Sermon Nuggets, Mon Sept 20- Christian Attitudes
Verses: Phil 2:1-11
Attitudes
I found the expression interesting when one lady said of another, “She has an attitude”. The first seemed snippy and almost like she was carrying a grudge. The second lady observed this attitude and defined the problem.
When we say someone has an attitude it usually means not a very good disposition. But we all have an attitude. Some days seem good and others not so good. Our attitudes towards our circumstances can affect others.
One day a man decided to conduct an experiment. He put a dog and a cat in a cage together. Initially there was a great struggle. Then they began to live peacefully together. Then he put in the cage a monkey, a tiger, and a bear. After an initial conflict they began to live peacefully together.
Then he put three Baptists in the cage. In a short time nothing was left living in the cage. We laugh, but unfortunately Christians often cannot seem to get along. It was true of Corinth, where Paul proclaimed, "I hear that there be divisions among you." In James’ letter he addressed a church saying, "from whence come wars and fighting among you?" And in our text today, Paul addresses an apparent problem of disunity in Phillippi.
There is a difference between the command to love one another, but when it comes down to individuals that is not so easy. Paul loved the church at Philippi. He wasn’t trying to show them important lessons- That circumstances should affect our happiness? None. For joy comes from the inside, not on the outside. He has imprisoned, he experienced rejection and suffering, but his main purpose of living for Christ and seeing people brought to faith and growing in the faith. So with the right purpose and the right power he was joyful even in prison for those goals were being met.
Paul is practical. He is aware that not everyone is getting along in the church. In chapter four he will talk about a couple ladies who are sparring. He knows it is not good. So he is setting now some principles for Christians in personal relationships that is good for us all to know. There is no greater blessing than people next to God and no greater pain that people.
Let me tell the more you will get involved in Stanchfield, or any church, I can pretty much guarantee two things will happen. You will be blessed as you know and work with some of the greatest people in the world. And secondly you will also get hurt sooner or later. Someone will say something, do something or no do something for which you can take offense if you wish.
Paul wanted the Philippians to look beyond the temporary and look to Jesus whose attitude and actions not only become our example, but our power.
I think Phil 2 shares some of the best words of the Scriptures and gives us focus to our daily lives.
Pastor Dale
Sermon nuggets Tues Sept 21 –
Verses-
Phil 2:1-5 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, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus
Recognize the PROBLEM.
The problem Paul will be addressing is an attitude that brings disunity in the church and among people. The problem is pride. It is that lack of humility. People’s pride gets hurt. People don’t think they are treated they way they deserve. People think others take advantage of them.
In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels, threatening him with her fist if he didn't. "What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?" asks Linus. "These five fingers," says Lucy. "Individually they're nothing but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold." "Which channel do you want?" asks Linus. Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, "Why can't you guys get organized like that?"
I don't want to let Lucy be our example of getting our way, but the unity of the fingers working together might be an illustration. God wants us to be organized to be a team. We think the same. We feel the same.
v3. "Do nothing out of selfish ambition." That's the problem with most relationships. Our egos so easily get hurt. When there is a difference of opinion people want their way done. I had a gym teacher that used to say, "There are three ways to do things- the right way, the wrong way and my way. In my class will do it the third way."
Some serve in the church in the name of Christ, but their motives are not directed to His glory but for themselves. Paul says such service produces "vain glory" or empty glory. In chapter one Paul even spoke of those who preached the gospel, not for Christ’s sake but to increase his suffering while he was in prison. When motives are selfish the chances of causing disunity increase tremendously. We must ask God to search our hearts and ask ourselves why we are doing what we are doing, why we are saying what we are saying. One day those hidden things will be revealed.
I remember one person in a former church we attended who was teaching a Sunday School class, but he did not have the gift of teaching. There were complaint and hoping someone else might take over the class or lose people from coming. How do you get someone out of a job they are willing and wanting to do? That can be touchy. You don't want to hurt the person's feelings. Maybe they'll take offense and never serve again. But you also want to encourage the Sunday School class and people aren't coming because they aren't really getting anything out of the class Sunday after Sunday.
