Philippians Lesson 3

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Philippians

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PHILIPPIANS 1:27-2:11
Lesson #03
HUMILIATION AND EXALTATION

• Memory verse: Philippians 2:5
• Read Phi 1:27-30
• In our last lesson we left Paul in prison with a desire to go to the church in Philippi. (26)
• We also learned that he rejoiced in the place where he was despite the surrounding situation.
• He could rejoice in the Lord even though it was not where he wanted to be.
• In this passage we will learn that he rejoiced even though he was not with the people he desired to be with.
• If God is in control of your life, He puts you in the place where He wants you to be, but He also puts you with the people He wants you to be with. Why?
• Every person is a unique personality. No personality is perfect. Therefore, as one imperfect personality rubs against another imperfect personality, it is like iron sharpening iron.
• Read Pro 27:17
• The rough edges are made smooth over time in the same way precious stones are cut and polished.
• If you find yourself constantly with someone who “rubs you the wrong way”, ask God to show you what rough edges of your personality need to be made smooth.
• Unfortunately as human beings, we usually remove ourselves from the presence of people with whom we have conflicts.
• When we do this, God just brings someone else into our lives with the same personality.
• What do these verses in Philippians tell us that robs a person of joy?
• There are 2 things mentioned in this passage that rob a person of joy:
• =1= One is fear which is the opposite of faith.
• =2= The other is the people you are with. In other words, your adversaries.
• Joy is a matter of perspective:
• You can view the people you are with either as a terrible burden which robs you of joy, or you can view them as an opportunity to demonstrate the grace of God.
• You can view the conflict between you as all their fault or you can be open to what God wants to change in your personality.
• What should your attitude be when you are with someone you don’t want to be with?
• Have an attitude of prayer and openness to God to change both of you.
• Be open to God to opportunities He places in your life to demonstrate love and grace.
• That brings us to our next “secret of contentment”: cultivate an attitude of humility.
• Read Phil 2:1-4
• What four things have been made available to Christians? (2:1-2)
• =1= Consolation or encouragement. The believer can be encouraged in knowing that God knows best for your life.
• =2= Comfort of love. While there may be one or two people that give us problems, there are many more that love us.
• =3= Fellowship of the Holy Spirit. A personal relationship with Jesus Christ brings you into an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit that brings you peace.
• =4= Mercy. The believer has mercy and forgiveness from God for his mistakes. Therefore, he can extend mercy and forgiveness to others for their mistakes.
• Therefore, the Christian should be the most contented person on earth. (Psa 107:9 Psa 63:5)
• What four things are believers told to do? (2:1-2)
• =1= Fulfill joy by encouraging others. As you give joy to others, you will receive joy in return.
• =2= Have the same mind of Christ by showing love to others.
• =3= Be in agreement with the Holy Spirit who gives joy and peace.
• =4= Have one mind or purpose with Christ which is to show mercy to others.
• Therefore, the Christian should be the most encouraging person to other people.
• What does Paul admonish believers not to do? (2:3-4)
• Do nothing through strife or pride.
• Do not think of others as less than you.
• Don’t occupy yourself with your desires, your rights, your needs, your demands.
• What two things does Paul admonish believers to do? (2:3-4)
• =1= Have a lowly mind. In other words, have the attitude of humility.
• =2= Concern yourself with the needs of others.
• Therefore, the Christian must continually work at having an attitude of humility and not an attitude of pride. This is an attitude where he always puts the other person first without thinking of his own desires, ideas, gifts, rights, or reputation.
• The definition of “humility” = to bring low, to abase, to make himself of low condition, to be poor and needy.
• Discussion: What is the difference between an attitude of humility and an attitude of low self esteem?

Humility	Low Self-esteem
The Christian with humility knows he is a sinner saved by God’s grace.	The person of low self-esteem does not know his value to God.
He knows that Christ has raised him to be higher than the angels and given him a purpose in life.	He has no idea of his purpose for life.
Because he knows who he is in Christ, he can choose not to exercise his high position in order to raise someone else up.	Because he does not know who he is, he attempts to pull others down in order to raise himself up.

