WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.459 Well, thank you so much, Katie. Thank you so much indeed, folks. Let me encourage you to have your 00:00:04.459 --> 00:00:10.580 Bibles open at Philippians chapter 2. I don't think any exaggeration to say that what we've just heard 00:00:10.580 --> 00:00:21.300 are some of the most cherished verses in the whole Bible for Christians across the globe, 00:00:21.300 --> 00:00:28.940 down the ages, as they give us a beautiful portrait of Jesus Christ. And so I hope that we 00:00:28.940 --> 00:00:36.060 feast on these truths this evening, and at the most difficult of times, that they would stir our 00:00:36.060 --> 00:00:41.240 affections for our great God this evening as we come before his word. So let me just pray really 00:00:41.240 --> 00:00:47.079 quickly, and then we'll get into this tonight. Heavenly Father, we love you, and we thank you 00:00:47.079 --> 00:00:56.120 so much, Lord, for the good news of Christmas, of the coming of Jesus, your Son into the world. 00:00:56.119 --> 00:01:03.239 And so, Father, I pray tonight that as we spend time in your words, Father, that we would hear your 00:01:03.239 --> 00:01:11.200 voice, and that your Spirit would come and apply these truths and comfort us as we feast on them 00:01:11.200 --> 00:01:17.340 this evening. Lord, we pray and give our time to you, Lord, in Jesus' precious and in his worthy name 00:01:17.340 --> 00:01:25.900 we pray. Amen. Folks, picture the scene. Okay, you find yourself at the front of a stage, 00:01:26.859 --> 00:01:33.780 and it's news to you, but it looks like you're being asked to give some sort of speech. 00:01:35.020 --> 00:01:41.120 Okay, and you lift your eyes for a moment, and you look out, and hold on a minute, there's actually an 00:01:41.120 --> 00:01:46.960 audience here to hear you speak. And as you begin to look more closely at the audience 00:01:46.960 --> 00:01:53.680 and who's there, you all of a sudden begin to think to yourself, do you know what? I recognize 00:01:53.680 --> 00:02:00.719 these people. Okay, I recognize these faces. Do you know what? There's my secondary school physics 00:02:00.719 --> 00:02:07.959 teacher. What on earth is he doing here? And a few seats along from him, there's your distant aunt, 00:02:08.340 --> 00:02:13.579 right? You last saw her when you were six, and now she lives on the other side of the world, 00:02:13.579 --> 00:02:19.919 and you think, what is she doing here? And then you scan your eyes further along the rows of people, 00:02:20.079 --> 00:02:25.639 and a few seats along from her, there's the dentist that you used to go to when you lived in your old 00:02:25.639 --> 00:02:31.139 house. And what is it that brings all these people together? You think to yourself, what is going on 00:02:31.139 --> 00:02:38.519 here? And all of a sudden, there's a hush in the room, and the lights are dimmed, and all eyes are on you, 00:02:39.599 --> 00:02:46.099 and people are expecting you to speak. People want to hear what you've got to say, except here's the 00:02:46.099 --> 00:02:52.719 problem. You have no idea what it is you're supposed to say. And you open your mouth, and you try and say 00:02:52.719 --> 00:02:58.099 something because the awkwardness is tangible. You want to say anything, only to find that you open 00:02:58.099 --> 00:03:03.180 your mouth, and you cannot physically get the words out of your mouth. And to compound the sense of 00:03:03.180 --> 00:03:09.979 absolute agony, you look out, and people are laughing at you, hysterically, uncontrollably. 00:03:11.280 --> 00:03:14.659 And you think to yourself, I've not even said anything. There's no funnies in my speech that they 00:03:14.659 --> 00:03:20.479 could laugh at. What on earth are they laughing at? And you look down, and horror of horrors. Do you know why 00:03:20.479 --> 00:03:28.979 people are laughing? Because you've got no clothes on. Now, hands in the air, who's ever had a dream 00:03:28.979 --> 00:03:39.979 like that? Okay, I have. Many a time. Experts call that, I don't know if you know this, experts call that 00:03:39.979 --> 00:03:44.439 the humiliation dream. I don't know if you knew that? You can have that one for free, the humiliation 00:03:44.439 --> 00:03:50.419 dream. And apparently, it's one of the most common types of dreams that people in our world 00:03:50.419 --> 00:03:55.500 have. Now, I've heard of lots of people, myself included, who have had a dream like that. 00:03:56.399 --> 00:04:02.919 But what I've never heard, I've never met a person who has chosen to live something like that out in 00:04:02.919 --> 00:04:11.159 real life. Right? Who would choose to be humiliated? Who would choose to be laughed at? Who would choose 00:04:11.159 --> 00:04:18.699 to be exposed? Who would choose to be mocked? Who would choose to be vulnerable? And yet, the stunning 00:04:18.699 --> 00:04:26.599 truth of the passage this evening is that here is the God who made himself humiliated. 