THEME:         THE MIND OF CHRIST - THE ATTITUDE OF AN ACHIEVER

TEXT:             1 CORINTHIANS 2:16; PHILIPPIANS 2:01 – 10

Introduction

 Today' word from the Lord is designed to cause each of us to examine our motivation for service and our level of our commitment:       

A.                    To our relationship with Jesus Christ

B.                    To our local Church
C.                    To living an authentic Christian life in general

I am confident that there is absolutely nothing that can stand against; prevent or prevail against the church when we stand together united in purpose and in our minds.  This is essentially the message of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the church at Philippi.  

Paul was encouraging them to stand firm in their commitment to one another even in the midst of the pressures and persecutions that they were facing daily!  He had to remind them to stick together and stay together…and in their time of crisis not to turn on each other – but rather to turn to each other. 

It takes a certain mind (attitude), a certain maturity and willingness to turn to one another – rather than turning on one another - when the pressure is on and the enemy is trying to do everything he can to pull us apart. 

It takes a certain mind (attitude) to turn to one another – rather than on one another when the enemy has come in like a flood; when the resources are limited and when the challenges are great.

Jesus said in Matthew 12:25, “…Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.”   When we as the church stand united there is nothing impossible for us to accomplish.   When we all use our gifts and each of us does what we have been anointed to do – then that which seems impossible becomes possible. 

The same is true in our homes; our communities; our cities and our nation.  Therefore Satan will do all he can to destroy the unity of your family…the unity of a community and the unity of the church.

It is important to note that the Apostle Paul was having some people problems.  People problems can rob you of your joy – if you allow it!  Paul had problems with the people in Rome (1:15-18) and now he was having problem with the people in Philippi.  There were some bad attitudes developing in the church at the most in opportune time. 

This was a time when the church was being tested and tempted…there were false teachers creeping in and false prophets rising up; in addition they were under persecution and having hard economic times.  If there ever was a time for them to band together; stand together and stay together…now was the time.

I believe that if there ever were a time for the church today to band together; stand together and stay together – now is the time.   Now is the time to stand together against the false teachers of perverted values; against the radical courts who redefine the family and legalize homosexual marriages; against the violence of gangs; against the ignorance of racism; the crisis of AIDS; the spread of illiteracy; the dumbing down of our educational standards in our schools; the lack of skilled workers and the general apathy and moral decay in our land.

Now is the time to band together; stand together and stay together in bringing pressure on the political machinery of both the Republican and Democratic Parties who continue to play games with the laws of the land; ignore the Constitution and enrich themselves off the taxes of the American people.

If there was ever a time for us to renew our faithfulness and our commitment to the local church; to our families and our community and to stir up our gifts – now is that time!

Paul found it necessary to challenge the attitudes that had developed in the people of the Philippian church – attitudes of selfishness; attitudes of pride; attitudes of contention; rebellion and apathy.  These are the same attitudes that plague the church and our nation today! 

These same attitudes steal the joy out of the church and hinders us from winning people to Christ and releasing the full power of our gifts so that we see a demonstration of signs, wonders and miracles.

Paul appeals to the spiritual maturity and the spiritual motives of the believers in the Philippian congregation.  In essence he says in the first 4 verses that “Your disagreements reveal your attitudes of selfishness and pride…and because you are selfish and prideful – you have no joy in serving God.”

Then Paul shows them the attitude of an achiever in Christ…he reveals to them the attitude of one who is truly “in Christ.” 

And I would challenge each of us today to adopt the same attitude that Paul outlines here – so that we can fulfill the mission and vision of the church that was given to us by the Lord…and so that you can reach and fulfill the vision of your family’s future! 

I.          The Mind of Christ is a Servant's Mind

Vs. 5 - 7 “But made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant and coming in the likeness of men…”

Someone said it well – one of the biggest problems we face today is that we have got too many chiefs and not enough Indians.  Everyone seems to know what to do and how it should be done – but not many are willing to become servants and get the job done! 

Let me ask this question of you – “What jobs; what task; what assignments in your home, church or community, have you got too big for?”  

If anybody could have opted out of serving because He was too big; too good; too important – it was Jesus…but He didn’t – look at what He did:

1.         He emptied Himself, laying aside the independent use of His own Godly attributes

2.         He permanently became a human, in a sinless physical body
3.         He used that body to be a servant
4.         He took that body to the cross and willingly died for you and me

The attitude of Christ – the mind of Christ – the attitude of an achiever is that you and I have been created and call by God to serve one another! 

II.         The Mind of Christ is a Submissive or Humble Mind

Vs. 8 – “And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

The attitude of Christ…the attitude of an achiever will always be one of humble submission.  We don’t actually understand the terminology and the meaning of the word “humble” or ‘humility.” 

We think often that it means ‘weak’ or weakness or that, we become a push-over and that is just not the attitude we can stand.  No one wants to be a push-over – especially in today’s aggressive, assertive and arrogant culture in which we live. 

But it is important to understand that Biblical humility is demonstrated not by the person who has a victim mentality or one who has a low self-esteem attitude.  It is not the person who thinks little of himself – it is the person who does not think of himself at all.

Humility is that grace and gift of God – that when you know you have it – you have lost it.  The opposite of humility is pride and the Bible teaches that pride always comes before the destruction.   

A person with a genuine humble attitude – is someone who knows himself; accepts himself; and then yields or submits himself to Jesus Christ to be a servant and who uses his or her gifts for the good of others and for the glory of God.

 

III.       The Mind of Christ is a mind Sacrificial or Obedient Mind 

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

The mind of Christ – the attitude of Jesus – the attitude of an achiever…is to learn obedience – even when that obedience calls for a sacrifice.    One of the most interesting things I have observed over my 30 years plus of ministry is that many people are willing to serve others – IF it does not cost them anything.  But when you tell them or show them that there is a price to pay…suddenly they lose interest. 

Jesus, the Bible says…for your sake and for your sins – “became obedient unto death – even the death of the cross.”  He made the ultimate sacrifice for you and for me. 

The person with the attitude of an achiever…the mind of Christ – does not avoid sacrifices…but humbles himself…obeys and makes the sacrifice for the glory of God!

V.        The Benefit and Blessing –

There benefit and blessing that is ours is that --- when we have the mind of Christ; the attitude of Christ and humble yourself, obey and serve others sacrificially --- God is faithful to do for us just as He did for Jesus!  

Jesus humbled Himself, obeyed, served and sacrificed…but God highly exalted Him…and gave Him a Name that is above every name!  God the Father lifted Jesus up for all to see what a servant is like!

Likewise, God will exalt you in due season and He will lift you up when you humble yourself…and obey Him; and serve Him; and sacrifice you self for Him.