• What was Paul’s greatest challenge in life?
• Read 2Cor 12:7
• Paul’s greatest challenge was pride.
• God had given him a great education with the best teachers.
• In general, he had physical strength and zeal.
• He had the power to persuade people.
• He had great wisdom.
• He had an ability to express great truth.
• He had a position in the church of power and authority.
• He knew many people that admired him.
• Because Paul knows that this attitude of humility is the most difficult attitude to learn, he looks to Christ who is the greatest example of humility, and therefore the greatest example of joy.
• Read Phi 2:5-11 Christ, the example of self-sacrificing humility:
• Paul tells us to have the mind of Christ.
• However in 1Cor 2:16 he says that we have the mind of Christ.
• Why does Paul tell us to have something that we already have?
• Even though we have the mind of Christ in us if we believe in Him, it is possible that we don’t let that mind of Christ rule in our lives.
• Therefore, we need to permit Christ to rule in every area of our lives.
• What is the mind of Christ?
• It is having the same attitudes that Jesus had when he came to this earth to die.
• He was submissive to God, the Father.
• He had the attitude of a servant.
• When the Christian is displaying the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5), he is putting into action the mind of Christ.
• The humility of Jesus Christ in action: (6-11)
• Jesus Christ came to this earth “in the form of God” and took on “the form of a servant”. In other words, he set aside his high position to lower himself so that He could raise us up to a higher level.
• What is the “form of God”?
• “Form” means = outward appearance.
• Therefore, Jesus did not empty himself of his Deity to come to earth, but he emptied himself of the outward appearance of his Deity.
• The outward appearance of Deity is the very bright heavenly light called the “shekinah” glory. It was visible only once on this earth when Jesus permitted it to shine through on the mount of transfiguration. (Mat 17:2)
• Jesus Christ did not empty himself of His divine attributes or His divine nature.
• How do we know this?
• Paul tells us in verse 6 that Jesus Christ was equal with God. It is impossible to renounce or lose your nature.
• Read Col 2:9.
• “he thought it not robbery to be equal with God”

(6)

• Jesus Christ did not consider His equality with God as something to use for His own benefit.
• This is where the attitude of humility is observable.
• He did not have to clutch at equality or authority as though He was afraid He would lose it when He came to earth.
• What is the “form of a servant”? (7)
• The word “servant” means = slave who must obey the will of another.
• When Jesus Christ came to earth He veiled His outward form of divine glory (Isa 53:2) to take on the outward form of a slave.
• The outward appearance of a slave can be observed in two aspects:
• =1= Jesus submitted Himself to the will of the Father by suffering the substitutionary death of crucifixion.
• =2= Jesus identified himself with slaves when He died on a cross. (Gal 3:13)
• Many slaves were crucified in the Roman Empire.
• In fact, a Roman citizen was never to be crucified. Crucifixion was called, “a slave’s punishment”.
• Jesus Christ, in the form of a servant, identified himself with us.
• The seven steps down to humility: (6-8)
• =1= Jesus Christ made Himself of no reputation. He did not boast about who He was.
• =2= He took the form of a slave. He came to serve man.
• =3= He was made in the likeness of men. He had the nature of human flesh able to sin.
• =4= He was found in fashion as a man.
• He had the outward appearance of a man
• He will forever have a body marred by the marks of crucifixion.
• =5= He humbled Himself.
• =6= He was obedient unto death.
• It was a death He did not deserve.
• He died for us.
• He completed the plan of God, the Father.
• =7= He suffered death on the cross.
• This was the death of a criminal.
• Crucifixion was a shameful death.
• The seven steps up to exaltation: (9-11)
• =1= God exalted Him.
• =2= He is given a name above every name.
• There is power in the Name of Jesus.
• There is power in the Person of Jesus.
• =3= Every knee will bow before Him.
• Believers willingly will bow the knee in the millennial kingdom when Jesus reigns on earth for 1000 years.
• At the final judgment of the Great White Throne, non-believers will bow unwillingly to Jesus Christ.
• =4= Exalted in heaven. God promised to exalt His Son.
• =5= Exalted in earth. God will give Him a kingdom on earth for 1000 years.
• =6= Exalted in hell. All non-believers waiting for the final judgment will know that there is no authority higher than Jesus Christ.
• =7= Every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.
• Every believer willingly confesses the Lordship of Jesus Christ for without confession of faith in Christ there is no salvation. (Rom 10:9-10)
• Every non-believer will verbally acknowledge that Jesus is Lord at the Great White Throne judgment.
• Application:
• What must we lose to gain glory for God?
• We must lose pride by having the same kind of humility that Jesus Christ had when he came to this earth. He is the model to us for humility.
• What is the result of learning the secret of humility?
• The result is that God will exalt you.
• The result is that God will give you joy.
• Recognizing a proud spirit:
• Proud people focus on the failures of others.
• Proud people are independent and self-sufficient.
• Proud people have to prove they are right.
• Proud people are self-righteous and critical of others.
• Proud people are quick to blame others.
• Proud people are defensive when criticized.
• Proud people want to be recognized and appreciated, but the more they grasp at it, the more it escapes from them.

HOMEWORK
PHILIPPIANS 2:12-30
This is a self-study. Please do not send homework answers to the teacher forcorrection.

• Application of phi 1:27-2:11
• Write down the names of those who rob you of joy:
• Pray and ask God to show you attitudes in yourself that He wants to change. Write down those things God shows you during the week.
• (If you ask Him and are open to hearing from Him these negative attitudes will surface during the week. You only have to be aware that it is God who is causing them to come to the surface.)
• Repent of each one as it comes to the surface.
• For each negative attitude, write down the opposite attitude that God wants to develop in you.
• Ask Him to show you specific things to do, then write them here.
• Preparation for Phi 2:12-30
• Read Phi 2:12-30
• What specific things does Paul tell the believer to do? (12-16)
• What does Paul mean when he says to “work out your own salvation?” (12)
• Why do you think Paul mentions Timothy and Epaphroditus in this chapter?
• Memory verse: Philippians 2:13