Happy Easter! We had such an excellent weekend at Clearview Church! So many people came out to our Sunrise service and even more to our 11:00 Easter service! Remember this week that Christ is the Risen Lord. That means we obey Him no matter what!
LORD by Pastor Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson
Introduction: We all have a title. When you are young, it could be just a “kid” or “brother” or “sister.” If you are a parent, you could be “mom” (some days you may want to change it!) or “dad” or “grandpa” or “nana.” When you go to work, you could get a job title. I did a search on the craziest job titles in the workplace – “Chief Flavor Officer” (Taste ice cream) or “Animal colorist” (color animals for movies). Titles tell us what a person does and their level in the family, company, or institution. Jesus had many titles but the one that tops the list is “Lord.” It means that as God he deserves our worship and obedience. In this message we will learn what that means.
Philippians 2 5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, andcoming in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient tothe point ofdeath, even the death of the cross. 9Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11andthatevery tongue should confess that Jesus ChristisLord, to the glory of God the Father.
Question: What do you think about Jesus? Is he the Lord of your life? Is he in control of your life? Have you ever asked him to save you?
Context: For the benefit of those who are visiting with us, we are in our series called MIND (RE)SET from Philippians 2. We are learning what it means to have the mind of Christ. So far, we have learned that because Jesus being equal with God, humbled himself and became obedient as a slave and died the slave’s death for us, God the Father highly exalted him and gave him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of those in heaven, of those on earth, and of those under the earth. We learned last weekend that those who are bowing are the fallen angels. They are not really worshipping Jesus but simply acknowledging that they lost and Jesus won. Now we go one step further in verse 11“andthatevery tongue should confess that Jesus ChristisLord, to the glory of God the Father.” Our focus in this message is on “Jesus Christ is Lord.” We hear it 2 other times in the New Testament:
Romans 10:9“that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Jesus is Lord is the key to our salvation.
I Corinthians 12:3“Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.” Jesus is Lord is the proof of our salvation.
In other words, “Jesus is Lord” was a very early and important confession of the church.Why was this?
1. MEANING OF LORD
The word “Lord” is the Greek word “kurios.” From very ancient times, it meant “someone who had authority or control over.” It implied a superior position. It’s in the Greek Old Testament (LXX) that we find it get a whole new meaning. That word “kurios” is found over 8000 times in the Greek OT, over 6000 times for the Hebrew word “Yahweh,” the name of God and some even for “Adonai,” the substitute name for God. The Jewish people did not like to use God’s name (Yahweh), so they substituted Adonai for it by using the vowels in between. Either way, the word “kurios” is used as God’s name in Greek. In the New Testament, the word “kurios” is found about 700 times. Although it is used at times for kings and masters, it’s main use is as a designation for God. Some examples:
Luke 2:9And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
Matthew 11:25At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things fromthewise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.
James 5:10My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.
2. EXALTATION OF JESUS
Even though Jesus did not directly call himself “kurios,” he did things that prove that he was God. He repeatedly used the designation “I Am” (God’s name) for himself – John 8:58Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” Then you know his 7 “I Am” statements– Bread of Life, Light of the World, Door of the Sheep, Good Shepherd, Resurrection and the Life, the Way, Truth, and Life, and True Vine. He even said John 10:30“I andMyFather are one.” Of course, his miracles also proved that he was God but the eyes of the people were not able to see him as such.
After he finished the task of giving his life for us, the Father did something very powerful. He bestowed on him the title “kurios” or Lord. Listen again to verse 9Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11andthatevery tongue should confess that Jesus ChristisLord, to the glory of God the Father. Now officially, he has the title “Lord.” It was a fulfillment of Isaiah 45 22 “Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I amGod, and there isno other. 23 I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouthinrighteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath.”
Don’t misunderstand: He was already that by nature but now even by designation.
3. RESPONSE OF THE CHURCH
What did this do for the first believers? They were Jewish people who believed in one God:
What happened when he came back from the grave and met Thomas? John 20 27Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your handhere,and putitinto My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
Because of the resurrection of Jesus and the visions, they knew right away that Jesus was/is God. There was no confusion for them – I Corinthians 8:6“yet for usthere isone God, the Father, of whomareall things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whomareall things, and through whom welive.”
Now they prayed to Jesus, called upon him, baptized in his name, sang songs in worship to him, and even celebrated the Passover in his name. Now it was the Lord’s table.
