Humble Joy (Message 4)

The Scriptures

Phil. 2:5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

Two Reminders for this Series

One of the greatest OUTCOMES of humility is JOY.
J - Jesus O - Others Y - Yourself

When it comes to the difficult quality of HUMILITY, we have some wonderful EXAMPLES to follow.

Let’s Review

Pre-Existence — His DEITY
Phil. 2:6 Who, being in very nature God, . . .
Jesus has ALWAYS existed and is God by His very nature.

Pre-Existence — His ATTITUDE
Phil. 2:6 . . . did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
Jesus’ attitude was that although He had the RIGHT to hold on to His deity solely, He determined that “this is not about ME."

His Humility — His ACTION
Phil. 2:7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
Jesus emptied Himself, became a MAN and accepted the LIMITATIONS that came along with that.

His Humility — His Humility AGAIN
Phil. 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself . . .
After becoming man, He humbled Himself to DEATH.

His Humility — His Humiliation
Phil. 2:8 . . . by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Jesus’ death was the most HUMILIATING of deaths.

The Scriptures

Phil. 2:9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

6. His Exaltation — His Name

Phil. 2:9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
a. The word THEREFORE helps us to understand a CHANGE in direction. We move from the attitude and actions of Jesus to the ACTIONS of the Heavenly Father.

b. God the Father EXALTED His Son which includes SO MUCH in one word. (How do you exalt God higher?)
— To the Father, the resurrection is ASSUMED.
Phil. 2:8 by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore . . .

c. The Father then gave His Son a NAME that stands ABOVE any other name. What is that name? (Hint: it isn’t JESUS.)

7. His Exaltation — His Adoration

Phil. 2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
a. If “Jesus” was the name GIVEN, it wouldn’t say “at the name OF Jesus” but “at the name, Jesus.”

b. The proper translation to begin this verse is “SO THAT,” which indicates that His name will DEMAND allegiance.
Phil. 2:10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, . . .(ESV)

c. Someday ALL who love Him and ALL who reject Him shall bend their KNEE to Him. Jesus will be recognized by the WHOLE world as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Rev. 19:16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

— Who will bow to Him?
1. Those in heaven — The ANGELS and SAINTS.
2. Those on earth — all MANKIND.
3. Those under the earth — the FALLEN angels and the dead WITHOUT Christ.

8. His Exaltation — His Lordship

Phil. 2:11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, . . .

a. The CONCEPT of bowing and acknowledging was from the Old Testament, so it is not NEW. Paul is explaining further what the whole world should ALREADY know.
Isa 45:23 By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.

b. The word tongue (glōssa, γλῶσσα) is the word LANGUAGE, so every ETHNIC group around the world will acknowledge (make a public declaration to) Him. (Note that the old word used here, CONFESS, does not mean “to confess sins”.)

c. The last phrase gives us His new NAME — LORD. Even though He has been called Lord by some, NOW it is His name.
Matt. 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Luke 2:11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
Acts 2:36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
Rom. 10:9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

One of the problems with modern Christianity is the desire to acknowledge Jesus as SAVIOR, but not as LORD. (“Accept Jesus as your Savior.”) The word Lord is used 627 times in the New Testament. The word Savior, 24 times.

Luke 6:46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?

9. His Exaltation — His Purpose

Phil. 2:11 . . . to the glory of God the Father.

a. It was Jesus’ greatest DESIRE to glorify His Father.
John 17:1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.

b. It must be the purpose of EVERY person.

Walk The Talk

What has been most enlightening from our study of Phil. 2:5-11? What has been helpful from your memorization?

How would you explain the Father’s exalting of His Son?

Why is it important to declare “Jesus is Lord”?