chapter 2. I know last week I... Kind of jumped into the back end of the chapter and wasn't planning on teaching out of it at all. I was just kind of giving a Bible study last Wednesday morning in between Christmas and New Year's and just got to digging around a little bit throughout the chapter and looking at where we are. And I think I'm gonna spend the next couple of Wednesdays digging into Philippians in chapter two and then maybe go from there. So we'll see. Philippians chapter two, we'll look at verses five through 11 this morning. 5 through 11. The Bible says here in verse 5, kind of a pinnacle verse I would say, the Bible says, let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men. being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, of things in earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Lord, we thank you, Lord, for all that you've done. We thank you for who and what you are, for the many blessings you've given us all, for the traveling mercies, for the safety, for the guidance, the grace. Lord, for the answered prayers, Father, we even ask you and thank you now, dear Lord, for the prayers that are yet to be answered, Lord, the ones that are being delayed for your your glory and for your purpose we thank you for those today and Lord I just ask that you take this Bible study this morning help us apply it into our hearts dear Lord help us lift up the name of Christ and Lord I just want to ask you today as we give precedence to that name that is exalted above every name Father, we pray today that we would remember that Jesus Christ is Lord, that He is in our hearts today, that it is only by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, mankind can be reconciled unto the Father. Lord, let us be mindful when we pass souls on the pavement, when we see people throughout the day, dear Lord, let us be mindful to present that precious gospel, both in word and in deed, in Jesus Christ's name. Amen. So in verse five, guys, the Bible tells us here, it says, let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Now this is a direct reference to the attitude of Jesus Christ. And again, this is not a continuation from Sunday's sermon or even an addendum to it or anything along that line, but it does kind of fit the nature of what we are talking about on Sunday, especially with addressing the theme and how you develop a legacy of living a life worth leaving. And so I don't wanna kind of belabor that point. We're gonna leave that for Sundays. But we find here in verse five, let this mind be in you, which is also in Christ Jesus, to be this reference to the attitude that Jesus Christ had towards service and obedience. Look in verses seven through eight yet again, where we see the cross reference to verse five. It says, but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men. and being found in fashion as man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. So we find that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the mind that Paul is saying by inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, this is not his opinion, this is not his thoughts, his words, but it is the impressiveness of the Holy Spirit of God upon his soul to write exactly what is here, let this mind, being you, which was also in Christ Jesus, which is the mind of a servant. Paul is making the same reference with you, if you will, in 1 Corinthians 2, verse 16, he says, for who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct you, but we have the mind of Christ? My friend, if you want, that doesn't mean that you are all-knowing, it doesn't mean that you are omniscient, anything along that line whatsoever. It simply means the mind of Christ when he was on this earth was the mind of a servant, an obedient servant. He took on himself of no reputation. And again, I said that I'm not gonna belabor the point, and I realize I'm not going to, but as I mentioned Sunday, guys, if anyone who has ever existed in the history of mankind, for the 6,000 years of mankind's existence, if anyone had the right to make life about himself, it's the creator of all things, it's Jesus Christ. If anyone had the right to come down here and make his entire life about him, it is the one who spoke everything into existence, by whom all things consist, it is Jesus Christ, and yet he did not. He gives us this pattern, and Paul says, let. That word let is simple, guys. It means for you to allow. What does that also tell us? That means, that tells us that we can reject it as well. I mean, the Holy Spirit of God can be rejected. He can be rejected. He's rejected every single day. Jesus Christ was rejected. He was rejected as the Messiah by the leaders. He was rejected as the Lord. He was rejected as the Savior of mankind. So the Holy Spirit of God and Jesus Christ can be rejected. And you say, wait a second. But they're all powerful. Yes, they are all powerful. but I'm here to tell you this morning that the Holy Spirit of God is not gonna push himself upon a soul that does not want him, amen? That is a Calvinistic view, it is a damnable heresy, it is a doctrine of devils. If you think today that the Holy Spirit of God is gonna save a soul who doesn't want to be saved, not happening. It hasn't happened in the history of the Bible, and it's not gonna happen in a day forward. You have to willingly choose to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, amen? And so we need to understand today As we look here in these few verses, we'll begin to understand that we need to allow, in our life, saved, born-again individuals, allow the same mindset that Jesus Christ had, that same mind of a servant, okay? And how do we do that? Well, let's look at his pattern, look at the pattern that he left, look at his, what do I wanna say, look at his focus, if you will, and what his choice was in verse six. Verse 6 tells us, it says, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. And again, we've already read verses 7 through 8 and understand who he is and what choice he made. But who is Jesus Christ? The one who chose no reputation, the one who willingly came in and lived a life of a simple servant, if you will. And he took on the form of a servant, was made in the likeness of man, being found in the fashion as a man. He humbled himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross. Who is this? Well, he being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God. That's who it is. So Christ Jesus is not only, and we're gonna do a lot of turning here in just a moment, guys. I want us to look at several verses, and I didn't put them on the screen because we have time. It's not a long message today, but we are gonna do some turning. Christ Jesus is not only the form of God. Notice what it says. He thought it not robbery to be equal with God. So he's not only the form of God, He is equal to the image of God. Three places I want you to turn. Hebrews chapter 1 to start out with this morning. Hebrews chapter 1. We're going to test your sword drills today. Hebrews chapter 1. We'll be in verses 1 through 3. Bible says, God, who at sundry times and in diverse manners speak in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he had made the world, who being the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high." Go with me to 2 Corinthians, if you will. 2 Corinthians in chapter 4. 