WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:22.260 Hi, and welcome to the Willow Ridge Church weekly podcast. 00:00:22.780 --> 00:00:25.880 This is where you can find audio for our current and past sermons. 00:00:26.100 --> 00:00:30.420 We hope that you enjoy this week's installment, and be sure to check back next week to hear 00:00:30.420 --> 00:00:31.260 the latest message. 00:00:31.680 --> 00:00:32.460 Thanks for listening. 00:00:45.320 --> 00:00:49.400 Thank you for somewhat laughing at those with us. 00:00:50.040 --> 00:00:55.800 Me and Berger had way too much fun doing that, and then I took all those jokes home to dinner 00:00:55.800 --> 00:00:58.400 that night, which was greeted by eye rolls. 00:00:58.840 --> 00:01:01.020 So thank you all for being there. 00:01:01.640 --> 00:01:05.340 Mike, see, we might need you back in here because I could hear you laughing, so we're excited 00:01:05.340 --> 00:01:05.800 about that. 00:01:05.940 --> 00:01:10.440 If you've got your Bibles, open them up to Luke chapter 22, so we're going to find ourselves 00:01:10.440 --> 00:01:11.200 this morning. 00:01:11.960 --> 00:01:14.800 To all the dads out there, happy Father's Day. 00:01:15.420 --> 00:01:19.580 You know, I do value what that line said, being a dad is no joke. 00:01:20.180 --> 00:01:25.920 And it is a wonderful blessing that God has gifted us and graced us with. 00:01:26.480 --> 00:01:34.460 And so today, it's my prayer for you that not only will it be a day where maybe it's your 00:01:34.460 --> 00:01:40.080 favorite meal for lunch, but maybe you'll get that gift that you were hoping for, or that 00:01:40.080 --> 00:01:41.720 fits that need that you need in your life. 00:01:41.720 --> 00:01:48.100 But even more importantly, that for all of us, that today is the day to remind us of our 00:01:48.100 --> 00:01:54.000 heavenly Father, who loved us beyond what any earthly father could love us, who's modeled 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:57.280 for us what it truly means to love sacrificially. 00:01:57.680 --> 00:01:59.040 And that points us to that. 00:01:59.600 --> 00:02:04.920 So as we kind of let that just set on our hearts and on our minds, let's go to him in prayer. 00:02:06.740 --> 00:02:11.140 God, we come to you this morning thanking you for who you are. 00:02:12.720 --> 00:02:20.280 That on this day that's marked to celebrate fathers, or that our hearts would be at a point 00:02:20.280 --> 00:02:24.700 and a position where we look to glorify and honor you with all that we are and all that 00:02:24.700 --> 00:02:25.220 we have. 00:02:26.580 --> 00:02:29.780 Lord, I thank you for my father. 00:02:29.940 --> 00:02:33.980 I thank you for the fathers in my life that you've blessed me with. 00:02:35.480 --> 00:02:37.800 But Lord, I am as they are. 00:02:38.720 --> 00:02:39.840 We are flawed. 00:02:41.060 --> 00:02:42.220 And Lord, you are perfect. 00:02:43.560 --> 00:02:45.220 So may you be our standard. 00:02:46.460 --> 00:02:52.980 Lord, for those that are in here, Lord, who maybe have lost their father, maybe never knew 00:02:52.980 --> 00:02:53.620 their father. 00:02:54.640 --> 00:02:57.120 Maybe they have a strained relationship with their father. 00:02:58.020 --> 00:03:06.100 May they know, Lord, that their eternal father is with them and deeply loves them in perfection. 00:03:07.280 --> 00:03:08.940 And it's in Jesus' name we pray. 00:03:09.640 --> 00:03:09.940 Amen. 00:03:10.600 --> 00:03:10.900 Amen. 00:03:11.420 --> 00:03:15.800 Well, this morning, what I would like for us to do is we're going to kind of jump back and 00:03:15.800 --> 00:03:21.120 let last week's message overflow a little bit, run into this week's message. 00:03:21.120 --> 00:03:24.760 So let's look at Luke 22, starting in verse 21. 00:03:25.900 --> 00:03:32.360 And it says, but behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 00:03:32.440 --> 00:03:37.980 And this is Jesus talking to his disciples after he's implemented the Lord's Supper. 00:03:38.820 --> 00:03:44.580 Verse 22, for the son of man goes and has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is 00:03:44.580 --> 00:03:44.980 betrayed. 00:03:45.160 --> 00:03:50.000 And so Jesus points out, there's one of you in here who's going to betray me. 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:51.420 He's in the inner circle. 00:03:51.540 --> 00:03:52.840 He's sitting at the table. 00:03:53.920 --> 00:04:00.980 Verse 23, and they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to 00:04:00.980 --> 00:04:01.740 do this. 00:04:02.440 --> 00:04:10.620 And a dispute also arose among them as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 00:04:10.700 --> 00:04:15.360 I want to pause here just for a moment this morning and kind of talk through the dynamic 00:04:15.360 --> 00:04:17.400 of the room of what's happening here. 00:04:17.440 --> 00:04:18.780 And I want to be honest with you. 00:04:18.840 --> 00:04:24.040 What I'm going to kind of dive into is a little bit of speculation on my end, but understanding 00:04:24.040 --> 00:04:31.240 a group of alpha males who were gathered in a room, who were in ministry, I think I understand 00:04:31.240 --> 00:04:35.160 a little bit what's happening here in this moment and in this time. 00:04:35.280 --> 00:04:38.480 Jesus says, one of you is going to fail. 00:04:39.280 --> 00:04:41.680 One of you is going to betray. 