00:19:09.539 A fear of rejection. 00:19:10.059 --> 00:19:18.019 If I were to interject in some way and it didn't make any sense, man, did I look dumb. 00:19:18.019 --> 00:19:20.440 Well, I can't look dumb. 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:23.779 At least that's what, you know, that's what the fortress people say. 00:19:24.180 --> 00:19:26.119 Which is really just me, you know, in the fortress. 00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:28.259 I can't look dumb. 00:19:29.960 --> 00:19:31.519 So, I'm afraid. 00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:34.680 And I don't give the word I should have gave. 00:19:34.779 --> 00:19:36.519 I don't say the thing I should have said. 00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:39.180 Going back to those verses. 00:19:39.660 --> 00:19:43.440 I don't extend the mercy or compassion I should have extended. 00:19:44.200 --> 00:19:46.019 Because I question myself. 00:19:46.019 --> 00:19:46.700 Myself. 00:19:46.980 --> 00:19:48.539 Why do I question myself? 00:19:48.660 --> 00:19:51.139 Because am I doing the right thing or the wrong thing? 00:19:53.059 --> 00:19:56.180 I'm afraid that I might be doing the wrong thing. 00:19:57.379 --> 00:19:58.700 That's fear of man. 00:19:59.619 --> 00:20:01.019 That's a selfish ambition. 00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:06.960 Pride. 00:20:07.480 --> 00:20:09.599 Pride is the third one. 00:20:10.019 --> 00:20:13.440 Pride of self and pride of wanting to be great. 00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:16.720 Luke 4.11. 00:20:17.180 --> 00:20:19.620 Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled. 00:20:20.340 --> 00:20:22.600 And he who humbles himself will be exalted. 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:27.940 I want to run through this idea real quick. 00:20:28.440 --> 00:20:31.600 And hopefully I can express it in a way that you follow. 00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:34.740 If you can't, it's because I'm not saying it right. 00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:35.920 So, I'm going to be very careful. 00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:36.320 Okay. 00:20:36.320 --> 00:20:37.200 Okay. 00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:38.720 So, run with me. 00:20:38.840 --> 00:20:39.840 This is the thought. 00:20:41.320 --> 00:20:45.120 In life, we want to be great. 00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:46.539 In general. 00:20:47.380 --> 00:20:49.400 There's a very... 00:20:49.400 --> 00:20:50.759 And listen to me. 00:20:50.860 --> 00:20:54.940 I'm talking about two different sides here. 00:20:54.940 --> 00:20:57.600 I'm talking about a flesh side. 00:20:58.059 --> 00:21:00.420 A world side of us. 00:21:00.820 --> 00:21:03.240 And there's a spiritual side of us. 00:21:03.700 --> 00:21:03.900 Right? 00:21:04.380 --> 00:21:08.640 I'm going to speak right now in this world side of us. 00:21:09.180 --> 00:21:10.220 The world... 00:21:11.080 --> 00:21:12.900 We want to be great. 00:21:14.259 --> 00:21:19.340 And so, in our minds, even from young, we'll try to make good decisions. 00:21:19.539 --> 00:21:22.580 We'll try to excel in something. 00:21:22.579 --> 00:21:26.419 We'll try to do whatever in our minds to be great. 00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:30.740 But the problem is, we can't. 00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:36.919 And so, when we're not and we fall short, there's frustration. 00:21:37.779 --> 00:21:41.399 There's frustration that I can't be as good as what I want to be. 00:21:41.919 --> 00:21:45.179 I can't be as great as what I think I should be. 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:47.299 You hear all this selfish ambition. 00:21:48.199 --> 00:21:49.539 This is how the world thinks. 00:21:49.659 --> 00:21:50.419 This is what happens. 00:21:50.420 --> 00:21:52.680 This is how we can think. 00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:54.700 I want to be great. 00:21:55.080 --> 00:21:56.220 I fall short. 00:21:56.539 --> 00:21:57.259 I'm frustrated. 00:21:57.779 --> 00:22:00.640 When I get to that point, what do I do? 00:22:01.220 --> 00:22:02.340 I can say, you know what? 00:22:02.420 --> 00:22:02.920 Forget it. 00:22:03.580 --> 00:22:05.000 I'm not going to try again. 00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:06.840 I'm going to back up. 00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:09.640 I'm not going to worry about it. 00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:15.279 I just will never be what I think I can be or should be. 00:22:15.880 --> 00:22:16.580 Better is better. 00:22:16.579 --> 00:22:23.659 Maybe I fall into a place where I strive all the harder to be great. 00:22:24.159 --> 00:22:26.399 To be what I think I should be. 00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:28.099 This idea in my mind. 00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:30.679 That's what I want to be. 00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:33.500 So, I'm going to strive all the harder to be that. 00:22:33.899 --> 00:22:35.879 Maybe going back to the contentment issue. 00:22:36.879 --> 00:22:37.859 Susie is that. 00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:39.199 I can be that. 00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:40.279 I should be that. 00:22:40.279 --> 00:22:47.960 And then I tell myself, then I strive all the harder in my own striving, in my own work, to get to that point. 