God’s church should be like Jesus! – Philippians 2:1-8
God’s church should be like Jesus! – Philippians 2:1-8
By Pastor Lee Hemen
March 29, 2020
I can remember my mother sometimes telling one of us, “Why can’t you be like your brother?” Of course it depended upon which one of us was not in trouble at the time that she wanted the other to be like. Growing up we often have others we can desire to be like: Make believe heroes, historical figures, brave men or women, or family members we hold in high regard.
During times like we are going through it might be easy to draw within oneself and hunker down. For the believer this is not what Jesus would do. He would encourage us as a church to reflect him immediately within our families, our neighborhoods, our communities, and our world. Paul would tell us in blunt terms that God’s church should be like Jesus! Let see what Paul wrote and why…
READ: Philippians 2:1-8
Factions within Congress that only are interested in their own self-interests should gall all Americans right now while our Nation is hurting. And this kind of behavior should be totally seen as irresponsible within God’s church. Paul reminds us that…
I. God’s church should be one in spirit and purpose! (Vv. 1-2)
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
1. Paul’s desire was that all believers would come to know the unity of walking with Jesus and therefore with one another. Paul had just gotten through telling his readers that for him “to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21 NIV)” Life for Paul was living for Jesus and dying was going home to be with Jesus! It was a win-win situation! How could this be? Paul went on to tell the Philippians that “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel. (Philippians 1:27 NIV)” Spiritual unity Paul knew was derived from Jesus and so Paul wrote a fourfold rhetorical question that he felt was the basis for any believer’s fellowship with one another: “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion” then they should be united. In fact they would “make” Paul’s “joy complete by being like-minded”! “Encouragement” is from a Greek word related to the one Christ used in referring to the Holy Spirit as “the Counselor” (John 14:16). We also have the “comfort” of Jesus’ love for us. Our physical bodies become the dwelling (temple) of the Holy Spirit when we come to Christ (1 Corinthians 6:19). This is how we have fellowship with him. The believer’s “tenderness and compassion” Paul refers to here are like the fruits of the Spirit he wrote about to the church at Galatia (Galatians 5:22-23). Paul believed in the unity of the Spirit within every believer so much that he wanted them to “make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.” Isn’t this the way each church member should be with one another? God’s church should be one in spirit and purpose!
EXAMPLE: While I was a part of Disaster Relief it was amazing to watch as people from all kinds of backgrounds coming together to do one job in order to meet the needs of those affected by natural disaster. They were moving in one purpose! Our church should be the same even now. Look around you too see what you can do to encourage, support, and help others around you. Pray, call, and write notes to one another. Paul would remind us that God’s church should be one in spirit and purpose!
There are those in the world who think that being a Christian means you give up your intelligence and march lockstep like a religious zombie. Nothing could be further from the truth! Paul relates that…
II. God’s church should exhibit humility and shrewdness! (Vv. 3-4)
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
1. If the Holy Spirit truly indwelled each believer then they would exhibit the same character qualities to one another that were seen in Jesus! Sadly, Christians can do things not because of what is best for the church but what seems best for their selves. Paul understood this and warned his readers to “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit” but rather in all “humility” they were to “consider others better than” themselves! The words Paul used reveal an underlying problem in the church at Philippi. Self-centeredness was exhibiting itself among certain Christians. Paul taught Christians were to “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21 NIV)” and that believers were to “live a life worthy of the calling you have received” by being “completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. (Ephesians 4:1-2 NIV)” Certainly Jesus chose to be humble, gentle, patient, bearing with his fellow disciples in love. Therefore our motivation in life should be influenced not by how the world responds but by the Sprit of God that lives within us! Jesus knew he was sending his disciples out into a world where we would be “like sheep among wolves”. So he told us to “be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. (Matthew 10:16 NIV)” Paul understood that Christians should respond differently than the world did but they did not need to be ignorant. Paul related, “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Instead of a “me first” attitude God’s church should exhibit humility and shrewdness!
EXAMPLE: I am thoroughly disgusted with how the Congress is conducting itself right now and you should be as well. Shame on them! In fact, I would encourage you to call your Senators and Congressmen to do the right thing for the American people. As God’s church we cannot stand back and wait for others to help us out we must be actively involved yet do it with compassion and kindness. In fact Paul reminds us that God’s church should exhibit humility and shrewdness!
There was a Christian fad a few years back that produced a myriad of self study books, materials, promotional items like bracelets, t-shirts, bumper stickers asking the question: What would Jesus do? While it seems an oversimplification it carries within it the truth Paul teaches here in that…
III. God’s church should be like Jesus! (Vv. 5-8)
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!
1. Paul boils it down into one succinct thought: “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus”! Paul spells it out for his readers and relates that Jesus who “being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped”! Jesus was God! Jesus made it very plain that those around him did not miss the point: “I and the Father are one. (John 10:30 NIV)” “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I am! (John 8:58 NIV)” And the Apostle John wrote: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:1-3 NIV)” Now, Paul wasn’t teaching Jesus was lesser than God or another god or even godlike; he is stating that Jesus, who, “being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped”. The idea here is that Jesus’ very “nature”, the inner essence or reality of him truly being God he willingly let go! Jesus did not cling to it but “made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness”! In fact the amazing thing is that Jesus was “found in appearance as a man” yet he willingly “humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross”! So if Jesus, who is God, was willing to set his divine nature aside in order to be obedient to the eternal plan of God, shouldn’t we who trust him be able to do so as well? Paul would teach: “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV)” Paul teaches us that God’s church should be like Jesus!
EXAMPLE: The fact is that we as believers in Christ our attitude should be same as the One we follow! We cannot and we dare not live like the world does simply because things are scary or tough or hard to do. What a tremendous time to step up and do what we can do and be the holy yeast in the sinful world. We can be the calm in the midst of the storm. We can be the Jesus the world needs to see right now. Paul would remind us that God’s church should be like Jesus!
Conclusion:
God’s church should be one in spirit and purpose! God’s church should exhibit humility and shrewdness! God’s church should be like Jesus!
---
This article is copyrighted © 2020 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
By Pastor Lee Hemen
March 29, 2020
I can remember my mother sometimes telling one of us, “Why can’t you be like your brother?” Of course it depended upon which one of us was not in trouble at the time that she wanted the other to be like. Growing up we often have others we can desire to be like: Make believe heroes, historical figures, brave men or women, or family members we hold in high regard.
During times like we are going through it might be easy to draw within oneself and hunker down. For the believer this is not what Jesus would do. He would encourage us as a church to reflect him immediately within our families, our neighborhoods, our communities, and our world. Paul would tell us in blunt terms that God’s church should be like Jesus! Let see what Paul wrote and why…
READ: Philippians 2:1-8
Factions within Congress that only are interested in their own self-interests should gall all Americans right now while our Nation is hurting. And this kind of behavior should be totally seen as irresponsible within God’s church. Paul reminds us that…
I. God’s church should be one in spirit and purpose! (Vv. 1-2)
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
1. Paul’s desire was that all believers would come to know the unity of walking with Jesus and therefore with one another. Paul had just gotten through telling his readers that for him “to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21 NIV)” Life for Paul was living for Jesus and dying was going home to be with Jesus! It was a win-win situation! How could this be? Paul went on to tell the Philippians that “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel. (Philippians 1:27 NIV)” Spiritual unity Paul knew was derived from Jesus and so Paul wrote a fourfold rhetorical question that he felt was the basis for any believer’s fellowship with one another: “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion” then they should be united. In fact they would “make” Paul’s “joy complete by being like-minded”! “Encouragement” is from a Greek word related to the one Christ used in referring to the Holy Spirit as “the Counselor” (John 14:16). We also have the “comfort” of Jesus’ love for us. Our physical bodies become the dwelling (temple) of the Holy Spirit when we come to Christ (1 Corinthians 6:19). This is how we have fellowship with him. The believer’s “tenderness and compassion” Paul refers to here are like the fruits of the Spirit he wrote about to the church at Galatia (Galatians 5:22-23). Paul believed in the unity of the Spirit within every believer so much that he wanted them to “make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.” Isn’t this the way each church member should be with one another? God’s church should be one in spirit and purpose!
