Philippians 2:3-11 • Glory
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HAPPY EASTER, EVERYONE.
LET'S GIVE ANOTHER THANKS TO
OUR MUSICIANS WHO HAVE JUST
DONE SUCH A SPECTACULAR JOB.
[APPLAUSE]
WE WANT TO WELCOME BACK OUR
SNOWBIRDS.
WELCOME OUR GUESTS AND TO ALL
OF YOU, SAY, AGAIN, IT'S A
DELIGHT TO WELCOME YOU ON THIS
EASTER WHEN WE CELEBRATE THE
RISEN LORD.
THOSE WHO ARE HERE, YOU KNOW
IN RECENT WEEKS, WE'VE BEEN
LOOKING AT FAITH IN THE
WORKPLACE.
AND I'M GOING TO ASK THAT YOU
CONTINUE TO CONSIDER THAT WITH
ME.
IF YOU LOOK IN YOUR BIBLES AT
PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER TWO.
SCRIPTURE: PHILIPPIANS 2:3-11
IF FAITH IS GOING TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN THE PLACES OF
OUR LIVES THAT MAKE A
DIFFERENCE, THEN SURELY,
EASTER ITSELF, THE GREAT
CELEBRATION DAY OF
CHRISTIANITY MUST HAVE
SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT WHERE
WE LIVE AND WORK IN THE EVERY
DAY PLACES OF OUR LIVES.
AND IT'S ACTUALLY THAT THAT
THE APOSTLE PAUL WAS
ADDRESSING IN PHILIPPIANS TWO.
LET ME ASK YOU TO STAND AS WE
HONOR GOD'S WORD.
I'LL READ VERSES 3-11.
(ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION) DO
NOTHING FROM SELFISH AMBITION
OR CONCEIT, BUT IN HUMILITY
COUNT OTHERS MORE SIGNIFICANT
THAN YOURSELVES.
LET EACH OF YOU LOOK NOT ONLY
TO HIS OWN INTERESTS, BUT ALSO
TO THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS.
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.
THEREFORE GOD HAS HIGHLY
EXALTED HIM AND BESTOWED ON
HIM THE NAME THAT IS ABOVE
EVERY NAME, SO THAT AT THE
NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE
SHOULD BOW, IN HEAVEN AND ON
EARTH AND UNDER THE EARTH, AND
EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT
JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE
GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.
LET'S PRAY TOGETHER.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE PRAISE YOU
FOR THE RISEN LORD.
NOT JUST FOR A FACT OF
HISTORY, BUT FOR WHAT IT MEANS
TODAY.
HE IS ALIVE AND HE IS LORD?
AND FOR THAT REASON, WE NOT
ONLY PRAISE HIM, WE SEEK HIM.
HIS POWER AND HIS PRESENCE IN
OUR LIVES TODAY, THAT HE WOULD
MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
TEACH US WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN,
EVEN IN THOSE CHALLENGING
PLACES OF OUR LIFE WHERE WE
FEAR IT WOULD MAKE NO
DIFFERENCE.
GRANT YOUR SPIRIT TO HELP
THROUGH YOUR WORD WE PRAY, IN
JESUS NAME, AMEN.
PLEASE BE SEATED.
WORDS OF RON WAGGLY, CEO,
FORMER PRESIDENT OF
TRANSAMERICA OXYGEN LIFE, ONE
OF THE NATION'S LARGEST
FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANIES.
HE WROTE, IT WOULD BE WRONG TO
SAY THAT YOU CANNOT BE A
CHRISTIAN IN TODAY'S BUSINESS
WORLD, WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE
UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR OF SOME
CORPORATE LEADERS.
BUSINESSES NEED CHRISTIANS WHO
LIVE OUT THERE BIBLICAL
PRINCIPLES IN THEIR BIBLICAL
AND BUSINESS PRACTICES.
THEN HE WRITES HONESTLY, I
WISH I COULD TELL YOU THAT I
HAD ALWAYS HAD THIS MINDSET.
BUT THAT WOULD NOT BE TRUE.
WHEN I GOT OUT OF COLLEGE, MY
CHRISTIANITY COULD BEST BE
DESCRIBED AS A STAINED GLASS
RELIGION.
THOUGH I HAD BECOME A
CHRISTIAN AS A YOUTH, I
REGARDED CHRISTIANITY AS A
"CHURCH THING." SOMETHING THAT
BELONGS BEHIND STAINED GLASS
WINDOWS.
FAITH HAD NO PLACE OR
RELEVANCE IN THE REAL WORLD,
PARTICULARLY FOR ONES ANXIOUS
TO CLIMB THE LADDER OF
SUCCESS.
GETTING IS WHAT DETERMINED MY
VALUES AND MY PRIORITIES,
GETTING WAS NEVER ENOUGH
THOUGH, TO SATISFY.
NOTHING CAME QUICKLY ENOUGH,
MY LIFE WAS CHARACTERIZED BY
FRUSTRATION.