00:22:47.960 --> 00:23:02.200 Well, these frustrations, this cycle, this hamster wheel is pride. 00:23:02.940 --> 00:23:04.779 Because it's selfish ambition. 00:23:05.340 --> 00:23:13.120 It comes down to the fact that you aren't trusting God for what he has for you. 00:23:13.119 --> 00:23:15.819 You're trying to construct yourself. 00:23:16.639 --> 00:23:18.839 Whatever that should in your life. 00:23:19.139 --> 00:23:24.319 Whatever that high level thing is that you're chasing after is a selfish ambition. 00:23:24.879 --> 00:23:28.599 And it's pride to either try to attain it or attain it. 00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:31.159 And then look at yourself on that pinnacle. 00:23:31.579 --> 00:23:33.619 Or not attain it. 00:23:34.579 --> 00:23:38.059 And back up from life and say, I just can't do it. 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:41.959 That's pride to think that you ever could have. 00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:45.980 To think that you can jump that hop. 00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:48.019 To think that you can make that happen. 00:23:48.440 --> 00:23:49.480 That is pride. 00:23:50.100 --> 00:23:50.460 You see? 00:23:51.140 --> 00:23:55.620 It's when we talk about from a lot of what I did. 00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:58.340 A lot of my construction, my fortress, all these things. 00:23:58.600 --> 00:23:59.779 It was inside. 00:24:00.539 --> 00:24:02.299 The things that I was thinking. 00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:03.880 The things that I said to myself. 00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:05.120 It was inside. 00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:06.680 You wouldn't know it. 00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:08.279 You wouldn't know it to talk to me. 00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:13.399 A lot of what we do is inside our heads. 00:24:13.400 --> 00:24:18.100 The fourth thing is lack of love. 00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:22.320 Love sacrifices for another. 00:24:23.580 --> 00:24:24.440 It sacrifices. 00:24:27.860 --> 00:24:32.759 Just quickly look back at our verse. 00:24:32.759 --> 00:24:35.759 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit. 00:24:36.579 --> 00:24:40.259 But in humility count others more significant than yourself. 00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:41.759 Sacrifice. 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:42.539 Sacrifice. 00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:43.379 Sacrifice. 00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:46.519 Lack of love. 00:24:46.619 --> 00:24:47.539 Galatians 5. 00:24:47.680 --> 00:24:49.640 Fruit of the flesh is selfish ambition. 00:24:49.640 --> 00:24:53.220 That's one of many listed there. 00:24:53.960 --> 00:24:56.060 I'm all about me. 00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:58.240 I'm all about what I'm going to do. 00:24:58.460 --> 00:25:00.160 I'm all about what I think I should do. 00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:03.240 I'm all about what I tell myself I should be. 00:25:03.660 --> 00:25:03.980 Blah, blah, blah. 00:25:04.040 --> 00:25:04.560 On and on. 00:25:06.700 --> 00:25:09.460 But the fruit of the spirit is love. 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:11.180 Among others. 00:25:11.620 --> 00:25:13.120 Fruit of the spirit is love. 00:25:15.360 --> 00:25:16.940 So how about conceit? 00:25:17.840 --> 00:25:18.800 How about conceit? 00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:22.220 Thinking more of ourselves than what we should. 00:25:22.919 --> 00:25:25.399 Is basically conceit, right? 00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:27.299 How do we stack up? 00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:29.059 What does the Bible say about conceit? 00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:31.700 It's pretty clear. 00:25:31.919 --> 00:25:33.599 Let me give you just a couple of verses. 00:25:33.799 --> 00:25:35.279 Number one, Romans 9.20. 00:25:36.279 --> 00:25:42.200 On the contrary, who are you, human being, to talk back to God? 00:25:42.899 --> 00:25:45.440 Will what is formed say to the one who formed it? 00:25:45.859 --> 00:25:47.759 Why did you make me like this? 00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:51.220 God made us. 00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:52.619 He formed us. 00:25:52.919 --> 00:25:58.139 And we're going to look back at it and try to be conceited about that somehow? 00:25:58.859 --> 00:26:03.319 We're going to look back and try to hold ourselves higher than somebody else somehow? 00:26:03.319 --> 00:26:06.939 Is that even a thing? 00:26:06.939 --> 00:26:08.500 Who are you? 00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:09.619 Oh, man. 00:26:11.659 --> 00:26:13.619 Job 38.2-4. 00:26:13.619 --> 00:26:18.159 Who is this who obscures my counsel with ignorant words? 00:26:18.239 --> 00:26:18.879 God says. 00:26:19.199 --> 00:26:21.539 Get ready to answer me like a man. 00:26:22.219 --> 00:26:25.119 When I question you, you will inform me. 00:26:25.979 --> 00:26:28.859 Where were you when I established the earth? 