Finally the leader approached and asked if he wouldn't consider a different responsibility in the church. He could have responded in conceit or vain glory, but he wasn't going to remain idle. He loved the Lord and wanted to serve God. So for him that meant there must be a job that no one else wanted, he would be willing to take. After praying about it, he sensed God leading him to personal visitation. He introduced himself to visitors in the church. He went to their home and shared Jesus Christ. He discovered his gift of evangelism! Wow.
Every week he called on people and many had come to a personal acceptance of the Lord. Many continued to come to the church because of his interest in calling on them and befriending them. He was far more effective visiting newcomers than teaching Sunday School. In his mind there was no place for hurt feelings or prima donna attitude.
Some people never take the consideration of others in mind. They are very selfish.
So we too often know the problem of people not getting along as Christians. More times than not it is the cause of selfishness, pride, and vainglory. That's a problem. That’s an attitude that sadly affects too many churches.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Weds Sept 22 -
Verses- Phil 2:1-5 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, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus
Recognize the PRICE for Peace
How do we solve the problem of pride? Well there is a price to pay if you are going to seek unity. It will cost something. In order to have harmony and peace among the fellowship you must consider others people before yourself. This doesn’t mean that we are to think that people are better than we are. It means we are to place their needs above our needs. When it comes down to a conflict between their needs and ours, we are to yield to God and seek to be the first to be used by God to promote peace and unity in our church and our homes.
Let's see how Paul presents this. Ask yourself if your encouragement comes from Christ or from something else. Why do you serve? To get compliments and glory from others? To meet a need in your life? To make you feel good? Or is it an encouragement that comes from Jesus and Him alone?
One person asked me why I have stayed at Stanchfield so long. I could have said because they are such wonderful people. I could have said because they pay me so well. I could have said because they gave me a lovely parsonage to live in. I could have said because I get some very nice letters and notes of encouragement and prayer. But although that helps with a wonderful relationship none of those reasons are why I am here so long. It is simply this: I believe it is God's will that I came here and I believe it is God's will that I am still here. And when it is God's will and purpose to move me, I will move. Period. Now if God leads the congregation to convince me it is time to leave I will listen and obey that as also part of God's leading. Now why did the Lord want me to stay now almost 26 years? I haven't a clue. But apparently my job isn't done yet, or he hasn't finished his preparation work on me yet. But the price for a peaceful relationship is often giving up some personal time for the sake of others. It involves study instead of pleasurable activities. It involves boundaries or there would be burnout, but I have chosen to not demand rights and privileges but agree with leadership even if our decisions do not agree at times. It is to give up my wants to the fellowship of believers under the authority of Jesus Christ.
Now it is easy to work when people are supportive and encouraging and it is hard to work when you are criticized and there seems to be disunity. Yes there has been criticism and times I wanted to quit. There have been times I wanted to respond in revenge to an unkind word. Christ who when reviled, reviled not again. I definitely need his help in this area.
Secondly I need to find comfort from His love. You see, we are not called just to be tolerant of other believers. The world can be tolerant. We are called to love other believers in spite of their sin, in spite of their flaws. The only way we can try to do this is to recognize we have received unconditional love. I know what it means to be loved by God when I have not acted like I should. Can't I try to treat others the way I have been treated by the Lord? I don’t always do that, but it is a goal for Christian unity and peace. It is a price to be paid for greater glory to God.
Then there is a third consideration- Fellowship of the Spirit. Fellowship means sharing or having in Common. What Paul is asking is, "do you have a kinship with other believers that comes from being indwelt by the same Spirit?" The bond of the Holy Spirit goes beyond all other ties.
Think about this. You claim to have the Holy Spirit in your heart. The person you are frustrated with is also God’s child and has the Holy Spirit in his or her heart; for that reason you need to work harder in establishing peace because you have the ingredients that it takes if you really are willing. All believers possess these things. Unfortunately all do not walk in them. Where do you lack? Ask the Lord to reveal it to you and help you in that area.
