Mega Apostle or Servant

Mega Apostle or Servant (Phil 2:1-9)

Phil: 2:1 Paul is writing this letter because there was some disunity in the Philippian Church

• And that disunity seems to have centered around people thinking more of themselves than they should have.

Verse 2 If you are unified with Christ, if Christ has made a difference in your life.

• Then agree with each other. Be liked minded

• He is calling them to be unified in how they think. Then he goes on to call them to be unified in love.
• But if I have self-focused behavior, that grieves the Holy Spirit and we can’t be united.
• And if we can’t be united then we limit what God is able to do through the believers and the church.
• This is one the greatest limiting factors in the church’s effectiveness today.

Verse 3 Paul now gives specific commands against bad behavior.

• This bad behavior is what works against unity of spirit.
• Paul commands them not to have selfish ambition, Or selfish desires
• Then he commands them not to do something from vain conceit. Don’t try to impress others.
  • Don’t try to make a name for yourself. (mega apostle)
  • The Greek of the words used here as vain conceit mean “empty glory.” Our vanity is empty glory.
• Acts 2:43-45 might give us a glimpse of what is looks like to consider others better than themselves.
• But then look at the fruit in Acts 2. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
• We can’t miss the fact the “considering others better then themselves” and giving to each other generously was the seed bed for the awe and many signs and wonders.

Verse 4 Paul goes on to say we are to help each other. Look out for each other.

• This is a reinforcement and expansion of the last phrase of verse 3.

Verse 5 Paul now makes an incredible statement. He says our attitude or our thinking is to be the same as Christ Jesus.

• The Greek word translated here as attitude means mindset.
• This can only be done through the Holy Spirit.
  • We must allow the Spirit to come and transform our minds.

Verse 6 Paul now begins to talk about Jesus’ attitude.

• He does this to help us walk out the command to have the same thinking or mind set as Christ.
• Jesus did everything he did on earth in His humanity to show us what was possible for humans fully surrendered to God.
• So it was from His humanity that he laid down his God power. It was from His humanity that he emptied Himself of pride etc. He set the example for us. This is something we can do.
• Maybe every day, for the sake of unity and the Gospel, we empty ourselves of all our ambitions.
  • We lay down our titles and positions.

Verse 7 Jesus made Himself nothing, he humbled Himself

• From his humanity he laid down his god power.
• His God power was not something He had to hold on to.
• A very literal translation of this first phrase could be. “He emptied Himself.”
• The YLT translation picks up on this.

• His humbling Himself was over his entire life.
  • from being born in a manger, to being a homeless nomad, to the cross.
• Instead, He made Himself a servant.
  • The word servant used here can also be the word slave.
• But Paul is calling us to have the same attitude and mind set.

Verse 9 Because Jesus was willing to humble Himself through obedience, God the Father raised Him up.

• The same is possible for us.