Philippians 2:5 - Having the Mind of Jesus Requires Holy Spirit Power.
Philippians 2:5: Having the Mind of Jesus Requires Holy Spirit
Power.
Philippians 2:5 (KJV) Let this mind be in you, which was also in
Christ Jesus:
Philippians 2:5 (TNIV) In your relationships with one another,
have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had:
Philippians 2:5 (NCV) In your lives you must think and act like
Christ Jesus.
CONTEXT
Philippians 2:1-11: Imitating Christs Humility.
This is a Christological statement unparalleled in the New
Testament. Nowhere else is the self-emptying of Christ described as it is
here. [College Press NIV Commentary]
In many ways this is the greatest and most moving passage Paul
ever wrote about Jesus The essence of it is in the simple
statement Paul made to the Corinthians that, although Jesus was rich, yet
for our sakes he became poor (2Cor 8:9). Here that simple idea is
stated with a fulness which is without parallel. [Barclay Commentary]
INTRODUCTION
Perhaps no other topic today - except for salvation - is more
obscured by falsehood than that of rights. Just about everyone thinks
that he or she is entitled to a long list of rights not guaranteed by
the Bible or the Constitution. For instance, some people believe
they have the right to do illegal drugs. Others think they have the
right to play their stereos loud any hour of the night. Some even
believe they have the right to break the law and get away with it.
Clearly, the demand for rights has gotten out of hand in
America. But Paul has an antidote for Christians caught up in or dismayed
by a rights-obsessed society. His advice is to imitate Christ, who
sacrificed his rights as God's own Son to save his people.
Jesus had the right to be worshiped, obeyed, and honored as
God. Yet he did not lay claim to that right. Instead he lowered
himself, gave up his rights, and died a humiliating death for our sins.
He had more rights than anyone will ever have, and he gave them all
up to save his people (Philippians 2:5-11).
All kinds of evil deeds have been committed in the name of
rights. Selfish attitudes, such as "I deserve it," "It's my right," and
"You have no right to stop me," have been used to justify cheating,
abortion, materialism, and countless other sins.
Those who follow Christ must not only refuse to selfishly
uphold their rights but avoid having selfish attitudes as well.
Instead, believers should allow God to develop an attitude of humility
within them. [The One Year Through the Bible Devotional by Dave
Veerman]
COMMENTARY
Jesus is the supreme example of humility. He is divine by nature
but did not selfishly demand His divine rights. Instead He gave up
the glory of heaven to become a human. Even then He did not seek
royal treatment but took the servant's role. Humble service was not
the end of His humility. He obeyed the Father's plan and died for
our sins. Through His humble service, Jesus pleased the Father, who
made Him Ruler of the universe. [Disciple SB]
Without ceasing to be God, he became a human being, the man
called Jesus. He did not give up his deity to become human, but he set
aside the right to his glory and power. In submission to the Father's
will, Christ limited his power and knowledge. Jesus of Nazareth was
subject to place, time, and many other human limitations. What made his
humanity unique was his freedom from sin. In his full humanity, Jesus
showed us everything about God's character that can be conveyed in
human terms. [Life Application SB]
Jesus deliberately stripped Himself of everything - His
divine rights and privileges - and crossed the unthinkable chasm
between God and man.
Try to imagine the span of that chasm.... The unlimited God
became limited man.... Jesus Christ is God.
From the world's viewpoint, Jesus had descended as low as a
man - to say nothing of God - could go.
But there was one more downward step, in heaven's eyes the
deepest descent of all: from sinless to sin stained.... Truly, He could
go no lower.
He knowingly and actively embraced a life of giving, serving,
losing, and dying.
What was, and is, really hard for Jesus' followers to swallow
is that we are called to do the same. To make ourselves nothing....
We must believe that as painful as it sometimes feels, descending
is the only way to greatness.... Jesus obeyed for the sake of
love.
And we, His followers and the recipients of His love, are
called to do the same. When asked about the two greatest commands,
Jesus replied: to love God and to love others. That is what motivated
Jesus, and that is what is to motivate us. (From Descending into
Greatness by Bill Hybels) [Inspirational SB]
ILLUSTRATIONS
Attitude Is Everything
Attitude makes all the difference in the world when it comes
to how happy and contented you are in life. What matters most is
not so much what actually happens to you, whether good or bad, but
how you respond to what happens to you. People with negative,
self-absorbed attitudes are often the losers in life. But people with
positive, outreaching attitudes are overcomers and winners, as the
following story shows.
A woman woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and
noticed she had only three hairs on her head. And while that might have
caused great consternation for most of us, this woman had an
interesting response.
"Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today." So she
did, and she had a wonderful day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror, and saw that
she had only two hairs on her head.