00:04:29.399 --> 00:04:34.919 Here is the son who chose to humiliate himself. And what Philippians chapter 2 does, stunningly, 00:04:35.379 --> 00:04:45.039 is it takes us almost behind the scenes in Bethlehem. And it shows us everything that the baby in the 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:51.640 angel represents. Okay? And so, as we look at this this evening, we're going to go right to the heart 00:04:51.640 --> 00:04:57.800 of who our God is. Okay? Of what he's like, of what he's about, of what he's prepared to do, and why 00:04:57.800 --> 00:05:06.560 this God is willing to do it. And here's a little reflection for you as we start. Okay? Maybe you're here 00:05:06.560 --> 00:05:19.439 tonight, and you're feeling like 2020 has just kicked the stuffing out of you. Okay? Alex and I, we got the 00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:26.160 kids down after watching, she's known as Nicola, isn't she? Watching Nicola last night, listened, got the 00:05:26.160 --> 00:05:31.379 kids down. We sat in the living room, and we sat in silence for about 15-20 minutes, didn't even want to 00:05:31.379 --> 00:05:39.659 speak. Not because we'd fallen out, but because we just didn't have the heart to face the truth of what these 00:05:39.659 --> 00:05:46.120 next few weeks are going to look like. Okay? Sitting there feeling like a puffer jacket, somebody's torn a 00:05:46.120 --> 00:05:54.540 hole in us, and gradually, one by one, the feathers have all come out. Okay? Question. Where do we go in those 00:05:54.540 --> 00:06:01.800 times? Where do we run in those times? You know, I was watching an interview this week with the actor 00:06:01.800 --> 00:06:06.580 Keanu Reeves. Okay? You know Keanu Reeves, the guy from Speed, one of my favorite films when I was young. 00:06:06.700 --> 00:06:12.620 Bill and Ted. Okay? You can YouTube it when you go home. Right? Keanu Reeves asked in an interview 00:06:12.620 --> 00:06:20.939 what 2020 had taught him. Right? Here's what he said. He said, what he's learned is that he needs to work 00:06:20.939 --> 00:06:29.740 hard on his optimism. Okay? Hard on his optimism. I don't know about you, but I listened to him say 00:06:29.740 --> 00:06:35.279 that, and I thought of the year that's just passed, and I thought to myself, that sounds exhausting. 00:06:36.779 --> 00:06:43.579 To keep up the facade that everything is going to be okay. To keep on going, to keep on smiling, to always 00:06:43.579 --> 00:06:50.279 look on the bright side of life. It is exhausting. Here's what I have learned this year. Okay? It's a great 00:06:50.279 --> 00:06:55.299 question to think about at the end of the year. What has the Lord taught us about ourselves, about him? 00:06:56.059 --> 00:07:02.079 I remember listening. I used to love listening to Sting when I was younger. Okay? Love Sting. Sting had 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:09.339 this song, and he wrote it when he was taking shelter from a tropical storm whilst on the Caribbean. 00:07:09.699 --> 00:07:15.799 Right? And the chorus goes like this. Spotify it when you get home. On and on the rain will say how 00:07:15.800 --> 00:07:22.480 fragile we are. How fragile we are. Right? So he's just watching the storm. He's listening to the rain. 00:07:22.579 --> 00:07:25.900 He's listening to it battered down, and he's thinking about the fragility of his own life. 00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:30.060 On and on the rain will say how fragile we are. How fragile we are. 00:07:31.379 --> 00:07:37.439 I was walking with a friend on Wednesday morning. Our kids go to the same school in the same class. 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:41.439 He's a Christian. I know him from back in the day. We're just walking, and we're just sharing what's 00:07:41.439 --> 00:07:44.480 going on in life. And I'm listening to him. He's going through a horrendous time at the minute. 00:07:45.740 --> 00:07:49.500 Right? And we stop at the end of the road to tell him about what's going on in our lives. 00:07:49.540 --> 00:07:54.319 And he said, well, we just pray. And we just stood at the end of the road. People walking past. 00:07:54.800 --> 00:07:59.439 Felt a bit awkward, but we just went for it. And do you know what we prayed? We just prayed for one 00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:07.540 another. Lord, help us keep our eyes on you. Like Peter in the storm, help us just keep our eyes on you. 00:08:07.540 --> 00:08:14.560 And daily give us the strength to take small steps of faith as we lovingly trust you and walk with you 00:08:14.560 --> 00:08:24.560 and know your love. Friends, is that you tonight? Just weary. We're all feeling it. And I think that's 00:08:24.560 --> 00:08:31.580 why this passage has got such wonderful news for us, because it presents us with who our God is. And I 00:08:31.579 --> 00:08:37.799 want us to come and savor who he is tonight. And particularly as we think upon the child in a 00:08:37.799 --> 00:08:47.740 manger, to come and to gaze upon a son who was willing. Okay, it's what the video was about. A son 00:08:47.740 --> 00:08:58.079 who was willing. And I want us to be strengthened by the grace that is found in Jesus Christ. It's what 00:08:58.080 --> 00:09:03.879 Paul writes to Timothy, doesn't he? Be strengthened by the grace that is in Jesus Christ. Here's 