Worthy Citizens Serving a Worthy King

Good morning, I'm Natalie and this morning we're going to be reading from Philippians chapter 1 verse 27 to chapter 2 verse 11.

Philippians 1:27

!

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you, that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, striving for you.

You are not going side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents.

This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.

For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ, you should not only believe in him, but also suffer for his sake.

Engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the spirit, any affection and sympathy,

complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God,

did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing,

taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men,

and being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,

even death on a cross.

Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

so 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.

Good morning, everyone. Welcome if you're visiting. It's wonderful to have you here.

My name is Martin, and it's my privilege to be sharing, speaking from God's word for us this morning.

Microphone is being adjusted. I'm not as tall as Alex.

Now, at the Louvre in Paris, the most famous painting is the Mona Lisa.

Has anyone been to see it?

Yeah? A few have. I haven't. I've never been to Paris.

But I'm told, I understand it from looking at photos, that the Mona Lisa,

it's displayed in its own climate-controlled case,

behind 600 kilograms of bulletproof glass,

and it's hung on a spacious dark blue panel,

within which, on that panel, if you look at it from a distance,

the Mona Lisa itself is, you know, approximately looks like the size of a postage stamp

relative to the panel as a whole.

Now, in the room that the Mona Lisa is currently housed in,

there are many other paintings hung on other walls,

close together, around the gallery.

But the Mona Lisa stands...

It's alone, on its own, on this single panel.

And, in fact, plans are underway,

and a renovation has begun to move the Mona Lisa

to a room of its very own,

which they hope to do by 2030.

You see, when it comes to a painting of that significance

and that level of beauty, such a masterpiece,

it's best viewed on its own,

uncluttered by any distraction or adornment

or, you know, other paintings that might attract your eye,

but there it is on its own,

in this vast blue space around it.

The curators recognise that this great work of art

is best viewed just by itself.

And the Bible passage before us today

feels, to me, a little bit like the biblical equivalent.

What we have in Philippians chapter 2,

Philippians 2 · chapter mention

the first half of Philippians chapter 2,

Philippians 2 · chapter mention

is a text of such grandeur and profundity

that I am a bit reticent to add any of my own commentary to it.

I wonder whether the best thing I might do

would be just to read the passage again

and then stand here in silence for 30 minutes

as the word of God just hangs in the air.

About 30 years ago, when my dad, who's not a believer,

he was remarrying,

he invited me to read a Bible passage at his wedding ceremony

and there wasn't going to be any sermon or anything like that.

There was just, he invited me to do a Bible reading

and this is the passage I chose,

Philippians chapter 2, verses 1 to 11,

Philippians 2:1–11

a passage which stood alone.

I've been preaching sermons in churches

for around about the same period,

around about the past 30 years,

just about my entire adult life.

I've preached many times, or multiple times,

rather from Philippians chapter 1 and Philippians chapter 3.

Philippians 1 · chapter mention Philippians 3 · chapter mention

As far as I can remember,

and judging from the notes on my computer,

I've never actually preached on this passage.

As we come to Philippians chapter 2,

Philippians 2 · chapter mention

we really are standing on holy ground.

And yet there's also, I could say,

I could think of no better way to launch 2026

than with precisely this text.

So why don't we pray again and ask for God's help

as we come to meditate on it.

Let's pray.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for our Lord and Saviour,

Jesus Christ.

And we thank you for the scriptures which testify to him.

We thank you for this passage that we come to consider now

at the start of a new year.

I ask please that you would guide me,

that the words of my lips would be pleasing to you.

And Father, please guide the meditation of all our hearts,

that we might honour Christ and emulate him.

And we ask this in his name.

Amen.

Well, the passage before us,

we're actually looking at chapter 1,

Philippians chapter 1, verse 27,

Philippians 1:27

to chapter 2, verse 11.

And in the Greek text,

this passage consists of just four sentences,

which are the four sections I've divided this talk into.

The first two sections contain exhortations to us.