WHEN WILL I GET ENOUGH?
WHY IS IT NOT COMING FASTER?
I NEVER GAVE MUCH THOUGHT TO
MY CHRISTIAN FAITH, EXCEPT FOR
THE OCCASIONAL MOMENT OF PANIC
IN A TRAGIC OR HARD TIME.
OR OFFERING SELF-CENTERED
PRAYERS TO GOD TO GET ME WHAT
I WANTED.
I TREATED GOD AS THOUGH HE
WERE AN ON CALL, GENIE IN A
BOTTLE, WHEN ALL ELSE FAILED,
CALL OUT TO GOD.
THEN GOD BEGAN TO DEAL WITH
ME.
I SLOWLY BEGAN TO INTEGRATE MY
FAITH AND MY FAMILY IN MY
MARRIAGE AND FINALLY, IN MY
CAREER AND THE LATTER DIDN'T
COME EASY.
ONCE I HEARD IF YOUR FAITH
DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN
THE THINGS THAT MAKE A
DIFFERENCE, THEN WHAT'S THE
DIFFERENCE?
THE BIG DIFFERENCE FOR MY LIFE
AND MY FAMILY WAS MY CAREER.
BUT GOD HAD TO DO AN OVERHAUL
OF MY MIND TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE THERE.
HOW DOES GOD DO THAT?
HOW DOES GOD ACTUALLY BEGIN TO
OVERHAUL AN ENTIRE MINDSET OF
OUR LIVES, SO THAT EVEN IN THE
EVERY DAY PLACES OF WORK, HE'S
MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
THAT FAITH ITSELF IS SOMETHING
REAL AND ROBUST AND POWERFUL
FOR THE EVERY DAY THINGS OF
LIFE, SO THAT WE BEGIN TO
RECOGNIZE THAT THE POWER AND
PURPOSES OF GOD ARE IN EVERY
CONVERSATION, IN EVERY DAY, IN
EVERY CONTRACT, IN EVERY
MEETING, IN EVERY TELEPHONE
CALL, IN EVERY MEMO, IN EVERY
STROKE OF A PEN OR BRUSH OR
SCALPEL THAT GOD IS THERE.
BY HIS POWER AND THROUGH HIS
PURPOSES, ACTUALLY BRINGING
HIS GLORY INTO OUR LIVES.
AND WE CAN ACTUALLY LIVE WITH
THAT MINDSET.
THE CEO IS HONEST ENOUGH TO
SAY THAT IS TOUGH.
IT'S THE REASON WE CELEBRATE
ON EASTER.
THE RISEN POWER OF GOD.
IF GOD HAD THE POWER TO BRING
LIFE TO DEATH, THEN HE HAS THE
POWER TO CHANGE OUR MINDS TO
BEGIN TO SWIRL AROUND WHAT IS
IN US IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE
WHO HAVE LIVED FOR SELF HAVE
LIVED WITH AN ORIENTATION TO
ME CAN ACTUALLY BEGIN TO LIVE
FOR GLORY.
EVEN GLORY THAT IS BEYOND
OURSELVES.
HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?
IT'S ACTUALLY THE WORDING OF
VERSE FIVE.
AS THE APOSTLE BEGINS TO TAKE
US ON A JOURNEY IN THIS BRIEF
TEXT, FROM CRADLE TO CROSS TO
CROWN.
IN VERSE FIVE, THE APOSTLE
SAYS, HAVE THIS MIND AMONG
YOURSELVES WHICH IS YOURS IN
CHRIST JESUS.
WHAT IS THE MIND THAT WE CAN
HAVE?
WHICH IS OURS BEING GRANTED BY
THE RISEN LORD.
IT IS THE MINDSET THAT BY
PERCEIVING THE GLORY OF
CHRIST, FIRST JUST IN THE
CRADLE.
THAT, THAT CRADLE GLORY IS
WHAT'S BEING DESCRIBED IN
VERSUS SIX AND SEVEN.
HE DIDN'T COUNT EQUALITY WITH
GOD A THING TO BE GRASPED BUT
MADE HIMSELF NOTHING, TAKING
THE FORM OF A SERVANT, BEING
BORN IN THE LIKENESS OF A MAN.
THE FIRST KEY IS THAT CHRIST,
EVEN IN THE CRADLE, CAME IN
THE FORM OF GOD.
NOW, THAT DOESN'T MAKE A LOT
OF SENSE TO US UNTIL WE THINK
OF WHAT THAT WORD FORM MEANS.
IT'S ACTUALLY AN OLD SYMBOL OF
HOT WAX THAT'S BEING IMPRESSED
BY THE SIGNET RING OF A KING.
THAT FORM TAKES THE IMAGE
TAKES THE IMPRINT OF WHAT IS
STRIKING IT AND WE ARE BEING
TOLD THAT CHRIST WAS IN VERY
FORM, GOD.
THAT THE IMPRINT OF GOD, GOD
HIMSELF, THE EXACT REALITY OF
WHO GOD WAS, WAS IN CHRIST
JESUS.
THE WRITER OF HEBREWS SAYS IT
SIMPLY.
HE'S THE RADIANCE OF THE GLORY
OF GOD, THE EXACT IMPRINT OF
HIS NATURE.
SO THAT IN SOME OF YOUR
TRANSLATIONS HERE, IT ACTUALLY
SAYS THAT JESUS WAS, BY VERY
NATURE, GOD.
BUT NOW WE HAVE A PROBLEM WE
ALL STRUGGLE WITH.
HOW COULD IT BE THAT HE WHO IS
GOD WOULD BE A BABY.
IN THE MODERN LINGO, HOW DO
YOU PUT GOD IN A BOD?
AND MORE THAN THAT, IN A BABY?
THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO THINK OF.
AND PRECISELY WHAT THE APOSTLE
IS SAYING IN VERSE SEVEN.
HE MADE HIMSELF NOTHING.
TAKING THE FORM OF A SERVANT,
HE CAME IN THE LIKENESS OF A
MAN.
IN THE LIKENESS OF GOD, HE'S
IN THE LIKENESS OF A MAN.
HE HAS THE LIKENESS OF GOD AND
MAN.
EVEN WHEN JESUS WAS A BABY IN
THE MANGER, HE CONTINUES TO
CONTROL ALL THINGS BY THE WORD
OF HIS POWER.
THINK OF THAT, HE'S IN THE
MANGER AND STILL CONTROLLING
CREATION BY HIS POWER.
WE HAVE TROUBLE MAKING SENSE
OF THAT.
IT WORRIES US A LITTLE BIT.
IF HE'S CONTROLLING THE WORLD
WHILE HE'S IN THE MANGER, WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN HE BURPS?
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN HE POOPS?
IS THAT THE EARTHQUAKES AND
THE TSUNAMIS?
I MEAN...
[LAUGHTER]
>> IS THAT WHY WE SING AWAY IN
A MANGER, NO CRYING ME MAKES,
YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE CONCERNED
THAT NOTHING HAPPENED.
IT'S THE MYSTERY THAT WE SAY
IS PART OF THE REALITY OF THE
SPIRIT'S REVELATION AND IF WE
DON'T CAPTURE IT, WE ACTUALLY
BEGIN TO MAKE MISTAKES OF WHAT
WE THINK ABOUT GOD BECAUSE
PEOPLE CANNOT QUITE CAPTURE
THAT GREAT MYSTERY OF GOD MADE
INCARNATE, COMING IN THE
FLESH.
SOMETIMES PEOPLE JUST DISMISS
JESUS.
HE'S JUST A MAN.
MORAL MAN, GOOD MAN, BUT THE
REASON I CAN DISPENSE WITH HIM
IS THAT I DON'T ACTUALLY
BELIEVE HE'S GOD.
THE REALITY OF WHAT GOD IS
SAYING TO US IS THAT KEY
BEGINNING IN VERSE SEVEN.
HE EMPTIED HIMSELF, HE MADE
HIMSELF NOTHING.
IT'S A SPECIAL WORD IN THE
GREEK.
CANOSIS.
THAT SAYS, AS A PITCHER, WHEN
IT POURS THE WATER OUT, IT'S
EMPTYING ITSELF, BUT IT STILL
SAVES THE SAME VESSEL.
WHEN JESUS CAME TO EARTH, HE
EMPTIED HIMSELF OF THE
POSSESSIONS AND POWER AND
GLORY OF HEAVEN AND AT THE
SAME TIME, HE MAINTAINED A
GOD-LIKE NATURE THAT HE WAS.
I MUST TELL YOU, WHEN I WAS IN
SEMINARY, I WAS PASTORING A
SMALL CHURCH IN SOUTHERN
ILLINOIS.
A GREAT EASTER FOR US WAS
ABOUT 30 PEOPLE.
LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN TODAY.
AND I CAN REMEMBER A FEW WEEKS
BEFORE EASTER TIME, I, HAVING
HEARD FROM MY PROFESSORS IN
SEMINARY, THE IMPORTANCE OF
THAT WORD, CANOSIS, I BEGAN TO
ELABORATE ON THE SIGNIFICANCE
OF
CANOSIS.
THAT JESUS STAYED GOD.
IN THE FORM OF MAN, HE IS
STILL GOD.
I REMEMBER THE FARMERS AND
MINERS OF THAT COMMUNITY,
CANOSIS! CANOSIS! I KNOW WHEN
PEOPLE WERE HAVING ROAST
PASTOR FOR LUNCH LATER THAT
DAY, THEY WERE WONDERING WHAT
HE WAS SO WORKED UP ABOUT.
YOU KNOW...A FEW WEEKS LATER,
WE HAD OUR MISSION CONFERENCE
AND WE WILL HAVE IN A FEW
WEEKS.