1 Corinthians 11 23For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the samenight in which He was betrayed took bread; 24and when He had given thanks, He brokeitand said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
25In the same mannerHealsotookthe cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drinkit,in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
Jesus was/is our Savior God and now he deserves our worship and obedience.
Application:Do you know what that truly means? Are you saved?
This week’s message on the name of Christ was met with very encouraging enthusiasm! These new segments, the Clearview Follow-Ups, are designed to help you remember the message as you navigate through your week! Thanks so much for listening and be sure to share with someone who needs a reminder to stand firm this week!
THE NAME – Pastor Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson
Introduction: What emotions come to your mind when you hear these names? Mother Teresa, Marilyn Monroe, Winston Churchill, Adolph Hitler, Michael Jordan, Beethoven, SpongeBob, etc. All those names evoke a certain emotion(s) in us. What emotion does the name “Jesus” evoke in you? Joy? Peace? Fear? Doubt? Indifference? Jesus is the name above all other names. It changes everything. Today’s message is called “The Name” in our series titled Mind (Re)set from Philippians 2:5-11.
Philippians 2 5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, andcoming in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient tothe point ofdeath, even the death of the cross. 9Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11andthatevery tongue should confess that Jesus ChristisLord, to the glory of God the Father.
Question: What emotion does the name “Jesus” evoke in you? Joy? Peace? Fear? Doubt? Indifference? Have you called upon the name of Jesus to be saved?Peter said in his sermon inActs 4:12“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Context: Last weekend we learned that Jesus was/is highly exalted by God the Father. Included in his exaltation was the gift of a powerful new name. Listen again to verse 9“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.”In the last message our focus was mainly on the meaning of his exaltation. In this message our focus will be on the significance of his powerful new name.Before we do that, here’s a question: Does all this matter for us? Of course! Once God opens our eyes to see how Jesus is exalted on high and why his name is so powerful, it will not only change the way we live daily but it will also change the way we worship him.3 things we will focus on in trying to understand the importance of his powerful new name:
| I. WHO IS IMPACTED BY HIS NEW NAME? |
10“that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth.”
Background:Older scholars used to say that Paul is referring to 3 different groups: “those in heaven” are angels, “those on earth” are human beings, and “those under the earth” are human beings who have died and are now in Sheol or demons. Some scholars through the years have claimed that Paul did not have 3 groups in mind. He was just being dramatic in his writing and he just means “everybody” will bow before Jesus. In recent years, there is a third view that is very convincing to me.It says that Paul is referring to mighty angelic powers that rule the 3 realms of our cosmos: astral (stars), terrestrial (earth), and chthonic (underworld). This is how the ancient peoples used to see their world. If you study the New Testament carefully, every time the name of Jesus is declared, the demonic beings fall before him. Let me give you some examples:
During the earthly ministry of Jesus:
Mark 3:11And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, “You are the Son of God.”
Mark 5:6“When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him.”
Luke 10:17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
Colossians 2:15“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”
I Peter 3:22“who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.”
What exactly happened in the humble incarnation and crucifixion of Jesus? We only think of our sins being forgiven through his death but much more was going on. There were powers that were hostile to him and wanted to destroy him. They thought that they had killed the Prince of Life. They thought that they could continue in their role of masters of the world. The incarnation and the crucifixion were a battle to reclaim what rightfully belonged to God!
Application:Are you facing a spiritual battle? Do you know that the enemy and his forces are defeated? 1 John 4:4 “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
| II. HOW ARE THEY BOWING? |
11“andthatevery tongue should confess that Jesus ChristisLord.”
Background:Now that we know who these beings are, the next question is “What are they doing?”
For these beings it is a solemn acknowledgement that they lost and he won. This is not a worship service. There is a similar gathering which is actually a worship service.Listen to Revelation 5 11Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” 13And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth (The word is not the same as in Philippians 2:10for the underworld)and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power beto Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
Application:Which side are you on? If the demonic hostile powers are bowing before Jesus, what’s keeping you from worshipping him?
| III. WHEN DID THEY STOP BOWING? |
Background:If the demonic false angels are bowing to Jesus and acknowledging that he is in charge, the question that comes to our minds is “Why do they still harass us? Do they get up time to time and then come back?” The answer is – “Yes, they are subject to Christ but they haven’t faced their ultimate judgment.”
I Corinthians 15 24“Thencomesthe end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.”
Romans 16:20“And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.”