00:04:42.260 --> 00:04:44.640 One of you is going to lead toward this. 00:04:44.820 --> 00:04:49.680 And they began to question one another, is what scripture tells us. 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:54.940 And I think in the interpretation of that, as that plays out is, it'll be you, it'll be 00:04:54.940 --> 00:04:57.180 you, it'll be you, it wouldn't be me. 00:04:58.680 --> 00:05:02.800 And the finger pointing begins to go around and happen in the room. 00:05:03.840 --> 00:05:05.740 Well, it must be you because you did this. 00:05:05.940 --> 00:05:07.960 Well, it must be you because you did this. 00:05:08.080 --> 00:05:13.020 And then in this moment where they realize, excuse me, I'm sorry, we're not getting in 00:05:13.020 --> 00:05:13.620 there with this. 00:05:13.620 --> 00:05:22.480 Now a dispute becomes, becomes up about, well, but I'm better than you, but I'm better than 00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:25.080 you, but I'm better than you. 00:05:26.060 --> 00:05:27.480 And so who is the greatest? 00:05:28.500 --> 00:05:29.480 Who is the greatest? 00:05:30.280 --> 00:05:36.620 And that, that is the, the setting of what Jesus is going to dive into as he looks at, as 00:05:36.620 --> 00:05:38.340 we read verses 25 through 30. 00:05:38.340 --> 00:05:43.440 You know, most of the time we just look at verse 24 and a dispute arose, but let's understand 00:05:43.440 --> 00:05:47.960 the environment in which the dispute arose is Jesus is like, and one of you is going to 00:05:47.960 --> 00:05:50.440 betray me and you're here at the table tonight. 00:05:52.880 --> 00:05:54.320 And then it would never be me. 00:05:55.300 --> 00:06:02.000 It would never be me because I'm the best, because I'm the greatest. 00:06:02.900 --> 00:06:04.280 Who is the greatest? 00:06:05.100 --> 00:06:05.500 Jesus. 00:06:07.000 --> 00:06:09.280 So look at verse 25. 00:06:10.280 --> 00:06:18.560 And he said to them, the kings of the Gentiles exercise the lordship over them and those in 00:06:18.560 --> 00:06:22.900 authority over them are called benefactors, but not so with you. 00:06:23.540 --> 00:06:29.280 Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest and the leader as the one who 00:06:29.280 --> 00:06:30.060 serves. 00:06:30.660 --> 00:06:36.100 For who is the greater, one who reclines at the table or one who serves? 00:06:36.740 --> 00:06:39.120 Is it not the one who reclines at the table? 00:06:39.340 --> 00:06:43.100 But I am among you as the one who serves. 00:06:43.220 --> 00:06:44.140 Let's kind of pause real quick. 00:06:44.260 --> 00:06:50.100 Jesus, if you don't recognize that I'm the greatest of all of us who are sitting here and look 00:06:50.100 --> 00:06:50.620 at who I am. 00:06:50.660 --> 00:06:51.600 I'm the one that serves. 00:06:51.700 --> 00:06:52.420 There's 28. 00:06:54.020 --> 00:06:59.100 You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you as my father assigned 00:06:59.100 --> 00:07:06.420 to me a kingdom that you may eat and drink in my table, in my kingdom, and sit on thrones 00:07:06.420 --> 00:07:09.800 judging the 12 tribes of Israel. 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:15.640 You and I, within ourselves, we have a battle amongst us. 00:07:16.320 --> 00:07:23.160 We have a battle within us that we long to be recognized. 00:07:24.040 --> 00:07:26.180 Give me credit for what I've done. 00:07:27.120 --> 00:07:28.900 Notice my accomplishments. 00:07:29.480 --> 00:07:31.760 Give credit to where credit is due. 00:07:32.120 --> 00:07:33.640 Make sure when, who did this? 00:07:33.740 --> 00:07:36.200 Well, I did it because the praise comes. 00:07:36.200 --> 00:07:41.360 It's like you and I, if we're being honest and sincere with ourselves, there might be those 00:07:41.360 --> 00:07:46.780 moments of uncomfortableness when the spotlight, you don't want it to shine on you, so you might 00:07:46.780 --> 00:07:52.880 not like the public recognition, but deep down inside, we all are longing for everyone to 00:07:52.880 --> 00:07:55.760 know what we've done, what we've accomplished. 00:07:56.100 --> 00:07:59.160 We long to be recognized as extraordinary. 00:08:00.340 --> 00:08:01.860 No one wants to finish second. 00:08:02.500 --> 00:08:05.980 No one wants to come in last or anywhere in between. 00:08:06.200 --> 00:08:12.000 And in how we're built and how we're wired and those things that we think that we're good 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:19.260 at, we want to be recognized, and we want to be recognized as extraordinary, and the world 00:08:19.260 --> 00:08:22.320 pushes this, and we embrace it. 00:08:23.260 --> 00:08:30.200 There's not a culture across the world that doesn't embrace that, and that doesn't understand 00:08:30.200 --> 00:08:35.460 the pride that is taken in the coffee mug that I'm about to show you. 00:08:36.200 --> 00:08:41.660 In honor of Father's Day, a few years ago, we were off on vacation. 00:08:41.860 --> 00:08:45.180 In fact, I think this is the first Father's Day in years that I've been here, because normally 00:08:45.180 --> 00:08:47.400 we take this year, this week off. 00:08:48.100 --> 00:08:52.940 But my wife and kids and I, we had gone away for the weekend, and we were in Tennessee, 00:08:53.460 --> 00:08:58.820 and my kids went shopping to get me something and my wife something, and they came back with 00:08:58.820 --> 00:09:04.280 this, best dad ever, right? 00:09:04.280 --> 00:09:05.700 It's official, right? 00:09:06.920 --> 00:09:10.900 I mean, you may think you are, but I got the mug, you know? 00:09:11.400 --> 00:09:13.080 And I thought about this today. 00:09:13.920 --> 00:09:18.760 It's better than world's best dad, because that tenure could end, right? 00:09:19.800 --> 00:09:20.660 Best dad ever. 00:09:21.480 --> 00:09:22.740 It says it all right here, right? 00:09:22.820 --> 00:09:23.920 Like, this is it. 00:09:24.280 --> 00:09:25.240 You're like, no, no, no, it's me. 00:09:25.320 --> 00:09:28.600 No, no, no, I've got the mug, and I've got it here today, so that's there, right? 00:09:28.800 --> 00:09:30.020 Like, we get this. 00:09:30.220 --> 00:09:36.380 We want, and as silly and as great as this would be for your kids to give it to their dad, 00:09:36.460 --> 00:09:42.820 there's a part of us in our sinful nature that wants to be recognized, that wants to be given 00:09:42.820 --> 00:09:48.720 this, and as they press into Jesus about this in their life in recognition of the kingdom, 00:09:49.100 --> 00:09:55.660 Jesus pumps the brakes on them, and what he pumps the brakes on is this, that in order 00:09:55.660 --> 00:10:03.240 in being a follower of Jesus means that you and I, we ought to find places in our life where 00:10:03.240 --> 00:10:10.580 our values and our love are in stark contrast to those around us in the world. 00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:19.780 As everybody fights for their own recognition, not in the silliness of coffee cups, but in 00:10:19.780 --> 00:10:27.340 the pursuit of pride, as we reach out and as we try to gain, Jesus looks at them in verses 00:10:27.340 --> 00:10:33.880 26 through, in 27, I want to reread these to you, look at verse 26, but he says, but not 00:10:33.880 --> 00:10:40.460 so with you, rather let the greatest among you become as the youngest and the leader as the 00:10:40.460 --> 00:10:41.320 one who serves. 00:10:41.320 --> 00:10:44.280 Jesus is going to hit them with some counterculture things for their day. 00:10:44.640 --> 00:10:48.920 Like, let's, people say sometimes that we live in a world right now that is counterculture 00:10:48.920 --> 00:10:53.420 from Christianity, and let me say this, like the world since the fall has been counterculture 00:10:53.420 --> 00:10:54.180 from Christianity. 00:10:54.860 --> 00:11:01.000 And in every moment, in every decade, in every season, in every generation, if you align with 00:11:01.000 --> 00:11:04.540 the things of the world, you're not going to align with Christ. 00:11:05.560 --> 00:11:08.940 And Jesus says that, but not so with you, you're to be different. 00:11:09.940 --> 00:11:16.280 Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest and the leader as one who serves. 00:11:16.420 --> 00:11:23.980 So two things that Jesus says here, in the world, Jesus says to them, the world says older is better. 00:11:24.200 --> 00:11:30.220 So if that's the case, the greatest among you, live your life as the youngest. 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:36.660 Live your life as the one who walks in the room and says, no, no, no, no, it's not about me. 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:39.600 No, no, no, that's not what we're here for. 00:11:39.940 --> 00:11:41.440 It's not in this. 00:11:41.780 --> 00:11:48.420 And then what Jesus does, which is so counter to everything, and in so much as so many of 00:11:48.420 --> 00:11:55.840 us, men and women seek to lead out in culture, seek to lead out in our world, seek to, men, 00:11:55.840 --> 00:11:58.620 hear this, lead out in your family. 00:12:00.520 --> 00:12:01.800 Jesus defines leadership. 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:13.160 And Jesus says the leader becomes the example of service in servant leadership, right? 00:12:13.860 --> 00:12:21.940 And so Jesus, what he does is he doesn't pass on from this, but instead he begins to redefine it. 00:12:23.080 --> 00:12:28.420 Jesus redefines as they're going to take this gospel and as Jesus is going to die on the cross 00:12:28.420 --> 00:12:36.220 and then ascend into heaven and is leaving the very DNA of Christianity, the very DNA in the 00:12:36.220 --> 00:12:37.400 church with these leaders. 00:12:37.620 --> 00:12:39.700 He says, let's redefine this for a second. 00:12:39.960 --> 00:12:46.580 And I think as every generation is, you and I maybe have to be reminded or told for the very 00:12:46.580 --> 00:12:49.700 first time what this leadership looks like. 00:12:49.700 --> 00:12:50.660 Look at verse 27. 00:12:52.020 --> 00:12:59.720 Jesus asked two questions for who is greater, one who reclines at the table or one who serves? 00:13:00.740 --> 00:13:04.360 Second question, is it not the one who reclines at the table? 00:13:06.040 --> 00:13:11.800 But I am among you as the one who serves. 00:13:12.300 --> 00:13:15.140 Jesus doesn't hide away from this. 00:13:15.820 --> 00:13:19.600 Jesus applies this and points to himself. 00:13:20.760 --> 00:13:26.620 Who's greater, the one who reclines and everything is brought to, the one who is served or the 00:13:26.620 --> 00:13:27.700 one who does the serving? 00:13:28.880 --> 00:13:30.140 Jesus says, well, it's evident, right? 00:13:30.220 --> 00:13:33.440 In the culture, it's the one who reclines. 00:13:34.880 --> 00:13:43.320 But I, but I am among you as the one who serves. 00:13:44.840 --> 00:13:46.180 And so Jesus points to this. 00:13:48.400 --> 00:13:53.920 When I want us to look at this morning as Jesus defines this, this, I mean, can you imagine 00:13:53.920 --> 00:13:56.620 like the pride and the arrogance that's in this room? 00:13:58.080 --> 00:14:04.420 As Jesus is navigating with this group of individuals, there's some alphas, there's some go-getters, 00:14:04.700 --> 00:14:08.540 there's some people who've experienced high levels of success in here. 00:14:08.540 --> 00:14:13.780 And Jesus says, if we're going to continue on with this, it's not going to be because you're 00:14:13.780 --> 00:14:14.780 gifted in speech. 00:14:14.900 --> 00:14:17.180 It's not going to be because you're gifted in business. 00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:21.480 It's not going to be because you're successful in all that you do. 00:14:21.560 --> 00:14:27.400 If the movement of God is going to continue on, it's because the people of God are going to 00:14:27.400 --> 00:14:29.080 embrace humility. 00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:34.580 And it's going to go counter to what this world says and what this world establishes. 00:14:34.840 --> 00:14:39.340 And Jesus is going to be the standard that we look to. 00:14:41.940 --> 00:14:48.680 That's why I love at the very beginning of this, is Luke writes to Theophilus. 00:14:49.820 --> 00:14:52.600 And you begin to think of all of the things that Luke could have said. 00:14:53.940 --> 00:14:58.740 Luke is one who, thousands of years later, we're reading his very words. 00:14:59.920 --> 00:15:04.560 Did not say, I'll write this so that you may see how I live my life. 00:15:05.920 --> 00:15:10.720 But I'll write this so that you may know who Jesus is. 00:15:12.120 --> 00:15:16.000 And so if you've got your Bibles open, flip over to Philippians chapter 2. 00:15:19.040 --> 00:15:23.200 Because this is where we're going to unpack the application of this for us in our life. 00:15:23.940 --> 00:15:26.840 And what I want us to look at are marks of humility. 00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:34.580 Because leadership, servant leadership, is going to come from humility. 00:15:35.480 --> 00:15:41.400 This is what Jesus is going to show us and give us in his life as we've been seeing through 00:15:41.400 --> 00:15:41.840 the gospel. 00:15:42.180 --> 00:15:43.400 And that's what Paul's going to write. 00:15:43.520 --> 00:15:47.040 So we're going to read Philippians chapter 2 starting in verse 1. 00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:55.240 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in 00:15:55.240 --> 00:16:02.700 the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the 00:16:02.700 --> 00:16:06.340 same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 00:16:06.620 --> 00:16:13.160 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant 00:16:13.160 --> 00:16:14.160 than yourself. 00:16:14.160 --> 00:16:20.900 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also the interests of others. 00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:27.720 Having this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who though he was in 00:16:27.720 --> 00:16:36.420 the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself 00:16:36.420 --> 00:16:38.780 himself by taking the form of a servant. 00:16:39.560 --> 00:16:47.000 Being born in the likeness of men and being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:52.220 obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross. 00:16:52.880 --> 00:16:59.520 And as Paul writes this, what I want us to glean from with keeping Luke 22 in our mind of 00:16:59.520 --> 00:17:06.120 Jesus says, if you want to know what it's like, then look at me and who I am, Jesus says. 00:17:06.460 --> 00:17:12.500 And then this, and then Paul takes in Philippians chapter 2, and he begins to define this for 00:17:12.500 --> 00:17:12.840 us. 00:17:13.900 --> 00:17:18.320 He begins to define Jesus as the example of humility. 00:17:19.040 --> 00:17:24.560 And so this Father's Day morning, what I want all of us to begin to glean from this scripture 00:17:24.560 --> 00:17:27.260 is what does humility look like? 00:17:28.040 --> 00:17:32.640 You know, oftentimes we say, be humble, and then we walk away from that, and we don't 00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:33.500 really know what that means. 00:17:34.820 --> 00:17:36.000 What does be humble mean? 00:17:37.160 --> 00:17:38.660 Does it mean that I fix my plate last? 00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:41.180 Does it mean that I fix everybody else's plate? 00:17:42.140 --> 00:17:43.520 Does it mean that I don't take credit? 00:17:44.580 --> 00:17:45.860 Does it mean that I put myself down? 00:17:46.780 --> 00:17:47.900 Like, I don't understand. 00:17:47.900 --> 00:17:55.540 Man, and what we base our counter definition to humility on is the world's definition, and 00:17:55.540 --> 00:18:00.680 I don't want to use the world to define humility in any way, shape, or form, and instead have 00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:06.780 us look to scripture to understand what does God say humble is, and he says it's Jesus. 00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:09.340 And then Paul defines it for us. 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:11.800 So let's look at some marks of humility. 00:18:11.800 --> 00:18:14.240 The first one that I want us to see this morning. 00:18:15.120 --> 00:18:18.060 The first mark of humility is salvation, all right? 00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:25.280 True humility only comes in response to Christ. 00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:26.460 That's it. 00:18:27.180 --> 00:18:27.660 That's it. 00:18:28.260 --> 00:18:30.480 The world doesn't have humility. 00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:34.560 Humility is not separated from salvation. 00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:41.500 We cannot look at this and say the world has this definition, and those of this world have 00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:42.140 this definition. 00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:44.740 Look out, Paul begins the section in verse one. 00:18:45.120 --> 00:18:50.600 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in 00:18:50.600 --> 00:18:52.920 the Spirit, any affection and sympathy. 00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:57.620 So what Paul's been leading up to, let me hit you up on just a couple quick snippets of 00:18:57.620 --> 00:18:59.160 what chapter one is talked about. 00:18:59.360 --> 00:19:03.080 He's used verses so far like, hey, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 00:19:03.120 --> 00:19:04.100 Like, we've heard that, right? 00:19:04.820 --> 00:19:09.100 Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel. 00:19:09.580 --> 00:19:16.020 You should not only believe in him, but also suffer for his sake. 00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:20.360 And so what Paul's saying in verse one is understand this. 00:19:20.660 --> 00:19:26.400 If there's any aspect of salvation in your life, then this is your response to this. 00:19:26.600 --> 00:19:33.000 This isn't right morality in the world as the world defines it, but it's the life of the 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:35.920 Christian as God transforms us for the gospel. 00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:46.660 So if there's any of this in you, if there's any hope of salvation amongst us, then let this 00:19:46.660 --> 00:19:47.720 ring true. 00:19:48.560 --> 00:19:59.000 True humility is rooted, is based, is birthed, and grows out of a relationship with Christ and 00:19:59.000 --> 00:19:59.860 Christ alone. 00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:02.520 That's humility, my friends. 00:20:03.340 --> 00:20:04.160 That's humility. 00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:14.680 The world can try to define it in any way, but the way that we mark is from Christ's example 00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:16.680 in our relationship with him. 00:20:17.580 --> 00:20:18.900 So it begins in salvation. 00:20:20.120 --> 00:20:23.500 So you got to ask yourself this morning, where are you? 00:20:24.580 --> 00:20:25.920 To live is Christ. 00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:28.140 To die is gain. 00:20:28.980 --> 00:20:36.980 Let your life be, live your life in a manner that is worthy of the gospel. 00:20:37.760 --> 00:20:42.080 But you should not only believe in him, but also suffer for his sake. 00:20:42.360 --> 00:20:48.220 Before we go any farther of acknowledging the response to the gospel, we have to hit the point 00:20:48.220 --> 00:20:51.420 of asking the question, have you ever responded to the gospel? 00:20:52.600 --> 00:20:59.480 Of the draw of God on your heart to lead you to and to bring you to a point of brokenness 00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:05.400 and repentance before him, of desperation before the Lord, of understanding in the first step 00:21:05.400 --> 00:21:09.340 that you in and of yourself are unworthy of salvation. 00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:11.700 And it's found in Christ and Christ alone. 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:17.180 The understanding that you and I, that we cannot save ourselves, that the rules of religion, 00:21:17.320 --> 00:21:21.700 the standards of this world, being a good person is not going to get it, but it is found in 00:21:21.700 --> 00:21:22.760 Christ and Christ alone. 00:21:22.920 --> 00:21:27.240 If without salvation, we just decide that we're going to pursue humility, then we're chasing 00:21:27.240 --> 00:21:28.140 another idol. 00:21:29.360 --> 00:21:33.420 But when it's found in Christ, then we're simply just chasing after him. 00:21:34.900 --> 00:21:39.520 And so is it found in your salvation in Christ and Christ alone? 00:21:39.880 --> 00:21:44.300 The second aspect that we're going to see, looking at verse 2, is mutual love. 00:21:45.540 --> 00:21:55.380 Verse 2, Paul says, again, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, 00:21:55.880 --> 00:21:59.540 being in full accord, and of one mind. 00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:04.360 Now, point number 2 and point number 3 are both going to come out of this verse, verse number 2. 00:22:04.440 --> 00:22:06.520 So we'll look at this verse for a couple of different things. 00:22:06.580 --> 00:22:08.360 But the first one is this mutual love. 00:22:08.360 --> 00:22:11.860 It says, be of the same mindset. 00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:13.200 Mindset. 