Text: Phil 2:1-4, 14-18
Facebook live: Be glad and rejoice in Jesus!
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
O Lord, it’s hard to be humble, when you’re perfect in every way!
You might remember the old Mack Davis song from a number of years ago.
For sinners, humility is a hard road.
Paul, in writing to the Philippians, continues to bring them joy and hope, in Christ – in the midst of his trial – but also for their benefit and comfort.
That is in fact what preaching hopes to do, and what I hope you as well are encouraged through - the preaching of God’s word - being comforted in the midst of your trials.
2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
The devil likes to divide and conquer. His hope is to isolate you from the word of God and the body of believers, so that you have no hope, no encouragement, no comfort, and no joy. But Paul says that in Christ, the word of truth –brings all of that and more!
Paul’s joy is in the truth of the Gospel and the word of God which is the incarnate one, himself, Jesus Christ our Lord.
So often, the divisions that the Christian church faces, is due to the truth of the word being compromised and the hope in Christ being laid aside.
Many times, discussions can’t happen because of pride and conceit. People leave the church because the word doesn’t say what they want to hear, and they won’t even listen to the word of God - for correction – and are content to believe a lie and walk away from the truth in vain arrogance.
Paul calls the Philippians and us to look in the mirror and see humility instead of ambition or conceit.
How we interact in the church and the world is of importance, putting our ambitions ahead of others, can leave our neighbors in suffering and want, both in and out of the church.
It also comes when we disregard the truth of God’s word for a lie. It can perpetuate falsehoods and divide churches, leaving humility on the threshing floor of life - being blown away with the chaff.
4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
We might call this faith in action!
Looking to the interest of others also means listening to others as well.
I’ve talked to former members in years past who had left the church simply because they didn’t think their thoughts and ideas were of any interest to others here – not that they didn’t have something of value to say or add - but that no one cared enough or wanted to hear their thoughts at all. What a sad reality!
Remember, when we vote others’ ideas down, we at times vote them out also.
in humility count others more significant than yourselves. – That phrase comes to mind again and again.
In our epistle today you see 9 verses omitted from our reading Vs 5-13. But I’ll try to shine some light for you on these verses as well. Paul here brings the congregation in Philippi to mind when he says:
12 Therefore, my beloved, [people] as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
In a sense Paul says to us as well.
Dearly beloved Peace members: You have always obeyed word so, work out your salvation with fear and trembling – get your eyes off yourselves – and look to Christ! And, the way you do that … is in humility – think of others more significant than yourselves! Because it is not you but God , who is in you working for his good pleasure.
Don’t grumble.
Don’t dispute.
Don’t argue.
Be blameless.
Be humble.
Let your lights shine! In church and in the world!
As Paul says:
16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud [of you] that I did not run in vain or [work] in vain.
Hold to the word!
Hold to Jesus!
So, Paul’s work for the life of the Church – that’s you and me friends – is not in vain!
Even, if I die and am poured out for your faith - I rejoice, so rejoice with me because it has been all worth it for you dear friends!
Finally, Verses 5-11 are of a different focus and address those first readers and us of this epistle or church letter saying with the joy where are true humble focus should be:
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
In Humility, look to Jesus the blessed hope for whom we wait. Now and always! Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
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