Paul mentions a fourth thing. “For my sake, as your pastor and leader make me happy by getting along under the leadership of Christ.” Paul had the respect and admiration of the people and could ask them to seek peace as a favor to him and his joy.
The price for peace is submitting our spirits under the authority of Christ and for the good of the whole church. That is giving up your rights you might say.
Leonard Bernstein, the late conductor of the New York Philharmonic orchestra, was once asked to name the most difficult instrument to play. Without hesitation, he replied, "The second fiddle. I can get plenty of first violinists, but to find someone who can play the second fiddle with enthusiasm - that's a problem. And if we have no second fiddle, we have no harmony."
John 13:35 says, “They will know that you are my disciples by our love. There is bitterness and resentments that need to be turned over to the Lord and give and receive forgiveness as you have received forgiveness from our Lord.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Thur Sept 23 Pattern
Verses-
Phil 2:6-8 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. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!
Recognize the PATTERN for humility
These next verses are some of my favorite. Commentators suggest that this was an early hymn that was sung by the church. It certainly follows a poetic pattern, but the meaning is rich and full. Christ is our pattern for humility. Not the low self-esteem, everyone walks all over you, but rather the spirit of referring all things to the Father who is in heaven.
Jesus who being the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped. We are talking about the difference between roles and responsibilities versus nature. He was God. But he was willing to take a different role and different responsibility. There are two words for formed, “Morphe” and schema” Morphe or form refers not to the outward appearance but the essence of being. This never changes.
A rose for instance might have the form. The flower begins as a seed, and when it is put into the ground it takes difference shapes. It soon becomes a sprout, a bud and blooming flower, or wilting one. But through those various changes it remains the same essence. It may not look the same but it is still a rose.
A person may have lots of outward changes going on. He begins as a fertilized egg and cells begin to form and divide. The essence is human but soon the fetus takes shape, a baby is born. The outward form changes from infant to toddler. The body grows more in proportion to head. Then puberty changes from child to young adult and adult. Unfortunately my body is still changing. I am getting older and it shows. But even in senior years when no teeth, no hair, no hearing, no eyesight there is still the essence of human.
Jesus was the form or essence of god. Deity never changes. But He didn’t consider equality with God something to be grasped. He is God he didn’t have to grasp it in nature. This also relates to the attitude in Christ that was contrasted with the attitude that was in Adam. In Genesis 3 what was the very sin that he and Eve committed? It wasn't just taking the forbidden fruit, though that would have been enough, it was also the desire to be equal with God. Jesus, when called upon, even though it was rightfully his, still gave his rights to God and submitted himself under the authority of the Father God. His divinity did not change but he humbly took a new role. He gave up the exalted position by emptying himself or pouring himself out to come to us and take the role of a servant.
Ish 14 helps us also contrast his attitude with that of Satan. This passage talks about Lucifer and the different spirit he had. For Satan, you see, it was not thy will, but my will be done. Jesus said it the other way around. Satan was a creature and wanted to be the creator. Jesus was the creator and willing to become as one of the creatures.
The word for human form or likeness was the other word used v. 7”shema”. This talks about the outward changes. In other words the servants form is giving and helping and obeying. That is the role or task that Jesus was willing to take out of love for the Father. He was willing to give up his rights and his position of honor to bring to us an example of how to live, and then purchases our salvation by going to the cross and dying a horrible death. This form however changes. Humanness, though very real, was also very temporary thing for Jesus. As a man he was limited. He could no longer be every where at once, He was limited for now in his body he got tired and needed rest. He was limited for he could only do the work as one man. He was limited for he was tempted like never before. He was limited for now he was afflicted with bodily pain and experienced suffering. He now was rejected and beaten and bruised and bloodied. The Bible says that for our sakes became poor, He humbled himself and took the role and form of a servant.