Hebrews 10 12But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.
What is your posture until that day?Ephesians 6 11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritualhostsof wickedness in the heavenlyplaces.13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Questions:
EXALTED by Pastor Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson
Introduction: It was raining that Sunday morning when little Timmy got home from church with his parents. Finally, it stopped raining and a beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky. Timmy’s dad wanted to see if Timmy was paying attention at Sunday School so he asked him – “Son, who do you think made that rainbow?” Timmy replied, “God did and I also know which hand he used to make that rainbow.” Timmy’s dad wasn’t expecting that – “What do you mean that you know which hand God used?” Timmy answered, “It’s easy. God used his left hand to make that rainbow.” Dad was a little frustrated – “Son, there’s nothing in the Bible about that.” Timmy replied, “It’s easy. Because Jesus was sitting on his right hand!” In today’s message, we’re going to learn what that really means in our series called MIND (RE)SET from Philippians 2. When we truly understand that Jesus, our Savior and King, is seated at the right hand of the Father, it does several things for us: It gives us a model for how humility is the key to exaltation; it gives us the courage to face any problem in this life; and it gives us a glimpse of what’s coming for us.Our message is titled “EXALTED.”
Philippians 2 5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, andcoming in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient tothe point ofdeath, even the death of the cross. 9Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11andthatevery tongue should confess that Jesus ChristisLord, to the glory of God the Father.
Question: What trial are you facing? Are you looking towards Jesus? You cannot recognize him until you meet him. Have you met him?
Context: Typically, when Christians focus on what Jesus has done for us, we tend to focus on his cross (crucifixion), his empty tomb (resurrection), his going up (ascension), and his second coming (parousia). There is a big gap in between his ascension and his second coming that we don’t know much about. Where is Jesus now and what is he doing?Romans 8:34gives us the answer “Whoishe who condemns? It isChrist who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”Still it remains a distant truth. In order to truly understand and believe this, we have to ask a third question: What is Jesus like right now (Identity)? Unless we answer his identity, we will struggle to understand his locality and activity.
What does this have to do with our series on Philippians 2?Listen again to verse9“Therefore God also has highly exalted Himand given Him the name which is above every name…” This gives us a major clue as to the questions regarding his identity. What does that mean that God the Father has highly exalted Jesus? Does that mean that God the Father gave a promotion to Jesus? Does that mean that God the Father gave special powers and authority to Jesus which he didn’t have before? To answer that, we have to ask a different question – “What changed in Jesus after he rose from the grave? Is he the same Jesus before the cross or is he different?”The answer is Yes and No.
No, he is the same Jesus, yesterday, today, and forever. But, yes, there is a difference between Jesus before the cross and now after the resurrection.
Do you see a common element here? Jesus is showing himself to his disciples but they are not recognizing him immediately. It’s only after he communicates with them that they are realizing that it is him. There is a change in him that cannot be recognized just by their physical eyes. He has to make himself known to them for them to know who he really is. What exactly is this change? Listen again to verses 9“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11andthatevery tongue should confess that Jesus ChristisLord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Now, God the Father has officially declared that Jesus is also the focus of our worship. Of course, in the Old Testament, the people occasionally worshipped Jesus as the Angel of the Lord but it was never consistent or as clear. Now, it is consistent and clear. We still worship the Father but in Christ we are able to worship him even closer than ever before. The Father is not jealous or envious in this. He is actually glorified in seeing his Son being worshipped. But for this to happen, God has to reveal it to us.
Don’t think that this is just all ethereal talk. This has definite benefits:
1. It gives us a model for how to live here and now.If he had to be humble before he was exalted, so do we. I Peter 5:6“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.” James 4:10“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” Matthew 23 11“But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” God constantly reminds us of this.
2. It gives us the courage to face any problem in life. The same Jesus who saved you when you called upon him is now the Jesus who is seated at the right hand of the Father. Romans 8 33Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It isGod who justifies. 34Whoishe who condemns? It isChrist who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shalltribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?…37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. God constantly reveals this to us.
3. It gives us a glimpse of what’s coming for us. 1 Corinthians 15 47The first manwasof the earth, madeof dust; the second Manisthe Lord from heaven.48Aswasthe manof dust, so alsoarethosewho are madeof dust; and asisthe heavenlyMan,so alsoarethose who areheavenly.49And as we have borne the image of the manof dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenlyMan. Don’t think for a moment that you will become God. Here again Jesus helps us out. Back up to I Corinthians 15:28Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all. God daily reminds us of this.