The third and fourth sections are about Jesus,

focus our attention on Jesus Christ,

who is the basis of the exhortations given in the first two sections.

And also,

as we come to that second half of this talk,

I would say this suggests the central passage of this entire epistle.

So let's start with the first two sections,

Paul's exhortations to us.

I've given the first half of this talk the title,

Worthy Citizens,

because of the first part of verse 27.

It would be great if you could have your Bibles open in some form,

so you could follow along with me.

We'll be looking closely at the text.

Chapter 1, Philippians 1, verse 27,

Philippians 1:27

only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.

Now, grammatically,

this is the main clause of that sentence that runs from verse 27 to verse 30.

But thematically,

I think it hovers over the whole first half of our passage,

up to chapter 2, verse 4, at least.

The first few verses of chapter 2

are just as much about having a worthy life,

a life that's worthy of the gospel of Christ,

as the last few verses of chapter 1.

So taken together,

these two sections,

these two sentences,

show us what it looks like

to have a worthy life

as we face out towards the world

and as we face in toward one another in church.

So let's think about that opening exhortation

and then we'll think about the two spheres

within which we must apply it,

within the world and within the church.

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.

The first word there,

only is there for emphasis.

NIV translates that as whatever happens.

Paul had just announced his hopes

that he would be released from prison.

He's in chains in Rome.

He'd announced his hopes that he would be released

so that he would be able to come and see the Philippians again.

But Paul says,

whatever happens,

that is whether I come and see you

or whether I remain absent,

whatever happens with Paul

and whatever happens to Paul,

Paul says,

The key verb there is significant.

It can have a general meaning,

which is how the ESV translates it.

Let your manner of life.

That's the verb.

That's how it's translated.

Let your manner of life.

But usually in verses

like where Paul is expressing that idea in his epistles,

he'll use a different verb,

which literally means to walk.

Like walk worthily of the gospel of Christ

or something like that.

But here only,

in all of Paul's epistles,

he uses a different verb

that can have a very specific meaning

and that meaning is to live as citizens.

To live as citizens.

It's related to a family of words

that includes the word

that Paul will go on to use

in chapter 3, verse 20 of this epistle,

where Paul says,

Our citizenship is in heaven.

It's actually the family of Greek words

from which we get in English

our word politics.

So we could translate the first part

of verse 27 this way,

Only live as citizens

worthy of the gospel of Christ.

Live as citizens worthy of the gospel of Christ.

Philippi, this city,

was a wealthy and strategic town in Macedonia.

The Emperor Augustus,

in the first century BC,

after a victory there,

he had settled veteran soldiers

in Philippi

and made it a Roman colony.

And as a Roman colony,

its members were Roman citizens.

So they had all the rights

and all the privileges

associated with Roman citizenship

and along with that,

the loyalty that was expected

to the Roman emperor.

But the believers in Philippi

had a higher citizenship.

They had a higher allegiance.

They were citizens of heaven.

The gospel they had received

declared not that Caesar was Lord,

but that Jesus is Lord,

that Jesus is the world's rightful ruler,

that Jesus is the Christ,

the Messiah.

He's the promised king

over God's everlasting kingdom.

And Paul calls on these believers,

no matter what happens,

to live according to that citizenship,

to live worthily of the gospel of Christ,

the declaration that Jesus is king and Lord.

And then Paul expands on what that entails.

So first in verses 27 to 30,

in terms of how they as the church

face outward toward the world.

And then, as I said,

in chapter 2, verses 1 to 4,

as they as church relate

with one another together.

And notice for each of these exhortations,

notice how emotionally invested

Paul is in the Philippians

and how they're doing.

Verse 27, he says,

so that I may hear of you.

He wants to hear about them,

that they're doing well.

Chapter 2, verse 2, he says,

complete my joy.

Paul is emotionally invested

in how the Philippians are going.

He longs to hear that they're doing well

in precisely these two areas of life.

So firstly, let's think about the Philippians,

the church facing out.

To live as citizens,

worthy of the gospel of Christ,

as we face outward toward the world,

involves three things.

The three things Paul lists in verse 27 and 28.

standing firm in one spirit.

It says that I may hear that you are one.

Standing firm in one spirit.

Two, with one mind striving side by side

for the faith of the gospel.

Three, not frightened in anything by your opponents.

Standing firm in one spirit means that we are united.

And what unites us is the gospel of Christ.

It means we are clear on the gospel message

that Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour.

He died for our sins and rose again.

We are saved by grace.

We are counted righteous by faith in Christ.

Jesus is Lord and he will come again

to bring justice and life and a new creation.

To stand firm in one spirit means we are united.

United on the central truths of the gospel.

Some of you will know I've been working with AFES,

the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students,

the past 19 years.

And during that whole time,

we've had the same national director,

a man by the name of Richard Chin.

He was national director for 23 years.

He's actually just stepped down as national director.

And there's a new one, Pete Sorensen.

But Richard Chin, the whole time I've been working,

he's been the national director.

And the most important thing Richard Chin did

throughout his entire time as national director

was to keep preaching the gospel,

to keep the AFES centered on Jesus.

Whenever Richard stood up to speak,

whether it was at our annual staff conference

with a couple of hundred staff from around the country

gathered together,

or whether it was at national training event

with 2,000 plus students gathered in Canberra,

whenever Richard stood up to preach,

you knew he was going to preach Jesus Christ.

That was his message.

We had a national fellowship with a growing number of staff,

with 60 plus staff teams around the country,

with more university campuses,

complex challenges,

diverse personalities,

differing views on various things,

and yet enabled in God's grace to stand firm in one spirit

because we were united around what mattered most,

that is the gospel of Christ.

And that's what we need too,

if we're to stand firm in one spirit.

In our Sunday services,

in small groups,

in our kids and youth ministry,

and in our own hearts,

we need to keep preaching what is central,

Jesus Christ.

But it's not just enough that we stand firm in one spirit,

that's the first of three things.

Secondly,

we also must strive side by side for the faith of the gospel.

The gospel is a message.

It's an announcement.

It's good news.

And it must be declared.

It must be proclaimed.

Paul calls us to united,

collective action in contending for the gospel of Christ.

Paul calls us to gospel teamworth.

God calls us to gospel teamwork.

And not just striving,

contending for the gospel,

but striving for the faith of the gospel.

Our goal is not just that we proclaim it,

but that people believe it,

that people come to trust in their saviour.

The Philippians as a church were called to this,

and we as a church are called to this.

Now,

hasn't it been wonderful over the past few years,

if you've been part of this church in that time,

hasn't it been wonderful to see all the gospel teamwork

that has gone into our Christmas carols nights?

To see friends and family members and people from around our community

come and hear the good news

as we strive together for the faith of the gospel.

What a joy that's been.

I've been reflecting recently on how the Lord has blessed us as a church,

of how well the Lord has resourced us as a church.

I mean,

there's the richness of being part of an intergenerational church

with all ages present,

because that means no matter who walks through these doors,

they can look around and think,

there's a place for me here.

And beyond that,

there are so many gifted people in this church

with all kinds of diverse gifts

that Christ gives to his body.

Just think of all the school teachers we have here

who are gifted at teaching children

and youth and young people.

Think about the people in this church

who are administratively able,

who can manage the church affairs

and the church finances.

There are numerous people able to teach God's word

in small groups,

preaching to youth.

Dave is going to go on paternity leave

sometime in March.

I don't start working here till April,

formally.

And I was chatting with Dave about,

what are you going to do for preaching?

in March.

And he said,

oh, that's fine.

We've got plenty of guys who can preach.

And that's true.

God has blessed this church abundantly.

There are people with trade

and technical skills of various kinds

who can fix the church floor

when it caves in.

There are people who excel at serving others,

at just looking out for the personal needs of others

and meeting those needs.

People who pray at home behind closed doors

when only God sees.

And stacks of musicians,

and all of this God has given for our common good

so we can serve one another in love.

And he's also given it so that we can strive side by side

for the faith of the gospel.

Even think about where God has placed this church geographically.

Like, we literally are at a crossroads.

We're amidst some of the growth corridors of Newcastle,

with new housing developments going into the north,

to the west, to the south.

ones that have been built,

others that are planned.

I mean, God has placed us

where we can reach people with the gospel.

We've got Paul with us from Hamilton South,

who I reckon once every couple of months,

he comes up to me and says,

is there anyone who can come and help me evangelise my community?

Begging for others to come and strive side by side with him.

And people around us are searching and questioning.

More and more people in our society are reeling

from the emptiness and moral confusion of this secular age.

They have nothing to grasp a hold of,

no firm ground to stand on.

They are reaching.

People are ready to walk into church

looking for something that is true and good and meaningful.

What more could we ask for?

As a church, we have everything we need

to strive side by side for the faith of the gospel,

to bring Christ to the people he came to save.

But if we're serious about striving side by side

for the faith of the gospel,

we also need to be ready for opposition,

which is the third thing Paul says

as we face outward toward the world.

Verse 28, not frightened in anything by your opponents.

Now, the Philippians were no strangers to suffering.

They knew how Paul had suffered for preaching the gospel

when he was among them.

When he was first with them,

Paul had been arrested,

severely beaten with rods

and thrown in prison.

Now, as he writes this letter to him,

he's in chains in Rome.

They knew how Paul had suffered.

But Paul says to them,

verse 29 to 30,

it's also, you Philippians,

it's been granted to you

that for the sake of Christ,

you should not only believe in him,

but also should suffer for his sake,

engaged in the same conflict

that you saw I had

and now hear that I still have.

The Philippians were facing the same threats

that Paul had faced.

But when we suffer for the sake of Christ

and when we endure it without fear,

Paul says in verse 22,

that in itself is a sign,

a clear sign to our opponents of their destruction,

but of our salvation,

of your salvation, Paul writes.

See, suffering for Christ is a demonstration

that this world is not supreme,

that this world has a ruler,

that there is a judgment to come,

that there is a future world to look forward to,

there is a life to come,

which is why you are able to suffer without fear.

It's why you're able to suffer,

being unafraid of your opponents.

You can say to them,

you have no power to take away from me

what matters most.

Now, Muhammad says in the Quran

that Muslims mustn't form alliances or bonds

with unbelievers,

except if they're afraid of them,

they're allowed to do so.

Muhammad says in the Quran

that Muslims mustn't utter blasphemy

and deny Islam,

except if they're forced to,

that's okay,

they can externally,

you know,

outwardly utter blasphemy,

but as long as in their hearts,

they still believe.

That is,

the Quran permits Muslims

to deny God out of fear.

But Jesus says to us,

we have nothing to fear.

Don't fear those who kill the body

and after that have nothing more

they can do to you.

We have nothing to fear.

We're citizens of heaven.

Even if there were something to fear

for some Christians somewhere in the world,

yet in Australia,

admit it,

our opponents are so small.

They're trivial.

Who are we afraid of?

What can they do to us?

Let's not be frightened of small opponents.

Let's stand firm in one spirit,

holding to the gospel.

Let's strive side by side

for the faith of the gospel

and let's not be frightened in anything

by whatever opponents may materialise.

That's worthy citizenship

as we face outward toward the world.

But there's another dimension

to our citizenship

that's equally important

and that is our life together

as we face inward

toward one another

in the church.

Chapter 2, verses 1 to 4.

Paul begins by reminding us

as he comes to this

of what we have in Christ.

Chapter 2, verse 1.

So if there's any encouragement in Christ,

any comfort from love,

any participation in the spirit,

any affection and sympathy.

Now, it seems to me

that that phrase in Christ

belongs with all five of the blessings

that are listed in verse 1.

So if we were to expand the sentence,

it would read,

so if there is any encouragement in Christ,

if there is any comfort from love in Christ,

if there is any participation

in the spirit in Christ,

if there is any affection in,

you get the idea.

Now, of course, Paul points,

Paul's point is,

in all of these things,

that they are ours in Christ.

They are found in Christ.

So if you're in Christ,

these five blessings of verse 1

are rightfully yours.

Are you afraid?

Then draw encouragement

from the sure knowledge

that in Christ,

God is for you.

God himself is your defender.

Is your soul troubled?

Are you downcast?

Then find comfort in Christ

in the unfailing love of God

he has shown you in his son.

Are you lonely or weak?

Remember God's promise

that you have his spirit dwelling with you.

You're never alone.

Are you despised, abandoned, neglected?

Know that God cares for you.

He has set his affection on you.

You are in his heart.

Are you helpless or ashamed?

Find solace and strength

in the mercies shown to you in Christ.

To be in Christ is to enjoy

all these blessings.

The one who enjoys

all these blessings in Christ

has been filled by God.

And when you bring together

in a community,

in church,

people who have been filled by God

in Christ,

people who have found

everything they need in Christ,

then something wonderful

becomes possible.

With our needs fully met in Christ,

we are empowered to live together

as Paul describes

in verses 2 to 4,

that is,

in the unity

of humility.

In the unity

of humility.

Verse 2,

there's unity.

Verse 2,

complete my joy

by being of the same mind,

having the same love,

being in full accord

and of one mind.

Unity was highly prized

in the ancient world.

For Jews,

Greeks,

and Romans alike,

unity was expected

between brothers,

between siblings.

Psalm 133,

how good and pleasant

it is when brothers

dwell in unity.

That's why conflicts

and division in church

can be so painful

and disorienting.

Because this is the very place

where we may justly expect,

rightly expect,

to find peace.

The unity Paul describes

in verse 2

is not just

agreement for agreement's sake.

It's not just,

you know,

all get along

and, you know,

agree on whatever

it might be.

When Paul desires

that the Philippians

be of the same mind

and have the same love

and be of one mind,

he's not just calling them

to think the same

as each other.

He's calling them

to think in a particular way.

The unity has a centre.

There's a specific frame

of mind,

a specific attitude,

a specific way of thinking

which all alike

are to have

and that's what he goes

on to describe

in verses 3 to 4.

Verse 3,

do nothing from

selfish ambition

or conceit

but in humility

count others

more significant

than yourselves.

Let each of you

look not only

to his own interests

but also to the interests

of others.

In a word,

the centre of our unity

is humility.

It's not just here

that humility

safeguards unity,

it's that our unity

consists in humility.

There are many ways

in which we

as God's people

can and ought

to be different

from one another

and that's fine.

We have different gifts,

different personalities,

different circumstances,

we have different

personal life stories.

Paul in his epistles

even calmly accepts

differences of doctrine

and practice

in matters

that are secondary.

But humility

is a mindset

and a quality

which all alike

are to share.

We are all called

to humility.

What is humility?

Well,

as described

in verses 3 to 4,

humility involves

both our attitude

and our actions.

First in verse 3,

the attitude

of humility,

count others

more significant

than yourselves.

Now think about

that for a moment,

count others

more significant

than yourselves.

Isn't that

a little extreme?

I mean,

we're told today

in our society

that we must

love ourselves

and stick up

for ourselves

but even if we

reject the

egocentrism

of our society,

isn't verse 3

an overstatement?

Because aren't

all people

equally significant

in the sight of God?

You know,

objectively,

before God,

aren't we

all made

in God's image?

You know,

if I count

others

as more

significant

than myself,

isn't that

objectively false

because we're

all equally

significant?

But think about

it a different way.

Consider a

husband's

perspective.

Does a

loving husband

consider his

wife to be

equally

significant?

Of course

not.

She is

more

significant.

He cares

more about

her than

he cares

about himself.

Consider a

parent's

perspective.

Their

children are

more

significant.

A loving

father or

mother cares

more about

their children

than they

care about

themselves.

Consider

even a

bodyguard's

perspective or

a soldier's

perspective.

Willing to

put their

lives on

the line

to protect

the lives

of others.

Their

duty requires

that they

count others

as more

significant

than

themselves.

See,

we can

understand

in the

context

of

relationships

that it

can be

completely

fitting

to consider

someone else

as more

significant

than

yourself.

God

is to

extend

that

same

attitude

to all

our

fellow

believers.

As

citizens of

Christ's

kingdom,

each of us

must

consciously

adopt the

attitude of

humility

toward everyone

else here

and all our

brothers and

sisters in

Christ,

you matter

more to

me than

I matter

to myself.

You matter

more to

me.

You matter

more than

me.

of course,

in the

context of

church,

it ought

to be

completely

safe to

adopt this

attitude

toward one

another

because,

verse 1,

all our

needs are

fully met

in Christ

and because,

verse 2,

everyone around

us is

adopting this

same attitude

too.

The word

translated as

others in

verse 3,

count others

more significant

than yourselves,

is the

plural form

of the

word

one another.

It's the

plural form

of a word

which means

one another.

It doesn't

really translate

into English

that way,

count one

another's as

more important

than yourself,

but that's

the word.

That word

one another

is a very

significant

word in

biblical

ethics,

in New

Testament

ethics,

because the

biblical

vision of

the good

life is

one of

mutuality,

where we

are all

serving each

other,

it's life

together.

Church is

not a

place where

some are

humble and

others

superior,

church is

to be a

community

where all

adopt the

attitude of

humility,

where all

of us

reject selfish

ambition and

conceit and

count one

another as

more significant

than ourselves.

But humility

doesn't stop

with how we

think, it

extends to

our actions.

We have the

action of

humility in

verse 4,

let each

of you

look to

the interests

of others.

Let each

of you look

to the

interests of

others.

That means

actively

pursuing what

is good for

other people,

actively pursuing

their interests.

The action

of humility

is difficult

even for

those who

adopt the

attitude of

humility and

I think the

action of

humility is

difficult for

two reasons.

One is just

a heart

reason,

this is

probably the

biggest

reason,

our own

sinful desires

keep pulling

us back

towards

selfishness.

But there's

a practical

reason why

the action

of humility

is difficult

as well.

The practical

reason,

it's just

much easier

for me to

be aware

of my own

interests than

it is for me

to be aware

of the interests

of others.

See, I don't

need to look

very far to

know what I

want.

I'm constantly

aware of what

I want,

but it takes

effort for me

or for any

of us,

to understand

and consider

the interests

of others.

I need to

know something

about them.

I need to

know their

situation,

their needs,

their preferences.

I need to

know them

well enough

so that I

know what

they need,

what's going

to be good

for them.

That's what

the gospel

of Christ

calls us

to.

A mutual

life where

each of us

actively

pursues what

is good for

our brothers

and sisters,

which means

we need to

make an

effort at

least to

know one

another well

enough that

we can

actively

pursue what

is good for

our brothers

and sisters.

Now let

me just say,

if on an

honest self-assessment

you recognise

that you are

someone who is

consumed with

your own

interests,

please let

this part of

God's word

draw you

back to a

better

preoccupation.

Your worries

and troubles

may be very

great.

Trust God

that he will

help you in

them.

Accept the

support and

love of your

brothers and

sisters here as

you meet those

worries and

troubles.

But also ask

God's help to

listen to those

around you,

to notice their

needs, to

learn the

things that

will encourage

them and bring

them joy.

ask God to

give you the

ability to

serve others

in love.

Now this is

what we're

called to as

citizens worthy

of the gospel of

Christ, facing

out with one

mind to strive

together for the

faith of the

gospel, facing

in with one

mind humbly to

put each other

before ourselves.