00:22:13.460 --> 00:22:21.500 The love that is the Holy Spirit, this is what makes it mutual, so that we understand that 00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:30.860 what we bring into this as we become, as we are children of God, is a mutual love for one 00:22:30.860 --> 00:22:33.100 another, but also the love for him. 00:22:33.320 --> 00:22:36.840 That is the grounds, and that is the standing that we find ourselves from. 00:22:36.840 --> 00:22:43.180 So within here, it's not a mutual of anything else, but what we are looking toward, what we are fighting 00:22:43.180 --> 00:22:49.740 for, what humility should bring us to, is this sense of mutual love between us, and that love 00:22:49.740 --> 00:22:52.400 comes from the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit alone. 00:22:52.620 --> 00:22:57.940 But then the third one is in this and built into it, and that is one of unity. 00:22:57.940 --> 00:23:13.840 A commentator that I read this week defined unity as this, the oneness of soul. 00:23:14.380 --> 00:23:21.660 That you and I are so in love and being transformed by the work of the gospel, but that there is 00:23:21.660 --> 00:23:28.500 a oneness of soul that is existing between the body and the bride of Christ and the unity 00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:31.340 of what we are working toward and what we are pushing for. 00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:37.000 That the people of God working in one direction for the gospel. 00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:45.700 And what I love about this is this, what God gives us and grants us is uniqueness within the individual 00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:49.820 that is working toward the harmony of the body. 00:23:50.260 --> 00:23:55.540 If you really think about this, oneness of soul and unity should be impossible. 00:23:56.840 --> 00:24:02.680 We've got different backgrounds, we've got different gifts, we've got different passions, 00:24:03.780 --> 00:24:08.300 we've got different things that stir up our hearts and stir up our soul, and the Bible 00:24:08.300 --> 00:24:12.860 doesn't say that those are wrong because those are gifted to us and given to us by God, but 00:24:12.860 --> 00:24:17.380 what the Bible says is that when there's oneness of soul, what they do is they come in together 00:24:17.380 --> 00:24:20.000 and they work together and they move together. 00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:25.740 Let's understand this, like, I'm glad that my heart and my lungs do different things. 00:24:26.660 --> 00:24:31.280 But I need them to work in unity if the body is going to function. 00:24:32.340 --> 00:24:36.080 And so when we think of unity, that's the picture that we have. 00:24:36.220 --> 00:24:39.380 It's not that we're all identical, because we're not. 00:24:40.420 --> 00:24:44.300 It's not that we're all the same, because that's not the way that God created us. 00:24:44.600 --> 00:24:51.240 But that there's a unity in the body of oneness, of understanding what we are working toward, 00:24:51.320 --> 00:24:52.160 and that's the gospel. 00:24:53.420 --> 00:25:01.140 And so when we step outside of that is where there begins to be disunity in the church and 00:25:01.140 --> 00:25:03.180 disunity in the body. 00:25:04.140 --> 00:25:06.700 And so Paul says it's unity. 00:25:06.700 --> 00:25:11.160 Now, the next one I want us to look at, oh, let me pause there. 00:25:11.780 --> 00:25:12.400 Let me pause there. 00:25:13.820 --> 00:25:20.520 This is why, with this unity, I'm believing in this season of prayer and what God's going 00:25:20.520 --> 00:25:26.000 to do, because what we're going to see over those five weeks, and if you're not sure what I'm 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:29.980 talking about, just hang around after we get done with the worship set at the end, because 00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:32.060 I'm going to come back on stage and talk about it a little bit more. 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:38.880 But what we're going to see is when the body of Christ comes and maybe prays differently 00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:46.400 and maybe does things differently in what that looks like, but in unity of praying for God 00:25:46.400 --> 00:25:52.600 to be at work and it moving amongst this place, so that the heart and the lungs and the fingers 00:25:52.600 --> 00:25:56.860 and the feet and the eyes and the ears of the body of Christ are pushing toward the same 00:25:56.860 --> 00:25:58.560 thing in the unity. 00:25:59.120 --> 00:26:04.020 The fourth one I want us to see here out of this passage, maybe the hardest one for all 00:26:04.020 --> 00:26:07.260 of us, submission, submission. 00:26:07.380 --> 00:26:13.040 Verse three, do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit. 00:26:13.060 --> 00:26:15.160 Now, that's pretty straightforward, right? 00:26:16.160 --> 00:26:17.480 Not do some things. 00:26:18.660 --> 00:26:27.080 It's okay on one or two, but do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count 00:26:27.080 --> 00:26:31.060 others more significant than yourself. 00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:41.080 I wrote in my notes, and I'll need to repent of this, avoid selfish ambition, but I need to 00:26:41.080 --> 00:26:48.700 eliminate a void in what God says, just don't do it, right? 