Is God revealing this to you about Jesus? Do you know Jesus?
HUMILITY by Pastor Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson
Introduction: How many of you know a proud or an arrogant person? How many of you know someone who thinks he/she is humble when they’re really not? How many of you would say that you are a humble person? All of us tend to think that we are humble and someone else is proud—when in reality, we all have the same spirit of pride. It reminds me of that man to whom they gave the badge of humility but they had to take it away when he tried to wear it. There’s only one who was/is truly humble and his name is Jesus. In fact, he humbled himself to the point of death, even the death of the cross. He is our model and source of true humility. That’s our message today titled – HUMILITY in our series from Philippians 2called MIND (RE)SET.
Philippians 2 5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, andcoming in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient tothe point ofdeath, even the death of the cross. 9Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11andthatevery tongue should confess that Jesus ChristisLord, to the glory of God the Father.
Question: Are you a humble person? Do you have the spirit and the heart of Christ? Have you come in humility before him and received him as your Savior and King?
Context: Last weekend, we learned that Jesus chose to come into this world as a “doulos,” as a slave. He didn’t stop being God. He didn’t give up any of his divine attributes. He gave up by taking on the mind of a slave, the mind of humility and obedience.Listen again to verse 8“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient…”If you read the gospels carefully, he’s constantly serving and humbly inviting people to come to him so he could serve them. Matthew 11 28 “Come to Me, allyouwho labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For My yokeiseasy and My burden is light.” Multitudes thronged to him. They understood what he meant. They felt that he could help them. They also knew that they could approach him. After all, who is afraid to come to a slave!
Application: 2000 years later, men and women, boys and girls are still coming to Jesus and exchanging their burdens for his. They are laying down their sorrows, regrets, guilts, shame, struggles, fears, worries, and doubts and taking up his cause and living a life of peace and joy. Have you made the exchange?
But Jesus came for much more than just to serve people and lighten their load.Listen again to verse 8“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient tothe point ofdeath, even the death of the cross.” In other words, Jesus didn’t just live the slave’s life, he also died the slave’s ultimate death. The cross was a slave’s ultimate punishment. Let me explain what that means (My information is coming from scholarly books and articles, especially Martin Hengel’sCrucifixion in the Ancient World and the Folly of the Message of the Cross):
1. Crucifixion was widespread in the ancient world. I’m sure you’ve heard that the Persians invented crucifixion. That may be true but we don’t know for sure. There have been citations from ancient sources that it was practiced by the Indians, Assyrians, and Scythians (modern day Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan). Even the Celtic, Germanic, and Brittani people practiced it. The Greeks with all their high ideals of human dignity also practiced crucifixion. At one time, Alexander the Great had 2000 people crucified for rising in rebellion against him. The Carthaginians (Punic people, ancient Phoenicians) were known for brutally crucifying people. More than likely the Romans learned it from them. Men and women were crucified, probably more men than women.
2. Crucifixion among the Romans was for the lower classes of people – slaves, violent criminals, and rebels. The Persians and Carthaginians used it for high officials and commanders and the Greeks used it for state criminals but the Romans used it primarily against slaves and those who were free but not Roman citizens. It was called a servile supplicium. A slave could be crucified if he was found with a weapon (a shepherd was crucified for defending himself against a bear) or if the owners were not capable of controlling their slaves. It was especially utilized against rebellious slaves. This was seen during the Third Slave Rebellion led by Spartacus in the first century BC when the Roman General Crassus had 6000 slaves crucified and lined them all along the Appian Way leading to Rome.
3. Crucifixion was very effective. There were 3 reasons for this:
4. Crucifixion was not discussed. Ancient Roman writers did not like to talk about crucifixion. They just mention it and move on. It was horrible sight. Some leaders and philosophers would talk about the heinousness of the crucifixion but they knew it had to be done. The only time crucifixion was ever discussed was in drama and theater. Even here, the hero would end up escaping the cross. The people in Philippi to whom Paul is writing may have seen plenty of crucifixions. It’s horrible but part of life. Just don’t have anything to do with it.
5. Crucifixion was accursed to the Jewish people. The Hasmonean kings had practiced crucifixion. Alexander Jannaeus had crucified 800 Pharisees and another one had crucified 70-80 sorcerers at one time. It was very shameful, especially because of Deuteronomy 21 22 “If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, 23his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the LORD your God is giving you asan inheritance; for he who is hangedisaccursed of God.”