00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:08.980 something I read recently. I think it was Peter Mead that wrote this. Really helped me get around, 00:09:09.259 --> 00:09:14.520 get my head around this and awakened a deep love in my soul for this God. Imagine a hypothetical 00:09:14.520 --> 00:09:24.520 conversation in eternity past between God the Father and God the Son and God the Spirit. God the 00:09:24.519 --> 00:09:34.600 Father says, Son, will you go for us? Will you go for us into a dark world that has rejected us? Will you 00:09:34.600 --> 00:09:44.199 go? And will you go and show them my glory? Will you go and display to them, help them see my radiant 00:09:44.199 --> 00:09:52.319 beauty and holiness? And will you go live and die the most agonizing and humiliating of sin-bearing 00:09:52.320 --> 00:10:01.140 deaths to bring our people back home? Son, will you go for us? And the son thunders back and he says, 00:10:01.340 --> 00:10:10.060 yes, Father. Nothing would delight me more than for a lost world to see your glory, to see how great 00:10:10.060 --> 00:10:18.100 you are. I long for that and I desire that they may be with us and that they may share in the perfect love 00:10:18.100 --> 00:10:24.860 that we experience as Father, Son and Spirit. Yes, I will go. I will go. 00:10:27.320 --> 00:10:31.000 Friends, we need to understand that Jesus is no reluctant teenage boy. 00:10:32.379 --> 00:10:40.139 Right? He's not being dragged out of his bed. Do we have to go? Do I have to go? Do I have to get up? 00:10:40.139 --> 00:10:50.539 He's no reluctant teenage boy. He is a willing son who chose to humiliate himself. 00:10:51.659 --> 00:10:58.059 I just want us to see really quickly two things from this passage tonight about this son. 00:10:59.460 --> 00:11:06.120 Firstly, I want us to see the son who is willing to give it all up. Now follow with me if you've got 00:11:06.120 --> 00:11:13.560 the passage there at verse 6. This is where we maybe dive into this tonight. What does Paul say about the son? 00:11:14.460 --> 00:11:22.460 Who being in very nature God. Now take in the panorama of the grandeur of that statement. Who being 00:11:22.460 --> 00:11:31.080 in the very nature God. Right? I always love those moments in the Bond films. Right? You inevitably get it 00:11:31.080 --> 00:11:35.879 from the bad guy who comes out with the line, Mr. Bond, do you know who I am? 00:11:37.100 --> 00:11:43.000 Do you know what I can do to you? Right? Since it's Sean Connery year. What was it used to say? 00:11:43.139 --> 00:11:48.700 Sean Connery. Mr. Bond, do you expect me to talk? No. Do you expect me to talk? No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die. 00:11:49.080 --> 00:11:55.440 Right? The bad guy in the Bond films. Do you know who I am? Do you know what I can do to you? 00:11:55.440 --> 00:12:05.800 Do you know the power in my courts? Paul says, consider Jesus. Right? Very nature God. Right? 00:12:05.860 --> 00:12:14.880 Who existed with God and as God in the beginning. The very one through whom the world was made. 00:12:16.180 --> 00:12:21.340 If ever there was one who could rightly say, do you know who I am? Do you know what I can do? 00:12:21.340 --> 00:12:26.960 Surely it was him. And yet, what did he do with that honor? What did he do with that right? 00:12:29.080 --> 00:12:35.899 He did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage. In other words, 00:12:35.920 --> 00:12:43.040 he didn't insist on his rights. He wasn't there placarding saying, I'm staying here. I want my rights. 00:12:43.360 --> 00:12:48.019 But rather he, without relinquishing, and we need to understand this important theologically, 00:12:48.019 --> 00:12:54.759 without relinquishing one ounce of his deity for one nanosecond. Right? It's important we get that, 00:12:54.819 --> 00:13:02.600 that yes, at a moment in time, he wasn't able to hold a rattle. But make no mistake that never did 00:13:02.600 --> 00:13:07.039 he cease for one moment to be the one who was holding the stars and the planets in place. 00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:15.419 This son willingly laid aside his rights as God. And feel the downward stairs movement of these verses, 00:13:15.559 --> 00:13:23.939 right? Down the stairs. Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, 00:13:24.500 --> 00:13:33.059 being made in human likeness. Down, down, down, down. He took flesh. He took full flesh. God in human likeness. 00:13:33.059 --> 00:13:40.939 I couldn't get that thought out of my head this week, right? Up at 6.30 every morning with our newborn. 00:13:42.439 --> 00:13:48.299 And I'm looking at her, right? It's a wonderfully special time getting up with her in the morning, 00:13:48.459 --> 00:13:54.099 feeding her the bottle, right? So I'm only jokingly describing the newborn stages as all give and no take. 00:13:54.100 --> 00:13:59.480 Okay? The fact that a baby is absolutely dependent on you for everything. 00:14:00.120 --> 00:14:04.580 And she's sitting there looking at me and I'm holding her. And do you know what I'm sensing? 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:09.899 I am sensing her utter vulnerability. Her utter vulnerability. 