00:26:29.559 --> 00:26:31.619 Tell me if you have understanding. 00:26:33.239 --> 00:26:33.859 I don't. 00:26:33.859 --> 00:26:40.979 So I had a fortress protected as well. 00:26:41.979 --> 00:26:43.099 I constructed it. 00:26:43.559 --> 00:26:45.079 And then I protected it. 00:26:45.779 --> 00:26:47.939 I looked out for it. 00:26:47.940 --> 00:27:03.700 I made sure that anyone lobbing bombs of trying to get through for me to be vulnerable or open beyond what... 00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:06.140 I picture, you know, I'm sitting in there. 00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:09.819 I'm sending out the messages that the fortress will allow. 00:27:10.620 --> 00:27:13.380 I will give you so much. 00:27:14.019 --> 00:27:16.319 But I won't give you all of it. 00:27:16.700 --> 00:27:21.120 I won't let you in to see what's really happening. 00:27:21.119 --> 00:27:24.500 I was talking to Clayton and he said, 00:27:24.839 --> 00:27:27.359 you ought to knock some doors and put some windows in that thing. 00:27:28.479 --> 00:27:29.439 Probably should. 00:27:30.579 --> 00:27:33.019 I'm thinking more along the lines of obliterating it. 00:27:33.719 --> 00:27:36.079 But that was what wasn't happening. 00:27:36.959 --> 00:27:38.819 I sent out those cryptic messages. 00:27:39.079 --> 00:27:39.639 I gave you. 00:27:39.639 --> 00:27:40.259 You can understand. 00:27:40.619 --> 00:27:42.639 It's sort of like redaction, you know. 00:27:42.839 --> 00:27:47.319 I'll let you know so much because there's a ton of it that's all blacked out there that I'm not. 00:27:48.199 --> 00:27:50.699 That's the messages that will go out of the fortress. 00:27:52.119 --> 00:27:53.879 As a fortress protected. 00:27:54.779 --> 00:27:58.479 Too often, my thoughts, they were self-righteous. 00:27:58.959 --> 00:28:00.979 I want to be the smartest guy in the room, you know. 00:28:01.599 --> 00:28:04.439 Like, it's nice to be looked at that way, isn't it? 00:28:05.539 --> 00:28:06.379 How conceited. 00:28:07.519 --> 00:28:10.279 Putting myself first and high. 00:28:11.979 --> 00:28:14.079 Again, how conceited is that? 00:28:15.339 --> 00:28:19.699 These are realizations that really landed on me. 00:28:19.700 --> 00:28:27.620 As I took a look at this situation and what I'd been hiding from and what I'd been protecting myself from, 00:28:28.620 --> 00:28:33.620 which we'll get to ultimately, is freedom of Christ is what I was protecting myself from. 00:28:33.619 --> 00:28:39.939 There is no unity in a protected fortress. 00:28:40.619 --> 00:28:53.879 If each of us closed ourselves off and only gave redacted messages to one another, there's no unity in that. 00:28:54.379 --> 00:28:55.919 There's no family in that. 00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:59.920 We can't do that. 00:29:00.420 --> 00:29:01.380 We can't do that. 00:29:02.100 --> 00:29:05.039 I'm giving you this from my experience. 00:29:06.039 --> 00:29:09.039 And I think this is what I want to talk about. 00:29:09.100 --> 00:29:09.560 I can't remember. 00:29:09.559 --> 00:29:14.119 One of the things that I did here, I've never done this before in my life. 00:29:14.639 --> 00:29:15.559 I always have outlines. 00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:20.039 You know, Roman number one, two, three, A, B, C. 00:29:20.240 --> 00:29:26.139 And they are legit Harvard outlines, if you're familiar with those. 00:29:27.059 --> 00:29:28.460 That's how I always do my notes. 00:29:28.579 --> 00:29:31.879 This is a bunch of bullet points and verses. 00:29:31.880 --> 00:29:32.880 This is a bunch of bullet points and verses. 00:29:32.880 --> 00:29:33.840 I've never done this. 00:29:35.920 --> 00:29:38.520 So anyway, I think this is where I want to talk about this. 00:29:38.860 --> 00:29:41.880 Anyway, January 29th. 00:29:43.700 --> 00:29:48.320 You know that Stacey and I have been having conflict and things like that. 00:29:49.780 --> 00:29:59.240 It was a difficult time and difficult things that both of us were bringing to the table and just trying to work through. 00:29:59.240 --> 00:30:04.160 And January 29th, we sat there. 00:30:04.339 --> 00:30:07.420 We sit on the, most of us, I think, have been to our house. 00:30:07.480 --> 00:30:10.559 There's like an L couch there inside the door. 00:30:10.880 --> 00:30:12.559 And she sits in the corner. 00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:13.900 And I sit on the other side. 00:30:13.980 --> 00:30:15.900 That's where we drink coffee and talk and stuff in the morning. 00:30:16.339 --> 00:30:26.240 Anyway, this Wednesday morning, I said, we're getting, moving past an argument time. 00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:31.140 And I said, hey, what do you see in me? 00:30:32.519 --> 00:30:33.299 And I shut up. 00:30:33.980 --> 00:30:34.500 And I listened. 00:30:35.720 --> 00:30:36.839 And she told me. 00:30:37.799 --> 00:30:39.160 She gave me a lot of stuff. 00:30:39.240 --> 00:30:40.339 A lot of great stuff. 00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:46.279 One of those things that she gave was a piece of paper. 00:30:46.279 --> 00:30:49.500 And this was an article written. 