Why did Jesus choose a slave’s death? It was God’s plan of redemption. Listen to Isaiah 53 3He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, ourfaces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5But He waswounded for our transgressions, He wasbruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peacewasupon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 6All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 7He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. 8He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of My people He was stricken. 9And they made His grave with the wicked—But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, norwas anydeceit in His mouth.
Joseph of Arimathea (a member of the Sanhedrin of 71 leaders, the highest ruling body in Jerusalem, presided by the High Priest) secretly went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus and Pilate gave him the permission. Nicodemus (another member of the Sanhedrin) also met him and brought a big bag of mixture of myrrh and aloes to anoint his body. Then they put him in Joseph’s tomb in which no one had ever been laid. Why was he not left to rot on the cross or placed in just any old tomb? Yes, he was a slave but he was much more than just a slave. Plus, it was also a fulfillment of a prophecy we will see in a few moments.
So also, the thief on the cross got it. He rebuked the one who was taunting Jesus and said in Luke 23 41And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.”42Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” 43And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” By the way, it’s not just these two Jewish men who got it but think about the Roman centurion standing by the cross. Mark 15:39So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”
Are you humble like Jesus your Savior and King? Do you know him? He is humbly calling you. Isaiah 53:10“Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Himto grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall seeHisseed, He shall prolongHisdays, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.”
BONDSERVANT by Pastor Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson
Introduction: March Madness is on. Each year the best basketball teams across the nation come together in an elimination-style bracket and play all the way to the Final Four and then the National Championship. There is a winner and a loser. There is also the Cinderella Team.What is a Cinderella in March Madness?A team that is not well-known but comes in and really shocks everyone. Last year it was UMBC (University of Maryland, Baltimore County), a number 16 seed that defeated number one Virginia Cavaliers. Also, Loyola University Chicago that went to the Final Four. As of now, this year it is UC Irvine and Murray State, Kentucky. Why Cinderella?According to the fairy tale, her step mother forced her into servitude and her step sisters belittled her but, in the end, she ended up marrying the prince. In today’s message we’re going to learn how Jesus choseto become a bondservant (he wasn’t forced into it) so that we could become prince and princesses in the family of God. He sacrificed so that we could be saved.Our message is titled BONDSERVANT.
Philippians 2 5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, andcoming in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient tothe point ofdeath, even the death of the cross. 9Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11andthatevery tongue should confess that Jesus ChristisLord, to the glory of God the Father.
Question: Do you understand what Jesus has done for you? He became a slave so that we could become sons and daughters of God. Do you know him? Are you saved?
Context: As you know, we’re in our series called MIND (RE)SET from Philippians 2. We are learning what it means to have the mind of Christ. In today’s message we’re going to focus on what it means to be a “bondservant.” Listen again to verse 7“but (Christ) made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, andcoming in the likeness of men.” The word for “bondservant” is “doulos” in Greek. It means slave.Why did Paul say that Jesus came as a slave? To answer that question, we need to answer 2 other questions first:
Question 1. How was slavery back then?
Question 2. What did God say about slavery?
Question 3. Why did Paul say that Jesus came as slave?
| A Slave was responsible to cook | Jesus fed the 5000 and the 4000 |
| A Slave came when he was called | Jesus was constantly going and helping people – Jairus’ daughter, Lazarus, |
| A Slave was responsible to teach the children in the family | Jesus preached and taught the multitudes |
| A Slave did the menial labor | Jesus washed the feet of his disciples |
| A Slave would have to go fight in battle for the owner | Jesus died on the cross for our sins |
Matthew 11 28 Come to Me, allyouwho labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yokeiseasy and My burden is light.”
In fact, think about the categories of our salvation – redemption, justification, and reconciliation. They are all connected to slavery.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
You can come to him – Because everyone knows who a slave was.Every society and culture had them.Because you could get no lower than a slave. No one can say that they couldn’t come to Jesus.
