God's Prime Directive

Scripture reading: Philippians 2:1-13…. Call To Worship: Isaiah 48:17,18

God’s Prime Directive… Philippians  2:1-13

Introduction:

1.       The Church at Philippi

             Doctrinally Pure … opposite of Corinth

             Sound, moral, hard-working Christian people.

2.      Threats to the church community…

            Hint of Disunity… Philippians 1:27

“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.”

            Reiteration…Philippians 2:2,3

"Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

3.    Paul’s Christ Life Incentives – Philippians 2:1

"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,

        Encouragement IN Christ

        Comfort FROM Christ’s love

        Fellowship OF The Spirit

        Affection and Compassion."

3.       Paul’s Disunity Busters… Philippians 2:2-4

        Fellowship instead of Faction… 2:2

 "Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose."

        Lowliness instead of “Look-at-me.”… 2:3

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves."

        Helpfulness instead of Hindrance… 2:4

        Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

4.      Paul’s Prime Directive…Philippians  2:5

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus”

        We start with Jesus… We end with Jesus

        People must see Jesus in us.

5.      Paul reveals the secrets of the mind of Christ that are to guide us through all interpersonal relationships and our walk with God.

1.       Jesus Maintained A Selfless Attitude… Philippians 2:6,7a

^"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."

        Dethronement of self

        Empathy (feeling with) (put Himself in our shoes)

        Sympathy: Ego must give way to compassion and understanding

        Analyzes the problem: No cut and dried answers (assist with whatever it takes)

2.     Jesus Maintained An Attitude of Service… Philippians 2:6,7b

^"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."

 

1.       “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask rather what can you do for your country.” John F. Kennedy

 

2.       “Ask not what God can do for me but ask rather what can God do for others through me.” Jesus of Nazareth

 

3.       While the apostles argued about greatness; (Luke 22:23,24 ) Jesus prepared Himself for service by girding a towel around His waist and showed them what TRUE Greatness does.; John 13:2-16

 

4.       Jesus calls us to seek out those who are hurting and be like Jesus. James 1:27

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

 

• Ø      Seek and help those afflicted with physical pain & problems … Jesus did.
•  
• Ø      Seek and help those afflicted with  mental anguish… Jesus did.
•  
• Ø      Seek and help those afflicted  with moral dilemmas… Jesus did.
•  
• Ø     Seek and help those afflicted with spiritual questions… Jesus did.

 

5.      Jesus calls us to let Him love others through us.

3. Jesus Maintained A Sympathetic Attitude… Philippians 2:8a

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!"

 

1. Jesus weighed our problem and found only one solution: He became a man of flesh to show us the way home. Hebrews 4:15

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.”

 

2. Seeing us as sheep without a shepherd He came to be one with us and call others to assist Him in this task.  Matthew 9:35-38

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

 

3. Sympathy : “Experiencing with”  not just “feeling sorry for.”

IV.  Jesus Maintained A Submissive Attitude… Philippians 2:8b

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! 

 

1. His humbleness was shown by His obedience. Hebrews 5:7-9

“During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him”

 

2. Jesus lived a life of total obedience and total commitment to the task before Him. Hebrews 4:15,16

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.” Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

 

Ø      If we are going to be like Jesus we need to search our lives for positions of disloyalty and sin and root them out. 1 John 1:8-10

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”

 

Ø      If we are going to be like Jesus our standards must be higher than the world’s standards.  1 Peter  1:15-17

“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.”   Submission to God is a sign of strength and doing your own thing is a sign of weakness.

 

Ø      If we are going to be like Jesus obedience to His commands brings the good life to us and others! Peter 3:15,16

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”

 

V. Jesus Maintained A Sacrificial Attitude… Philippians 2:8c

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! 

 

1. The sacrifice of Jesus was unique in achievement: The forgiveness of sins for all people for all times. Romans 5:8-11; “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    

 

2. The sacrifice of Jesus was unique in achievement: The forgiveness of sins for all people for all times so they would not have to face the judgment. 

 

Hebrews 9:26-28   “For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”

 

3. The one with the mind of Christ will be like Him: Self offering rather than self-demanding.

 

4. The one with the mind of Christ will be like Him: Self-Giving rather than self-seeking.

 

Conclusion:

1. If we want our world to be free of disharmony and hatred; we must develop the mind of Christ.

2.  The first step in developing  the mind of Christ. Is to take His name upon ourselves.

Ø      1 Corinthians 1:2

Ø      Acts 2:38,39

Ø      Acts 8:12,13

3. One day soon EVERY knee will bow before Christ and only those who have already called upon His name will be saved. Philippians 2:9-11

"Therefore God 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, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,  to the glory of God the Father.”

4. Until that day He calls us to set ourselves to the task of being like Jesus and making disciples. Philippians 2:12,13

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”

5.  A Naval Observation from the Decks of the San Marcos LSD-25:  I inquired while standing watch in the Mediterranean Sea, “Why do we stand watch in these shoulder high cubicles?” The watch commander replied, “ Wait until we get to the North sea and you will know why.”

Ø      90 degree rolls and plunges down as far as the 0-3 deck  in the North Sea I found the answer.

Ø      Without those watch stations in shoulder high bunkers every man on watch would have been washed overboard.

6.      The mind is like a ship at sea; it needs a captain. The sea of life is filled with many dangers: 1) shoals of despair, 2) hidden rocks of sectarianism, 3) the shallows of false doctrine. 4) hurricanes of troubles, 5) the storms of doubt, 6) the squalls of self-reliance, 7) the winds of deceit, 8)  the waves of atheistic denials, 9) the whirlpools of cynicism, and 10) the worldly speculations that make us feel lost and far from shore.

7.     Christ is our Captain furnishing chart and compass, confidence and guidance to us because he has sailed through these waters before us and has conquered all the fears and doubt in the realm of thought.

8.     Christ not only is the Way… He knows the Way and calls us to follow Him all the way home.

9.     Christ is the Way, The Truth and the Life and.  He calls us to show others the Way home as well .

James 3:13-18

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.  But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.  Such wisdom does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.  For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.  But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.”

10. “In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5 (New Century Version)

“Think the same way that Christ Jesus thought.” (Contemporary English Version)  Footnote: or "Think the way you should because you belong to Christ Jesus."

“In your relationships with one another, have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had”  (Today's New International Version)

“With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by His power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.”   2 Thessalonians 1:11