00:30:50.259 --> 00:31:00.039 And it had all kinds of, this writer, I have no idea who they are, but they were reading my man. 00:31:00.619 --> 00:31:02.139 They knew me. 00:31:02.420 --> 00:31:03.119 They knew me. 00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:05.940 Because it was all about me. 00:31:06.440 --> 00:31:08.859 It was all about how I behaved. 00:31:09.200 --> 00:31:10.779 It was all about my fortress. 00:31:10.779 --> 00:31:16.779 It was all about the protection, the hiding, the things that I would say to keep the fortress intact. 00:31:17.960 --> 00:31:19.299 So nobody would mess with it. 00:31:22.180 --> 00:31:26.379 And so that day was really huge. 00:31:26.779 --> 00:31:29.220 I took what she said. 00:31:29.399 --> 00:31:30.639 I took that paper. 00:31:31.139 --> 00:31:34.779 And I started studying the scriptures that were in that paper. 00:31:34.779 --> 00:31:38.759 And I said, this has to change. 00:31:39.759 --> 00:31:48.000 I've got to turn this over to the Lord because I'm way off here. 00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:49.299 I'm way off. 00:31:49.660 --> 00:31:51.059 I'm hidden away somewhere. 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:53.980 Nothing's coming through. 00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:55.759 There's no fruit. 00:31:55.759 --> 00:32:02.700 The way the fruit should exist in a unified situation. 00:32:03.019 --> 00:32:03.879 In the church. 00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:04.640 In my family. 00:32:05.140 --> 00:32:06.019 In our marriage. 00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:10.700 So I was protecting. 00:32:11.099 --> 00:32:13.000 I was protecting that fortress. 00:32:14.660 --> 00:32:16.039 Verse 3, he says, 00:32:16.039 --> 00:32:22.039 Consider others as more significant than yourselves. 00:32:23.379 --> 00:32:25.000 Inhumility is how that's done. 00:32:25.759 --> 00:32:34.519 But I just want to think for a second about considering one another as more significant than ourselves. 00:32:35.259 --> 00:32:36.859 And what that looks like. 00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:43.599 Paying attention to others' interests as much or more than your own. 00:32:43.599 --> 00:32:50.500 In all of our relationships. 00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:52.859 And how we interact here. 00:32:54.299 --> 00:33:00.939 How often are we considering others' interests as more important than our own? 00:33:01.599 --> 00:33:06.179 How often do we talk to another and consider that person? 00:33:06.180 --> 00:33:09.400 Regardless of their place in life. 00:33:09.600 --> 00:33:12.480 Regardless of who they are or what. 00:33:13.140 --> 00:33:18.480 How often do we consider them as more significant than ourselves? 00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:21.160 As we're talking to them. 00:33:21.700 --> 00:33:23.480 As we look another person in the eye. 00:33:24.400 --> 00:33:25.860 Are we giving them time? 00:33:27.079 --> 00:33:28.940 I think one of... 00:33:28.940 --> 00:33:30.120 Did Josh say last week? 00:33:30.519 --> 00:33:31.640 Like the time. 00:33:31.779 --> 00:33:32.360 Eight minutes. 00:33:32.500 --> 00:33:33.079 Did he say that? 00:33:33.079 --> 00:33:34.079 Yeah. 00:33:36.079 --> 00:33:36.399 Yeah. 00:33:36.500 --> 00:33:37.679 Like the conversation. 00:33:37.839 --> 00:33:39.579 We give eight minutes to somebody. 00:33:40.319 --> 00:33:41.139 And if you can sit. 00:33:41.240 --> 00:33:43.859 You know, he's talking about looking and listening to them. 00:33:44.359 --> 00:33:47.960 There's a study that if you give someone eight minutes and you listen to them. 00:33:48.179 --> 00:33:49.639 Like post eight minutes. 00:33:50.299 --> 00:33:53.839 They, in their minds, have this sense that you don't care. 00:33:54.639 --> 00:33:55.619 That you've listened. 00:33:55.619 --> 00:33:58.379 How many of us want to be listened to? 00:33:58.859 --> 00:34:01.559 How does one listen to another? 00:34:01.959 --> 00:34:02.439 And why? 00:34:02.719 --> 00:34:06.639 Because I consider you more significant than myself. 00:34:07.019 --> 00:34:08.139 So I'm going to show. 00:34:09.139 --> 00:34:10.659 I'm going to take the time. 00:34:10.759 --> 00:34:11.659 I'm going to carve it out. 00:34:11.739 --> 00:34:13.119 I'm going to forget about the clock. 00:34:13.579 --> 00:34:14.980 And I'm going to take time with you. 00:34:15.839 --> 00:34:18.319 And be present with you. 00:34:21.079 --> 00:34:25.139 I think about it in terms of the brothers. 00:34:26.519 --> 00:34:30.159 Do we consider ourselves more significant than the other? 00:34:30.920 --> 00:34:32.900 I think of it, of course, in our family. 00:34:33.900 --> 00:34:38.759 With parents, siblings, kids, things like that. 00:34:40.119 --> 00:34:41.299 Your spouse. 00:34:42.259 --> 00:34:45.900 Is your spouse more significant than you? 00:34:46.559 --> 00:34:47.859 Do you think of them that way? 00:34:47.860 --> 00:35:02.579 Right after this point in Philippians, Jesus, I'm sorry, Paul, as he's writing, this verse four. 00:35:02.579 --> 00:35:06.039 This verse four. 00:35:07.420 --> 00:35:11.239 Let each of you look not only to his own interest, but also to the interest of others. 00:35:11.940 --> 00:35:14.880 He, in this same chapter, and I don't want to walk on anybody else. 00:35:14.980 --> 00:35:15.900 I don't know who's after me. 00:35:15.900 --> 00:35:17.980 I'm not going to get too much. 00:35:18.920 --> 00:35:21.039 I'll let them flesh it out. 00:35:21.660 --> 00:35:27.300 But Paul gives four examples of that verse, one after another. 