00:14:09.899 --> 00:14:24.360 And God the Son went there. God the Son went there. God chose to become vulnerable. He chose to become weak. 00:14:24.459 --> 00:14:30.759 He chose to lay it all aside. And of course, at the time when the strength of the Roman Empire was there for all to see, 00:14:30.759 --> 00:14:35.700 and there was a ruthless Herod on the scene, Jesus the Son became helpless. 00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:40.939 Right? The words of that modern carol, the guys at Sovereign Grace, 00:14:41.039 --> 00:14:47.500 but the sovereign of all looked helpless and small as God gave the world his own Son. 00:14:47.500 --> 00:14:54.059 And who would have dreamed or ever foreseen that we could hold God in our hands? 00:14:54.059 --> 00:15:01.759 See the Son who was willing to give it all up. 00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:08.239 And secondly, savour the Son who was willing to lay it all down. 00:15:10.419 --> 00:15:15.259 Okay, with that, I was thinking on it this week, with that downward stairs movement, we're down here, okay? 00:15:16.239 --> 00:15:23.239 You'd semi-expect Paul to go on to talk about the fact that Jesus lived the first century equivalent of the American dream, would you not? 00:15:24.059 --> 00:15:26.059 Right? I mean, great story, this one. 00:15:26.099 --> 00:15:28.500 The boy born in the manger, right? 00:15:28.859 --> 00:15:35.859 Negotiated and overcame every barrier, started his own global business, floated it on the stock exchange, sold it for a huge profit, 00:15:36.219 --> 00:15:38.319 and now he's king living in the mansion. 00:15:38.459 --> 00:15:39.619 What a story that would be. 00:15:42.139 --> 00:15:51.000 But the trajectory of the life of the Son from the point of his birth on is not up. 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:56.700 The wonder of this is that it is down. 00:15:57.879 --> 00:15:59.240 Verse 8, check it out. 00:15:59.480 --> 00:16:05.080 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself. 00:16:06.220 --> 00:16:10.320 Now there's the word that describes the life of Jesus Christ. 00:16:12.159 --> 00:16:12.639 Humility. 00:16:14.940 --> 00:16:17.580 Some kind of first century David Blaine, right? 00:16:17.580 --> 00:16:19.820 Come to impress us with his tricks. 00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:24.020 He has come to serve. 00:16:26.020 --> 00:16:33.420 And in so doing, revealed to us the Father, as the one who is called his full image. 00:16:33.420 --> 00:16:35.940 Which means if you want to know what this God is like, 00:16:36.960 --> 00:16:39.820 savour Jesus the Son as you see him in the Gospels. 00:16:39.820 --> 00:16:43.860 And how low would he go? 00:16:44.900 --> 00:16:46.740 By becoming obedient to death. 00:16:46.840 --> 00:16:47.379 Do you see that? 00:16:47.540 --> 00:16:49.200 Obedient to death. 00:16:50.520 --> 00:16:55.960 Now for God to die is unthinkable enough. 00:16:56.020 --> 00:16:57.440 But what is scandalous? 00:16:58.620 --> 00:17:01.840 Even death on a cross. 00:17:01.840 --> 00:17:10.380 So in the Son's desire to bring glory to his Father, he goes all the way to the cross. 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:15.700 Now consider the cross the most awful form of Roman capital punishment. 00:17:16.779 --> 00:17:16.940 Right? 00:17:17.059 --> 00:17:19.660 A form that is reserved for the worst of the worst. 00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:22.680 Here is a warning shot, a case in point to the watching public. 00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:30.440 That if you so dare as to set yourself up as a king, defy Caesar, then this is what's going to happen to you. 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:36.039 The utter humiliation that the Son was willing to endure. 00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:37.000 The shame of it. 00:17:37.299 --> 00:17:38.539 The horror of it. 00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:40.640 But friends, see the glory of it. 00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:43.200 The glory of it. 00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:49.160 Because it's not only there that Christ claims the victory for his people. 00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:50.180 But think on this. 00:17:50.180 --> 00:17:54.000 It's there that we see the full glory of this God. 00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:57.120 Of his goodness. 00:17:58.019 --> 00:17:59.900 Of his mercy. 00:18:00.400 --> 00:18:02.120 Of his love. 00:18:03.900 --> 00:18:08.259 As we see it on the cross, the world looks on and says foolishness. 00:18:08.340 --> 00:18:10.440 But God looks on and says, there is my wisdom. 00:18:11.220 --> 00:18:12.480 There is who I am. 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:14.580 That is the heart of who this God is. 00:18:14.579 --> 00:18:19.000 The Son willing to humiliate himself. 00:18:19.199 --> 00:18:21.159 To show us what the Father is like. 00:18:21.919 --> 00:18:23.720 And bring glory to his name. 00:18:25.559 --> 00:18:26.579 Think on it again, right? 00:18:26.619 --> 00:18:28.759 The most loved parable that Jesus tells. 00:18:28.879 --> 00:18:29.279 What is it? 00:18:29.319 --> 00:18:29.960 Do you want to think about it? 00:18:29.980 --> 00:18:31.679 The most loved parable that Jesus tells. 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:32.980 That the world loves. 00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:34.119 People love. 00:18:34.179 --> 00:18:34.939 The prodigal son. 00:18:35.179 --> 00:18:36.019 Surely it's got to be that. 00:18:36.619 --> 00:18:37.659 The prodigal son. 00:18:38.980 --> 00:18:39.279 Right? 00:18:39.319 --> 00:18:39.720 The story. 00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:40.659 The son runs off. 00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:41.879 The son squanders everything. 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:43.559 The son returns home cap in hand. 00:18:43.559 --> 00:18:51.399 Everyone hearing that story in the audience would expect the Father to go all out and discipline his son. 00:18:52.879 --> 00:18:53.019 Right? 00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:55.799 Make him bear the shame. 00:18:57.000 --> 00:18:57.440 Right? 00:18:57.619 --> 00:18:58.759 That he brought on himself. 00:18:58.980 --> 00:19:00.279 That he brought on his family. 00:19:00.419 --> 00:19:02.200 That he brought on his community in this day. 00:19:02.539 --> 00:19:03.759 Make him bear the shame. 00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:07.559 Go and sit him on the naughty step. 00:19:07.679 --> 00:19:10.519 Go and him sit on the naughty step and think about what he's done. 00:19:10.839 --> 00:19:13.480 But who bears the humiliation in the story? 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:15.700 It's not the son. 00:19:16.639 --> 00:19:18.079 The son gets a party. 00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:19.519 That's why the older brother's raging. 00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:21.000 The son gets a party. 00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:26.879 Who takes the humiliation? 00:19:27.059 --> 00:19:27.679 It's the father. 00:19:27.819 --> 00:19:29.519 Surely it's got to be the father in that story. 00:19:29.639 --> 00:19:33.299 He bears the humiliation that his son deserves. 00:19:33.879 --> 00:19:36.619 Not only does he not punish his son, but what does he do? 00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:38.299 He runs to meet his son. 00:19:38.299 --> 00:19:42.680 No self-respecting Jewish father in this day would do that. 00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:44.819 That is an utter disgraceful thing to do. 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:46.119 No father ran. 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:48.639 But this father is different. 00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:54.859 This father is willing to take the shame that his son deserves upon himself. 00:19:54.859 --> 00:19:57.619 Bear that shame upon himself. 00:19:57.939 --> 00:20:01.500 So that his son can know life. 00:20:03.399 --> 00:20:07.659 And surely the whole point of the parable is that Jesus is teaching his audience. 00:20:07.660 --> 00:20:11.720 that this is what God the father is like. 00:20:12.340 --> 00:20:14.660 And this is why I am here. 00:20:14.660 --> 00:20:22.380 Friends, because of the son's willingness to do all that, verse 9, 00:20:23.860 --> 00:20:27.320 the father delights to honor the son to the highest place. 00:20:28.120 --> 00:20:30.380 That my boy was willing to do that. 00:20:30.440 --> 00:20:32.980 My son was willing to do all of that. 00:20:33.360 --> 00:20:36.360 And surely that's what the resurrection and ascension of Jesus is. 00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:37.820 God vindicating. 00:20:38.600 --> 00:20:40.560 God glorifying his son. 00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:41.740 That's my king. 00:20:41.940 --> 00:20:43.240 That's my son. 00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:46.440 And I place him high above every name. 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:47.579 And I give him the name. 00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:49.399 And what a wonderful thought. 00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:54.740 That every knee will one day bow to this Jesus. 00:20:56.039 --> 00:20:57.279 And this is where he is. 00:20:57.539 --> 00:21:01.119 And just really quickly, two things I want you to be encouraged by tonight. 00:21:01.700 --> 00:21:06.639 Firstly, as you consider, be encouraged where the son is. 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:09.179 This Jesus, where is he? 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:14.480 That he is the one at the right hand of the father, ruling and reigning all things. 