Loosing Our Mind For The Mind Of Christ

Text: Philippians 2:5-9 5. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6. Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

9. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Introduction: Have you ever said that you felt as if you were about to “loose your mind”? I know that there have been times in my life that I felt as if I were going to loose mine. It would truly be a blessing if we could loose our minds, and replace them with the mind of Christ. We are told in our text that we are to have the mind of Christ abiding in us. Have you ever considered exactly what it means to have the mind of Christ? Well, that is exactly what we would like to try to do today by God’s marvelous help. We would like to consider what it means to have the mind of Christ. As we consider the mind of Christ, examine your mind to see if it is the same. If it’s not I would urge you to loose your mind for the mind of Christ.

Consider the following thoughts concerning the mind of Christ:

I. The mind of Christ is a Submissive mind. (Vv.5-6)

The mind of Christ is not a self-centered mind. It is not a stubborn mind; rather it is a mind of surrender and submission. Christ was submissive to the will of God the father. He was a “lamb slain from the foundation of the world” according to the book of revelation. He knew that the eternal purpose of God the father was for him to robe himself in humanity and become the sacrifice that would procure salvation for fallen man. He never one time argued with God the father concerning his eternal purposes; rather he was submissive to the will of God for his life. How submissive are we to the will of God? The measure of our submissiveness will always be in measure to the amount of the mind of Christ that we possess.

II. The mind of Christ is a Self-abased mind. (V.7)

"But made himself of no reputation, …"

The mind of Christ is not a self-exalting life; it is on the contrary quite the opposite. The individual who always seeks to set self up on a platform for all to see is not an individual that possesses the mind of Christ. In all that He did, He pointed men to God. He never bragged on himself for anyone thing that He did; and believe me He could have bragged a plenty, yet He made himself of no reputation. If you possess the mind of Christ you will be a self-abased individual instead of a self-absorbed individual.

III. The mind of Christ is a Servile mind. (V.7)

“…and took upon him the form of a servant…”

The life of our savior was a life of absolute service. He came not to do his own will, but the will of him that sent him. His life was a life of complete servitude. Is this the mind that we possess today? Do we have to be begged and prodded into service? If we do, then we do not possess the mind of Christ. Someone who possesses the mind of Christ is someone who willingly serves.

IV. The mind of Christ is a Sacrificial mind. (V.8)

The mind of Christ is a sacrificial mind. It is a mind that is willing to sacrifice what ever the cost of the sacrifice may be. Consider the sacrifice of Christ. He made himself a sacrifice and died upon the cross for us. What are we willing to sacrifice in our service for God? Do we possess a sacrificial mind? If we do not, then we do not possess the mind of Christ.

V. The mind of Christ is a Successful mind. (V.9)

The mind of Christ is a rewarding mind. The exaltation of Christ is the reward of his humiliation.

Consider what the Bible has to say about humiliation:

~ Matthew 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

~ I Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

If you possess the mind of Christ you are on the road to ultimate success. God will exalt you in due time.