LIKENESS by Pastor Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson
Introduction: How many of ya’ll remember telling your parents – “You just don’t understand.” How many of ya’ll have heard those same words from your kids? Why do we say that? Because we think that our struggles are so unique that unless others step into our shoes, they’ll never understand what we’re going through. It’s not just parents and kids who do this but employees think that their employer doesn’t understand and employers think that their employees don’t understand. The husband thinks that his wife doesn’t understand and the wife thinks that her husband doesn’t understand. I love the Peanuts cartoon. In this one, Lucy is at her psychiatric booth and Charlie Brown tells her that he has deep feelings of depression – “What can I do about this?” Lucy in her typical manner says – “Snap out of it! 5 cents please.” I would say that she didn’t understand! Today’s message is to help us see that even if people close to us fail to understand us, there is one person who always understands us and his name is Jesus. The message is titled “Likeness” in our series called MIND (RE)SET from Philippians 2.
Philippians 2 5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, andcoming in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient tothe point ofdeath, even the death of the cross. 9Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11andthatevery tongue should confess that Jesus ChristisLord, to the glory of God the Father.
Question: Do you feel that people don’t understand you? Do you often say, “No one knows what I am going through?” Do you know Jesus? Are you saved?
Context: As you know and for the benefit of those who are here for the first time, the goal of this series is for us to have the mind of Christ, to have what Paul commanded us in verse 5“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” Sometimes when people hear that we are to be like Christ, they say things like – “C’mon, Jesus was God. I am just a human being. He was perfect. I am not. Jesus could not sin. I have a sin nature. How can I have the same mind as Christ? We are very different!” Let’s stop here and clarify a few things. By the way, we will go deep for a few minutes:
There’s something more we need to understand about Jesus’ humanity:
3. Jesus was essentially humanjust like Adam before Adam sinned. Question:Was Adam a full-fledged human being before he sinned? Yes.Genesis 1:27“So God created man in His ownimage; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”Jesus was just like Adam in his humanity. Can we draw a connection between Adam and Jesus?Romans 5:14“…Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.” Another Question:Did Adam have a sin nature before he sinned? No. He did not have an earthly father to pass down the sin nature to him. Neither did Jesus. Keep in mind that Adam was the created son of God, as noted by Luke 3:38and Jesus was the only begotten eternal Son of God. Both Adam and Jesus were internally innocentand both of them were externallytempted. While Adam fell into sin, Jesus did not. By the way, Jesus was much more than just Adam.Unlike Adam, Jesus was fully God and hence he could not sin.
4. How are we like Jesus then? While Adam and Jesus were essentially human, we are commonly human. We are the product of the union of our earthly fathers and mothers and we carry the sin nature in us. David says in Psalm 51:5“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.”Paul affirms in Ephesians 2:3that we were“by nature children of wrath…” Hence, there is a difference between our temptation and Jesus’ temptation. Jesus was tempted only from the outside and we are tempted from the inside and outside. Nonetheless, propensity to temptation and sin does not make us human. Being created in the image of God with a body and a mind makes us human.
Someone might stillsay, “At the end of the day, Jesus is just essentially human without the ability to sin but we are commonly human. There is still a difference. How can he truly understand what we go through being born in sin?” Have you ever wondered why Jesus spent nine months inside his mother’s womb, was born, grew up, lived for 33 some years before he went to the cross? If his only purpose was to come to die for us, he could have dropped out of the sky as a full-grown human being and made his way to the cross or he could have grown up overnight! Why all this time of living among us? Hebrews 2:17“Therefore, in all things He had to be made likeHisbrethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertainingto God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”
I can go on and on. The point is that he understands whatever you are going through.
Are you saved?
TRUE ESTEEM (2) by Pastor Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson
Introduction: Have you ever been in a situation where you thought you knew someone and they turned out to be a whole lot more? It’s happened to me many times but last year it happened when Nicole and I would go to this store where when we first started going there, two guys would wait on us. One was a very outgoing salesman and the other was kind of soft-spoken guy who hung around. Then there was a third guy there who was typically behind the counter with another salesman. We thought that the obviously the one behind the counter with the other salesman was the owner, the outgoing guy was the main salesman, and the quiet guy was just a trainee. One day the “trainee” wasn’t there and so we asked if he had quit. They said, “Oh no, he is the owner’s son!” Who we thought was the least important person there turned out to be the most important person!It changed the way we interacted with him the next time! So also, many people have a very limited and even misguided view of Jesus. But, when we truly see him for who he is, it changes the way we think about him, worship him, and obey him. This is the second part of our message titled “TRUE ESTEEM” in our series on Philippians 2:5-11.
Philippians 2 5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, andcoming in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient tothe point ofdeath, even the death of the cross. 9Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11andthatevery tongue should confess that Jesus ChristisLord, to the glory of God the Father.