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:23.019 And if you trust us in him tonight, I want you to know that whatever comes over the next season of life, 00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:26.899 that this God, this father, he will always be father to you. 00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:29.740 Always be a father to you. 00:21:31.639 --> 00:21:32.940 Friends, in the words of John Owen, 00:21:32.940 --> 00:21:36.220 the greatest sorrow and burden that you can lay on the father, 00:21:36.320 --> 00:21:38.519 the greatest unkindness that you can do to him, 00:21:38.860 --> 00:21:41.259 is not to believe that he loves you. 00:21:43.100 --> 00:21:44.279 This is the father. 00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:47.059 And take heart tonight. 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:48.720 You consider where the son is. 00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:52.259 Take heart as you consider who the son is. 00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:56.480 That he is at the right hand of the father as a man. 00:21:57.140 --> 00:21:58.819 He is there as your brother. 00:21:59.140 --> 00:22:00.920 He is there as your great high priest. 00:22:01.019 --> 00:22:02.940 And he's still there with a heart of sacrifice. 00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:04.180 He's still serving. 00:22:06.180 --> 00:22:09.519 Intent on ever loving his people. 00:22:10.180 --> 00:22:12.519 Interceding for his people at God's right hand. 00:22:12.680 --> 00:22:14.180 Friends, we fall and linger. 00:22:14.180 --> 00:22:16.299 He is there praying. 00:22:17.100 --> 00:22:18.620 We stumble and cry. 00:22:18.840 --> 00:22:20.400 He is there praying. 00:22:20.580 --> 00:22:20.860 Why? 00:22:21.100 --> 00:22:23.060 To the glory of God the father. 00:22:24.080 --> 00:22:24.320 Right? 00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:26.120 All of this is for the father's glory. 00:22:26.299 --> 00:22:27.400 All of this is for him. 00:22:29.060 --> 00:22:30.820 Friends, and when we bow the knee to Jesus, 00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:32.820 when we submit our lives to him, 00:22:34.380 --> 00:22:36.799 as his spirit resides in our hearts, 00:22:36.840 --> 00:22:38.920 and as we are transformed more 00:22:38.920 --> 00:22:41.880 into the likeness of this Jesus, 00:22:41.880 --> 00:22:44.680 here's what goes on. 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:47.500 As we live our lives in the son, 00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:49.920 right, we come to feel the same way 00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:51.780 about the father as the son does. 00:22:51.860 --> 00:22:52.920 I love the father. 00:22:53.160 --> 00:22:54.120 I love him. 00:22:56.060 --> 00:22:57.580 I'm being found in the son. 00:22:57.700 --> 00:22:59.200 We come to know the love 00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:01.480 that the father has for his son. 00:23:02.380 --> 00:23:04.000 I love my son. 00:23:04.140 --> 00:23:05.500 There is my boy. 00:23:05.660 --> 00:23:05.860 Right? 00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:08.060 Which means to be a Christian 00:23:08.060 --> 00:23:10.380 is so much more than just to believe 00:23:10.380 --> 00:23:11.800 certain things and behaving 00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:12.579 certain ways. 00:23:12.659 --> 00:23:14.680 To be a Christian is to be caught up 00:23:14.680 --> 00:23:16.919 in the very life of the triune gods. 00:23:17.419 --> 00:23:18.500 And it's to be caught up 00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:20.319 in something truly wonderful 00:23:20.319 --> 00:23:21.500 and mind-blowing. 00:23:24.740 --> 00:23:25.899 And so it's little wonder, 00:23:26.379 --> 00:23:27.899 almost as we work towards a close, 00:23:29.059 --> 00:23:29.799 that these verses, 00:23:29.919 --> 00:23:30.799 verses 5 to 11, 00:23:30.899 --> 00:23:32.899 it's thought that they were a hymn 00:23:32.899 --> 00:23:34.099 in the early church, right? 00:23:34.159 --> 00:23:35.319 Perhaps Paul's quoting 00:23:35.319 --> 00:23:36.579 an early Christian hymn. 00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:37.419 And when you consider 00:23:37.420 --> 00:23:39.039 the contents of this, 00:23:40.560 --> 00:23:40.840 friends, 00:23:40.880 --> 00:23:41.740 it is little wonder 00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:44.400 that such mesmerizing theology 00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:47.380 led to such awe-filled poetry. 00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:50.480 Of course, 00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:51.140 in the context, 00:23:51.240 --> 00:23:52.380 and Pete alluded to it earlier, 00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:54.019 Paul's encouraging these believers 00:23:54.019 --> 00:23:54.860 in Philippi, 00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:55.840 verse 5, 00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:59.839 to strive for the same mind. 00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:02.179 Right? 00:24:02.299 --> 00:24:03.579 In your lives together, 00:24:04.019 --> 00:24:06.559 think like this. 00:24:07.819 --> 00:24:08.919 It's almost like he takes them 00:24:08.919 --> 00:24:09.480 by the ear 00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:10.399 and he drags them 00:24:10.399 --> 00:24:11.419 to the foot of the cross. 