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CHRIST, OUR EXAMPLE FOR THE NEW YEAR AND FOR LIFE!

Introduction

Verse 5 says, “Let this mind be in you which was also Christ Jesus.”

Every believer should desire to be more like Jesus in their lives.

Romans 8:29–“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

Colossians 3:1-3–“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”

1 John 3:2-3–“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

Paul is exhorting the Philippian Church here to see Jesus as their example for living the Christian life and to become more like Jesus!

These are some timeless truths that were not only intended for the Church at Philippi, but also for us as well!

In what ways are we to be like Jesus? I want to deal with the first thing today as we look at the subject of “CHRIST, OUR EXAMPLE FOR THE NEW YEAR AND FOR LIFE! PART I–WE NEED TO BE LIKE JESUS IN OUR ATTITUDE!” Look at what Paul says here: (Vs 1-2)

I.            “If there be any consolation in Christ. . .” (Vs 1)

The word translated “consolation” here is related to the word that the Lord Jesus Christ used when He described the Holy Ghost as “Comforter.”

John 14:16–“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;”

The word means “comfort or alleviation of misery or distress of mind;”

               Is there any consolation in Christ? Of course there is!

Hebrews 2:9–“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”

Hebrews 2:14-15–“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”

Romans 5:1-2–“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

               2 Corinthians 1:3-7

               Is there any consolation in Christ? There is great consolation in Christ!

II.           “. . .if any comfort of love. . .” (Vs 1)

               Think of the love of Christ for us? What kind of love was it?

               In our day the word "love" has been degraded and perverted.

But, the love of Christ is a love beyond any other love!

Romans 5:6-8–“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

               Is there any comfort in this great love that Christ had for us?

               Of course there is!

John 15:12-13–“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

1 John 3:16–“16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

               Is there any comfort in the love that Christ had for us?

               There is great comfort in His love!

III.         “. . .if any fellowship of the Spirit. . .” (Vs 1)

               The word “fellowship” means “partnership.”

Is there any fellowship or partnering of the Spirit in the lives of us who are saved? Of course there is!

The moment we were saved the Holy Spirit took up residence in our bodies to be our partner and helper in the things of God.

               A.         He Partners With Us In Our Prayer Life.

Romans 8:26–“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

               B.         He Partners With Us In Our Learning.

John 14:26–“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

John 16:13–“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

1 Corinthians 2:12–“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”

               C.         He Partners With Us In Our Witnessing. 

Acts 1:8–“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

               D.         He Partners With Us In Our Maturity.

2 Corinthians 3:18–“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

IV.         “. . .if any bowels and mercies. . .” (Vs 1)

               i.e. Pity or sympathy; tenderness and compassion.

What Paul is referring to here is that if the Philippians had any “bowels and mercies” toward him as the man of God, they would be mindful of what he’s telling them.

I’m not saying this because I am a man of God, but because th Word of God bears it out. There should be great love and compassion for the man of God by the people of God for what he is going through as the man of God for them!

Not to the point that he is worshiped, mind you, but the man of God is to be respected and followed as he follows Christ!

It is obvious from reading the book of Philippians that these folks had great love and compassion for Paul and what he was going through as the man of God!

               (Cf. 4:10, 14-19)

               Look at Galatians 4:11-16

Hebrews 13:7–“Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.”

Hebrews 13:17–“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”

               Are there any bowels and mercies for the man of God?

               Is there any pity and compassion for the burden he bears for you?

               There should be!

IV.         “Fulfil ye my joy. . .” (Vs 2)

The only way the believers in Philippi could fulfill Paul’s joy was for him to see four things in their lives (found here in verse 2) that should spring forth from the reality of the four things found in verse 1.

i.e. If the four things in verse 1 were true (and they were), then Paul is saying there were four specific things they should do in response. And if they did, that would make Paul’s joy complete.

               A.         “. . .that ye be likeminded. . .” 

                            What mind is that likemindedness suppose to be?

The mind of Christ! (1 Corinthians 2:16)

                            How many minds does a normal body have? One!                                       And Christ is the head of the body, the Church!

                            (Colossians 1:18)

So, we are to have His mind and be directed by His mind!

If we all had the mind of Christ, then there would be perfect unity. There could be no discord, schism, contention or strife in the church. There would be joyous harmony in promoting the same great work—the salvation of souls.

               B.         “. . .having the same love. . .”

                            What love is that love suppose to be? The love of Christ!

John 13:34-35–“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

                            (1 John 4:7-12) 

               C.         “. . .being of one accord. . .”

                            i.e. Of one soul; having your souls joined together.

The word used here does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament. It means a union of soul; or an acting together as if but one soul actuated them.

                            How many soul’s do you have in your body? One!

                            Just as schizophrenia is foreign and harmful to our body,

                            so also is schism within Christ’s body!

               D.         “. . .of one mind. . .”

The expression “of one mind” means “thinking the same thing.”

The apostle here is actually using a great variety of expressions to denote the same thing.

The goal which is union of heart, of feeling, of plan, of purpose. He wished them to avoid all divisions and strifes.

Over and over again we see the importance of harmony among Christians stressed in the New Testament Scriptures.

Conclusion

As we are about to enter 2008. I trust that you see how that Christ is our example! He is our example for the ATTITUDE that we need to have in the coming year, and the year after that, and the year after that, and so on!

i.e. Christ is our example for life.

Whose mind do you have? Some here may have the mind of Satan. Some here may have the mind of the world. Some may have mind of the flesh. What Jesus wants is for us to have His mind! It begins with salvation! It requires surrender!

Home Page   Contact Us    Service Times   Sermons   Are You Going To Heaven?

NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!