AN ATTITUDE OF HUMILITY (PHIL 2:3-8)

SERIES: THE ATTITUDES DISCIPLES REVEAL, PART 1

GCEFC: NOVEMBER 16, 2008

INTRODUCTION

1. We are currently looking at Disciple Distinctives. Those things that set disciples apart from those who are not.

2. We’ve spent 5 Sundays considering the 5 commitments that disciples make. Commitments that non-disciples don’t make.

a. A commitment to the Word of God.

b. A commitment to Prayer.

c. A commitment to Community.

d. A commitment to Transformation.

e. A commitment to Service.

3. Today we begin a new series of Disciple Distinctives. For several weeks we will be looking at The Attitudes Disciples Reveal.

4. It would be hard to overstate the value and importance of attitude when it comes to life in general and to the life of a disciple in particular.

5. One of my favorite quotes on attitude came from the pen of Charles Swindoll many years ago. I liked it so much that I typed it out in large letters when my children were young and had them put it up in their rooms. Chances are you’ve seen it yourself. It says:

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company…a church…a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you…

6. If I was to choose one person out of the Old Testament who is the most glowing example of the power of attitude—I would choose Joseph.

a. Think about Joseph’s life. He was hated by his brothers. So much that they plotted to murder him.

b. Then they decided to make a profit in getting rid of him by selling him into slavery.

c. Then they reported to their father that Joseph had been killed and eaten by a wild animal. His father was devastated. It broke his heart. They lived this lie for years.

d. In Egypt as a slave, Joseph proved so faithful and competent that his master put him in charge of his entire household. But when Joseph refused the advances of his master’s wife and was framed, Joseph was thrown into prison.

e. In prison he had an opportunity for release. But the one who was to assist in his release forgot about him, and he continued to languish there—probably for years.

f. Eventually Joseph rose to the position of Prime Minister of Egypt, and was responsible for organizing and overseeing a project that saved thousands of lives.

g. Years later through a twisted turn of events, Joseph and his brothers’ paths crossed again. When their father Jacob died, Joseph’s brothers assumed he would take his revenge on them. Instead, he forgave them.

h. We read in GEN 50: But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

7. Joseph was an extraordinary man who lived an extraordinary life. And a major reason for both is that he had an extraordinary attitude.

8. At many junctures, Joseph’s life could have gone horribly wrong. But in spite of the evil that happened TO HIM—what happened IN HIM was not evil.

9. Though rejected by his family, betrayed, neglected, misunderstood, treated unfairly, and often alone—his attitude was right on. And his attitude made all the difference.

10. The attitudes of disciples should be exemplary. The attitude of a disciple should not be typical, but should stand out as different from the crowd.

11. For several weeks, we’re going to explore the attitudes disciples should reveal. I chose the word reveal on purpose. You see, whatever attitude we have is sooner or later revealed. It can’t hide forever.

a. This is essentially what Jesus said in MK 7. For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside…

b. In many ways, our attitude is simply an outward expression of what’s on the inside. Our attitude doesn’t come out of nowhere. It comes out of the heart.

c. Which means that our attitude is really a spiritual matter. Having the right attitude is part of being a faithful disciple.

12. We begin our journey by looking at the attitude that in some ways is foundational to all the others—an attitude of humility.

A. THE BEST MODEL OF HUMILITY

1. Now if Joseph is the best model in the Old Testament of the power of the right attitude, then Jesus is the best model of it in the entire Bible.

2. And in PHIL 2 we see that there is no greater model of humility than Christ himself.

3. V3: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

4. Humility is not thinking less of yourself. Humility is thinking of yourself less. It doesn’t mean we ignore our own interests or that we give no thought to our own needs.

5. But we are not to be preoccupied with ourselves. Humility is characterized by a concern for others and a willingness to consider their interests and needs.

B. WHAT HUMILITY LOOKS LIKE

1. But we’re not just told that we should be people of humility—V5-8 give us an example of what it looks like when lived out.

2. V5: Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. What attitude is that? An attitude of humility.

3. So what does humility look like? V6: Christ Jesus, who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.

4. One of the most basic of all human traits is the desire to run our own show. To maintain control and authority so we can get what we want.

5. It’s been this way since the Garden of Eden. We know that humility flies in the face of how we’ve been wired. Humility is not our natural bent. Our natural bent is rebellion.

