Make Yourself of No Reputation

This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing to teach on the fact that “God’s Grace is Sufficient.”  This week I taught from 2 Corinthians and I trust you enjoyed the messages.  We will go back to that letter next week, but for today, I feel led to close out the week with a different passage.

In his letter to the church at Philippi, while writing about Jesus, the Apostle Paul said, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” (Phil 2:5-7 KJV).

So what does this mean to you today?  A few things.

1.  Jesus took no credit for what He did.  The fame concerning Jesus’ ministry spread quickly, the power flowing through His hands was undeniable, and the charisma in his words drew crowds that quickly outnumbered anything anyone had ever seen at the time.  But whenever the spotlight was on Jesus He quickly deflected the glory back to the Father.  Jesus never took an inkling of credit for what He was able to accomplish in the earth.  That, my friends, is grace personified!  If anyone could have taken credit, it was Jesus, but He refused to, and if He didn’t, then neither should we.  We are who we are by the grace of God.

2.  Paul took no credit for what He did.  We have studied the life of the Apostle Paul extensively and it is clear that he had a long list of accomplishments and experiences that could easily justify him ‘tooting his own horn’.  But Paul refused to do it.  Paul took no credit for what he was able to do and the Apostle, like Jesus, deflected the glory back to the Father.  Whenever given an opportunity to boast, Paul chose to boast in his weaknesses and in God’s strength, therefore putting the emphasis on the grace of God.

3.  Human surrender is the key to supernatural power.  The example Jesus provided for us, of divinity flowing through humanity, is an example of complete human surrender.  Jesus only said what He heard the Father say and He only did what He saw the Father do.  Jesus was the only perfect human, and He therefore was the only human qualified to rely on his humanity, but He did not, because He lived His life as an example for us.  If Jesus did not rely on His humanity, and He was perfect, then how can we, when we know how flawed we are?

a.  The message of grace teaches us that a holy God can use flawed people, by His undeserved grace, when we simply die to self and allow Him to flow through us.

b.  Never trust in the arm of the flesh.  Don’t attempt to perform God’s will with your power, relying on your ability, because it won’t work.

c.  You will gain access to the supernatural power of God when you get to the point where you realize you cannot do it on your own, and you totally surrender to Him!

4.  Make yourself of no reputation.  Jesus made Himself of no reputation.  Jesus was on an assignment from the Father, He submitted to the Father plan, and whenever the fame came, He deflected the glory back to the Father.

a.  The way to move up in God is by humbling yourself and the a surefire way to move down in God is by exalting yourself.

b.  If you humble yourself, God will exalt you in due season; when the timing is right.  But if you exalt yourself, God will humble you, and you will not like the experience.

c.  Keep the focus on God; keep the spotlight of your life on Him, and constantly remind yourself that you only are who you are, and you have been given the opportunity to do what you do, BY THE GRACE OF GOD!

Closing Confession:  Father, I thank You for Your amazing grace and the powerful examples You have given me in Your Word.  I look to Your Word and I see the life of Jesus, Your Son, my Lord.  You used Jesus to heal the sick, raise the dead, cause the blind to see, lame to walk, dumb to speak, and deaf to hearr.  Jesus changed lives everywhere He went.  Jesus left a mark in this world that will never be erased.  But Jesus never took credit for what He did.  Jesus deflected the glory back to You and He emphasized the fact that He did nothing except for what You led Him to do.  I look at the life of the Apostle Paul.  Paul was the most unlikely candidate to preach the Gospel, but You chose Him by Your grace.  You used Paul to evangelize the lost, to reach the world, to spread the Gospel, to start churches, to Pastor Pastors, and to write letters to the churches that are still being read today.  Paul left a legacy of righteousness, and like Jesus, Paul took no credit.  Paul claimed to be who he was, and he claimed to do what He did, only by Your undeserved grace.  I learn from Jesus, Paul, and many of the other Biblical examples You have left us in Your Word.  I make myself of no reputation.  You have given me a good name, but when people place the spotlight on me, and when I have their attention, I never miss an opportunity to deflect the glory back to You and to tell the world that I only am who I am by the grace of God and Your grace towards me shall not be in vain.  I humble myself and I know, with unwavering confidence, that You will exalt me in due season.  I declare this by faith.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.
This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper.