Let this Mind be in You

Unity Through Humility

Philippians 2v1-4

1¶Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,

2fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

3Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

4Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

What are my motives, what are yours?

Our sinful nature is so deceitful, that even when we do something we think may be for the right reason and with a true motive, we need to always check our hearts.

Are we doing what we are doing out of pride, self-ambition or self interest and vainglory?

How much of what happens in the name of Christ is done out of pride or to compete with each other?

This is nothing new. Paul had to address such division at the church at Corinth. 1 Corinthians 1v10-16

How much jealousy exists between us?

We are members one of another but so often, we operate in a spirit that causes us to work against each other.

This separates and divides us.

In this passage Paul, instructs the assembly at Philippi and the Body of Christ in general, to be of the same mind, to be in one accord and to strive to be in unity.

Central to this, is the need for us to be humble and to ensure we are not operating in pride and to promote ourselves out of self-ambition.

I've questioned my motives and asked the Lord to continually help me, to have the right motive for starting this site and sharing God's Word. We don't need yet another preacher, we need to hear from God in these days. If I'm not sharing God's heart and the Word of the Lord then all of this will be of no effect. If God doesn't build the house then they labour in vain who build it.

Brothers and sisters, when are going to stop competing with each other, protecting what we see as our own kingdom or ministry?

When are we finally going to be mature enough, to come into the unity of the faith, unto that perfect man. Ephesians 4v13.

Are we esteeming others better than ourselves?

Are we operating in that true humility?

How much of what we do is for self rather than to serve?

Jeremiah 17v9&10 says

9“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?

10 I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.

Paul goes on to share the ultimate example of humility and servant hood.

The Humbled and Exalted Christ

5¶Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

6who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

9Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,

10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,

11and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Paul tells us to let this mind which was in Christ be in us and goes on to define and describe that mind.

The mind of Christ is characterised, by absolute and total humility and submission to the Father's will.

He did not grasp or cling on to the glory and majesty which was His by sovereign right.

The Amplified Bible v6

Who although being essentially one with God and in the form of God ( possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God) did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained

He humbled himself, stripping himself of His glory and taking on our humanity and suffering the ignominy and humiliation of the cross.

He didn't come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.

Unfortunately, many have accepted and been deceived by another gospel which appeals to self. Appeals to self-will, self-satisfaction and pleasing ourselves. It appeals to our sinful nature making it all about what we need and want.

However, the true gospel of Christ calls us to a life of self sacrifice. To a laying down of our wants, plans and ambitions in order to become bondservants to Christ and to serve one another. Not just looking to our own selfish interests but to the interests of others.

We cannot underestimate how selfish, proud and deceitful our sinful nature is.

That's why we are called to take up our cross, follow Christ and deny self. Luke 9v23-25

These are dirty words in the prosperity focused and seeker friendly gospels.

The cross is where Christ suffered it all, so that we would not have to suffer pain, disappointment, trouble, hardship or trials and we could be enormously rich and live like kings according to this gospel. We could have the newest private jet, the most expensive multi million dollar property, you get my gist.

If you can't see that this does not align with God's Word and the example that Jesus and the apostles left us, then you must be reading a different version of the Bible.

I heard one of the main exponents of this gospel, say recently, that he didn't have time to be sick or time to be poor.

All I can say is, that I'm so thankful that Jesus took the time to become poor so that we through his poverty might become rich That he took the time to suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane, in Pilate's judgement hall, at the scourging post and on the cross.

Does His suffering exempt us from suffering, trouble and tribulation.

Not according to God's Word.

Jesus said in John 16v33

In the world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the world.

See also Acts 14v22, 1 Timothy 3v12, 4v5.

Paul when describing his apostleship, said that the proof of his ministry, was in

• Stripes

• Imprisonments

• Afflictions

• Distresses

Among many other things 2 Corinthians 6v4-10

In v10 he says

10 As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

He knew how to be abased and how to abound. Philippians 4v11&12

What we read is far removed from what is being preached folks. We need discernment.

We also need to take heed to God's Word.

In Acts 2, we read that the disciples were gathered in obedience to Jesus command to tarry in Jerusalem.

They were all in one accord, in one place and suddenly there came a sound from heaven as a rushing mighty wind and filled all the house.

They had met the conditions. They obeyed the Word and they were in unity. They were of one mind and one purpose. They had put the petty squabbling and immature fights about who was the greatest behind them.

They were ready to receive the promised Holy Ghost, the enduement and clothing from on high.

They were aligned with God's purposes and positioned to receive what they needed, to turn the world upside down.

In John 13, with the horrors of the cross looming large over Him, the Lord Jesus arose from supper, laid aside his garments and took a towel and girded himself, pouring water into a basin to wash His disciples feet.

What a wonderful type. He arose to serve. He laid aside His garments just as He laid aside the glory He had in heaven with the Father, poured water in the basin, just as He was about to pour out His life and shed His precious blood and with absolutely no other motive, than to serve and leave an example of how His disciples should serve one another, he humbled himself and in love he washed their feet and dried them with the towel.

The personification of humility and servanthood.

12¶So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?

13“You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.

14“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

15“For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.

16“Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.

17“If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

He left them the perfect example and told them to do as He had done.

Note in v12 after he had served them he took again His garments and sat down again speaking of His finished work and His glorification, when once again His glory would be restored and He would be seated at the Father's right hand waiting until His enemies became His footstool. Psalm 110v1

The time is short.

The return of the Lord is near.

Great glory and great tribulation are on the horizon.

Will we receive the Word of the Lord and humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord so that he might exalt us in due season. James 4v10, 1 Peter 5v5&6.

Proverbs 18v12

12 Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty,

And before honour is humility.

Psalm 133

Blessed Unity of the People of God

1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!

2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments.

3It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing—