When “E” is Enough: Emptying ourselves for Christ

• Philippians 1:27-30 (LSB) 27 Only live your lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear about your circumstances, that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind contending together for the faith of the gospel, 28 in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. 29 For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 having the same struggle which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
• The Philippian church is strong with faithful believers who are facing internal division and external persecution from the Roman and Jewish populations. However, they remain key supporters of Paul and the Gospel while he is confined in a Roman prison.

• It starts with living worthy of the Gospel of Christ.

• • The Gospel is good news.
  • The gospel tells us that Jesus did for us what we could not do for ourselves.
  • Salvation is utterly dependent on Him.

“You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.” Jonathan Edwards

• Paul believed that living worthy of the gospel involved “standing firm” and contending together as a community.
• Verse 28 shows another way to stand firm: Don’t be afraid of our enemies (John 15:18; John 16:33). 
• Standing Firm also involves our suffering.
• 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (LSB) 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

• Philippians 2:1-11 (LSB) Christ’s Humility and Exaltation
• Philippians 2:1-3 (LSB) 1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 fulfill my joy, that you think the same way, by maintaining the same love, being united in spirit, thinking on one purpose.
• Selfishness brings disunity. Disunity is never a pathway forward because disunity is a platform for selfishness.
• Humility is, therefore, the foundation of Unity, but it requires at least four things:

1. Encouragement in Christ
2. Consolidation of Love
3. Fellowship of the Spirit
4. Affection and compassion

• So then, how do we establish this unity within our hearts? Paul prescribes a simple process:
  Philippians 2:3-4 (LSB) 3 doing nothing from selfish ambition or vain glory, but with humility of mind regarding one another as more important than yourselves, 4 not merely looking out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
• The character of Jesus:
  Philippians 2:5-8 (LSB) 5 Have this way of thinking in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although existing in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a slave, by being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
• How God responds to Jesus’ emptying himself:
  Philippians 2:9-11 (LSB) 9 Therefore, God also highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
• BECAUSE GOD HAS BEEN HUMBLE, HOW CAN WE BE PROUD?
• Remember, our pattern is Christlikeness.
• God can’t do much with people filled up with pride instead of humility, sin instead of repentance, bitterness instead of Joy, paralyzing grief instead of thankfulness.
• Because the only way to go from Empty to Full-Faith is with the fuel of Big God‘s “Grace”!

Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner. I know that the penalty for my sin is physical, spiritual, and eternal death. I acknowledge that I can’t do anything about my situation. But I know that You came to pay the penalty for my sin. I trust in You alone as the One who died in my place. I repent of my sin and trust in You alone as the only One who can place me in an eternal relationship with the living God. I receive joyfully receive Your gift of GRACE. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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