THE PEOPLE WHO CAME TO US,
THAT PARTICULAR MISSION
CONFERENCE WERE PAUL AND CAROL
LONDON.
MISSIONARIES LONG-TERM IN
AFRICA UNTIL HEALTH ISSUES
TOOK THEM TO NEW YORK CITY
WHERE THEY MINISTERED TO
AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS IN
NEW YORK STATE -- CITY.
I CAN REMEMBER, AS PAUL LONDON
BEGAN HIS MESSAGE TO OUR
PEOPLE, HE SAID, TURN WITH ME
IN YOUR BIBLES TO PHILIPPIANS
2.
AND IMMEDIATELY I THOUGHT, OH
NO, THEY'RE GOING TO BE SO
BORED, I JUST PREACHED ON THIS
TWO WEEKS AGO.
AND THEN PAUL LONDON SAID TO
OUR FOLKS, FOLKS, YOU KNOW,
WHEN CAROLYN AND I WERE IN
AFRICA, WE WERE IN A VERY
DESERT REGION, SO PEOPLE HAD
TO DIG DEEP WELLS INTO THE
DESERT TO GET THEIR WATER.
IT'S NOT WELLS LIKE YOU THINK
ABOUT, THAT YOU HAVE A ROPE
AND BUCKET.
THEY ACTUALLY DIG DEEP SLITS
INTO THE GROUND AND KNOCH THE
SHAFT SO PEOPLE ACTUALLY BEGIN
TO WALK DOWN INTO THE WELL
GOING DOWN, DOWN, DOWN AND THE
REASON THEY HAVE TO DO THAT IS
BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A LOT OF
WATER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE
WELL.
THE WATER IS JUST SEEPING
ALONG THE WALLS OF THE WELL.
JUST OFTEN THERE BY
CONDENSATION.
THEY TAKE CLOTHS AND WIPE THE
WALLS AND RING THEM IN THE
SKINS.
THAT'S HOW THEY GET THEIR
WATER.
THERE WAS A TIME THAT A MAN
WENT DOWN INTO THE WELL AND AS
HE HAD GOTTEN HIS WATER AND
WAS COMING BACK UP WITH A
HEAVY SKIN, AS HE HIT ONE OF
THOSE NOTCHES IT GAVE WAY.
HE COULDN'T GET OUT.
HE WAS A LARGE MAN.
PEOPLE BEGAN TO DEBATE, WHO'S
GOING TO HELP HIM?
WHO'S GOING TO GET HIM OUT?
NO ONE WANTED TO.
FINALLY THE CHIEF CAME.
HE TOOK OFF HIS HEADDRESS,
TOOK OFF HIS WONDERFULAL ROBE
-- ROYAL ROBE AND WENT DOWN TO
HELP HIM.
NOW PAUL LONDON SAID TO MY
PEOPLE, FOLKS, WHEN THE KING
TOOK OFF HIS HEADDRESS AND HIS
ROBE, DID HE STOP BEING THE
CHIEF OF THAT TRIBE?
MY PEOPLE SAID NO, HE SAID,
THAT'S WHAT JESUS DID WHEN HE
CAME TO EARTH.
HE TOOK OFF HIS HEAVEN GLORY,
BUT HE DIDN'T STOP BEING GOD.
HE WAS STILL GOD.
AT THE END OF THAT SERVICE, I
HAD THE MISFORTUNE OF STANDING
BESIDE PAUL LONDON AS THEY
LEFT CHURCH THAT DAY.
PEOPLE SAID "I NEVER
UNDERSTOOD THAT PASSAGE UNTIL
YOU..." [LAUGHTER]
>> NOW YOU UNDERSTAND.
HE IS STILL GOD.
MADE FLESH.
WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE
TO US?
IT'S ACTUALLY BEING EXPLAINED
IN THE OPENING VERSES OF THIS
PASSAGE.
WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE
TO HAVE THE MIND IN US THAT
WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS WHO
HUMBLED HIMSELF FOR OUR SAKE.
HE SAID DO NOTHING FROM
RIVALRY OR CONCEIT, BUT IN
HUMILITY COUNT OTHERS MORE
SIGNIFICANT THAN YOURSELVES.
LOOK TO THE INTEREST OF
OTHERS.
THAT'S THE MODEL, THE EXAMPLE
OF CHRIST HIMSELF.
WHAT DID HE DO?
HE HAD THIS MIND THAT HE WOULD
NOT DO THINGS FOR CONCEIT, FOR
SELF-INTEREST.
NOW...THERE'S A CERTAIN KIND
OF SECULAR WISDOM IN THAT.
I MEAN, IF YOU DO EVERYTHING
OUT OF CONCEIT, EVEN IN THE
BUSINESS WORLD, PEOPLE WILL
NOT TRUST YOU.
YOU'RE JUST OUT FOR YOURSELF,
FOR YOUR OWN GLORY AND WE CAN
USE THAT AT TIMES, BUT I FEAR
YOU'RE GOING TO USE ME.
SO, YOU WILL DAMAGE YOURSELF
IF YOUR ONLY MOTIVATION IS
CONCEIT.
HOW DO YOU GO AGAINST THAT?
COUNT OTHERS MORE SIGNIFICANT
THAN YOURSELVES.
THAT'S TOUGH ON US.
SOME OF YOUR TRANSLATIONS SAY
CONSIDER OTHERS BETTER THAN
YOURSELVES.
WE ALL STRUGGLE WITH THAT.
WE'RE ALL MADE IN THE IMAGE OF
GOD.
THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS
ARE ROBED IN HIS
RIGHTEOUSNESS.
HOW CAN I CONSIDER SOMEBODY
BETTER THAN I?
DO I SAY THEY'RE STRONGER,
TALLER?
BETTER-LOOKING?
EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT?
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
THE EXPLANATION IS ACTUALLY
VERSE FOUR.
THERE WE READ, HAVE THIS MIND
IN YOU WHERE YOU, EACH OF YOU
LOOK NOT ONLY TO HIS OWN
INTEREST, BUT ALSO TO THE
INTERESTS OF OTHERS.
CONSIDER THE INTEREST OF
OTHERS HIGHER THAN YOUR OWN.
NOW, FOR EVERYBODY WHO IS A
STUDENT.
I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE TO YOU.
BECAUSE...THE MODERN
TRANSLATIONS WE HAVE OF VERSE
FOUR ARE NOT NEARLY AS HELPFUL
AS TEST-TAKING TIME AS THEY
USED TO BE IN THE KING JAMES
VERSION.
SOME OF YOU RAISED ON THE KING
JAMES REMEMBER WHAT VERSE FOUR
USED TO SAY?
YOU ACTUALLY USED TO QUOTE
THIS TO YOUR TEACHER BEFORE
YOU TAKE A TEST.
REMEMBER WHAT THE KING JAMES
USED TO SAY?
LOOK NOT EVERY MAN ON HIS OWN
THINGS, BUT EVERY MAN LOOK
ALSO ON THE THINGS OF OTHERS.
WHAT WOULD IT ACTUALLY MEAN
THOUGH TO LOOK OUT FOR THE
THINGS OF OTHERS?
MORE THAN FOR YOUR OWN?
IN SOME SENSE, THAT'S EASY, IF
YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THE
PHYSICAL NEEDS OF SOME OF YOU,
IN YOUR WORKPLACE, LIKE MOMS.
WHO RECOGNIZE YOU HAVE TO GIVE
UP SLEEP TO ENABLE THE SLEEP
OF A CHILD.
YOU PUT THEIR INTEREST ABOVE
YOUR OWN.
BUT WHAT IF IT'S THE CHILD OF
GOD YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT IN
THE WORKPLACE?
AND YOU'RE DOING NOTHING OUT
OF RIVALRY OR SELFISH AMBITION
TO RECOGNIZE THERE ARE THOSE
PEOPLE WHO FOR THEIR CONCEIT,
THEIR RIVALRY, THEIR
COMPETITION ARE WILLING AT
TIMES TO UNDERCUT, TO MOVE
PAST, TO ACTUALLY DAMAGE YOU,
TO ACTUALLY PERCEIVE THAT
THEIR SPIRITUAL NEEDS ARE
STILL YOUR INTERESTS?
IN FACT, THERE'S SPIRITUAL AND
ETERNAL INTEREST, MAYBE ABOVE
THEIR OWN, SO WHILE YOU HAVE
EVERY RIGHT TO BITTERNESS AND
ANGER AND TO UNDERCUT BACK,
THAT FOR THEIR INTEREST SAKE
THAT ARE ETERNAL, YOU WOULD
PUT THEIR INTEREST ABOVE YOUR
OWN, YOU'D BECOME CO-LABOR
WITH JESUS CHRIST AND THE
PURPOSES OF GOD.
THAT IS GLORY.
NOT JUST FOR SELF.
IT'S BRINGING THE REALITY OF
THE RISEN LORD WHO GAVE
HIMSELF FOR US INTO THE
WORKPLACE TO SAY, I'M
EXPECTING GOD TO WORK THROUGH
MY EXAMPLE FOR THE SOUL OF
THOSE FOR WHOM I BECOME
RESPONSIBLE TO NOTHING OUT OF
RAVELRY AND VAIN AMBITION,
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT JESUS DID.
WHAT ACTUALLY GIVES ME THE
INSTRUCTION, THE ABILITY TO
KNOW WHAT THAT IS ABOUT.
NOT JUST THE MESSAGE OF THE
CRADLE, BUT THE GLORY OF THE
CROSS ITSELF.
WHAT IS THE GLORY OF THE
CROSS?
THAT'S DESCRIBED, ACTUALLY IN
VERSE EIGHT.
IT TALKS ABOUT JESUS WAS FOUND
IN HUMAN FORM, BUT HE HUMBLED
HIMSELF BY BECOMING OBEDIENT
TO THE POINT OF DEATH.
HE POURED OUT EVERYTHING.
EVEN LIFE ITSELF.
HE LEFT NOTHING ON THE FIELD.
HE EXHAUSTED HIMSELF IN
OBEDIENCE TO HIS GOD, WHICH
MEANS HE WAS PERFECT AND PURE
IN HIS LIFE.
AND YET, NOT ONLY DID HE POUR
HIMSELF OUT INTO DEATH, VERSE
EIGHT CONTINUES, EVEN DEATH ON
A CROSS.
PERFECT IN OBEDIENCE, AND YET
DIED IN SHAME AND AGONY.
THE CROSS WAS NOT JUST
TORTURE, IT WAS HUMILIATION,
IT WAS THAT BY WHICH THE
SOCIETY SAID, THAT PERSON IS
WITHOUT REGARD, THAT PERSON,
NO MATTER WHAT YOU MAY THINK
OF THEM, IT ACTUALLY BE
STEPPED UPON AND CRUSHED AND
THOUGHT AWFUL OF.
AND CHRIST WAS WILLING TO DO
THAT.
HE POURED HIMSELF OUT, EVEN
UNTO DEATH ON A CROSS.
WE WONDER WHY THAT IS,
SCRIPTURES EXPLAIN IN PART,
BECAUSE OF THE JUSTICE OF GOD.
YOU REMEMBER ALL THOSE PEOPLE
WE TALKED ABOUT LAST WEEK
COMING TO JERUSALEM?
THEY WERE COMING BECAUSE OF
THE PASSOVER.
THEY HAD BEEN TAUGHT BY GOD IN
OLDEN TIMES IN THE OLD
TESTAMENT BECAUSE THEY WERE
NOT PERFECT, THE WAY THEY
WOULD RECONCILE THEMSELVES TO
GOD WAS WITH A SACRIFICE, LIKE
A PASSOVER LAMB.
THERE WAS SOME JUSTICE TO BE
ADMINISTERED BY A HOLY GOD AND
GOD ULTIMATELY SAID BECAUSE NO
LAND -- LAMB SUFFICES, I'LL
SEND MYSELF AS A SACRIFICE FOR
THOSE THAT DON'T TRUST IN HIM.
WHY DIDN'T GOD JUST FORGIVE?
BE MERCIFUL?
WELL...WE RECOGNIZE JUSTICE
DOESN'T JUST SAY IT DOESN'T
MATTER, JUST GO AHEAD, IF ALL
THE BRUSSELS AND PARIS BOMBERS
ARE CAUGHT, WE DON'T EXPECT
THE JUDGE TO SAY "OH, IT
DOESN'T MATTER, WE DON'T
MIND." WE EXPECT JUSTICE.
AND FOR GOD TO BE HOLY, HE
MUST BE JUST.
AND IN JUST HE SAYS THERE HAS
TO BE A PENALTY FOR SIN, BUT
IN MERCY HE SAID, I WILL EXACT
THE PENALTY FROM MY SON AND
NOT FROM THOSE WHO TRUST IN MY
MERCY.
COULD GOD HAVE DONE IT A
DIFFERENT WAY?
THAT'S A QUESTION SUCH AS WE
MAY ASK NEXT WEEK WHEN WE
BEGIN TO TALK ABOUT HONEST
ANSWERS TO HONEST QUESTIONS.
COULD GOD HAVE DONE IT A
DIFFERENT WAY?
MAYBE.
WE'LL NEVER KNOW.
BUT...SOMETHING WE DO KNOW
ABOUT GOD'S WILLINGNESS TO
SACRIFICE HIMSELF IN THE
PERSON OF HIS SON, FOR US, IS
THAT LOVE BECOMES UNDENIABLE.
I'M LOVING RIGHT NOW,
FOLLOWING THE STORY OF ADAM
LAROCHE.
SOME OF YOU ARE TOO.
I DON'T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS,
THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE SPORTS
NUTS CAN CORRECT ME AFTER THE
SERVICE.
I RECOGNIZE WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
THERE'S A DAD WHO HAS SAID
BECAUSE HE WANTS TO BE WITH
HIS SON AND DRAKE, THERE, AT
14 HAS BEEN IN THE CLUBHOUSE A
LONG TIME.
NOW BECAUSE DRAKE IS BEING
DENIED THE CLUBHOUSE, THE
FATHER, ADAM LAROCHE IS
SAYING, I'LL GIVE UP THE
SECOND YEAR OF MY CONTRACT, A
MERE $13 MILLION.
NOW THE PERSON YOU OUGHT TO
FEEL SORRY FOR IN THIS IS
DRAKE, THE SON.