00:35:27.500 --> 00:35:28.740 Boom, boom, boom, boom. 00:35:29.320 --> 00:35:30.460 First was Jesus. 00:35:30.639 --> 00:35:31.380 We'll talk about that. 00:35:32.139 --> 00:35:35.840 Second is Paul himself. 00:35:36.680 --> 00:35:38.059 Third is Timothy. 00:35:38.059 --> 00:35:42.139 And then fourth is Epaphroditus. 00:35:42.679 --> 00:35:44.679 So Paul in Philippians 2, 17 says, 00:35:45.159 --> 00:35:50.599 Being poured out like a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I'm glad. 00:35:51.659 --> 00:35:53.119 He's concerned about them. 00:35:53.179 --> 00:35:53.860 He's being poured out. 00:35:53.880 --> 00:35:54.619 He's going to die. 00:35:56.000 --> 00:36:01.539 And he's glad because he considers them and their matreus as higher than his own. 00:36:02.059 --> 00:36:05.880 Second on Timothy, chapter two, verse 19 and 21 through 21. 00:36:05.880 --> 00:36:08.680 He is genuinely concerned for their welfare. 00:36:10.400 --> 00:36:18.539 He's sending Timothy to the Philippians because Timothy is concerned for those Philippians. 00:36:19.460 --> 00:36:23.059 Everyone else, he says, has sought their own interests. 00:36:23.420 --> 00:36:25.539 All the other ones are seeking their own interests. 00:36:26.740 --> 00:36:31.519 Timothy is willing to travel, which wasn't an easy thing back then, 00:36:31.519 --> 00:36:37.539 to go through whatever might be trouble since then, personally, physically, 00:36:37.539 --> 00:36:41.500 to go back to these Philippians because he cares about, 00:36:42.019 --> 00:36:44.539 because he cares about their interests above his own. 00:36:44.960 --> 00:36:49.699 Third one, Epaphroditus, is chapter two, verse 25 through 26. 00:36:50.980 --> 00:36:54.000 Epaphroditus, Paul talks about him being ill, 00:36:54.719 --> 00:36:57.000 and ill even to the point of death. 00:36:57.000 --> 00:36:59.659 But what is Epaphroditus concerned about? 00:37:00.099 --> 00:37:03.420 He's distressed because the Philippians were worried. 00:37:04.420 --> 00:37:11.139 He's thinking about them, not his own health in that haven. 00:37:11.420 --> 00:37:14.000 He's concerned about them and their thoughts about him. 00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:20.039 So I built the fortress. 00:37:20.679 --> 00:37:23.320 I protected the fortress. 00:37:23.719 --> 00:37:25.440 And then the fortress was attacked. 00:37:26.159 --> 00:37:30.219 And that was on that date, January 29th. 00:37:30.840 --> 00:37:33.960 When that set in motion for me, 00:37:33.960 --> 00:37:38.420 a lot through this chapter, 00:37:38.699 --> 00:37:39.900 a lot through other verses, 00:37:40.340 --> 00:37:41.920 and all kinds of studies 00:37:41.920 --> 00:37:51.039 that I have done there on my couch 00:37:51.039 --> 00:37:54.000 as Chuck very approvingly looked over my shoulder. 00:37:55.119 --> 00:37:58.760 And it has grown. 00:37:59.320 --> 00:38:00.039 It has grown. 00:38:00.039 --> 00:38:04.059 The Lord has allowed me to see things 00:38:04.059 --> 00:38:06.440 that I've not seen before. 00:38:06.920 --> 00:38:13.519 Understood things that I have no doubt spoken of, 00:38:13.639 --> 00:38:14.599 taught on, whatever. 00:38:15.179 --> 00:38:18.179 But never listen. 00:38:19.179 --> 00:38:22.300 I encourage you today to listen. 00:38:23.480 --> 00:38:25.099 Hear these verses. 00:38:25.860 --> 00:38:27.400 Hear what God says. 00:38:27.920 --> 00:38:29.739 Hear what is happening in this. 00:38:29.739 --> 00:38:33.039 Hear what could be happening in your own heart. 00:38:33.579 --> 00:38:36.179 Are you building some sort of fortress? 00:38:36.899 --> 00:38:39.159 Are you hiding away from something? 00:38:39.659 --> 00:38:41.639 Are we hiding away from each other? 00:38:41.979 --> 00:38:43.419 Which would be horrible. 00:38:44.179 --> 00:38:45.239 It would be horrible. 00:38:46.099 --> 00:38:47.959 Are you hiding away from your family? 00:38:48.919 --> 00:38:49.799 From your spouse? 00:38:50.799 --> 00:38:53.619 Are you hiding away from your wife or your husband? 00:38:53.619 --> 00:39:01.779 Which is probably the worst thing. 00:39:01.780 --> 00:39:09.140 So I want to look at Jesus' example of humility to us. 00:39:09.500 --> 00:39:11.860 Because that's the first one that Paul gives in this. 00:39:12.360 --> 00:39:15.580 And I want to let it settle in on us. 00:39:16.080 --> 00:39:18.420 Let this example really settle. 00:39:18.820 --> 00:39:19.100 All right? 00:39:19.099 --> 00:39:21.779 Verse 5 in Philippians 2. 00:39:21.940 --> 00:39:26.139 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 00:39:27.079 --> 00:39:30.319 who, though he was in the form of God, 00:39:30.400 --> 00:39:34.019 did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 00:39:34.360 --> 00:39:35.980 but emptied himself. 00:39:36.539 --> 00:39:38.420 By taking the form of a servant, 00:39:39.159 --> 00:39:40.619 being born in the likeness of man, 00:39:40.679 --> 00:39:42.239 and being found in human form, 00:39:42.639 --> 00:39:46.839 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death. 00:39:46.840 --> 00:39:48.760 Death on a cross. 00:39:49.539 --> 00:39:50.519 That's our example. 00:39:53.519 --> 00:39:56.800 This power, this mind of humility, 00:39:57.400 --> 00:39:58.960 this way of thinking. 00:39:59.180 --> 00:40:00.000 Look at verse 5. 