Impossible Calling
Notes
Transcript
Impossible Calling
INTRODUCTION
Things that at one time seemed impossible
Watching the Space X rocket taking men to the international space station.
Watching rocket land on a boat in middle of ocean to be used again.
Flying
Touching the moon
Long distance communication
Condensing a billion filing cabinets to fit on a pin head.
Having access to all the knowledge in the world from the palm of your hand.
Paul seems to be asking us to accomplish the impossible in Philippians 2.
How do we all have one mind? We all have replaced our mind with Christ’s.
-The mind was given to us “in Christ Jesus”.
-It comes with the “new creation” we become at salvation.
READ Philippians 2:5-8
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Pray
3 Ways to Accomplish the Impossible
Humble Self (6)
Humble Self (6)
Jesus’ example
Do not expect what you think you deserve.
“My rights!”
“Not fair!”
Form= exact, unchanging character.
Jesus deserved to be worshiped.
John 1:3
All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Colossians 1:15-20
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Jesus lived a humble life.
Matthew 8:20
And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
Isaiah 53:3-5
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
If God humbled himself in such a way, how much more should we?
Worship isn’t about us, it’s about God.
Serving within the church is not about us, it’s about God.
There is no place for our agenda, it’s about God.
Submit Will (7)
Submit Will (7)
Empty Self= get rid of selfish ambition
It’s about God’s will- not your will.
servant= Bond Slave= willingly submitted.
Bond-servant= a slave-
How do you become a slave in Jewish context (OT)?
Born
Defeated by a conquering nation.
Willingly- Usually an indentured servant, one who is working off a debt, would decide they were better off.
Exodus 21:5-6
But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’
then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever.
Jesus “emptied himself”- he chose to be a slave.
But from that moment on exactly like a slave- couldn’t go back on it (reason for piercing).
Jesus received the piercing.
“emptied self”= no reputation” or “made himself nothing”
Sacrifice your own reputation for God’s reputation.
We are the light of Christ, not self.
Sacrifice All (8)
Sacrifice All (8)
Death on cross.
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Paul was a prisoner- death was a reality.
Us?
If we are willing to die, most of what he calls us to do is easy.
CONCLUSION
What’s at stake? (9-11)
The glory of God being shown to the world.
The eternal destination of those around us.
Is your life bringing glory to God?
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Is your life bringing glory to God?