"Hmmm," she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle
today." So she did, and she had a grand day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror, and noticed
that she had only one hair left on her head.
"Well," she said, "today I'm going to wear my hair in a
ponytail." So she did, and she had a fun, fun day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror, and noticed
that there was not a single hair left on her head.
"Yay!" she exclaimed. "I don't have to fix my hair today!"
Attitude is everything!
O God, please help me to have the same attitude that your Son
had while he was on earth. I want to show the people around me that
my faith and confidence in you are strong by responding to lifes
bumps and bruises with a conquering, positive attitude. Amen. [The One
Year Devotional of Joy and Laughter by Mary Hollingsworth]
Taking Leave of His Senses
An old adage says, "Attitude is everything!" And that's a
fact. With the right attitude, mountains of trouble become molehills
easily spanned, and hysteria can become hilarity. Being positive and
upbeat makes life more enjoyable and less arduous, something to which
you can look forward. With the right attitude, relationships are
sweeter, work is not drudgery, and duty is handled with a smile.
The apostle Paul challenged us to have the same attitude that
Christ Jesus had - one of humility, sacrifice for others, and hope. Can
you imagine how good life would be if everyone had that kind of
attitude? Think of how that would change the hours and days of your life
as you interact with other people.
A certain American soldier, attached to one of the American
tank units fighting with the British in the Libyan campaign during
World War II, had been carried by the requirements of the service many
miles deep into the heart of the desert with his comrades. This
outpost at the front had been quiet for several days, so the soldier
found himself one afternoon with a few hours' leave, and he became
inventive.
It was with some surprise that his commanding officer spotted
the man striding purposefully across the desert sand clad only in
his green-striped swimming trunks and carrying a cooler and a
brightly colored beach towel.
"Murphy!" shoured the officer in some astonishment. "Where in
the world do you think you're going?"
"Why, sir," said the soldier, "I just thought while I had a
couple of hours off, I'd take a dip in the beautiful surf."
Are you crazy?" demanded the officer. "The ocean is five
hundred miles away from here!"
The soldier responded, "Beautiful big beach, isn't it?"
Lord Jesus, thank you for showing us the kind of attitude we
need to have to make our lives better. Help me to develop the same
attitude about life and living that you demonstrated when you were here
on earth. Amen. [The One Year Devotional of Joy and Laughter by
Mary Hollingsworth]
Humble Hero
New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera made his career
getting the hardest three outs in baseball - the last three. Rivera set
more than twenty-five pitching records, including becoming the
all-time saves leader. A pitcher earns a save by clinching a victory
after throwing at least one inning with his team ahead by no more than
three runs. In other words, every time Rivera stepped on the mound, it
was a pressure-packed situation.
Rivera notched his record 602nd save on September 19, 2011,
against the Minnesota Twins. After the game, instead of bragging about
his accomplishment, Rivera did what he'd always done - focused on
his teammates and God.
"The whole organization, my whole teammates have been a
pillar for me," Rivers told a Fox News reporter. "I always have to talk
about God, because that's the most important thing in my life. Yes,
there have been bumps in the road, but God gave me the strength."
Only twenty-one pitchers in the history of baseball have
tallied half the number of saves that Rivera has earned. When asked
during an ESPN radio interview if being called the greatest closer
embarrassed him, Mariano answered: "Yea, it does. It does make me
uncomfortable because I don't like to talk about myself. I just want to be
able to contribute as much as I can for the team. And the rest is
just blessings from the Lord."
Mariano Rivera's talent and humility made him one of the most
beloved baseball players of all time. Even his opponents respected him.
He played the game like he lived his life, according to Philippians
2:3-4: "In humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your
own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."
Jesus lived out those words, but to an even greater degree.
Nobody had more to brag about than Jesus Christ. But you never heard
him say, "Hey, check me out. I'm God's Son. I can walk on water."
Instead of demanding to be served on earth, he made himself a servant
and humbled himself on the cross to die for our sins.
Sometimes we might be tempted to brag if we ace a test, nail
a game-winning shot, or get the lead in a play. At those times,
remember Jesus' example and act humbly. [Case For Christ For Kids by Les
Strobel re Phi. 2:3, 4]
Broaden Your Horizen
Its natural to focus on yourself when you're trying to
make lifestyle changes. Yet part of growing to be like Jesus is
taking the focus off yourself and caring about others. The Bible says
to look to others' interests and not just your own.
Focusing on yourself and your health journey eventually
narrows your perspective. This can lead you to believe your challenges
are worse than anyone else's, which can lead to discouragement.