00:40:00.380 --> 00:40:02.620 Have this mind, this mind of humility, 00:40:03.180 --> 00:40:04.940 this mind that is open, 00:40:05.420 --> 00:40:09.539 that is ready to give and receive in a humble way. 00:40:09.940 --> 00:40:14.160 Have this mind, which is yours in Christ. 00:40:14.579 --> 00:40:16.079 You've already got it. 00:40:16.840 --> 00:40:17.079 Yeah. 00:40:17.559 --> 00:40:18.760 You've already got it. 00:40:19.220 --> 00:40:23.800 So if you are not acting in this way, 00:40:24.039 --> 00:40:25.420 you're fighting it. 00:40:26.280 --> 00:40:27.680 It's only two things. 00:40:28.200 --> 00:40:30.360 You're either going to walk in it, 00:40:30.360 --> 00:40:32.519 or you're going to fight against it, 00:40:32.519 --> 00:40:34.380 because it's already yours. 00:40:34.740 --> 00:40:39.180 So you have to actively choose not to be obedient, 00:40:39.720 --> 00:40:41.120 not to listen, 00:40:41.559 --> 00:40:43.240 not to walk in the light. 00:40:43.239 --> 00:40:45.099 And that's work. 00:40:45.599 --> 00:40:46.419 I'm telling you, 00:40:46.799 --> 00:40:47.439 that's work. 00:40:48.359 --> 00:40:50.519 It's work to construct a fortress. 00:40:50.939 --> 00:40:52.459 It's work to hide away. 00:40:52.839 --> 00:40:57.839 It's work to avoid everything that you should be obedient in. 00:40:57.840 --> 00:40:59.960 And that's hard work. 00:40:59.960 --> 00:41:01.559 And it takes a toll. 00:41:02.840 --> 00:41:04.039 It's not freedom. 00:41:04.640 --> 00:41:04.780 Yeah. 00:41:05.200 --> 00:41:06.039 It's not freedom. 00:41:06.039 --> 00:41:12.059 This humility that's already yours in Christ 00:41:12.059 --> 00:41:15.960 is the freedom that he gives. 00:41:15.960 --> 00:41:20.800 When you can come out of whatever you have constructed, 00:41:20.920 --> 00:41:22.440 I'm telling you what I did. 00:41:23.240 --> 00:41:24.019 Maybe it's similar. 00:41:24.280 --> 00:41:24.960 Maybe it's different. 00:41:25.820 --> 00:41:26.920 However you want to picture it. 00:41:27.179 --> 00:41:30.300 Maybe you have a nice tiki hut or a beach or I don't know. 00:41:30.340 --> 00:41:30.980 Whatever you do. 00:41:30.980 --> 00:41:41.240 But I'm telling you that there is freedom outside of what we build for ourselves. 00:41:42.619 --> 00:41:45.679 There's freedom outside of the disobedient. 00:41:46.420 --> 00:41:51.519 Outside of all the pride, of all the selfish ambition, the conceit. 00:41:51.599 --> 00:41:54.840 All these things that he wants to rely on. 00:41:55.320 --> 00:41:57.960 When that's gone, there's freedom. 00:41:59.559 --> 00:42:00.579 Freedom in Christ. 00:42:01.579 --> 00:42:03.440 So let's take this apart. 00:42:03.960 --> 00:42:07.440 In verse 6, this is Jesus' example. 00:42:07.760 --> 00:42:09.340 We're going to take it apart and apply it. 00:42:09.760 --> 00:42:14.460 First thing is he was in the form of God. 00:42:15.139 --> 00:42:18.579 John 17, 5 says Jesus was saying, 00:42:18.579 --> 00:42:23.380 Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you 00:42:23.380 --> 00:42:25.840 before the world existed. 00:42:25.840 --> 00:42:39.720 So there's an idea of the form of God that he had glorified with the Father before the world existed. 00:42:39.719 --> 00:42:41.179 Okay, we get this picture, right? 00:42:41.179 --> 00:42:42.819 That's where he was. 00:42:45.179 --> 00:42:46.559 Then he says, 00:42:47.500 --> 00:42:52.739 He did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped. 00:42:52.739 --> 00:42:57.879 In other words, at this time, that wasn't his purpose. 00:42:58.199 --> 00:43:00.500 At this time, it was to come and flesh. 00:43:02.059 --> 00:43:04.079 But emptied himself. 00:43:04.879 --> 00:43:06.759 That's what he chose. 00:43:06.760 --> 00:43:09.800 Fully God and fully man. 00:43:09.800 --> 00:43:13.860 Jesus was fully God and then fully man. 00:43:13.860 --> 00:43:15.640 John 1, 14. 00:43:15.640 --> 00:43:20.340 The word became flesh and dwelt among us and we have seen his glory. 00:43:20.760 --> 00:43:27.059 Glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 00:43:27.059 --> 00:43:34.000 This is a good quote I found Piper wrote on the idea of emptying himself. 00:43:35.119 --> 00:43:35.599 He said, 00:43:35.699 --> 00:43:41.159 So there was a divine glory in the incarnate Christ for those who had eyes to see. 00:43:42.360 --> 00:43:49.920 But the fullness of divine glory, I think, would have incinerated sinners and blinded everyone. 00:43:50.920 --> 00:43:54.000 And this is what he emptied himself of. 00:43:54.000 --> 00:44:10.019 Maybe the best way to say it is that whatever stood between the fullness of the divine glory before the incarnation and the suffering and shame and degradation and death on the cross, 00:44:10.380 --> 00:44:16.079 whatever stood between there, that had to be laid aside so he could do it. 00:44:16.920 --> 00:44:19.199 There's a lot that we don't get there. 00:44:19.199 --> 00:44:24.359 There's a lot that is of God in there. 00:44:25.359 --> 00:44:32.439 But whatever stood between, that's what he emptied himself to be both fully man and fully God. 00:44:33.139 --> 00:44:35.079 And to do what he did on the cross. 00:44:35.079 --> 00:44:42.480 Then he says he was, going back to our verse, 00:44:43.139 --> 00:44:46.480 he emptied himself by taking the form of a servant. 00:44:46.960 --> 00:44:48.299 The form of a servant. 00:44:48.779 --> 00:44:51.039 Mark 10, 42 through 45. 