NEVER IN HIS TEENAGE YEARS CAN
HE SAY "YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT
ME." $13 MILLION! OR HEAVEN
ITSELF, GIVEN UP, AND THE
GLORY AND THE HONOR THAT WAS
HIS AS OUR SAVIOR.
FOR OUR SAKE.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT COULD HAVE
BEEN DONE A DIFFERENT WAY THAN
THE CROSS, BUT WHAT I
RECOGNIZE WHEN THE CROSS IS
SEEN IS LOVE IS UNDENIABLE.
HE GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR US.
I NEED TO REMEMBER THAT LOVE
BECAUSE OF THE GLORY THAT'S
NOT JUST IN THE CROSS, BUT
ULTIMATELY IN THE CROWN.
THE END OF THE ACCOUNT IS
REMINDING US IN VERSE NINE,
THEREFORE GOD HIGHLY EXALTED
HIM, BESTOWED ON HIM, THE NAME
THAT IS ABOVE EVERY NAME.
GOD EXALTED THIS JESUS, HE IS
NOW CALLED LORD, ONE DAY,
EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, EVERY
TONGUE CONFESS THAT JESUS
CHRIST IS LORD.
HE WAS GOD INCARNATE.
HE IS NOW THE RISEN LORD.
HE RULED IN POWER AND REIGNED
OVER ALL THINGS.
THERE'LL COME A TIME IN WHICH
EVERY CREATURE, 10,000 TIMES
10,000, NOT JUST BELIEVERS,
BUT UNBELIEVERS AND EVEN THE
DEMONS THEMSELVES WILL BOW
BEFORE JESUS AS LORD.
AND THAT RECOGNITION, YOU CAN
BOW NOW OR YOU CAN BOW LATER
IS TRUE.
YOU WILL BOW.
THE REALITY WE HAVE TO ASK
OURSELVES, WHY WOULD YOU BOW
NOW?
IF IT'S JUST ARBITRARY OR
CAPRICIOUS, WHO WOULD BOW?
IF HE GAVE HIMSELF FOR US
BEFORE BECOMING THAT EXALTED
LORD, WHY SHOULD WE TRUST HIM?
BECAUSE HE HAS DEMONSTRATED
HIS LOVE FOR US.
AND WHEN I KNOW THAT, THAT MY
LIFE IS SECURED, EVERY
CONVERSATION, EVERY CONTRACT,
EVERY COMMUNICATION, EVERY
STROKE IS UNDER THE RULE OF
CHRIST, THEN I BOW BEFORE HIM,
I DO WHAT IS RIGHT BEFORE HIM,
BELIEVING HE ACTUALLY HAS
CHARGE AND THE WORST THINGS
THAT LIFE CAN HOLD ARE ALSO IN
HIS HANDS BECAUSE ETERNITY IS
SECURE, BECAUSE OF HIM.
I THINK OF THAT REALITY
THROUGH THE LIFE OF SOMEONE
DEAR TO SOME OF YOU WHO ARE
HERE THIS MORNING.
A LOCAL BANKER AND ONE WHO
WORSHIPS WITH US HERE, SHARED
WITH ME THE STORY OF HIS
ADOPTED SISTER, BEVERLY ANN,
BORN IN HUMBLE CIRCUMSTANCES,
NONETHELESS, A FAMILY RAISED
HER AND IN FAITH, SHE TURNED
TO CHRIST, TREMENDOUSLY
MUSICALLY TALENTED, SHE GAVE
HER TALENTS ON THE MISSIONS
FIELD IN AFRICA AND ALSO IN
EASTERN EUROPE.
BUT THE GLORY OF HER LIFE WAS
AFTER CHERNOBYL.
DO YOU REMEMBER?
THE GREAT NUCLEAR DISASTER IN
THE UKRAINE?
SHE, WHO HAD THE MUSICAL
TALENT, HAD EXPERIENCE, IN
EASTERN EUROPE.
INSTEAD OF RUNNING FROM THE
RADIATION, SHE RAN TOWARD IT
FOR THE PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES SHE
KNEW WERE IN DANGER.
THE ONES SHE PARTICULARLY
MINISTERED WERE EXECANT MOMS
-- EXPECTANT MOMS AND NEW
MOTHERS.
THE REALITY THAT YOUR CHILDREN
WILL DIE ON THIS EARTH, BUT
THE WAY YOU CAN SECURE
ETERNITY FOR YOURSELF, WITH
THEM IS THROUGH A RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WHO
SAVES THE INNOCENCE AND THOSE
IN SUBMISSION TO HIM TURN
THEIR HEARTS TOWARD HIM.
BEFORE THE RADIATION TOOK HER,
SHE HAD PRAYED WITH 2,000
WOMEN FOR RECEIPT OF THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOR.
THAT IS THE GLORY THAT GOD
CALLS US TO LIVE FOR.
BECAUSE ETERNITY IS SECURE, I
CAN LIVE FOR HIM NOW.
