Philippians 2:1-30

Verse 1, If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

Verse 2, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

I. One goal - Matt. 28:19-20.

A. Church left its first love - Rev. 2:4.

1. Prophesied love shall wax cold - Matt. 24:12

2. Damnation for casting off first love to widows (Apply to church) - I Tim. 5:12.

B. Blessing to make calling and election sure - II Peter 1:10

II. Likeminded - Accomplishments of a likeminded church.

A. Acts 2.

B. In one accord - Acts 5:12-15.

C. Peter led by angel out of prison while church prayed - Acts 12:1-19. See verse 12.

D. Paul and Barnabas led of Church (by Holy Spirit) to do missionary work - Acts 13:1-4.

III. The first love is not the love of lost souls - Before a person can love lost souls, he must first love God.

Verse 3, Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves

I. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory.

A. Know nothing by ourselves - I Cor. 4:4.

B. Lose life, save it: save life, lose it -

II. Why esteem other more than self?

A. Spirit ready - flesh is weak - Mark 14:38.

B. Judge not and not stand in way of brother - Romans 14:13.

Verse 4,5, Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. {5} Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

I. As Christ looked on us - I Cor. 10:33

A. Christ - John 3:17.

B. Seek and Save that which was lost - Luke 19:10.

C. Do the will of Father, as a child, Jesus - Luke 2:49, John 6:38.

D. This is having the mind of Christ.

II. Verse 5-8, is like Heb. 2:7,9,14.

A. Jesus made to be flesh and blood, but not having nature (sin) of man.

1. This act was predetermined - Gen. 3:15.

B. Purpose of His coming.

1. Give glory to God - John 17:4.

2. Seek and save the lost - Matt 1:21, I Tim. 1:15.

3. Didn't come to set up His kingdom - Not to judge the world - John 12:47.

C. Jesus has now become:

1. Our savior - Ephesians 2:8,9.

2. Our friend - John 15:13,14.

3. Our mediator in prayer - Rom. 8:26,34. Heb. 9:13-15.

4. Our mediator in giving glory to God - I Peter 4:11.

5. The most holy (next to God) for his sacrifice - Rev. 5:11-14. (Corner stone)

6. Our judge - Isaiah 28:16,17 John 5:22,23 (judgment to son) II Tim. 4:1.

7. Our loving example - John 3:16. (Peter and High Priest servant's ear - John 18:11)

D. We must remember that God is still the principle subject to receive glory.

1. At Stephen's death - Acts 7:56.

2. Jesus gave glory to God - John 17 (all).

Verse 6, Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

I. Day of Lord - Thief in night - I Thess. 5:2, II Peter 3:10.

Verse 7, But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Verse 8, And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Verse 9, Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

I. God exalts those that do His will.

A. Jesus came to do God's will.

1. As a child - Luke 2:49.

2. In His ministry - John 6:38.

3. On the cross - Luke 22:42.

B. Jesus name is great.

1. Pharaoh knew who "I Am" was.

2. King Nebuchadnezzar knew the fourth man looked like the Son of God - Daniel 3:25.

Verse 10,11, That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; {11} And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

I. Every knee will bow.

A. Copying Christ.

1. King Nebuchadnezzar set up an image for the people to "fall down" to worship - Daniel 3:5.

2. During the tribulation, people will worship Beast - Rev. 13:4,8.

B. The saved will worship.

1. Disciples worshipped at Jesus feet - Matt 28:9.

2. Disciples worshipped after Jesus' Ascension - Luke 24:52.

3. Paul didn't glory save in the cross - Gal. 6:14.

C. The lost will worship.

1. Rich man worshipped Christ because he didn't gripe - Luke 16:19-31.

Verse 12, Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

I. II Tim. 4:5 - For preachers especially.

II. Romans 6:11-14 - For everyone, including preachers.

Verse 13, For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

I. Christ is in us (saved people) - Rom. 6:3-10.

II. Spirit of God dwells in us.

A. I Cor. 3:16.

B. II Tim. 1:14.

C. Old man gone - Romans 6:6.

D. There is one indwelling spirit - Matt. 6:24.

E. Spirit of God in us shows that we are saved - Romans 8:9,5.

F. Examples of indwelling spirit.

1. Comforter teaches us - John 14:26.

2. Holy Ghost teaches - I Cor. 2:13, I John 2:27

3. We will concentrate all our efforts to please Christ - II Tim. 2:4.

III. Will of God - Rom. 8:28.

IV. Baptism pictures that we are dead to sin and alive to Christ.

Verse 14, Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

I. Do all things is our reasonable service - Rom. 12:1,2.

II. Without murmurings and disputing - Be content.

A. Be patient as vessels of honor and dishonor - II Tim. 2:20-26.

B. Lowliness of mind, without strife - Phil 2:3.

Verse 15, That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

I. Blameless - As we should be upon the Lord's return - II Peter 3:14.

A. Harmless as doves - Matt. 10:16.

B. In an evil nation - Phil 2:21.

C. Children of light without rebuke - I Thess. 5:5,6.

Verse 16, Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

I. Paul wanted results from his work for Christ. Results are necessary:

A. Light shine - Matt. 5:13-16.

B. Bear fruit - John 15:8,16.

1. Get rewards - Ten talents - Matt. 25:14-30.

2. Compare with punishment - I Cor. 3:13-15.

Verse 17, Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

I. Because of

A. Romans 8:28.

B. Paul truly lost his life and found it - Matt 10:39.

C. Our all is our reasonable service - Romans 12:1.

1. To die is gain - Phil 1:21.

2. God gives us peace - Ps. 119:161-168.

3. We get peace from church attendance - Psalms 73.

{18} For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

Verse 19, But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.

I. Paul was concerned for their welfare (and the welfare of all churches) - II Cor. 11:28.

II. Christ was concerned for our welfare - He died for us.

III. Christ longs for us to be faithful - Matt. 23:37.

Verse 20, For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.

I. Naturally care.

A. Two natures.

1. Old nature is gone - Romans 6:6.

2. New man - Romans 6:9.

B. Helpers.

1. Moses and Aaron - Ex. 7:2.

2. Jonah - He had God.

3. Noah - Family and Methuselah.

Verse 21, For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.

I. Love wax cold - Matt 24:12.

Verse 22, But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.

Verse 23, Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.

Verse 24, But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.

Verse 25, Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.

Verse 26, For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.

Verse 27, For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

Verse 28, I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.

Verse 29, Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:

Verse 30, Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.