00:44:51.039 --> 00:44:53.539 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, 00:44:53.860 --> 00:44:58.820 You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, 00:44:59.360 --> 00:45:02.199 and their great ones exercise authority over them. 00:45:02.719 --> 00:45:06.960 But it shall not be so among you. 00:45:08.820 --> 00:45:11.199 But whoever would be great among you, 00:45:11.199 --> 00:45:12.599 be great. 00:45:12.779 --> 00:45:16.320 That idea of being great, remember, the selfish ambition. 00:45:16.320 --> 00:45:22.100 But whoever would be great among you must be your servant. 00:45:22.820 --> 00:45:26.720 And whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 00:45:27.700 --> 00:45:33.860 For even the son of man came not to be served, but to serve. 00:45:34.700 --> 00:45:37.620 And to give his life as a ransom for many. 00:45:41.059 --> 00:45:42.580 The form of a servant. 00:45:42.579 --> 00:45:47.340 So, I just want to pause right here for a second. 00:45:47.799 --> 00:45:52.779 And we're seeing, okay, we're seeing the glory of Jesus. 00:45:53.199 --> 00:45:56.500 Then the servanthood of Jesus. 00:45:56.659 --> 00:46:01.279 We see the span that he, from one to the other, emptied himself. 00:46:01.699 --> 00:46:02.819 One to the other, okay? 00:46:03.360 --> 00:46:04.960 Again, this is our example. 00:46:05.900 --> 00:46:10.099 Now, where is there space for a fortress? 00:46:10.099 --> 00:46:12.980 Where is there space for a conceit? 00:46:13.400 --> 00:46:15.860 Where is there space for a selfish ambition? 00:46:16.799 --> 00:46:17.199 None. 00:46:18.579 --> 00:46:20.039 We were talking on the way in. 00:46:20.139 --> 00:46:23.039 If it weren't for grace that he gives us, 00:46:23.719 --> 00:46:28.579 the shame of this difference between myself and Christ 00:46:28.579 --> 00:46:32.039 is off to charters. 00:46:32.739 --> 00:46:33.880 But it's grace. 00:46:34.539 --> 00:46:35.400 It's grace. 00:46:35.400 --> 00:46:40.400 But you see the difference between us and him already. 00:46:41.400 --> 00:46:42.320 We see this, don't we? 00:46:45.200 --> 00:46:45.680 Obedient. 00:46:45.940 --> 00:46:50.000 And this is where the verbal rubber meets the road. 00:46:51.539 --> 00:46:53.160 Obedient to the point of death. 00:46:53.260 --> 00:46:54.340 John 18, 4. 00:46:54.340 --> 00:46:57.660 Then Jesus, knowing everything that was about to happen to him, 00:46:57.900 --> 00:47:00.700 knowing everything that was about to happen to him, 00:47:03.019 --> 00:47:04.160 went out and said to them, 00:47:04.240 --> 00:47:05.120 Who is it you're seeking? 00:47:05.220 --> 00:47:06.900 In the garden, when they came to get him, 00:47:07.320 --> 00:47:09.720 he knew he was about to go to the cross. 00:47:09.800 --> 00:47:12.720 He knew he was about to be separated from the Father. 00:47:13.160 --> 00:47:17.180 He knew the agony that was just hours away. 00:47:19.620 --> 00:47:22.200 Knowing everything that was about to happen to him, 00:47:22.200 --> 00:47:23.280 went out and said to them, 00:47:23.280 --> 00:47:25.200 Who is it you're seeking? 00:47:26.960 --> 00:47:27.400 The sound. 00:47:30.200 --> 00:47:35.460 I want to go, if you would, turn with me to Psalm chapter 22. 00:47:42.460 --> 00:47:43.820 Psalm chapter 22. 00:47:43.980 --> 00:47:45.500 I want to read a few different verses. 00:47:45.500 --> 00:47:52.880 This is, we brought up maybe a week or two ago. 00:47:56.880 --> 00:47:57.519 Prophetic. 00:47:59.420 --> 00:48:00.679 Jesus speaking. 00:48:01.340 --> 00:48:03.159 What he saw. 00:48:03.880 --> 00:48:05.360 It's an amazing chapter. 00:48:05.820 --> 00:48:06.460 Amazing chapter. 00:48:06.460 --> 00:48:13.720 But he's, here he's, I want to keep in mind, 00:48:13.800 --> 00:48:16.099 he knows what's about to happen to him. 00:48:16.480 --> 00:48:18.220 Yet he was still obedient. 00:48:22.519 --> 00:48:23.900 Acquaint that to us real quick. 00:48:24.380 --> 00:48:24.619 Right? 00:48:24.619 --> 00:48:27.179 When you have those decisions to make. 00:48:27.420 --> 00:48:31.219 When you can either hide away, or you can open up. 00:48:31.500 --> 00:48:36.759 When you can be vulnerable, or you can choose to do something else. 00:48:37.039 --> 00:48:39.099 When you can encourage, or you don't. 00:48:39.159 --> 00:48:40.460 When you have those decisions. 00:48:40.799 --> 00:48:41.739 We have them constantly. 00:48:42.920 --> 00:48:48.699 He, his example, was obedient when he knew what was about to happen. 00:48:48.699 --> 00:48:51.099 What do you think is the benefit? 00:48:52.099 --> 00:48:57.019 Whatever fear, whatever pride, whatever's on the other side of choosing to be obedient, 00:48:57.679 --> 00:48:58.719 is irrelevant. 00:49:00.019 --> 00:49:02.019 Because, probably not dead. 00:49:02.559 --> 00:49:04.059 But even if it was. 00:49:05.480 --> 00:49:07.679 He takes us away. 00:49:08.539 --> 00:49:09.079 That obedience. 00:49:10.179 --> 00:49:10.739 Verse one. 00:49:11.639 --> 00:49:14.379 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 00:49:14.380 --> 00:49:19.780 Why are you so far from saving me from the words of my groaning? 00:49:22.840 --> 00:49:26.460 Oh my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer. 00:49:26.579 --> 00:49:28.360 By night, but I find no rest. 00:49:29.940 --> 00:49:31.860 He went obediently to that. 00:49:33.320 --> 00:49:34.240 Verse six. 00:49:35.320 --> 00:49:36.940 But I am a worm and not a man. 00:49:37.519 --> 00:49:40.160 Scorned by mankind and despised by the people. 00:49:40.680 --> 00:49:42.340 All who see me mock me. 00:49:42.920 --> 00:49:44.119 They make mouths of me. 00:49:44.119 --> 00:49:45.259 They wag their heads. 