00:26:48.820 --> 00:26:57.000 The sin of selfish ambition, the sin of elevating yourself, the sin of thinking of our 00:26:57.000 --> 00:27:02.660 self first, the sin of thinking, this is me, the sin of saying, nah, I'm better than you. 00:27:02.860 --> 00:27:04.540 Hey, Jesus, ain't I better than them? 00:27:04.740 --> 00:27:06.840 No, it doesn't say avoid it. 00:27:06.940 --> 00:27:08.540 It says don't do it. 00:27:09.060 --> 00:27:15.460 And so you and I, we have to look at in our life, how do we oppress our agenda, our standard, 00:27:15.820 --> 00:27:22.180 what we want to accomplish over others in a way that doesn't seek God's best for their 00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:22.440 life. 00:27:22.580 --> 00:27:24.040 Now, we're going to talk about this in just a moment. 00:27:24.040 --> 00:27:28.900 I'm not talking about you and I constantly beating ourselves up and putting each other 00:27:28.900 --> 00:27:35.620 down, but as we press forward into this world, as we work toward harmony, how do I make sure 00:27:35.620 --> 00:27:42.000 that what God is calling me to does not reside in how I step on you in the process? 00:27:43.040 --> 00:27:52.500 That I consider others, that I count others more significant than myself. 00:27:52.780 --> 00:27:58.380 And what this creates, what this allows is working toward harmony. 00:27:59.780 --> 00:28:07.000 And so that consideration of others is an equal point of emphasis in my life, of what I'm seeking 00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:08.380 for and what I'm living. 00:28:09.580 --> 00:28:14.160 And then it leads into the fifth one, marks of humility, considering others. 00:28:15.640 --> 00:28:25.280 Verse four, let each of you look not only to his own interest, but also the interest of others. 00:28:26.340 --> 00:28:33.940 You and I are programmed by culture and by our own sinful nature to only think of our plans, 00:28:34.100 --> 00:28:35.600 our interests, our rights. 00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:39.720 But the humility in the gospel calls for something different. 00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:45.540 So my plans need to consider others. 00:28:46.200 --> 00:28:50.140 My interest should always consider others. 00:28:50.740 --> 00:28:55.220 My rights should always consider others. 00:28:55.400 --> 00:28:59.080 Because humility in the gospel calls for that. 00:28:59.280 --> 00:29:04.960 Now there's an interesting, as we see within here, of the but that is built into these two verses. 00:29:05.280 --> 00:29:09.500 This doesn't mean that you and I, that we're not of value. 00:29:09.500 --> 00:29:18.300 Like you and I, and embracing humility, doesn't mean that we mark and brand and head toward a path of martyrdom 00:29:18.300 --> 00:29:20.600 that we choose for ourself. 00:29:21.740 --> 00:29:25.340 But in this, we submit. 00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:28.440 In this, I'm not number one. 00:29:29.300 --> 00:29:34.840 In this, it's that I consider and bring into others within this. 00:29:35.620 --> 00:29:38.020 Let each of you not look to his own interest. 00:29:39.500 --> 00:29:45.420 But also to the interest of others, right? 00:29:45.760 --> 00:29:52.460 And we begin to see this picture that plays out of what Paul is pointing us to 00:29:52.460 --> 00:29:54.420 and looking at the life of Christ. 00:29:55.240 --> 00:29:59.560 Because lastly, what we see here is Christ is the example. 00:30:00.540 --> 00:30:02.900 It's where we began and it's where we're going to end. 00:30:03.900 --> 00:30:11.060 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus. 00:30:12.520 --> 00:30:14.660 Think this way. 00:30:15.600 --> 00:30:17.820 Let this be who you are. 00:30:18.900 --> 00:30:22.200 And then Paul defines what Jesus did. 00:30:22.200 --> 00:30:38.860 Jesus fully God came here and said, 00:30:38.860 --> 00:30:49.380 I'm not setting aside my divinity, but instead in my full reception of my divinity of who I am 00:30:49.380 --> 00:30:59.460 as the son of God, still do not consider myself of equality with God as a thing to be grasped. 00:31:01.360 --> 00:31:03.540 And then here's, Jesus says, here's how this is evident. 00:31:04.540 --> 00:31:05.140 Verse 7. 00:31:06.040 --> 00:31:14.000 But emptied himself by taking the form of a servant being born in the likeness of men. 00:31:14.360 --> 00:31:22.880 So the divinity of God and the humanity of man collided. 00:31:24.440 --> 00:31:34.020 And what we see is fully God and fully man in the person, in the Savior, in Lord Jesus Christ. 00:31:35.020 --> 00:31:45.380 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death. 00:31:45.980 --> 00:31:49.800 Even death on a cross. 00:31:51.480 --> 00:31:59.200 And so what we see of the marks of humility that Paul calls us to, it begins in salvation. 00:31:59.860 --> 00:32:03.800 All of this working toward what Jesus did on the cross. 00:32:03.920 --> 00:32:07.620 For all who are found in him might be saved. 00:32:07.760 --> 00:32:11.380 And from that, the mutual love that points out. 00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:14.560 Remember, Jesus asked, hey, what is the greatest commandment? 00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:18.520 Love God and love others. 00:32:19.540 --> 00:32:25.080 The love that is shown to us from God that we respond in our love to him. 00:32:25.080 --> 00:32:30.480 And then the love from him that then comes to us, goes out into our love for others. 