00:24:11.559 --> 00:24:12.579 And in all their stuff 00:24:12.579 --> 00:24:13.939 that's going on behind the scenes, 00:24:14.119 --> 00:24:15.639 and you read that later 00:24:15.639 --> 00:24:16.220 in the letter, 00:24:16.359 --> 00:24:18.139 these people who aren't quite 00:24:18.139 --> 00:24:19.199 seeing eye to eye, 00:24:19.319 --> 00:24:20.619 Paul drags them to the cross 00:24:20.619 --> 00:24:20.879 and says, 00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:22.060 when you consider Jesus, 00:24:22.900 --> 00:24:24.840 how can you be anything other 00:24:24.840 --> 00:24:28.720 than grateful and kind? 00:24:28.840 --> 00:24:30.000 How can you be proud 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:31.140 when you look at the Son 00:24:31.140 --> 00:24:31.980 and what he was willing 00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:33.740 to give up for you? 00:24:35.020 --> 00:24:37.020 And this is the rocket fuel 00:24:37.020 --> 00:24:38.060 that is going to allow them 00:24:38.060 --> 00:24:39.260 to stand firm 00:24:39.260 --> 00:24:41.260 in their city of Philippi, 00:24:41.560 --> 00:24:43.240 to declare in a world 00:24:43.240 --> 00:24:43.840 that says, 00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:45.740 Caesar is Lord, 00:24:45.840 --> 00:24:46.220 to declare, 00:24:46.340 --> 00:24:47.440 know that Jesus is Lord, 00:24:47.560 --> 00:24:48.700 here's the rocket fuel, 00:24:48.940 --> 00:24:49.120 right? 00:24:49.160 --> 00:24:50.200 As they stand firm 00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:51.100 and as they hold out 00:24:51.100 --> 00:24:52.420 the gospel to the world 00:24:52.420 --> 00:24:55.360 in their city of Philippi. 00:24:57.660 --> 00:24:58.580 And just as we close, 00:24:59.819 --> 00:25:00.779 I once heard a story 00:25:00.779 --> 00:25:03.880 told by a pastor in America 00:25:03.880 --> 00:25:05.420 called Brian Chappell, 00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:07.100 right? 00:25:07.120 --> 00:25:07.900 And he tells a story 00:25:07.900 --> 00:25:10.080 about two younger brothers 00:25:10.080 --> 00:25:11.380 who lived in his hometown. 00:25:12.860 --> 00:25:14.200 And these two younger brothers 00:25:14.200 --> 00:25:14.940 were out playing 00:25:14.940 --> 00:25:15.840 on the sandbanks 00:25:15.840 --> 00:25:17.360 of the local river one day. 00:25:18.340 --> 00:25:19.180 And all of a sudden, 00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:19.860 the sandbank 00:25:19.859 --> 00:25:20.879 that they're playing on it, 00:25:20.879 --> 00:25:21.679 it gives way 00:25:21.679 --> 00:25:22.799 and they find themselves 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:23.779 in a struggle, 00:25:24.439 --> 00:25:25.179 an all-out fight 00:25:25.179 --> 00:25:26.019 for survival 00:25:26.019 --> 00:25:27.819 in quicksand. 00:25:29.019 --> 00:25:29.899 So that evening 00:25:29.899 --> 00:25:30.379 when the boys 00:25:30.379 --> 00:25:31.240 didn't return home, 00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:33.019 the family sent out 00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:34.759 search and rescue 00:25:34.759 --> 00:25:35.479 to try and find 00:25:35.479 --> 00:25:36.240 the missing boys. 00:25:36.359 --> 00:25:37.459 Neighbourhood gets involved 00:25:37.459 --> 00:25:38.159 and eventually 00:25:38.159 --> 00:25:39.619 they find one of the brothers 00:25:39.619 --> 00:25:40.279 unconscious, 00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:41.939 his head 00:25:41.939 --> 00:25:43.519 just above the sand. 00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:45.759 And having managed 00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:46.299 to wake him 00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:46.720 and made sure 00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:47.359 he was alright, 00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:48.339 they pleaded with him, 00:25:48.420 --> 00:25:49.200 Can you remember 00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:50.019 where your brother is? 00:25:50.059 --> 00:25:51.059 Have you seen your brother? 00:25:53.339 --> 00:25:54.339 And the boy replied, 00:25:54.500 --> 00:25:55.799 Yes, I know where he is. 00:25:56.480 --> 00:25:56.900 And he said, 00:25:56.920 --> 00:25:57.500 Well, where is he? 00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:57.900 Help us. 00:25:57.940 --> 00:25:58.740 We'll run and fetch him. 00:25:58.779 --> 00:25:59.319 Where is he? 00:25:59.359 --> 00:26:00.619 And the brother simply said, 00:26:00.639 --> 00:26:01.339 He's down there 00:26:01.339 --> 00:26:03.319 because in the struggle, 00:26:03.460 --> 00:26:04.379 he let me stand 00:26:04.379 --> 00:26:05.059 on his shoulders. 00:26:05.059 --> 00:26:05.220 Friends, 00:26:10.259 --> 00:26:11.200 that is a wonderful story 00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:12.000 of sacrifice. 00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:15.259 But I want us to understand 00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:16.480 that we have gazed tonight 00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:18.399 upon the ultimate story 00:26:18.399 --> 00:26:19.779 of sacrifice. 