00:49:45.539 --> 00:49:46.659 He trusts in the Lord. 00:49:46.739 --> 00:49:47.799 Let him deliver him. 00:49:48.500 --> 00:49:50.099 Let him rescue him. 00:49:50.480 --> 00:49:51.779 For he delights in him. 00:49:52.380 --> 00:49:53.440 Very sarcastic. 00:49:53.880 --> 00:49:55.579 As they stood around the cross. 00:49:57.839 --> 00:49:59.039 Yet you who are. 00:49:59.440 --> 00:50:02.480 Yet you are he who took me from the womb. 00:50:02.980 --> 00:50:05.519 You made me trust you at my mother's breast. 00:50:05.940 --> 00:50:08.539 On you as I cast from my birth. 00:50:08.900 --> 00:50:11.359 And from my mother's womb, you have been my God. 00:50:11.360 --> 00:50:13.280 Be not far from me. 00:50:13.740 --> 00:50:16.000 For trouble is near and there is none to help. 00:50:17.420 --> 00:50:19.059 Many bulls encompass me. 00:50:19.180 --> 00:50:21.300 Strong bulls of passion surround me. 00:50:21.620 --> 00:50:24.980 They open wide their mouths of me like a ravenous and roaring lion. 00:50:24.980 --> 00:50:27.300 I am poured out like water. 00:50:27.360 --> 00:50:29.219 And all my bones are out of joint. 00:50:29.300 --> 00:50:30.500 My heart is like wax. 00:50:30.760 --> 00:50:32.519 It is melted within my breast. 00:50:33.059 --> 00:50:35.099 My strength is dried up like a potsherd. 00:50:35.159 --> 00:50:37.699 My tongue sticks to my jaws. 00:50:38.280 --> 00:50:40.320 You lay me in the dust of death. 00:50:41.019 --> 00:50:42.360 For dogs encompass me. 00:50:42.920 --> 00:50:45.079 A company of evildoers encircles me. 00:50:45.380 --> 00:50:46.920 They pierce my hands and feet. 00:50:46.920 --> 00:50:48.619 I can count all my bones. 00:50:48.740 --> 00:50:50.159 They stare and gloat over me. 00:50:50.599 --> 00:50:52.800 They divide my garments among them. 00:50:53.500 --> 00:50:55.460 And for my clothing, they cast lots. 00:50:55.460 --> 00:51:05.840 Then verses 27 through 28. 00:51:05.840 --> 00:51:11.199 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord. 00:51:12.199 --> 00:51:16.240 And all the families of the nation shall worship before you. 00:51:16.760 --> 00:51:19.119 For kingship belongs to the Lord. 00:51:20.039 --> 00:51:22.619 And he rules over the nations. 00:51:25.460 --> 00:51:31.019 Now, I have a fortress destroyed. 00:51:34.599 --> 00:51:36.159 I've equated this. 00:51:36.420 --> 00:51:38.900 Probably, you know, a few guys have heard this. 00:51:38.980 --> 00:51:44.340 But I equate it to being through the wardrobe in Narnia. 00:51:45.340 --> 00:51:48.659 It's like, it's a different place. 00:51:49.320 --> 00:51:50.460 There's a different thought. 00:51:50.460 --> 00:51:56.800 Now, I'm not looking at the inside of cinder blocks and something closed in. 00:51:57.720 --> 00:51:58.539 Now, there's freedom. 00:51:59.179 --> 00:52:01.019 I'm learning to live in that. 00:52:01.199 --> 00:52:02.720 I'm learning to grow in that. 00:52:03.440 --> 00:52:13.220 Part of the reason, the reason, I can even hope to do that, is because of what I just read. 00:52:13.219 --> 00:52:18.159 Because of the work he did on the cross. 00:52:18.879 --> 00:52:30.559 For me, that obedience, that example, for me, allows me to now follow the kingship that belongs to the Lord. 00:52:30.659 --> 00:52:32.339 The one that rules over the nations. 00:52:32.340 --> 00:52:37.420 There's nothing in between us. 00:52:38.300 --> 00:52:44.660 There is no wall or ceiling or something I can't get out of, something I've made for myself. 00:52:45.180 --> 00:52:46.720 It's just me and him. 00:52:50.559 --> 00:52:52.059 An exalted savior. 00:52:52.059 --> 00:52:52.179 Here. 00:52:53.719 --> 00:52:54.559 Oh, man. 00:52:57.559 --> 00:53:02.059 The last part of our... 00:53:06.059 --> 00:53:10.400 I lost my page. 00:53:10.500 --> 00:53:10.779 Oh, there. 00:53:10.900 --> 00:53:11.759 Okay, that's not very much. 00:53:12.799 --> 00:53:14.579 The last part of these verses. 00:53:14.579 --> 00:53:20.659 Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name above all names. 00:53:21.279 --> 00:53:27.819 So that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth. 00:53:28.139 --> 00:53:32.840 Every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father. 00:53:34.539 --> 00:53:36.719 He has been highly exalted. 00:53:37.059 --> 00:53:38.460 The name above every name. 00:53:39.239 --> 00:53:44.019 This is the glory that our lives give to him. 00:53:44.019 --> 00:53:47.619 Leaving selfish ambition. 00:53:47.900 --> 00:53:49.000 Leaving conceit. 00:53:49.179 --> 00:53:55.239 Leaving the area that he specifically, Paul specifically points out, is against unity. 00:53:55.719 --> 00:53:57.900 That's against family. 00:53:58.860 --> 00:54:00.739 The thing that will trip us up. 00:54:01.920 --> 00:54:05.780 Leaving that is glorifying to God. 00:54:06.800 --> 00:54:10.300 Making those obedient decisions, just like Jesus did. 00:54:10.920 --> 00:54:12.460 Knowing what was going to happen. 00:54:12.460 --> 00:54:19.000 We make those obedient decisions, knowing that it is glorifying to God. 00:54:21.199 --> 00:54:23.559 Not worrying about self. 00:54:23.980 --> 00:54:26.280 There is no self to worry about. 00:54:26.840 --> 00:54:28.119 It's all him. 00:54:28.480 --> 00:54:29.420 It's all his. 00:54:29.420 --> 00:54:29.619 He was born and heard this Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck 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