6. Our natural bent is resistance to authority. Even when the authority is God.

7. Now if Jesus, in very nature God, was not above humility. If God himself was willing to humble himself—where does that leave you and me?

8. If nothing else, this should settle for all time that humility is not a trait of the weak. Nor is it a trait limited to those who have reason to be humble.

9. Jesus had no reason to be humble—he’s God—yet he was humble. We have every reason to be humble—yet we often are not.

10. We expect humble people to be humble. We expect lowly people to be…lowly.

11. But who would expect GOD to be humble? Who would expect the Creator to be the best example of humility? We don’t expect it. Which is why it’s so astonishing.

C. MORE THAN JUST HUMBLE

1. V7: but he made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

2. It’s one thing for God to be humble. It’s one thing for God to veil his glory in humility. But to what an extreme he took it. He made himself nothing!

3. Literally it says he “emptied himself.” What this means is that Jesus had all the rights and privileges and honor and glory due him as God—but he CHOSE to empty himself.

4. But what does this mean? We know that Jesus was fully God. And we know that Jesus was fully man. So what did he empty himself of?

a. First, he emptied himself of his GLORY. When Jesus walked the earth—his glory was veiled. The Bible says no one can even look at God’s unveiled glory and live.

b. Second, he willingly took on the LIMITATIONS of humanness. He experienced hunger, cold, weariness, pain, and even death.

c. Third, though Jesus surrendered no attributes of deity (or he would have ceased being God), he did submit to the VOLUNTARY NONUSE of his power in order to fulfill the divine purpose.

d. For example, I could crush this plastic cup with my bare hands if I chose to. Jesus had unlimited power at his disposal. But he chose suspend its independent use.

e. Fourth, he emptied himself of DIVINE PRIVILEGE. He did only what conformed to the will of the Father. The Father’s will was Jesus’ greatest desire.

5. And notice from V7 that Jesus’ humility led him to servanthood. He took on the very nature of a servant. Remember, Jesus didn’t come to be served, he came TO SERVE.

6. But whoever heard of a king serving? Whoever heard of the master serving? Whoever heard of the Creator serving the creature? Now we have!

D. HUMILITY LEADS TO SUBMISSION

1. Notice in V8 that humility led to submission…which led to obedience.

2. And obedience led to…death. And not just any death. But the cruel and tortuous and humiliating death of a Roman cross.

3. It’s a struggle to be men and women of humility not only because it goes against our nature, but here’s another reason.

4. Humility should lead to submission. And submission should lead to obedience. But who wants to go there? Who chooses humility to be submissive to be obedient?

5. Jesus did. And as his disciples he calls us to the same thing. Now of course, it’s a lot harder for us, isn’t it? Or is it?

6. Do we think it’s harder for man to obey God…or for God to obey man? Jesus’ ultimate submission and obedience was to the Father. But in order to submit to the Father, Jesus had to submit to men.

7. Let’s just say that it’s hard for us to be people of humility and submission and obedience. But that’s why God promised to help us. That’s why the Spirit of God has been given to us. So we’ll be able to do what’s hard—but right.

8. Now we shouldn’t miss the parallel between where we started with Joseph, and where we end with Jesus. The parallel is pretty striking.

a. Both men were rejected by their families. Both were mistreated. Both misunderstood.

b. Both were plotted against. Both were servants.

c. Both were humble. Both were submissive. Both were obedient.

d. Which led to…God using them in extraordinary ways.

9. Which may just be the most important lesson of all. As disciples, if we want God to use us. If we want to become what he’s equipped us to become.

10. If we want to be disciples that live out the call, grow in our faith, and impact the world—we’re going to have to embrace the call to humility.

11. Which will result in submission. Which will lead to obedience. Which will end in service to the glory of God.

12. It’s no easier for me than it is for you. It’s no easier for you than it is for me. That’s why we need each other on the journey. That’s why we need community.

13. For encouragement, for accountability, for insight, for support, and to lighten the burden along the way.

CONCLUSION

1. Close with news story of women’s college softball game between Western Oregon University and Central Washington University in April, 2008.

2. It’s a great picture of humility as PHIL 2 defines it: considering others better than yourselves, and looking not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

3. A far greater example of humility is Jesus’ life. A humility that led to submission, which resulted in obedience, which led to his sacrificial death—which culminated in his glory.

4. Humility, an attitude every disciple should reveal.