Created to be Christ-like
Philippians 2:1-11
Verse 5 – “Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ.” NIV
“Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus.” New King James Version
“Let Christ Himself be your example as to what you attitude should be.” Phillips
When God created Adam and Eve and the human race His ultimate purpose was to have his creation live godly lives. You were created to be Christ-like. “For from the very beginning God decided that those who came to Him should be like His Son.” Romans 8:29
God’s plan from the beginning of creation was for every person to have the character of Jesus. “God wants us to grow up … like Christ in everything.” Ephesians 4:15
You develop Christ-like character by first, “Loving God with all your heart, all your soul and all your strength.” (Worship) Second, by becoming active in God’s family. (Fellowship)
Philippians 2:1-11 gives an account of the character and attitudes Jesus possessed.
I. Jesus Humbled Himself and Became a Servant.
Philippians 2:6,7
Jesus said he came to serve and minister and not to be ministered to. Mark 10:45 “For the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
In studying the life of Christ and his plan of salvation Jesus called people to repent of sin follow him. The first step was being “born again.” Jesus said to Nicodemus a good moral man, “You must be born again.” Nicodemus and all of us need a spiritual birth. We all need two birthdays. A physical birth and a spiritual birth.
After we experience the “New Birth” through confession of sin, repentance and turning from sin we follow Jesus as Disciple. A “Disciple” is a student and one learning to obey all that Jesus taught. Jesus said to his followers, “Go in to all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Discipleship involves teaching and obedience to the commands of Jesus. A disciple of Jesus is developing the same attitudes that Jesus possessed.
Philippians 2:6-8 As following of Jesus we are to have the same attitudes in our life that Jesus possessed. By his life and ministry Jesus demonstrated humility. The story of Jesus is one of riches to rags. Jesus “did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but make himself nothing.”
How does your attitude compare with the attitudes of Jesus? To Jesus greatness was a downward direction. Greatness to Jesus is not a matter of self-will, but rather self-abandonment. The more you lose, the more you gain.
Gene Wilkes in his book “Jesus on Leadership,” says that Servant Leadership in the kingdom is not about seeking possession and power. It is about following Jesus as he serves others and suffers on their behalf. Servant leaders follow Jesus by doing what he says to do first in whatever context they find themselves. P. 81
Jesus became a servant. Another word for servant – “doulos” – is slave. Being a slave involved several things:
The loss of property
Separation from family
Abuse by an unkind owner
Loss of individuality
And no freedom to choose
As a slave you give up your personal rights.
Who’s in charge of your life. You or God. It is either Ego or God. This is the opposite of American culture – where the individual is the center of the universe.
The Christian can say, Jesus is my Savior. He has forgiven my sins. The Disciple can say, “Jesus is Lord.” Jesus is master of my life. Jesus, not self is the center of my life and universe.
### Worship Team ""That’s Why We Praise Him"
II. Jesus Demonstrated the Attitude of Obedience during Trials and Suffering
V. 8 – Jesus “became obedient to death even death on a cross.”
As a disciple of Jesus one of our greatest challenges is to respond like Jesus did to trails and tribulations, persecution and suffering. Jesus responded with obedience. He refused to back off from his calling to fulfill God’s mission.
When you are faced with setbacks in life, pain, injustices, and crises, you either become “better” or “bitter.”
Romans 8:28 is a challenging verse from our human point of view. We would like to read it, “In most things God works for the good…” It reads, “In all things God works for the good for those who love Hi , who have been called according to His purposes.”
Trials and troubles often bring us closer to God. It is the depth of your commitment to the Lord and your character that come to the service depending on how you respond to adversity.
We need to remember that God is more interested in your life, who you are, than in what you do. He is more interested in your character than what you do in your career. Why? Because you don’t take your career to heaven with you, but you do take your character.
When bad things happen what is our first response? Why me? Why did this happen to me? Why was I at the wrong place at the wrong time? The point is our main goal in life is not to be comfortable. Jesus said that as long as we life in this world we will have tribulations. The only trouble free place is heaven, no more pain, no more trials, no more suffering. Your time on earth is a time of character development not necessarily a place of comfort and trouble free living.
When you face challenges, critical people attach you, you face business challenges, failure or sickness you have two choices:
1. You can complain, blame God and withdraw and give up , or
2. You can seek the will of the Lord in prayer and Bible study and go forward knowing that the Lord will go with you.
Jesus in his humanity went through a struggle in prayer prior to his crucifixion in the garden of Gethsemane. He prayed that if there was any other way to not have to go through the horrible death by crucifixion and take on the sin of the world? If there was no other way then “Not my will but Your will be done.”
Jesus took his disciples with him to the grove of olive trees to pray. He told them to wait for him while he prayed. (Mark 14:32) Even Jesus had a support team when he faced crises in his life. We all need a small group for fellowship. No one should have to face troubles alone.