EXAMPLE: While I was a part of Disaster Relief it was amazing to watch as people from all kinds of backgrounds coming together to do one job in order to meet the needs of those affected by natural disaster. They were moving in one purpose! Our church should be the same even now. Look around you too see what you can do to encourage, support, and help others around you. Pray, call, and write notes to one another. Paul would remind us that God’s church should be one in spirit and purpose!
There are those in the world who think that being a Christian means you give up your intelligence and march lockstep like a religious zombie. Nothing could be further from the truth! Paul relates that…
II. God’s church should exhibit humility and shrewdness! (Vv. 3-4)
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
1. If the Holy Spirit truly indwelled each believer then they would exhibit the same character qualities to one another that were seen in Jesus! Sadly, Christians can do things not because of what is best for the church but what seems best for their selves. Paul understood this and warned his readers to “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit” but rather in all “humility” they were to “consider others better than” themselves! The words Paul used reveal an underlying problem in the church at Philippi. Self-centeredness was exhibiting itself among certain Christians. Paul taught Christians were to “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21 NIV)” and that believers were to “live a life worthy of the calling you have received” by being “completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. (Ephesians 4:1-2 NIV)” Certainly Jesus chose to be humble, gentle, patient, bearing with his fellow disciples in love. Therefore our motivation in life should be influenced not by how the world responds but by the Sprit of God that lives within us! Jesus knew he was sending his disciples out into a world where we would be “like sheep among wolves”. So he told us to “be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. (Matthew 10:16 NIV)” Paul understood that Christians should respond differently than the world did but they did not need to be ignorant. Paul related, “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Instead of a “me first” attitude God’s church should exhibit humility and shrewdness!
EXAMPLE: I am thoroughly disgusted with how the Congress is conducting itself right now and you should be as well. Shame on them! In fact, I would encourage you to call your Senators and Congressmen to do the right thing for the American people. As God’s church we cannot stand back and wait for others to help us out we must be actively involved yet do it with compassion and kindness. In fact Paul reminds us that God’s church should exhibit humility and shrewdness!
There was a Christian fad a few years back that produced a myriad of self study books, materials, promotional items like bracelets, t-shirts, bumper stickers asking the question: What would Jesus do? While it seems an oversimplification it carries within it the truth Paul teaches here in that…
III. God’s church should be like Jesus! (Vv. 5-8)
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!
1. Paul boils it down into one succinct thought: “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus”! Paul spells it out for his readers and relates that Jesus who “being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped”! Jesus was God! Jesus made it very plain that those around him did not miss the point: “I and the Father are one. (John 10:30 NIV)” “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I am! (John 8:58 NIV)” And the Apostle John wrote: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:1-3 NIV)” Now, Paul wasn’t teaching Jesus was lesser than God or another god or even godlike; he is stating that Jesus, who, “being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped”. The idea here is that Jesus’ very “nature”, the inner essence or reality of him truly being God he willingly let go! Jesus did not cling to it but “made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness”! In fact the amazing thing is that Jesus was “found in appearance as a man” yet he willingly “humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross”! So if Jesus, who is God, was willing to set his divine nature aside in order to be obedient to the eternal plan of God, shouldn’t we who trust him be able to do so as well? Paul would teach: “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV)” Paul teaches us that God’s church should be like Jesus!
EXAMPLE: The fact is that we as believers in Christ our attitude should be same as the One we follow! We cannot and we dare not live like the world does simply because things are scary or tough or hard to do. What a tremendous time to step up and do what we can do and be the holy yeast in the sinful world. We can be the calm in the midst of the storm. We can be the Jesus the world needs to see right now. Paul would remind us that God’s church should be like Jesus!
Conclusion:
God’s church should be one in spirit and purpose! God’s church should exhibit humility and shrewdness! God’s church should be like Jesus!
---
This article is copyrighted © 2020 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
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