Scripture
– NIV
Philippians
2 –
Therefore
if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort
from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and
compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same
love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition
or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking
to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In
your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to
be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the
very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in
appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even
death on a cross!
Therefore
God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every
name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth
and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to
the glory of God the Father.
Therefore,
my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now
much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and
trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to
fulfill his good purpose. Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that
you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped
and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky
as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the
day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. But even if I am being
poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your
faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and
rejoice with me.
I
hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered
when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who will show
genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own
interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved
himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of
the gospel. I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with
me. And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
But
I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker
and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my
needs. For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was
ill. Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on
him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I am all the
more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I
may have less anxiety. So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and
honor people like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked
his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.
1
Peter 5:5-6 –
In
the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of
you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes
the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
Humble
yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due
time.
Ezekiel
28:17 –
Your
heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom
because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you
before kings.
Bob’s
thoughts:
We
were redirected from our original choice for worship this morning, but God
graciously opened my eyes as to why.
We
were a little late arriving and Communion was just starting. I don’t know if
there was a time of confession but we took a moment for prayer and then had a
chance to serve each other in the lobby. The cups contained both elements but I
couldn’t get to the wafer in mine. Instead I found a bowl containing both
elements individually but I had to use a knife to open the wafer packaging. I
set my juice down to offer Jan the wafer and the staff quickly took away the
juice so I took another from the bowl nearby.
I
found a comfortable chair to listen to the message when I asked a staff member
where I could leave a note for the secretary about the shut-in member prayer
ministry. As usual I was talking too much, but then realized this disciple needed
some ministry. We spent the rest of the service in ministry to each other and I
was permitted to pray. It just made my day that God would use me.
Jan’s
thoughts:
Our
original plan did not work out, so we opted to visit Victory. We were late but
arrived just in time to partake of Communion. Due to the size of this
congregation, the elements are served in single-use disposable cups, so Bob and
I served each other after which I went in to find and sit with our daughter.
The
sermon series is called “He In Me,” illustrated by a very cool graphic, in my
opinion. Today was part two, entitled “The Secret to Overcoming Anything.”
After reading the second chapter of Philippians, the pastor declared that it is
possible to overcome anything through humility, and submission to God’s will is
a choice.
He
pointed out that pride repulses grace and lifts things above God such as the
bad stuff that happens to us. Pride exalts our feelings above God’s Word,
whereas Jesus Christ’s mindset was one of humility: He made Himself of no
reputation, He served others, and humbly obeyed His Father. Therefore, God the
Father exalted Him at the right time.
Submission
versus pride…the human story since the Garden of Eden.
Our
prayer for this church:
Lord,
we pray You continue to build up Your church and may they minister to each
other as they grow. Amen.
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