But when you broaden your horizon and pay attention to
others' needs, you find that everybody is struggling with something. You
see the progress others are making, and that gives you hope for your
own progress. You realize you're not alone, and neither are your
friends. When they face a fork in the road and need discernment, offering
them help is a great way to put their needs ahead of yours. And when
you selflessly work for their success, you gain encouragement from
their triumphs just as if they were your own.
If you help others get ahead, you find yourself celebrating
victories beyond what you could expect for yourself alone. [The Daniel
Plan 365-Day Devotional re Phi. 2:4]
Two Are Better
I was backing up my camper and had to turn it sharply to get
it into the space. I looked in the rearview mirror just in time to
see the toolbox, which I had just put on the bed of my truck,
tearing through the fiberglass on the front of the camper! My first
thought was "How dumb can I be?" There were men one hundred yards away
in our cabinet shop who would have been happy to help watch and
guide me as I backed up. But no! I got this, right?
God never meant for us to live our lives alone. Two are
always better than one because we can watch out for each other. That's
one of the reasons Celebrate Recovery works. We start looking out
for others rather than just focusing on ourselves. I'm always glad
to lend a hand when someone asks, so why is it so hard for me to
ask for help?
Fortunately, my mishap can be pretty easily fixed. It's just
a material thing. It's tougher when our messes involve other
people. Maybe we can all learn from my mistake to swallow our pride and
ask for help. It's the right thing to do.
Father, thank you for creating us with a need for you and for
each other. Help me to put my pride aside and ask for help when I
need it. In Jesus' name, Amen. [Celebrate Recovery Daily Devotional
by John & Johnny Baker re Phi. 2:3, 4]
Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.
Study the label on most insect and tick repellents these days
and you are sure to find DEET listed as an active ingredient. In use
now for more than 60 years, DEET is a light-yellow oil developed by
the United States Army to protect troops who have to spend time in
mosquito-infested tropical jungles. DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) appears at
various percentages in most commercial repellents because it works. You
put it on your skin or your clothes to keep mosquitoes and ticks
from biting and passing on one or more of the numerous serious
diseases that they transmit, such as malaria, yellow fever, encephalitis,
dengue fever, and West Nile virus. But how does DEET work? Finding the
answer to that question has been difficult.
Some studies suggested that DEET inhibits the mosquito's
ability to smell us. Other results seemed to show that mosquitoes simply
don't like the smell of DEET. Research indicates that the plume of
carbon dioxide emanating from an animal's body attracts the insects. If
you are outside in a mosquito-infested environment, you can watch
mosquitoes pick up the scent downwind of where you are standing, and they
simply follow the growing concentration of CO2 till they get dose
enough to land. The first studies suggested that DEET blocked the
ability of mosquitoes to detect CO2, but that doesn't seem to be the
case now.
In addition to CO2, several other volatile body-odor
chemicals boil off of our skin. They include 1-octen-3-ol, lactic acid,
and other compounds produced by sweat and skin bacteria. Mosquitoes
have lots of specialized chemical detectors on their antennae tuned
to these chemicals so that they can home in and get their next
blood meal.
The latest research by entomologists at the University of
California and University of Arizona working together have discovered
another chemical receptor, a short hairlike structure on mosquitoes'
antennae, that is extremely sensitive to DEET at very low levels and
signals more rapidly as DEET levels increase. Results from these careful
studies have ruled out the masking effect that DEET was thought to have
had. The report makes a good case that mosquitoes have the
neurological equipment to smell DEED and simply avoid it if possible.
Wouldn't it be nice to have an ample supply of sin DEET? With
that, sin would be both detectable and detestable. The good news is
that it exists. It is called the mind of Christ.
Lord Jesus, give me, I pray, a sharply tuned sin detector
(conscience). [God of Wonders by David Steen re 1 Cor. 10:14, NIV.]
CLOSING THOUGHTS
To have the mind of Christ we need to have a relationship with
Him " we need to abide in Him and He in us. John 15:5. Then we
need to grow in that relationship via prayer, Bible study and
service. As we behold Him in these ways (prayer, Bible study and service)
we become like Him. 2Co. 3:18. Remember service is spelled out in
Matthew 25:31-46.
He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD
require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with
your God. Micah 6:8
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2003/20030106-0646.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2017/20170518-2049.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo [old, but one of the best]
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Musical Devotional On Christian Living:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcotY5K7T0c
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Discover Bible Studies: http://studies.itiswritten.com/discover/
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: http://www.bibleresearch.info/
ABible.com: http://www.aBible.com
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug Batchelor:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK
Restoring The Power by John Bradshaw:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRogO1SxoZN15Boa7BMon4BouVMdteVaq
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
Last Day Prophecy: His Other Sheep by Pastor Gerald Babanezhad:
https://vimeo.com/162267518
