My Sermon for Tonight

[Mark H. Stevens, Th.D]

Philippians 2:1 "If [there be] therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any
fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,"

This is as if he is asking them if their experience with Christ
was real or not. Are you trusting in Christ? Is His love real to you?
Do you fellowship with Him in your Spirit? Do you really believe in
the mercy of God? Were you really baptized in the Holy Spirit?

Philippians 2:2 "Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having
the same love, [being] of one accord, of one mind."

Then, Paul says, if you answered yes in the verses above, conduct
your life like a Christian. Agree with your Christian brothers and
sisters and make me very happy. Love each other and get along. Be of
one mind in the things of God. Let there be unity in your spirits.

Philippians 2:3 "[Let] nothing [be done] through strife or
vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than
themselves."

Pride causes problems. It seems that a good bit of jealousy was
going on, and Paul speaks against that. Paul is explaining to them
that Christians consider the needs of others before themselves. Love
your neighbor as yourself. Strife and vainglory cause division in the
church. Paul is saying, do not be stubborn and demand your own way.
Think of the needs of others first.

Philippians 2:4 "Look not every man on his own things, but every
man also on the things of others."

One of the main differences in Christian's attitude and the
attitude of the world is that Christians are more thoughtful of others
than the world. A Christian desires success for his Christian brothers
and sisters, as well as his own sucess.

Philippians 2:5 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in
Christ Jesus:"

If we have taken on the mind of Christ, then our thoughts would
be the same thoughts He would have about the same thing. He was
unselfish and thoughtful of others. If we desire to be Christ like,
then we will be unselfish and thoughtful of others.

Philippians 2:6 "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not
robbery to be equal with God:"

Jesus was in the beginning with God, but His name, in heaven
before he came to earth, was the Word of God. It was not robbery,
because He was God the Word. I John 5:7 "For there are three that bear
record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these
three are one." This next Scripture really settles it. John 1:1 "In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God." When the Word of God came to the earth, He took on the form
of flesh and dwelt among us as Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He was
"Emmauel", God with us. He had the flesh of man so that He could be
tempted and suffer as we do in the flesh. The Spirit within the flesh
was God the Word.

Philippians 2:7 "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon
him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:"

Jesus left His title {Word of God} in heaven and took on the
lowly flesh of man. He came to this earth in the form of man to rescue
mankind from their sin. Since the problem was in the flesh of mankind,
Jesus took on flesh. His flesh was in the likeness of man, so that He
could defeat Satan as a man. In heaven, He was worshipped. He left
that to save His creation. He became a lowly servant to mankind. He
had no reputation as Jesus on the earth. His glory was in heaven as
the Word of God.

Philippians 2:8 "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled
himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

He wanted to taste every aspect of the suffering on the cross for
you and me. Him being fashioned as a man, He suffered pain as you and
I would. Notice, in the Garden of Gethsemane, He said, my Spirit is
willing, but my flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41 "Watch and pray, that ye
enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the
flesh [is] weak." He humbled Himself and did the will of the Father.
One must die for the sins of the people. This had to be to free
mankind from sin. Notice, also, that all of this was the will of
Jesus,
{humbled Himself}.

Philippians 2:9 "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and
given him a name which is above every name:"

This, in a sense, is speaking of God the Father exalting Him.
Whether this name spoken of here is the unspeakable name in heaven, or
not, we do not know. We do know that on the earth this name is Jesus
which means Jehovah Saviour. He was exalted, because he had been
humbled. He had been exalted ruler in heaven, before He came to earth.
This just puts Him in the exalted position He had held in heaven from
the beginning.

Philippians 2:10 "That at the name of Jesus every knee should
bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under
the earth;"
This, now is speaking of His creation, whether in heaven,
earth, or under the earth. Creator God deserves all praise. We should
praise Him that we are recreated in Him at our new birth. We do know
that all prayers made to the Father must be spoken in the name of
Jesus to receive entrance to the throne of God. We do know that He has
given believers on the earth the power of attorney to use the name of
Jesus. We do know that miracles occur in the name of Jesus. There is
great power in the name of Jesus. Look, with me, at some of the other
names this Jesus is called by. Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is
born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his
shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The
mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." My own
belief is that the name {Jesus} encompasses all these names.