Jesus went from God to man, from creator to creature, from king and ruler of the universe to a carpenter in Nazareth. Jesus went from fellowship with the Father, The Holy Spirit, and the Heavenly hosts of angels to friendship with prostitutes, thieves, lepers, and outcasts, from all the glory of heavenly splendor to the poverty of this world, from creator of the universe to being despised by his own creation. Jesus went from a heavenly mansion to a filthy manger in Bethlehem, from the comforts of glory to the cruel cross of Calvary. Jesus went from the throne to the cross, where instead of hearing, "This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.", to saying "My God My God why hast thou forsaken me?". He went from the very embodiment of righteousness to sin itself, from the very giver and sustainer of life to death. This he did to meet our needs. He looked not on his own things but on our things. Let this illustration of meekness fill your mind and your heart. Let this mind be in you which is also in Christ Jesus. He is our illustration, our inspiration, and he must be our strength.
He was obedient to even death on a cross. There was no limit to the humility that Christ was willing to take for our salvation. Now that is quite some pattern to follow. None of us can do what Christ did, but we can have the servant attitude. We can be children of the most high God, who humbly and obediently offer ourselves as servants unto the Lord and if he asks us to do more than our part for peace, just do it and leave the rest of the record keeping to Him. He does a better job of eventually making things right.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Fri Sept 24 – Prize
Verses- Phil 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.
Recognize the PRIZE
God does make things right. Now we see the rulership of Christ which He deserves. It is grand and glorious. There is the exaltation of Jesus as Lord over all. Therefore God exalted him and gave Him a name that is above every name. He gave him the highest position. It is all worth it now, for you see, the prize far outweighs the price.
Jesus is exalted and given a name. What is that name? The name Lord. Master, worshipped and praised and glorified by every creature, in and on and under and above the earth. Ultimately there will be a time when all knees will bow in humble submission and all of creatures in heaven and earth will confess the truth that Jesus is Lord. Those who humiliated him and bruised him and killed him and those who rebuked him and spat upon him. They will see that Jesus is Lord. But also those in the 21st century Jesus will be seen in that holy way. There is no other prophet that gives any others message. There is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved. All people will come to realize that.
Does that mean all will come to Christ? No. What it means is on that day there will be two groups kneeling before Christ. One group kneeling in worship and praise for Jesus has overcome. There will be those of us who have said in our hearts, “Jesus I make you my Lord and my savior. I have followed you and served you." And those of us in that group will also be exalted and lifted up. That invitation is open to you, but it involves giving up control and the personal rights that we want to hold so disparately. It means that we too must take on the form the essence of a servant willing to give ourselves to first him and then to others just as he did. He will look up to us and say, “Well done though good and faithful servant!” Oh how I hope that is the group you will be in.
There is another group. They fall on their knees not willingly, but out of compulsion for they have been defeated. A victorious king would have those captured bow before him. That is the picture Paul uses. Satan and all his demonic forces and the majority of the world who have rejected Jesus will now see that he has won the battle and conquered it though the cross. Jesus is alive and reigning as king. They will be forced to admit they were wrong and Jesus is the champion. They will realize based on whatever revelation they had received they rejected the grace of God. They will see it is just. Oh I hope you are not in that group.
Christ received the prize. But Paul wants us to know that it will be worth it for us who follow the Lord, even when we feel we give up too much for the sake of the Lord, even if it means peace with those we don't get along with. For us the price though hard is also worth the prize that God has prepared for each one of us. Certainly we can think of salvation illustrated by the parable of the pearl of great price. A man sees this valuable jewel worth far more than he possesses, but he gives all he has in order to buy it and receives so much more than he possible could give.
So what God offers us is far greater than anything we can give to him. The prize is worth it. But likewise the price for unity makes the prize of unity now and forever worth it as well. The forgiveness granted, the humility experienced, the giving of our rights to God will provide for us reward and blessing now and eventually that we could not experience any other way. It is worth it.
The prize is ours forever. In your relationship Paul points us to the attitude of Jesus Christ. Lets recognize the problem is pride, the Price for unity is humility for peace among Christian brothers and sisters. Let's recognize the pattern we are to follow is none other than Jesus Christ who knows all we are to go through. And the prize is the reward that God has for us as we will reign with him I glory. It will be worth it all.
So have this mind and attitude that is Christ like which is not possible unless we give him over the rights of our lives and set those rights also before the cross.
Pastor Dale
