Today we continue our series, “As Jesus Is”, under the banner of the overall series for the year, “Supernatural Manifestation.” We have been looking at 1 John 4:16,17 for a couple of months now. I have been adding other passages to it. Right now we are looking at 1 John 4:16,17 and Philippians 2. Let’s get to it.
The Apostle John said:
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
(1 John 4:16, 17 KJV)
The Apostle Paul said:
“In your life together, think the way Christ Jesus thought. He was like God in every way, but he did not think that his being equal with God was something to use for his own benefit. Instead, he gave up everything, even his place with God. He accepted the role of a servant, appearing in human form.
During his life as a man, he humbled himself by being fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death—death on a cross. So God raised him up to the most important place and gave him the name that is greater than any other name.”
(Philippians 2:5-9 ERV)
Today I will focus in on this statement, “He [Jesus] gave up everything, even his place with God. He accepted the role of a servant, appearing in human form.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Jesus is our example.
a) Jesus was with the Father from the beginning. He made all things. Nothing that was made, was made without Him (John 1:3). He was in heaven and He chose to humble Himself to the point where He stripped Himself of His divinity, so He could live inside of a human body.
b) Jesus humbled Himself to His assignment. He could have remained in heaven, but since He had an assignment, He humbled Himself to the point where He accepted it, embraced it, and completed it.
c) Like Jesus, you too have an assignment. The Bible says, “God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us new people so that we would spend our lives doing the good things he had already planned for us to do.” (Eph 2:10 ERV). When you are Born-Again, and the Holy Spirit begins to reveal the plans God made for you before the world began, you are then posed with a challenge. You have to choose between God’s plans (which He made from the foundations of the world), and your plans (which were birthed in your own heart). Having the mind of Christ means you place God’s plans above your own.
2. Selfishness is natural to this world.
a) Before being Born-Again, you were living for yourself. You knew it and God knew it. It was understandable, because you were natural to this world. In this world people pursue their own desires.
b) In this world people are told that they can be whatever they want to be and do whatever they want to do.
c) The world has been programmed, for millennia, to focus on human desires. But in today’s society it is going to an extreme. The focus on self expression, self liberty, and living however you want to live — regardless of morality, standards, or the Bible — is at a fever-pitch. Anyone who questions an individual’s personal expression is labeled a “bigot”.
d) The problem with all of this is that it is completely contrary to the way Jesus lived. Selfishness is NOT the mind of Christ. Selfishness is counter to all Jesus represented.
3. Selflessness and humility is natural to God’s Kingdom.
a) The Bible teaches us that when we embrace Jesus’ death we must also embrace your own.
b) As a Born-Again belier, you don’t own yourself. Your life is not your own. You were bought with a price. That price was the Blood of Jesus. You are now the temple of God. Your body houses the Holy Spirit. Your pursuits are supposed to be Godly pursuits. Your desires are supposed to line up with the plans God made for you before the world began (see 2 Cor 6:19,20).
c) Don’t be afraid of giving up control, of changing the direction of your life, or of giving up personal desires. I’m a witness. If you willingly give up your life and you truly give yourself completely over to God, you will get to experience an amazing life; it will be the life God planned for you before the world began. It will be greater than anything you ever imagined.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a year of Great Victory for me. My life is not my own. You purchased me with a price. You redeemed me with the Blood of Your own Son, Jesus the Christ, my Lord. My life is therefore no longer about me, or my selfish desires. My life is about You and the plans You made for me before the world began. I die to me. I fully embrace You. I am who You say I am. I can do what You say I can do. I am all You called me to be, because I am in Christ and Christ is in me! This is why I boldly declare: As Jesus is, so am I, in this world! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
