“The Self-less Mind”

Text: Philippians 2:3-11

Intro:

1. The selfishness of Jonah (Jonah 1-4).

2. In Philippians 2:3-11 God tells us that the way to selflessness is by putting others interests before your own.

3. Philippi was a city and church that had some serious problems with selfishness:

A. Philippi was a city that would rather make a profit than see a woman healed of an unclean spirit.

B. It was a city where Roman tradition was more important than the law of God (Acts 16;20ff).

C. There were some in the church that were preaching the gospel for selfish motives (Phil. 1:15-16).

D. It was a church were selfishness caused complaining and grumbling (Phil. 2:14).

E. The church even had two selfish women (Phil 4:2-3).

4. The Bible clearly teaches that selfishness is a sinful attitude (Rom 12:10; 15:2-3; James 3:14-16; Mk 12:31, Matt 7:12).

5. In Philippians 2:5-11 Paul gives Christians 4 characteristics of the selfless mind and the reward that comes from being unselfish.

I. Possess the Selfless Mind of Christ (Vs. 5).

A. The Selfless Surgeon (Mk 2:17, Heb 2:14—Jesus is the surgeon who died for his patients. Have you ever known a Dr. to die in the place of their patients? Jesus did! He is such a selfless surgeon, a great physician, that he was willing to take our disease upon Himself—I Pet 2:24).

B. While you and I may never be able to take the sin of others upon ourselves, we can remove the stain of sin with the Lord’s gospel (Heb 4:12, Eph 6:17, James 5:19-20).

C. The Selfless Sacrifice (Heb 9:26; 10:12, 9:22).

D. There are things in life that you and I are told to sacrifice:

1. Ourself (Rom 12:1-2, Gal 2:20, Lk 9:23).

2. Our Money (I Cor 16:1, Lk 6:38).

E. The Selfless Savior (Lk 19:10; Heb 7:25; 2 Tim 1:9-10).

F. You and I must make it our goal to save others—MK 16:15, Matt 9:37-38, Mk 1:17).

G. The Selfless Servant (Mk 10:45).

H. There are certain things that the Christian should be a servant of in life:

1. God—we are God’s children, his mouthpiece and his example to the world.

2. Righteousness—(Rom 6:17-18).

II. Empty Self (Vs. 6-7).

A. In this text Paul tells us 3 ways in which Jesus emptied himself:

· By the term “gave up”, we do not mean that Jesus no longer had these privileges and abilities, but that he gave them up to the control and directive use of the Father (John 5:19, 6:38, 8:28).

1. He gave up His eternal Identity (Col 2:9, Gen 1:26, Jn 1:14, Matt 1:23).

2. He gave up His eteranal Divinity (Jn 1:1-4, 20:28, 14:8, 10:30).

3. He emptied Himself:

a. Of His Heavenly Home (2 Cor. 8:9).

b. Of His eternal relationship with the Father.

c. Into a human body.

B. We must also empty ourselves of certain things:

1. Pride and Arrogance (Prov 6:15-17, 16:18, I Pet 5:5, Prov 16:5, I Jn 2:15-16).

A. Some people become prideful because of their professional status in life (i.e., lawyer, doctor,etc.—Matt 5:5).

B. Often times our financial status will not allow us to treat the poor and down trodden as God would want us to (James 2:1ff, Prov 17:5, 14:31).

C. Our Social Status in life could also cause us not to associate with the poor or lonely (esp. prevalent in school).

2. Selfishness:

A. Too selfish to help the needy (James 1:27).

B. Too selfish to help the brethren (Gal 6:10).

C. Too selfish to help the lost (Matt 28:18).

III. Become a Bond-Servant (Vs. 7).

A. A bondservant gives up his own life for the Masters use (Phil 1:21, 2 Cor 5:14-15).

B. A bondservant is devoted fully to the Master (Lk 9:23, I Cor 15:31, Rev 2:10)

C. A bondservant is under the Masters authority (Col 3:17, Matt 20:28, Jn 12:48, 2 Tim 3:16-17).

D. A bondservant loves his Master (Jn 14:15, Mk 12:30, Jn 15:14).

IV. Humble Self (Vs. 8).

A. In this text Paul portrays the humility of Christ in two ways:

1. Obedience (Jn 6:38, Matt 26:39).

2. Even to the point of death on a Cross!!! (Rev 2:10).

a. Jesus died a criminals death for a world of law breakers (Deut 21:22-23, Gal 3:13).

B. The Bible demands that Xians be humble:

1. That means be obedient—(Matt 7:21, Lk 6:46, Heb 5:8-9, Rev 22:14, James 1:22, I Sam 15:22).

IV. Humility & Selflessnes are rewarded (Vs. 9-11).

A. Because of X’ humility He was and will be exalted

1. He was given a place of exaltation (Heb 1:3, Ps. 110:1, Acts 2:33).

2. An exalted name—Savior.

3. The Great Recognition—Acts 2:36

4. The Great Confession.

B. If we live humble, selfless lives, we can receive a reward.

1. A place of exaltation—Rev 21:1, Phil 3:20-21

2. There will be a recognition by the world of our righteousness.