Jesus understands your situation when you face crises. He promises to be with you in every crisis. When going through deep waters and challenges in life who do you turn to. You turn to the Lord.
How are proud and arrogant made to seek the Lord? Problems and pain often cause a person to humble themselves and seek the Lord.
The Apostle Paul testified that in weakness he became strong. II Corinthians 12:7-10 Living Bible – “…Even though I have received wonderful revelations from God. But to keep me from getting puffed up, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from getting proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, My gracious favor is all you need. ‘My power works best in your weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weakness, so that the power of Christ may work through me. Since I know it is all for Christ’s good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak then I am strong.”
Whatever your situation the risen Lord says, “MY Grace is sufficient for you. I will be with you.”
When Jesus faced adversity he prayer. When we fact adversity we need to pray. The Psalmist prayed in Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
When faced with adversity get alone with God, take a deep breath and reflect on God’s great plan of salvation. Reflect on the almighty power of God. Remember that God is love. He is for you and not against you. Choose to trust Him. He has promised to never leave you or forsake you.
The Bible gives this promise: “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs the all.” 2 Cor. 4:17 The Message translates this same verse: “These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times and the lavish celebration prepared for us.”
Having the attitude and character of Jesus
First of all gives us a servant lifestyle,
Second we are obedient and trust the Lord
During time of trails and tribulations
### Worship Team "God Will Make a Way"
III. Jesus demonstrated an attitude that gave Him victory over temptation and sin.
When Jesus was tempted he looked to his final triumph over death. Because Jesus was faithful, “God highly exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.” (Phil 2:9-11)
Jesus lived a lifestyle of victory over sin and temptation. Jesus faced temptation but never sinner. Matthew 4:1 “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.” If Jesus faced temptation guess what, “all of us are going to face temptation.
Remember it is not a sin to be tempted. You are tempted when Satan uses your natural God given desires to go outside God’s plan and design for those desires. James 1:13-15 – “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
Don’t let Satan trick you into thinking that if you such a great Christian then why are you being tempted? A mature Christian would not experience such temptation. In fact you are the only one having this struggle. God’s Word says: “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful: he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” I Corinthians 10:13
An evil thought is not sin. Evil thinking is sin – allowing sinful take over your thinking is sin. An early church Theologian said, “You can’t keep a bird from landing on your head, but you can keep the bird from building a nest there.”
One of Satan’s sharpest tools is discouragement. He will repeatedly say to you:
“You are discouraged aren’t you? You don’t have
any friends. People at work and even at church are
talking about you. You ought to be discouraged.
No Christian should feel like you do.”
Walking as Jesus walked you have an answer:
“You’re discouraged aren’t you?” “Actually I’m not. “ “You are tired aren’t you.” “Yes but I had prayer this morning anyway.” “You have a lot of past sins to account for.” “Yes, but they are covered and forgiven by the cross of Calvary and the shed blood of Jesus.” “You’re stomach is upset and you are discouraged.” “Oh no, that the pizza I ate.” “Life is against you, you are discouraged.” “No – I rejoice in the Lord and I praise the Lord regardless of my challenges.” “Whatever my challenges I take them to Jesus.”
Temptations will come, but you can choose to turn from the temptation. Matthew 4:10 Jesus said, “Get out of here, Satan!” “The scriptures say, worship only the Lord God. Obey only Him.” Knowing God’s Word helps give you victory over temptation. Psalm 119:9,11 “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
When tempted focus you thoughts on what is good. Phil. 4:8 “Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right.”
When faced with some temptation, RUN. That what Joseph did when tempted by the wife of his boss, Potiphar. When she was alone with Joseph in her house she said to Joseph, “Come to bed with me.” Joseph didn’t waste a second, He ran for his spiritual life.
Joseph was prepared to face temptation for several reasons:
1. He recognized the blessing of God. He trusted God with his life.
2. He recognized the hand of God on his life.
3. He ran for his life.
When temptation comes recognize if for what it is. Turn off the TV or computer. Use Scripture to confront the temptation and fix your mind and eyes on Jesus. Hebrews 13:1, “Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus,….” Fill your mind with so much of God and spiritual things that there is no room for continual sinful thinking. Practice doing what the Apostle Paul says in Philippians 4:8, “And now dear friends, let me say one more think as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
You were created to be a disciple and follower of Jesus. As a disciple you are to have the same attitudes and character Jesus possessed. With Christ – like attitudes you
1. Live with a servant’s heart
2. You are faithful and obedient even during times of adversity and suffering
3. You have victory over temptation and sin
### Worship Team "You are my King"
This week memorize Phil. 2:5
If you haven’t started a prayer journal consider starting using one this week. A prayer journal is just that – it is not a diary. It is a journal where you write down your spiritual progress and note from your devotional readings and prayers from your heart.