00:32:30.600 --> 00:32:35.900 That what we see within here is the unity of what begins to exist and take place. 00:32:35.960 --> 00:32:40.420 As we see the unity of the trinity of God working out throughout scripture. 00:32:40.580 --> 00:32:43.140 God the Father, God the Son, God the Spirit. 00:32:43.320 --> 00:32:44.560 Three in one. 00:32:44.700 --> 00:32:49.660 As this is working toward in the unity of the divine nature of who God is. 00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:51.620 Of what is seen in our life. 00:32:51.620 --> 00:32:55.520 Working toward that in the church has the opportunity to reflect that. 00:32:55.720 --> 00:32:59.080 That what we see in Christ is submission. 00:33:00.160 --> 00:33:06.100 If this cup could pass from me, but not my will, but your will be done. 00:33:06.340 --> 00:33:09.880 And so God the Son says, I submit my will to God the Father. 00:33:10.040 --> 00:33:11.640 And this is where it brings me. 00:33:11.860 --> 00:33:15.680 And why does his obedience leads him on the journey to the cross. 00:33:15.680 --> 00:33:22.380 So that in considering others, so that through the spilled blood, through the sacrifice body of Christ. 00:33:22.660 --> 00:33:25.140 In the considering you, in the considering of me. 00:33:25.260 --> 00:33:27.840 We may have eternal life. 00:33:28.080 --> 00:33:29.820 And that is humility. 00:33:31.300 --> 00:33:33.880 And that's what God calls us to. 00:33:34.660 --> 00:33:36.220 And that's the pursuit. 00:33:37.220 --> 00:33:44.280 So in the world that says, fight to be best. 00:33:46.720 --> 00:33:51.900 May the church just say, I want to be like the best. 00:33:52.900 --> 00:33:54.620 Because I want to be like Christ. 00:33:55.760 --> 00:33:56.600 Would you pray with me? 00:34:03.020 --> 00:34:04.540 Lord, as we come to you this morning. 00:34:06.020 --> 00:34:07.160 Lord, we thank you. 00:34:08.020 --> 00:34:10.960 For the beauty of what you've given us. 00:34:11.760 --> 00:34:14.740 The beauty of what you've modeled for us. 00:34:15.380 --> 00:34:17.820 The beauty of what you've shown us. 00:34:19.160 --> 00:34:28.300 Lord, Philippians chapter 2 is not a steps of moral adjustment that we make in our lives. 00:34:29.300 --> 00:34:31.040 But it's pointing us to Christ. 00:34:32.580 --> 00:34:37.380 And Lord, I pray for all of us, Lord, who know you and are found in you, Lord. 00:34:37.620 --> 00:34:41.620 In the working and the moving of the spirit in our lives. 00:34:41.680 --> 00:34:44.400 Will be transformed to be more like you. 00:34:45.300 --> 00:34:46.220 For your name. 00:34:46.920 --> 00:34:47.860 And for your glory. 00:34:48.500 --> 00:34:49.440 And for your renown. 00:34:50.660 --> 00:34:53.080 And so, Lord, I pray for all of us who are in here. 00:34:53.820 --> 00:34:57.740 Lord, I pray that their salvation would be found not in and of themselves. 00:34:57.900 --> 00:35:00.060 But would be found in Christ. 00:35:00.520 --> 00:35:01.960 And in Christ alone. 00:35:02.640 --> 00:35:05.200 Because by your name and your name alone. 00:35:05.660 --> 00:35:06.780 Are we saved. 00:35:07.980 --> 00:35:10.020 Lord, man, in amongst the body. 00:35:10.820 --> 00:35:13.180 Not just the local body of this church. 00:35:14.020 --> 00:35:15.680 But in the body of Christ. 00:35:15.800 --> 00:35:18.040 May we seek to love one another. 00:35:19.240 --> 00:35:21.300 Lord, your word tells us. 00:35:22.500 --> 00:35:27.260 That the lost world will know that we're of yours. 00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:29.800 By the way that we love one another. 00:35:31.060 --> 00:35:35.520 And so, Lord, may we love each other well as brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:35:36.240 --> 00:35:37.580 Lord, may we be unified. 00:35:39.200 --> 00:35:42.520 Lord, that doesn't mean that we're not different. 00:35:43.800 --> 00:35:46.620 But may we work in unity of the gospel. 00:35:47.500 --> 00:35:52.420 May we work in the moving toward leaving our own agendas. 00:35:53.060 --> 00:35:58.800 And working toward and seeing the name of Jesus to be shared and to be spread. 00:36:01.800 --> 00:36:03.300 Lord, may we submit. 00:36:04.700 --> 00:36:06.520 Lord, may we submit to you. 00:36:08.300 --> 00:36:10.960 Seeking your will and your way for our life. 00:36:12.240 --> 00:36:14.260 Lord, may we submit to one another. 00:36:16.260 --> 00:36:19.380 Counting others more significant than ourselves. 00:36:22.500 --> 00:36:24.200 Seeking to glorify you. 00:36:27.580 --> 00:36:31.120 Lord, may we consider who we are. 00:36:32.640 --> 00:36:34.140 And what we've been called to be. 00:36:35.000 --> 00:36:36.260 And what we've been called to do. 00:36:37.220 --> 00:36:41.860 And understand that as we live in who you've made us to be. 00:36:42.480 --> 00:36:45.440 Lord, that we build up and we strengthen the body. 00:36:47.660 --> 00:36:49.140 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:36:52.500 --> 00:36:54.140 In Jesus' name we pray for us. 00:37:01.560 --> 00:37:04.880 Thanks again for listening to the Willow Ridge Church weekly podcast. 00:37:04.880 --> 00:37:07.500 We hope that you enjoyed listening to this week's message. 00:37:08.100 --> 00:37:11.520 If you'd like to learn more about who we are or explore additional resources, 00:37:12.100 --> 00:37:16.540 visit us online at www.willowridgechurch.com 00:37:16.540 --> 00:37:20.100 or by searching for Willow Ridge Church on Facebook and Instagram. 00:37:22.500 --> 00:37:30.720 Willow Ridge Church.