00:26:20.839 --> 00:26:22.200 As we thought about 00:26:22.200 --> 00:26:23.379 a willing son 00:26:23.379 --> 00:26:27.159 who made himself nothing, 00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:28.559 nothing, 00:26:29.159 --> 00:26:31.879 and who went from crib 00:26:31.879 --> 00:26:32.779 to cross 00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:34.799 so that we, 00:26:34.980 --> 00:26:35.619 as it were, 00:26:36.059 --> 00:26:37.920 could stand on his shoulders 00:26:37.920 --> 00:26:39.720 and live. 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:42.119 You know, 00:26:42.139 --> 00:26:43.180 I've never met a person 00:26:43.180 --> 00:26:43.779 who would choose 00:26:43.779 --> 00:26:44.759 to be humiliated. 00:26:44.879 --> 00:26:46.059 Why would you choose that? 00:26:46.200 --> 00:26:48.460 Why to be exposed? 00:26:48.899 --> 00:26:50.220 Why to be mocked? 00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:51.660 Who would choose that? 00:26:51.779 --> 00:26:52.279 And yet, 00:26:52.379 --> 00:26:53.420 the stunning truth 00:26:53.420 --> 00:26:54.460 of this passage, 00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:56.039 the stunning truth 00:26:56.039 --> 00:26:57.399 of the baby in the manger, 00:26:59.099 --> 00:27:00.539 is here is a son 00:27:00.539 --> 00:27:03.059 who willingly chose 00:27:03.059 --> 00:27:05.399 to humiliate himself 00:27:05.399 --> 00:27:06.899 and make himself nothing 00:27:06.899 --> 00:27:09.299 and who did it 00:27:09.299 --> 00:27:11.039 so that we might 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:11.960 look, 00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:13.259 believe, 00:27:13.740 --> 00:27:14.599 and live. 00:27:16.740 --> 00:27:17.740 Let me pray. 00:27:17.740 --> 00:27:24.440 Lord, 00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:25.079 Heavenly Father, 00:27:25.180 --> 00:27:27.500 we just marvel, 00:27:27.839 --> 00:27:28.079 Lord, 00:27:28.599 --> 00:27:32.279 that you loved us first. 00:27:34.440 --> 00:27:34.980 And Lord, 00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:36.359 I pray for us here tonight, 00:27:36.460 --> 00:27:36.579 Lord, 00:27:36.640 --> 00:27:37.480 we're so conscious 00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:38.120 of the times 00:27:38.120 --> 00:27:38.920 in which we live. 00:27:38.980 --> 00:27:39.799 We're so conscious 00:27:39.799 --> 00:27:40.519 of the news 00:27:40.519 --> 00:27:41.539 that we've just been given. 00:27:42.700 --> 00:27:42.980 And Father, 00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:44.660 I pray for every single 00:27:44.660 --> 00:27:46.700 one of our hearts tonight, 00:27:46.700 --> 00:27:48.920 every single weary soul, 00:27:49.100 --> 00:27:51.200 every single doubting mind, 00:27:51.680 --> 00:27:53.960 every single worried heart, 00:27:54.860 --> 00:27:55.200 Father, 00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:56.220 that the news 00:27:56.220 --> 00:27:57.559 of what you have done 00:27:57.559 --> 00:28:00.340 in sending your son, 00:28:00.819 --> 00:28:01.120 Jesus, 00:28:01.259 --> 00:28:02.059 who was willing 00:28:02.059 --> 00:28:03.819 to come to rescue us 00:28:03.819 --> 00:28:05.940 and bring us home, 00:28:06.059 --> 00:28:06.240 Father, 00:28:06.299 --> 00:28:07.500 would that truth, 00:28:07.860 --> 00:28:08.860 would it stir 00:28:08.860 --> 00:28:09.920 our affections 00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:10.700 for you tonight, 00:28:10.779 --> 00:28:11.600 our Heavenly Father. 00:28:12.759 --> 00:28:13.920 We just praise you, 00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:14.140 Lord, 00:28:14.220 --> 00:28:15.259 for the God that you are. 00:28:15.259 --> 00:28:16.160 Who would come up 00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:17.379 with a God like this? 00:28:18.099 --> 00:28:18.920 And yet here, 00:28:19.019 --> 00:28:19.799 as we have your word 00:28:19.799 --> 00:28:20.420 in our hands, 00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:21.279 we can look 00:28:21.279 --> 00:28:22.519 and we can savour 00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:23.619 and we can rejoice 00:28:23.619 --> 00:28:25.759 as your children tonight. 00:28:27.879 --> 00:28:28.279 So, 00:28:28.379 --> 00:28:28.460 Father, 00:28:28.539 --> 00:28:29.379 be with us now 00:28:29.379 --> 00:28:31.039 as we turn 00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:33.599 to remember Jesus Christ 00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:34.379 as we spend time 00:28:34.379 --> 00:28:35.259 in communion now. 00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:36.319 Lord, 00:28:36.440 --> 00:28:36.960 be with us, 00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:37.400 we pray. 00:28:37.779 --> 00:28:39.039 Be working amongst us 00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:39.799 by your Spirit, 00:28:39.900 --> 00:28:40.359 we ask. 00:28:40.440 --> 00:28:41.039 In Jesus' 00:28:41.259 --> 00:28:42.180 precious name, 00:28:42.180 --> 00:28:43.220 Amen.