And the

reason this is

what we're called

to is because

this is the

perfect model

and example

we have in

our King, the

Lord Jesus.

Verse 5,

have this mind

among yourselves,

which is yours

in Christ Jesus.

When Paul

exhorts us to

be of the same

mind and to

have the one

mind, the

mind we are to

have is actually

the mind of

Christ.

He is the

perfect example

of humility.

Both the

attitude of

humility,

verse 6, and

the action of

humility, verse

7 to 8.

Listen to the

Jesus, the

example of

Jesus.

Have this

mind among

yourselves, which

is yours in

Christ Jesus,

verse 6, who

though he was

in the form of

God, did not

count equality

with God a

thing to be

grasped, but

made himself

nothing, taking

the form of a

servant, being

born in the

likeness of men,

and being

found in

human form, he

humbled himself

by becoming

obedient to the

point of

death, even

death on a

cross.

In verses 6

to 8, there's a

sequence of

three verbs with

Jesus himself as

the subject.

He did not

count.

He emptied

himself, or he

made himself

nothing.

He humbled

himself.

First, Jesus

Christ did not

count equality

with God

something to be

grasped.

The same verbs

used there as in

verse 3, where

in humility we

are to count

others as more

significant than

ourselves.

Well, Jesus, who

is in the form

of God.

Now, that's a

unique expression

Paul uses here,

because he is

reaching for

language that

reflects both that

Jesus is God,

and that he's

distinct from

God, from God

the Father.

In the form of

God, he did

not count equality

with God a

thing to be

grasped.

Verse 6

expresses the

most profound

and wonderful

truth about

God.

When a

husband considers

his wife as

more important

than himself,

when a

mother considers

her children as

more important

than herself,

when a

believer counts

their brothers

and sisters

in Christ as

more important

than themself,

we are echoing

something that

is true of

God himself.

Something that's

true of God

himself.

God the Son

did not count

equality with

God the Father

as a thing to be

grasped.

God the Son

said, he did

not grasp

after and

greedily hold

on to the

rights and

privileges of

divinity.

Instead, he

made himself

nothing.

Literally, he

emptied himself.

He emptied

himself, taking

the form of a

servant, being

born in the

likeness of

men.

Notice there

that Jesus

emptied

himself, not

by subtraction,

but by

addition.

He emptied

himself not

by losing

something, but

by gaining

something here,

or taking

something on.

He emptied

himself by

taking the

form of a

servant.

Notice the

word form

again.

Jesus became

a servant,

fully expressing

what it means to

be a servant.

And the first

step in this

was that he

was born in

the likeness

of men.

He became

fully human,

like us.

Jesus emptied

himself, not

so much by

surrendering

divinity, but

by taking on

humanity.

Notice that the

logic of verse

six to seven

requires Jesus'

pre-existence as

fully God.

Because taking

the form of a

servant, that

is being born

as a man, is

something that

Jesus himself

did.

Jesus himself

willingly took

on.

It's not

something that

happened to

Jesus.

It's something

Jesus chose

for himself.

Jesus didn't

passively receive

his humanity.

He actively

took it on

himself so

that he might

take the form

of a servant.

He was born

as a baby.

His body as

a baby, as

an infant,

was handled

by others,

clothed, fed,

bathed by

others.

He grew as

a boy.

He grew into

manhood.

He grew and

learnt.

He ate.

He drank.

He breathed.

He slept.

Fully human.

Is there any

more stunning,

unexpected

demonstration of

the heart of

God, of the

humility of

God, than

that God the

Son should

become a man?

or perhaps

just one.

Being found

in human

form, he

humbled himself

by becoming

obedient to

the point of

death, even

death on a

cross.

The greatest

act of

humility.

The humility

of the Son

toward God the

Father, expressed

in obedience,

humility of

the Son

expressed

towards us

in service.

Both

accomplished

through his

death on the

cross.

That

wonderful,

terrible

death of

deaths.

death of

God.