THERE'S NO PRESSURE, THERE'S
NO BOSS, THERE'S NO CONTRACT,
THERE'S NO CRISIS THAT IS
OUTSIDE OF HIS CONTROL, THERE
IS NOTHING THAT IS BEYOND THE
ULTIMACY THAT HE HAS ALREADY
TAKEN CARE OF.
HE HAS SECURED US FOREVER, AND
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT SECURITY,
I, WHO NAME JESUS AS LORD, NOT
JUST AT THE END OF TIME, I
NAME HIM LORD TODAY, WHEN I
NAME HIM LORD TODAY, THAT
MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN EVERY
DAY.
IS IT TOUGH?
SURE, IT'S TOUGH.
RON WAGGLY SAID GOD'S WORD
BEGAN TO CHANGE MY VALUES AND
PRIORITIES.
I REALIZED I COULDN'T BE OR
ACT THE WAY GOD DESIRED IN MY
OWN STRENGTH.
AS A MAN WHO BEGAN TO BE
BROKEN BY THE REALITIES OF
LIVING FOR SELF, RATHER THAN
LIVING FOR A GLORY THAT WAS
GREATER THAN HIMSELF, HE WROTE
"I REACHED THE POINT, I HAD TO
ADMIT TO GOD THAT IF WHAT HE
WANTED FOR ME WAS A LIFE FOR
OTHERS, A LIFE OF GLORY FOR
HIMSELF, THEN HE'D HAVE TO
PROVIDE THE STRENGTH, HE'D
HAVE TO PROVIDE THE COURAGE
BECAUSE IT WAS BEYOND ME." HE
WAS BROKEN OF HIS OWN PRIDE,
BROKEN OF HIS OWN VALUES.
WHY WOULD GOD LISTEN TO A
BROKEN MAN?
BECAUSE HE KNEW WHAT IT WAS TO
BE BROKEN.
THE REASON WE FIND CHRIST SO
BEAUTIFUL IS HE WAS BROKEN
UPON A CROSS.
AND THE REASON HE FINDS US
BEAUTIFUL IS WHEN WE COME IN
BROKENNESS AND SAY "GOD, I
NEED YOU." THE JAPANESE
MARKETS HAVE A KIND OF POTTERY
THAT THEY SELL CALLED KITSUGI
[PHONETIC].
KITSUGI BOWLS HAVE BEEN
BROKEN, BUT THEN THEY'VE BEEN
REPAIRED WITH GOLD.
AND THEY ARE KNOWN FOR BEING
MORE BEAUTIFUL FOR HAVING BEEN
BROKEN.
WHY IS CHRIST BEAUTIFUL TO
YOU?
YES, BECAUSE HE'S REAL, BUT
ALSO BECAUSE HE WAS BROKEN SO
YOU KNOW THAT'S THE LORD YOU
CAN TRUST AND THE BEAUTY OF
THAT KNOWLEDGE IS WHEN YOU ARE
BROKEN, HE DOESN'T WALK AWAY
FROM YOU.
HE ACTUALLY FINDS YOU MORE
BEAUTIFUL FOR HAVING BEEN
BROKEN.
AND HE WILL REPAIR YOU WITH
THE GOLD THAT IS HIS MERCY AND
GRACE AS YOU COME TO HIM AND
SAY GOD, NOT IN MY STRENGTH,
NOT IN MY ABILITY CAN I LIVE
THIS GLORY, BUT I COME TO YOU
ASKING YOUR MERCY AND GRACE,
TAKE MY SIN AWAY AND HE
SAYS...NOW YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL TO
ME.
MORE BEAUTIFUL FOR HAVING BEEN
BROKEN.
LET'S GO TO THAT GOD IN PRAYER
NOW.
FATHER, TEACH US, WE PRAY,
YOUR MERCY AND GRACE.
THE ONE WHO CAME IN HUMILITY,
THE ONE WHO LIVED IN PURITY,
DIED IN AGONY, BUT ROSE TO
GLORY, IS TEACHING US SO MUCH
ABOUT HIS HEART FOR US AND
WHAT IT MEANS TO DIVE DEEP
INTO HIS HEART, EVEN INTO HIS
POWER IN OUR EVERY DAY LIVES.
NOT CONFESSING OUR PRIDE, NOW
CONFESSING OUR PERFECTIONS,
SAYING GOD, I NEED YOUR HELP,
I NEED YOUR FORGIVENESS, I
NEED YOUR STRENGTH FOR WHAT
YOU'RE CALLING ME TO BE AND
DO.
WHEN WE CALL OUT IN THAT
BROKENNESS, HIS RESPONSE IS,
YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL TO ME, I
FORGIVE YOU, LOVE YOU, AND
WILL HELP YOU.
TEACH US WHAT IS MORE
BEAUTIFUL FOR BEING BROKEN, WE
PRAY, THAT WE MIGHT REJOICE IN
THIS RESURRECTION POWER IN
JESUS CHRIST, AMEN.