When you want to be number one

BIBLE STUDY -845 CHURCH IN THE HOUSES FROM: FEBRUARY 10 - 16, 2015

TOPIC: "When you want to be number one" Philippians 2: 3-11 The Bible says that if PRIDE comes along also disgrace comes along. (Prov. 11: 2 "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humility comes wisdom.") This happens when a person reaches the arrogance, pride, superiority over others, provoking a contemptuous and inconsiderate treatment towards them. The superb becomes a cocky, an indifferent person, full of contempt for others. You cannot expect anything good from someone like that who has no honor; because honor is honesty and to have good reputation. When there is honor in someone you can speak well of him because his deeds are good. Let us see things as they are! How does God think about this? The rivalry with others or selfish ambition is THE DESIRE TO BE NUMBER ONE regardless of what it may cost. There will always be people who want to bring others around to express to them their own skills and interests; in them we will find the seeds of strife and discord, many complaints and accusations. Pride is the opposite of humility; the Bible tells us, "... consider others better than yourselves." Philippians 2: 3 The arrogant do everything contrary to the biblical advice; they are the ones who feel superior and for such reason there are complaints and disputes. God teaches us to have concern for others. For the “others”. Philippians 2: 4 "... each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." How much interest do you have for others? How much do you live for others? God wants us to be able to rise above selfish human fights and quarrels. We should have in us the same sentiments that were in the Lord (Philippians 2: 5 "Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ…")! The example of the Lord was given before the eyes of the Philippians. Jesus in His walk showed us the way to be persons dedicated to others, "the others". The sense of the Lord is the opposite of selfishness, it is the love of the neighbor, and it is sacrifice and service. It is to think constantly in others to love them, not to hate them or to lift accusations and lies. It is said in a poem about Jesus, "He did not have tears for His pain, and for my pain He poured sweat of blood”. We see Jesus as God. In eternity He existed as God. (Philippians 2: 6 "... Who, being in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped ...) he did not consider equality with God something to be grasped. From eternity Christ was positional equal with the Father, enjoying the glories of heaven in the same position of maximum divine authority. We must distinguish well between the PERSONAL EQUALITY and the POSITIONAL EQUALITY with God the Father. As for Him Christ was always, is, and will be equal with God. It would be impossible for Him to leave this. But the positional equality is a different thing, Jesus could have held on to it at all costs. But when the world needed to be redeemed our wonderful Savior was willing to leave His positional equality with God, wellness and the joys of heaven (Philippians 2: 7 "... but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness ...). He was willing to come to this world to suffer the wickedness of

sinners against Himself for our sake (Philippians 2: 8 "... And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a Cross). God the Father has never been spit on, beaten or crucified. In this sense, the Father was greater than the Son, not greater in terms of His person but in terms of His position and the way He lived. "...for the Father is greater than I am." (John 14:28) Jesus had been in inferior circumstances than His Father. He stripped Himself. He literally emptied Himself of His positional equality with God and brought the glory of the deity in a body of human flesh. He became "servant", something which He never had, He took off His robe and took a towel and girded Himself (John 13: 4). He took a humble posture to serve others and to give His life in sacrifice; there would not be quarrels in Him. Those who are willing to die for others generally do not fight with them. He was in the same condition of man as we are; He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death; He obeyed to the end. IT WAS HIS PURPOSE TO CORRECT THE SELFISHNESS! So, Paul wants US TO HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST! Amen.