When all

the righteous

wrath of

God, that

is due to

my sins and

is due to

your sins,

when it was

absorbed and

suffered and

satisfied in

the body and

the soul of

our Savior,

he emptied

himself by

taking on

humanity, by

taking up the

cross, by

taking away the

sins of the

world, by

taking on

himself the

punishment that

is their due.

Perfect

humility,

sublime

humility, a

humility that

can never be

equaled, but a

humility which

will eternally be

echoed in the

lives and the

praises of the

people Christ

has saved.

Jesus, who

emptied himself

to be the

humble servant

of God the

Father and

the humble

servant even

of us, is

the one that

God has

exalted.

So when you

feel how good

it is what

Jesus has done

for us, then

you feel how

good it is,

wonderful beyond

our comprehension.

You realise how

fitting verses

9 to 11 are.

God has

highly exalted

him and

bestowed on

him the

name that's

above every

name, so

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.

Remember in

verses 6 to

8, Jesus is

both the

subject and

object of the

main verbs.

He did

not count, he

emptied himself, he

humbled himself, but

in verse 9, God

the Father is the

subject, God is the

subject, Jesus is

the object.

Verses 6 to 8

describe what Jesus

did to himself,

verses 9 to 11,

what God has done

for Jesus.

And what God has

done for Jesus is

made him supreme

over all.

The name above

every name, the

worthy king of all

creation before whom

all will one day

bow.

How good it is

that the one who

emptied himself

is the one whom

God has exalted.

How good that is.

See, what kind of

kingdom is the

kingdom of God?

It's a kingdom in

which the government

and the rule and

power and honour

and glory is

bestowed on the

one who is the

humble servant of

all.

The one who gave

himself and gave

everything he has

and everything he

is to serve

others.

And what a very

different kind of

kingdom it is when

the one on the

throne is honoured

and praised and

obeyed and worshipped

precisely because he's

the servant of all.

Exalted because he

emptied himself.

the Venezuelan

president,

Nicolas Maduro,

has just been

seized by the

US army,

taken to the

states awaiting

trial.

It's alleged that

he's guilty of

crimes against

humanity,

of arbitrary

imprisonment of

political opponents,

of violence,

of torture,

of murder.

It's alleged that

he ran and

supported drug

cartels, the

president of a

country.

If those things

are true, then

whatever you might

think of America's

intervention, it's

certainly true that

he is a man not

fit to rule.

But God has given

the highest place

and the highest

name and the

rule over all to

the humble one.

One who never

abuses his

position,

never seeks his

own advantage,

one who is never

corrupt,

the one who

emptied himself,

has been exalted

by God.

The obedience

and worship of

all people

belongs to

him.

And this

is to the

glory of God

the Father.

It is to the

Father's glory

that our God

is the God

who exalts

the humble.

Now, when we

strive side by

side for the

faith of the

gospel, we

are striving that

people will know

and love and

trust in and

worship the one

who emptied

himself for

them.

And when we

count others as

more significant

than ourselves

and when we

look to the

interests of

others, we

honour our

saviour by

emulating him.

We bear witness

to the beauty

of Christ.

We demonstrate

the quality of

his kingdom.

will you pray

with me that

God will do

just that

amongst us.

Lord God,

Heavenly

Father,

you have

exalted

your Son as

name above

all names,

as the one

before whom

all peoples

and all

nations will

bow.

You have

exalted

your Son as

worthy of

all praise

and all

honour.

He is

worthy of

all we are

and worthy

of all we

do, for

he is the

one who

emptied

himself,

who humbled

himself to

serve and

to save.

we thank

you for

the Lord

Jesus

Christ.

We thank

you for

all the

blessings we

have in

him,

encouragement

and comfort

and your

spirit and

affection and

sympathy.

May you

be pleased

to make us

worthy citizens

of his

kingdom,

who gladly

and joyfully

serve our

king.

In Jesus'

name we

pray.

Amen.