Authentic Perfect Humility

Philippians 2:1-11

What does it mean to be a Christian? I think back to my own salvation experience. What did I think I was doing? What did it mean to me? What does it mean to us here?

The mission statement we have adopted at the church is to “Be a light in the community with the hope and love of Christ.”

Paul teaches in Philippians what it means to be a Christian. It is not a title you carry. It is who you are. Paul is not correcting false doctrine in the church of . He is teaching us that the Christian experience is not going on around the believer, but rather it is something going on within him. He states in :21, “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” The right Christian experience is living out, despite one’s circumstances, the life, nature, and mind of Christ.

Philippians 2:1-11

We speak a lot about what we are against and what we do not do. Christians at times have been accused of not knowing what they are for. I want to give you three things at this church that we are for. In fact, these three things encompass everything we are for. Everything we do, absolutely everything, flows from these three principles.

I. Love God More Matthew 22:36-38 NASB “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment.’” A. We are to love God with everything that we have and everything that we are. Nothing else matters to us except what God would have for us. In every situation, in every moment, what is God teaching me and/or asking me to teach others?

B. Anything that takes a higher priority than God in our lives is sinful. Luke 14:26 NASB If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.

Jesus is not actually saying we should hate our parents. Rather, like any good teacher, he is using a difficult to understand point to further explain the truth principle he is seeking. He next gives a metaphor for a man building a house that cannot see through what he started. Jesus is telling us that we must consider the cost of being his disciple.

Philippians 2:1-2 NLT Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from His love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose.

II. Love People More Matthew 22:39-40 “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

A. Loving others does not come naturally. Loving others takes practice and intentional effort. It is inseparable from the first point. The more we love God, the more we understand about who God is, the more we understand about what God did for us, then the more we will love other people.

B. Loving others is not optional. This is a command. It is not optional. If you are following God, you will love His children. The corollary is also true, if you do not love people, then you are not following God. I John 4:7-8 NASB Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Philippians 2:3-8 NLT Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don’t think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing. Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross.

Humility is a virtue that once you think you have it, you don’t. Stay humble by comparing yourself to the perfect standard. When compared to the holiness of God, it is easy to stay humble.

III. Love More People A. The Great Commission tells us that we are to go and make disciples. We are never to be satisfied with what/who we currently have.

How many of you love your neighbor as yourself?

Philippians tells us that God exalted Jesus so that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that he is Lord.

Do not invite your neighbor to church? Let me say that again. Do not invite your neighbor to church? Inviting someone to church is not discipling. Discipling is walking through life situations with that person, teaching, leading, and instructing all God has commanded. Proper discipleship takes time and effort. Instead invite them into your home. Share life with them. Invite them to a Life Group study.

2 Timothy 2:2 NASB The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these faithful to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Out of that discipleship, then invite them to attend church. Church is a celebration of believers corporately of what God has done in your lives this week.