Question: How do you see Jesus? If you and I are to have the mind of Christ, do you know what the mind of Christ is like? If you truly see him for who he is, it would change the way you think about him, worship him, and obey him. Do you know him?
Context: As you know, we are in our series called “MIND (RE)SET” where we are learning how to have the mind of Christ. The last message in this series was called “TRUE ESTEEM.” In this message we began to learn what the mind of Christ was all about. Listen again to Paul in verse 6“who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God.” Meaning:Even though Jesus had the same form as his Father (spirit, eternal, and glorious), he did not consider “equality with God something to grasp after.” In other words, Father, Son, and Spirit are coequal in essence but different in roles. The Father is in authority and initiated creation and redemption but it’s the Son who actively created and came to redeem with his life and the Holy Spirit encompasses everything and gives life and power to the creation and to every believer. The Son never tried to usurp, subvert, or sabotage the position of the Father. By the way, this was not just in the past. This is how it will be in eternity.
Quick Application:This is also the pattern for us in our relationships at church, family, and marriage. We can have unity and harmony only if we understand that we can be equal in essence but have different roles and functions. (1 Corinthians 15:28)
Now let’s go a step further, a step deeper– 7 “but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, andcoming in the likeness of men.” That verse has caused more controversies, schisms, and heresies than any other verse I know. What does that mean that Jesus came in the “likeness of men”? Some people believe that when Jesus was on earth that temporarily he stopped being God. They claim that as God he was an all-powerful spirit being but as man he became a weak and finite human being. But, that’s not what was said about him in Matthew1:23“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His nameImmanuel,”which is translated, “God with us.” Later Paul said in Colossians 2:9“For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”
So, what happened 2000 years ago? First, let me tell you what it does NOT mean:
1. It does not mean that God the Son came and took on a human body but kept a divine mind.That’s a heresy called Apollinarianism that the church condemned at the Council of Alexandria in AD 362 and Constantinople in AD 381. Hebrews 2:17“Therefore, in all thingsHe had to be made likeHisbrethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertainingto God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”
2. It does not mean that there were 2 persons inside Christ, a human and a divine. That’s also a heresy called Nestorianism that the church also condemned. Jesus never gave any indication that he had a split personality. John 10:10 “Ihave come that they may have life, and that they may haveitmore abundantly.”
3. It does not mean that Jesus was a combination of a human and divine nature into a new third kind of nature. This was also condemned by the church as a heresy at the Sixth Ecumenical Council in 680-681. He had to be truly both at all times so he could represent us as man and earn our salvation as God.
So, what does it mean that Jesus became man? Listen again to verse 7 “but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, andcoming in the likeness of men.” What I am about to go over is the traditional, historical, and biblical position held by the Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox churches on the nature of Christ. We may disagree over other stuff like Baptism, Lord’s Supper, the role of Mary but not this. This is coming out of a Church Council that was held at Chalcedon from October 8 to November 1, AD 451. It also caused a schism between the churches in the east and the west.
1. Jesus is truly human in body and soul just like he was/is truly God in form (essence, nature, and substance).
For example: Driving a very expensive car down a muddy country road. Also, a king becoming a beggar. (From Bruce Ware, The Man Christ Jesus)
2. Jesus is two natures, one divine and the other human, and they are distinct with distinct wills.
On the one hand,Matthew 4 1“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.”On the other hand, Matthew 8 26But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
On the one hand, John 16:28“I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.” On the other hand, Matthew 18:20“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
On the one hand, Luke 23:46And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ”Having said this, He breathed His last. On the other hand, John 10 17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.”
3. Jesus is one person not two. John 17:11“Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You…”
4. The human nature was without sin. He became completely like us but he did not share our sinful nature. He was dying but not for his own sins. He was dying for our sins. In a sense, he was just like Adam. He was human without a human father. Where Adam failed when he was tempted, Jesus did not. The conditions of the fallen world are there but He stayed pure all the way to the cross.
Final question: Did God change? Was God more after the Incarnation? Revelation 13:8“All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
The Incarnation of Jesus is a Paradox, a Miracle that is greater than the Creation of the World and the Resurrection of Jesus!
2 Corinthians 8:9“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”
Invitation: Take time to think about what God has done for you! How amazing and awesome he is! How compassionate and gracious he is! Humble yourself before him. Be saved if you’re not.