March 19, 2018
Philippians 2:5-8 (American Standard Version)
(All Scripture is from the New King James Version unless otherwise indicated)
Let’s continue in our series on Eyes from Philippians 2:5 through 8:
Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, existing in
the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing
to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being
made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, He
humbled Himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of
the cross.
We are challenged to have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Paul, in Colossians 1:18, tells us that Christ “…is the head of the body, the church….” According to I Corinthians 12:27, we “…are the body of Christ, and members individually.” We are the body, He is the head ! It is the head that leads the body, by the mind (the brain) housed in the head ! The body is not to have its own mind – its own leading! We are to closely follow the directions of our Lord!
So We are looking at seven Scriptural incidences, and comparing how Jesus saw things with His Eyes, with how the disciples saw the situation with their Eyes! Because when we see with our Eyes, we run into trouble, acting on how we perceive things! Jesus wants us to live differently! We have covered four of the seven incidences. Here are two more:
• Mark 9:34 with Matthew 18:2 through 4 – “[The disciples]…disputed among themselves who would be the greatest…in the kingdom of heaven….And Jesus called a little child to…the midst of them, and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’ ” As in the last example in Eyes – IV, the incident involves a little child. But here the subject is who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
✞ The disciples saw things the way James and John did, as recorded in Mark 10:37: “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.” They were all vying to be exalted to the places of highest honor! (See Luke 9:46-48).
▸ This is the attitude of Satan! (See Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:12-17; II Thessalonians 2:4).
▸ And this is the attitude of mankind under the devil’s control! (See Proverbs 30:11-14; Mark 7:21-23; Romans 1:21-32: I John 2:16).
✞ Through the Eyes of Christ, the greatest is plainly described in Luke 14:11 (International Standard Version): “…everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the person who humbles himself will be exalted.”
▸ …humble like the Master: “…Jesus…rose from [the last] supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples feet….” (John 13:3 through 5). This was the job of a lowly house servant! But the Lord then said to His disciples, “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am….I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:13 and 15).
▸ The fruit of the Spirit is listed in Galatians 5:22 and 23 (Literal Translation of the Holy Bible): “…love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control.” Meekness is the opposite of being prideful and exalted !
▸ In I Peter 5:6 and 7, we are challenged to “…humble…ourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
If we allow the mind of Jesus Christ to direct our Christian life, we will manifest a humble spirit – not a prideful and boasting one!
• Luke 9:51 through 56 – “…as they went…to Jerusalem…they entered a village of the Samaritans….But they did not receive Him….and when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, ‘Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?’ But He…rebuked them, and said, ‘You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.’ ” This involves how we see (and so how we treat) others!
✞ Lord Acton, the nineteenth century historian and moralist, famously wrote in a letter to a friend that “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
▸ The disciples were greatly empowered by the Lord, according to…
➨ …Matthew 10:1 – “…He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and…disease.” (See also Luke 10:17).
➨ …Luke 10:19 – “…I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
➨ …John 14:12 – “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do because I go to my Father.”
▸ Did all this power go to the disciples’ heads, including James and John?
✞ The two brothers – the Lord called them “…Boanerges, that is, ‘Sons of Thunder’…” (Mark 3:17) – suggested using their God-given power to toast the unwelcoming Samaritans! After all, Elijah had done it! (See II Kings 1:9-12).
• But Jesus was seeing the situation through the Eyes of God! “…He turned and rebuked them…‘You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” (Luke 9:55 and 56).
Will we see people as worth saving and helping them to grow up in the Lord? Or will we let them live destructive lives and be eternally destroyed in hell?