Do You Have The Mind Of Christ?

THE MIND OF CHRIST 

Phil 2:1-5 

Paul opens Chapter 2 with a variation of a conditional sentence, which the Lord uses throughout the bible Normally the sentence starts with an “if” Followed sometime after with a then. 

Php 2:1 (KJV) If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 

In this passage the “then” is understood You could add that word and it would not affect the sentence at all 

Php 2:2 (KJV) Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 

We know that the statements made in vs one are true statements 

There is consolation in Christ, there is comfort of love, there is fellowship of the Spirit there are bowels and mercies 

Because these things are so fulfill ye my joy then he gives a list of his desires for them 

Php 2:2-4 (KJV) Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 

Modern Christianity will claim this as a rallying cry for unity among all who call themselves Christians in a spirit of love 

Not realizing that the basis of fellowship and unity is primarily doctrine not an emotional feeling 

Paul is writing this to a persecuted church who is being afflicted. These people are doctrinally aligned with Paul there is already a unity there. 

But as is the case with most people when affliction, persecution suffering are experienced most people will tend to look inward instead of outward. Stresses build tensions rise and people look inward to try to manage and survive 

People today are no different than people back then. And Paul is admonishing and exhorting the Philippians instead of looking inward look outward to others 

We all need the love and support of each other to make it through Not just those that are sick and dying and hurting 

But the love and support amongst brethren to stay strong in the faith and not give up and drop out because of the pressures the world places upon us Those pressures are very real today 

that is why the vs in Heb is so important today 

Heb 10:25 (KJV) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 

The closer the Rap is, the more we will need each other 

Php 2:5 (KJV) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: let this mind set be in you 

We want to know the mind of Christ Paul gives it to us as an Illustration of the mind of 

Christ through Jesus himself

Which in a nut shell, the lowest common denominator is Ministry 

Mt 20:25-28 (KJV) But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. 

Caring for the needs of others, more than your own or elevated to positions of prominence 

Read 6-11 

Something we should notice from the beginning is that the God of the Universe took on the form of a man He became man and dwelt among us 

So to be clear Jesus Christ had a dual nature The nature of God & the nature of man 

And it should be noted that Each of us who are saved, have a dual nature similar to Jesus Christ
 The moment we trusted Christ as our Savior we took on the Devine nature Paul calls them the Old man and the New man 

The first thing I want you to see about Christ’s dual nature is that He made himself of No reputation 

For the most part he laid aside his Devine nature He was selfless Contrary to his real nature 

not seeking his own comforts or demanding that people acknowledge him as deity
 Remember he told people to not let him be know 

He wasn’t as some preachers seeking the amens to validate their preaching or the singer desiring the applause to stroke their ego 

He wanted to minister to the needs of others No recognition He made himself of no reputation 

We as Children of God, following the mind of Christ need to lay aside one of our natures The old man which is contrary to our nature 

To follow the Spirit instead of our flesh 

Everyone knows Isaac Newton His discoveries were immense and set the stage for science in astronomical studies 

The world would have never know Newton if it hadn’t been for Edmund Halley. He challenged Newton in critical thinking, corrected his mathematical errors, prepared geometric figures to support his discoveries. Encouraged Newton to publish his great work “Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy” Financed the book for him
 Halley was content to have Newton receive the attention 

He did get just a little recognition by predicting the orbit and return of a comet named in his honor 

others of Halley’s mold would be John the Baptist Barnabas 

The Second thing in that passage is Jesus took on him the form of a servant 

He lived his life for the benefit of others Sought their needs before his own Jesus lowered himself to wash the feet of his disciples as an example of what they should do for each other Not wash feet but serve one another 

It is about ministry You don’t have to be a minister to minister 4 

Many people in churches today are takers always wanting something never giving to other 

Everyone in our churches should strive to be givers Contribute to the church find some way to minister to others 

The third thing is found in vs 8
 Php 2:8 (KJV) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled 

himself,
 In order to put others ahead of yourself you must humble yourself 

elevating them and acknowledging them and preferring them above yourself 

Ro 12:10 (KJV) Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 

We are so quick to find fault with others It almost becomes 2nd nature to put ourselves above other (Let each esteem other better than....) 

George Whitefield was careful not to have any harsh words for John Wesley with whom he disagreed doctrinally in some issues 

When asked what he thought of Bro Wesley, and whether he would see him in heaven, he replied, “I fear not, for he will be so near the eternal throne and we at such a distance, we shall hardly get sight of him.” 

The Fourth thing is Jesus Christ lived his life to be a sacrifice
 Php 2:8 (KJV) and became obedient unto death, even the death of 

the cross. 

Mt 20:28 (KJV) Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. 

This was his ministry to become our sacrifice, to bear our sins to make a way for restored fellowship with the father
 To have the mind of Christ we also are called upon to sacrifice 

Ro 12:1 (KJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 

Paul set that example for you and I 

Php 2:17 (KJV) Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. 

Paul willingly sacrificed himself by ministering to them the gospel and to teach them the right attitude of ministry, enduring the repercussions that befell him Imprisonment the stripes and all 

The Fifth and final thing the grand reward for faithful ministry The Father rewarded the Son for Making himself of no Reputation 

taking on the life of a Servant, Humbling Himself, Giving a Sacrifice 

Php 2:9-11 (KJV) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 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. 

There is reward for us who willingly live this life of the Mind of Christ 

People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa. Can that be called a sacrifice which is simply acknowledging a great debt we owe to our God, which we can never repay? Is that a sacrifice which brings its own reward in healthful activity, the consciousness of doing good, peace of mind, and a bright hope of a glorious destiny? It is emphatically no sacrifice. Rather it is a privilege. Anxiety, sickness, suffering, danger, foregoing the common conveniences of this life--these may make us pause, and cause the spirit to waver, and the soul to sink; but let this only be for a moment. All these are nothing compared with the glory which shall later be revealed in and through us. I never made a sacrifice. Of this we ought not to talk, when we remember the great sacrifice which He made who left His Father's throne on high to give Himself for us. 

David Livingstone.