Likeminded

Likeminded

Philippians 2:5-11

    Suppose Christ broke through the veil that separates the spiritual realm from the physical realm and audible said to you today, "I am going to require you to have my mind in all its fullness. However, I want people to know what a miracle of change I can work, so I am going to reveal to your church what your mind is like right now. Next Sunday, in your church, I am going to take over the morning service and play back for all to hear every thought you had this week."

    Would it frighten you or delight you if Christ revealed your thoughts to your church family? I don’t know about you, but I would be just a little embarrassed.

    We unconsciously assume that our outer, physical, and visible actions are going to be the basis for our judgment. In the Bible, though, God places the emphasis on the inner, invisible actions of the mind. For example, we may protest that we have never committed adultery. Yet Jesus said, "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Mt. 5:28). We may protest that we have never committed murder. Yet Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell" (Mt. 5:21, 22). We may protest that God doesn't care about our evil thoughts or our evil imaginations. He only cares about our sinful actions. Yet (Prov. 15:26) says, "The Lord detests the thoughts (not the actions) of the wicked…" Before God sent the great flood on the earth, (Gen. 8:21) says, "The Lord saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time."

    God is certainly concerned with our thought patterns. You see, the mind has always been more important to God than our outward actions. Most of us, at times, are satisfied if we appease the expectations of society and the requirements of God by our outer, visible actions. However, we must understand that God looks on the inner part of man as well as the outer part of man. In (1 Sam. 16:7), God said, as early as Samuel's day, that "man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." In other words, God looks at the mind.

    Today's verses from Philippians 2:5-11 give us some insight into the mind of Christ and how we are to be like Him.  From our text, we see ... 

The Goal (v. 5)

The Challenge (vv. 6-8),  and...    

1. The Reward  (vv. 9-11)Body
1. The Goal (v. 5)
1. to have the mind of Christ
1. How does that happen?
2. In 1 Corinthians 2:16, Paul quotes Isaiah 40:13 and then makes a statement concerning all believers: “We have the mind of Christ.”  Having the mind of Christ means sharing the plan, purpose, and perspective of Christ, and it is something that all believers possess. 
3. In order to have the mind of Christ, one must first have saving faith in Christ
1. John 1:12 -- But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
2. 1 John 5:12 -- He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
4. After salvation, the believer lives a life under God’s influence. 
1. The Holy Spirit indwells and enlightens the believer, infusing him with wisdom—the mind of Christ. 
2. The believer bears a responsibility to yield to the Spirit’s leading
3. Ephesians 4:30 -- And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption
4. and to allow the Spirit to transform and renew his mind 
5. Romans 12:1-2 -- I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
   The Challenge (vv. 6-8)
6. to be Christ like
5. humility
1. Jesus was the same as God
1. same form
2. same nature
2. He wasn't striving to be something that He was not
1. as did Satan and Adam
2. John 10:30 -- "I and My Father are one."
3. John 14:10 -- "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works."
3. He emptied Himself
1. took on the appearance (form) of a servant
2. 2 Cor. 8:9 -- For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. 
6. obedience
1. to both God and men
2. to the point of death
3. Romans 5:19 -- For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
4. Hebrews 5:8-9 -- though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.  And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,
7. sacrifice
1. the pain and shame
2. made a curse for us
3. bore the curse for usThe Reward (vv. 9-11)
4. mankind worships and God is glorified
8. worship the Name
1. He humbled Himself that God might lift Him up
1. Luke 14:11 -- "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
2. Luke 18:14 -- "... everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
3. James 4:10 -- Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
4. 1 Peter 5:6 -- Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time
2. by bearing creation's curse, He has received for Himself all of creation
1. Eph. 1:21 -- [God] raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,  far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
9. Jesus reigns
1. Now as servant made Lord
2. in heaven, thru His church and one day over all
10. God is glorified
1. The Latin Vulgate version reads, "... because the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father..."
2. John 17:1 -- Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You.
3. 1 Cor. 15: 24 - 28 -- Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.  For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.  The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.  For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted.  Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.Conclusion 
2. 1 Peter 2:21 -- For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.
3. Col. 3:1-4 -- If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.  For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
4. I recently read a story about hunting frogs. It seems that frogs have extra-special abilities that enable them to elude capture. The frog's optical field of perception is like a blackboard wiped clean, and that the only images it receives are objects that directly concern him -- such as his natural enemies or the food he needs for survival. Therefore these little creatures are never distracted by unimportant things, but are aware only of the essentials and whatever may be dangerous to them.
5. I think we can learn a spiritual lesson from the frog-hunting story. In the Christian life we frequently become preoccupied with the vain things of the world. We allow our lives to become so cluttered with worldly things and thoughts that we lose our spiritual perspective. As Christians, we must start concentrating more on the eternal rather than the temporal. We must stop flooding our minds with earthly concerns, and start flooding our minds with spiritual concerns. We need to be like frogs who are only aware of the essential parts of life.
6. Hebrews 12:1-4 -- Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.   For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.  You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin
7. If our goal is to have the mind of Christ, then we need to accept the challenge of offering ourselves to be like Him; in humility, obedience and service.
8. We need to actively, consciously humble ourselves - even to the point of sacrifice - that Christ's name be lifted up... that God be glorified.
9. Is that your goal in this life?  That God receive the glory of your living?
10. If so, then you are well on the way toward Christlikeness.