Philippians 2:1-7

Hello Everyone!

We are starting the 2nd Chapter of Philippians!!

As a reminder, here is the Book of Philippians outline presented in the 3rd post ~

titled "Let's Get Started!"

I. Rejoicing in Christ as the Principle of Life (Chapter 1:1-11)

II. Rejoicing in Christ as the Pattern of Life (Chapter 2:1-30)

III. Rejoicing in Christ as the Prize of Life (Chapter 3:1-21)

IV. Rejoicing in Christ as the Power of Life (Chapter 4:1-23 )


Soooo..we are starting on "Rejoicing in Christ as the Pattern of Life".

The main topic this week will be tadummmm....."Humility".

But before we talk about humility, let's start with Chapter 2:

Verses 1-2:

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with 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 purpose." (New International Version, some capitalizations are mine.)

• If you have encouragement from Christ

• If you have any comfort from His love

• If you have any fellowship with the Holy Spirit
  
• (Do you allow the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide you?)

• If you have any, (not all, I think) of these graces present in your life,
  

then, the result will be peace, joy,

UNITY

and tender mercies.

Don't you just love the sound of those two words ~

"tender mercies"? Beeeeeeautiful!

Unity will prevail, differences will be dissolved, bickering will cease

and estrangements will be completely healed. Easier said than done ~ right?


Paul said that his joy would be complete ~ filled up to the full ~

full and running over when he would see this unity of heart, soul and mind!

We parents know how we feel when our children,

from the babes to the adult ones,

get along and show love to each other.

This is what Paul was saying; when he sees this...

his heart is full of joy...

full and running over.

Now this UNITY would require some humility on our part.

Verses 3-4:

"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."

If we would do this, would we have unity or at least more unity?

What do you think?

But you say..."That is not possible all the time, 24/7."

It can be a process...what can our model be?

Answer:

Verses 5-7

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."


Some humility is good.

Some humility is bad.

Some pride is good.

Some pride is bad.

This week, we are going to spotlight the bad humility.

This bad humility is:

**when we think too little of ourselves,

**when we are afraid to be human...

**when we are harder on ourselves and one another than God is...

**when we refuse to accept that God has lavished the grace of Christ upon us...

**when we fail to accept our calling...

**when we refuse to celebrate our unique gifts and abilities.


The root word for “humility” and “humble” is humus,

meaning “rich earth,” or dirt—

the material out of which humans are made in Genesis.

But that doesn’t mean we have to grovel.

Indeed, when the Spirit breathes life into humanity we are,

to use one theologian’s phrase, “inspired mud pies,”

God-breathed, and created in God’s image—

and that’s something we can be proud of!!



Please allow me to "preach" to me and you for a few lines...

Our example is Jesus, as stated in verses 5-7.

Do you think Jesus...

**Thought too little of Himself?

**Was afraid to be human?

**Put Himself down over and over in His thought life?

**Refused to accept that the love of the Father was lavished on Him?

**Failed to accept His calling?

**Refused to celebrate His unique gifts and abilities?


Ouch...Double Ouch!!


Quotes on humility from the article I used for a resource.

(I also used portions of the article for some of this blog.)

"Humility is thinking of ourselves less, not thinking less of ourselves."

"I know people who have a low self esteem and are very proud and others with a high self esteem and very humble. Humility is acknowledging God as your everything while appreciating the gifts, talents and uniqueness he has given you."

"True humility would EMBRACE

the gifts that Christ bestowed through His grace, recognizing the origin of and purpose behind those gifts - to glorify God and help to raise up a generation behind us that would do the same." (Amen!)

"A good friend once told me, 'Humility is the courage to be who you really are...'"

"Humility...could be a cure for shame. I can testify that in the humility of living life before God as if He were indeed God and I was not, and growing in the knowledge that He dearly loves me and all His grace is there for me in Jesus, there is a wonderful freedom to blossom

into all that He has made me to be. There is no fear, no shame or crippling self-consciousness; simply a joy of moving and being in His presence no matter what I'm doing. There is a total freedom to learn from Him, run to Him when I mess up or see the darkness that sometimes is in my heart--- and rejoice when He calls me to move in whatever He's doing at the moment. Biblically, grace and genuine humility go hand in hand, and it is a sweet gift that sets free."

"Ah! Yes! A struggle not unknown to me...daily evidence is my constant apologizing for things...such as the quality of the meal I have provided for my family. So the trick is to love ourselves and lift our heads...yet not become arrogant or hold others in contempt..after all, if HE loves us..."

Yep, that is where I am coming from ~ that last quote.

I don't think I hold others in contempt...

I hope not.

So they do not do things the way I do them...

who says my way is the right way?

For sure I do not do things the right way....

I would love to hear your thoughts about the "wrong side of humility".

God bless your week,

Debbie G.

**************************************************************************

After Bible Study Chit-Chat...

Here is a video link to a favorite easy dessert ~ Jello Cake or a.k.a Poke Cake!

Please click on the words "Jello Cake..." and it will appear!!