Philippians 2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
This week the WHO finally decided to declare that the “emergency” of the past three years was over. Those who are saved and walking in the Spirit know there never was an emergency and most have dismissed the whole mess. The WHO wants to be the final authority in the future on any possible health event that might arise. They might imagine an emergency, but they want to be superior to any individual nation and they want world power to declare whatever emergency they want.
Sadly, the shots have been more deadly than the virus. Not only did they kill some almost immediately after receiving them, but the long-term adverse effects from them is on going. Those who received them are a walking time bomb. This is a serious mess that the governments have promoted, and in fact are still promoting.
In the midst of all this wickedness, we can look at the Word of God and we can trust every word that God has give us. Every writer that God chose to write His Word was a “holy man of God.” Every Word of God is pure and has been preserved for ever.
The Word of God warns of the danger of rejecting God. It also promises great blessings to those who humble themselves and believe what God has said. The Word of God tells us that God made a wonderful world. It also tells us that man chose to reject God’s will and he chose to believe a lie instead. From that point on, man has been born a sinner, bound for hell. God knew this and He provided a Saviour Who would come and shed His blood for the remission of sin. The preaching of the cross is not foolishness. Many believe it is, but the few who receive it are blessed now and forever.
In this passage we have noted already that God wants true saints to dwell on the truth. God knows that His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ provides the peace and blessings that man needs.
We have also noted that God desires that His children walk in unity. Over the centuries many false religions have been developed. There were false prophets in the Old Testament. There were false teachers in Jesus’ day and there were false teachers during the time of the apostles. Since that time, there have also been more and more false religions.
God has given us His Word through which we can know the truth and we can avoid the false teachers. When God’s people walk in unity, they help others to notice the importance of God’s truth.
In verse 4 Paul continued to proclaim that those who are saved need to think differently than the world. The philosophy of the world is built upon the vain thoughts of the devil. He is very proud and desires the preeminence. He will be cast into the lake of fire one day. Many will be there with him. Those who are saved need to understand that we are not nearly as special as we might think we are. True believers need to exalt Christ, not themselves. It is Christ that saves sinners. It is Christ that gives man peace. It is Christ who provides so many blessings to the saints.
In verse 5 we are challenged to have the mind of Christ. In order to have His mind we need to be saved first of all. Then we need to study God’s Word and allow God to change our minds to that which is right.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
As we look further at our text, we see in verse 6 and following, that Jesus Christ is God. He was not stealing from God by being equal with God. The cults deny the deity of Jesus Christ. Some of them will accept that He was different, but they reject the fact that He was and is God. It is important to believe what the Bible says. If Jesus is not God, He is not the Saviour. If He is not the Saviour, there is no hope for any man. Then Job and David and Jeremiah and a host of other people have no hope. Then we today also have no hope.
In verse 7 we are reminded of His lowly first coming. Jesus came as a babe in a manger. His mother was not a wealthy woman. Joseph was not a wealthy man. Jesus grew up in Nazareth. Nazareth was not a revered town. Jesus began His public ministry by being baptized by John the Baptist. Immediately after this, He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. His first miracle was at a wedding in Cana. He did not announce Himself as the Messiah there. He kept a low profile. He taught the people the truth, but He did not have a white horse to ride on. He did not have multiple security guards to escort Him around. He did not ride in a fancy carriage. He walked most places. He did not even own a house. He trusted in His Heavenly Father for all things.
He behaved Himself as a servant. He was even willing to wash the disciples feet. They were too proud to think of taking care of that need.
Jesus Christ has always been the second person of the Godhead. He took upon Himself the likeness of men. He needed to do this in order to be able to lay down His life for mankind. He was willing to be abused by false teachers. He was willing to be taken advantage of by the many who came to Him for healing and for food. Few wanted to believe in Him as their Saviour.
In verse 8 we are reminded that as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death on the cross. We see here that He was a unique man. It is not normal for man to humble himself. As we noted, man wants to be known. Man wants to make a name for himself. He wants to be praised for the little things he does. Of course in the eyes of men, they seem like big things. Job learned that his life was quite insignificant in comparison to Who God was and is.
Jesus Christ did not come the first time to be seated on a throne in a palace in Jerusalem. He came to die on the cross. He knew that no man could be forgiven without His shed blood. There were many Old Testament saints who had trusted in the promises of God given them. Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah and He willingly went to the cross for the Old Testament saints as well as for those who would be saved in the New Testament age and beyond.
In verse 9 we see that God the Father honoured His Son. He knew His Son would fulfil the will of the Father. He exalted Him above all. Jesus Christ has a name that is above every name. All people must call upon God and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. There is no other Saviour.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jesus Christ is also the Head of every man and He is the Head of every true church. Jesus Christ will be the One that every saint will meet first in heaven. He is the Judge Who will determine the rewards or lack thereof for every saint. He is also the Judge Who will sit at the great white throne judgment. All the lost will be judged by Him and He will announce their sentence in the lake of fire for all eternity.
Verse 10 tells us that every knee shall bow before Him. The majority of people have never bowed before Him. They will bow before some earthly figure. I watched a few minutes of King Charles III coronation. He rode in a gold covered carriage. This is a vile man who is divorced and remarried. He has a storied life. Yet 1,000’s of people went to this event and many more 1,000’s watched it remotely. King Charles III will one day bow before the Lord Jesus Christ. Unless he gets saved, he will bow in fearful dread at the great white throne judgment and will then be cast into the lake of fire for all eternity. He will not be treated any better than the beggar that is lost.
In verse 11 we read that every tongue shall confess Jesus Christ as Lord. They will do so to the glory of God the Father. There are too many professing Christians who think it is wrong to claim Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives. They don’t mind having Him as Saviour, but they do not want to be told how to live. They want the “right” to decide how they will live. They can do that, but they must also know that there are consequences for the choices we make.
The wise person humbly submits to God’s Word and will. Those who are saved need to walk in obedience to God’s Word. Today is the Lord’s day. Those who are saved should be seeking to attend a good church. That is the will of God for every true child of God. God will lead His child to a good church. Are you listening today? We trust that you are. We are praying for God to be glorified in every person’s life that is reading these devotionals. Don’t ignore God’s working in your life.
Pastor Bartel
