Get ExaltedPhilippians 2:1-18

Are you connected with Christ?Then be more like Christ

You want to be important?Let God exalt you

Work out your salvation!Let God work in you, with you and

through you

Philippians 2If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

The question…If you have received encouragement

and support from ChristIf you have received comfort or

consolation from the love of JesusIf you have the spirit which unites usIf you have received tenderness and

felt his compassion

If you know Christ…Why do you behave like the rest

of the world?You have wrong ideas,

assumptions and attitudes5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

6Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!

Christ is our role model Christ was and is God

Became nothing / a servant / a bondman• bondman: a male slave• a man bound to service without wages

Humble and obedient

9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Why is Paul telling them this?The Philippians want to exalt themselvesSelfish, thinking too highly of themselves

and looking out for number onePaul says, if you want to be really

important you must be more like Christ1. He served to the glory of God the Father2. He was exalted3. His name above every name

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Therefore…Continue to work out your salvation

Mature in Christ Refine it, complete it and continue the

journey of faith

It is God who works in you to will and actGod is the one who has a purpose and plan

for your life, if you let him inStop getting in the way of God’s purpose

and plan for youStop refusing to mature

14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

My value comes from…Helping you to see Christ

Encouraging you to get deeper with ChristImpressing on you the importance of

growing in ChristMy failure would be…

Allowing you to remain shallow and superficial

Allow God to complete the process of your salvation

Stop complaining, arguing, being selfish, thinking too highly of yourselves and

looking out for number oneBe different; be successful

Make me proudLet me die knowing you have

the “word of life”

Paul questionsAre you connected with Christ?

Let us strive to be more like ChristYou want to be important?

Let God exalt usHow do you work out your salvation?

Let God work in us, with us and through us