2 Corinthians in chapter 4. All right, and the Bible says in 2 Corinthians chapter four and verse four, in whom the God of this world had blinded the minds of them which believed not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, watch this, who is the image of God should shine unto them. All right, so again, I repeat myself, he's not only the form of God, he is equal to the image of God. Colossians chapter one with me real quick. Colossians in chapter one. Colossians 1, beginning in verse 3, we're gonna read all the way down to verse 15. Colossians 1, verse 3, to begin with. We give thanks to God and to the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you. Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which he hath to all the saints, for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which is come unto you as it is in all the world, and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth. And ye also learned of Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ, who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will, and in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with our might, according to his glorious power, and in all patience and longsuffering, with joyfulness, giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. who have delivered us from the power of darkness and have translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son, in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins, who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature." So here's what we have, guys. We understand Paul is telling us, again, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, say, let this mind be in you, which is also in Christ. Every writer in the world to set up his life to be just like, to be just about him. to come and rule and reign, to do whatever he wanted to do because everything is made by him, made for him, his goodwill, his good pleasure, he spoke everything to existence. Yet, he takes on the form of a servant, he took no form of reputation, he humbled himself to the death, even the death of the cross, all of that, that's the servitude's mind. But then who is this that chose that lifestyle to live on this earth? it is God himself and we need to understand again as we look at this that he's not only the form of God he is equal to the image of God okay so he's not only equal to the image of God guys we need to understand that he claimed the title of God Isaiah chapter 9 6 I know we come on the back side of Christmastime, and Isaiah 9.6 is one of the verses that we read so often, so heavily during the Christmastime. And the Bible says here in Isaiah chapter 9.6, again, he claimed that title, Jesus does, okay? For unto us a child is born, okay, that us, if you mark in your Bible, underscore, That is not the world, that's not Gentiles, that's not the church, okay? For unto us, that is Israel, make sure you get it in the right dispensation, for unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, the government shall be upon his shoulders, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor of the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. So he even takes the title that God has, Everlasting Father, if you will. Not only that, guys, but He not only claims the title, but he claims the power as well. The power as well. Let's see if we got that right up there. Where's our power? There it is. Our power. Matthew chapter 26. Turn over with me real quick if you can. Matthew 26, next time we do something like this, we're gonna do sword drills and see who can win. Matthew 26, and I will tell you this, I don't know, for some reason, I'm turning to these things real quick. I mean, I'm flipping them and I'm right there, so praise the Lord for that. Maybe the Lord's being kind to everyone for the time this morning. Matthew 26, 64 says, command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure unto the third day, lest his disciples come by night and steal him away. 627. Sorry, I was off, wasn't I? Jesus saith unto him, thou hast said, nevertheless, I say unto you hereafter, shall you see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand, watch this, of power and coming in the clouds of heaven. So not only is he equal with God, he claims the title, Isaiah 9.6, he claims the power, Matthew 26.24, but he also claims the attributes of God. The attributes of God. John chapter three and verse 13. John chapter three and verse 13. Alright, John chapter 3 verse 13. The Bible says that no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of Man which is in heaven. So we have the title, guys. We have the power. We have the attributes of God. Fifthly, guys, we have the authority of God, which is important, the authority of God. This is the very one who chose no reputation, the very one that humbled himself to the death, even the death of the cross, and this servitude mindset, if you will, yet we know who Jesus Christ is. He has the title of God, the power, the attributes, and the authority, Matthew 25, Matthew 25, if you will. Matthew 25, and just kind of look there in verse 31. Again, this is speaking of the second advent, we understand that, but verse 31 says, when the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, and shall he sit upon the throne of his glory, and before him shall be gathered all nations, and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divided his sheep from the goats, and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, about the goats on his left hand. Okay, so we see that he's sitting on that throne, so he has the authority, guys. Matthew chapter 25. Again, that's the second advent. You can tie that together with 2 Peter chapter three, verse 10, as well as 2 Thessalonians chapter two, but that's for another time, another study. So the next thing that I want us to see here, guys, we have several to go over. We're looking at he's equal with God, but not only that, it claims his title, it claims his powers, attributes his authority, but he also has claimed the nature of God, the nature of God, which is vitally important, if you will. Two places I want you to turn, Colossians and the book of John. So Colossians chapter one, we see that he's claiming the nature of God now. Colossians chapter one, and when I say claim, guys, I'm not saying claim as someone would make a statement. We're saying he's claimed in a way that someone has taken a stand or claimed a land or claimed something. We've looked at this here, the nature of God. We've seen this. We've read Colossians 1, 3 through 15 already. And you see here in verses 3 through 10, we give thanks unto God. Thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ pray and always for you Skip down if you will and look in verse 9 for this calls also since the day we heard it Do not cease to pray for you and declare that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding That you may walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitful every good work and increasing here we go and the knowledge of God and it's important for us to understand the very same nature of that God has. It's the very same nature that Jesus Christ has in and of Himself. We see this in John chapter 1 as well. John chapter 1, if you look in verses 1 through 4. John chapter 1 and verses 1 through 4. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him. Without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of man. That's the nature of God. Everything that is made is made by God. And we can narrow that down specifically even all the way down to what part of God, if you will. We got a Holy Trinity. The Holy Trinity is involved in all creation. We know that. We know that to be true. So but how do we, when we look at creation, we look that everything was made by Him, there's nothing that was made, and everything is made, if you will, that wasn't made by Him. So there's nothing in this world today that exists that's not either, is not made by God, and consisting by God. Again, I make this point very heavily. Colossians tells us, in whom all things consist, every molecule in creation today is held together by the power, by the nature of God in and of himself. And you can't get away from that today. You cannot get away from who and what God is with his authority, his power, with his attributes, with his nature, obviously with the title, and that is by Jesus Christ, all right? So in John 1, This is specifically talking about God. It's even detailed speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. Now we go into verse 3 again. All things were made by Him. Without Him was not anything made that was made. Jesus Christ. Okay. He spoke everything into existence. And the way you look at the Trinity, if you will, and then we'll move on to the next point. The way you look at the Trinity in the midst of creation is that God the Father thought it, okay? God the Son spoke it, and God the Holy Spirit, as the Bible tells us, moved upon, the Spirit moved upon the face of the deep. You understand that? That is how we see creation today in all of its existence, and that's how you begin to understand the nature of God in and within Jesus Christ, amen? So Christ was God manifest. We know this according to 1 Timothy chapter three and in verse 16. First Timothy chapter three, verse 16. Very powerful scriptures, we know. Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed unto the world, received up in glory. Not only that, guys, but he brought God's blood with him. You say, wait a second here, what does this mean? Well, when you begin to look at what and where we are and you understand the actions of who and what God is, there is a remarkable idea when you start to understand what's required to reconcile mankind unto God the Father. Acts chapter 20 Verse 28, I'll read it for you. And here's the last part. with his own blood. That's the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and you can't get away from the simple fact that the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ today, the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, is the blood of God. It's a sinless, perfect blood. It is a blood that is without spot, without blemish. It comes from a man who is 100% man, 100% God, all at the same time. And you say, well, why teach and preach? Why is Paul emphasizing that? Paul, again, is coming and trying to tell us, guys, to have the same mind that Jesus Christ chose to have. And again, I promised I wasn't gonna reiterate everything from Sunday, but again, who had every right, if anyone did, no one else on this earth has right to make things about themselves. You just don't. Paul tells us to esteem others better than ourselves. Do unto others as you have them do unto you. We've heard that all our life, yeah? No one has the right to make things about them, except for Jesus. When Jesus came, he's the only one that has the authority, the position, he's the only one who has the absolute positive right to make it all about him, and yet, he took on the role of a servant. And Paul just tells us, let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. I mean, he's the form of God, not only the form of God, guys, he is equal to God. Not only is he equal to God, he claims the title, he has the nature, he has the authority, he has the attributes, he has the power of God, all of those things, and yet he still chose to take on the role of a servant, to humble himself, to become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. So when we look and we allow ourselves to break it down and see who and what God is, and what Jesus Christ was on this earth, and what mindset Paul is telling us to have, he's not telling us to have the mindset of the attributes of God, the mindset of the power of God, the authority of God, the nature of God, we cannot do that. He's telling us to take on the mindset of a servant. Telling us to take on the mindset of being obedient unto him, unto his word, for who Jesus Christ has died for us, that we may be reconciled unto the Father. I'm gonna stop there this week. We're gonna pick up next week in a few more attributes and a few more characteristics from chapter two, and then we'll get into a few more verses when we pick up next week. Father, we thank you, Lord, for this time to be together this morning. We pray now that you give us God's grace and mercy. Forgive us where we have failed you, but Lord, I do pray that you would continue to open up your word to us today. Lord, let us think on and apply throughout the day what we've heard this morning. Lord, that we may be able to be able to better live a life pleasing to you. Father, again, as we think on the missionaries, Lord, that Bailey read about this morning, we pray for them, for their each and every endeavor, for those that have been in the ministry for a lifetime, a long lifetime, for those that are just starting the ministry out and everything in between. Father, we pray that you bless the families, bless every endeavor in their life and all that you've given them to do. So, Father, go with us today in grace. Go with us in the rest of the day. Be with us tonight, Father. And I pray that you would please just the name of Christ be lifted up in all we do and all we say. In Jesus' name we ask. Amen. Amen.