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5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

How to be Highly exalted

• Open your mind

• 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
• Paul is admonishing the church here to have the mind of Christ-
• Paul is saying- if you’re going to make it in this world- you’ve got to have the mind of Christ- a carnal mind wont do
• Christ didn’t view the world as the rest of the world did- part of what he came to do was to open our MINDS to the things of God- to get us to see things with a different perspective
• But if you don’t come to Christ with an idea that you don’t have a right mind- you aren’t even going to be open to having him change it
• To come to Christ you must repent- that is- turn away from the world- have an idea that what you have been doing and thinking hasn’t been working- it’s a total transformation!
• When you open your mind- that is- just think “I need a mind change- I need the mind of Christ” God can do miraculous things in your life!
• 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
• 1) The mind of Christ stands in total contrast to the wisdom of man- not mans ways 2)  given to believers through the Spirit of God 3) cannot be understood by those without the Spirit 4) gives believers discernment in spiritual matters

• Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
• Basically what this means to me is that if everyone in the world is going a certain direction that should be a great indication that it’s the wrong direction
• Whenever all of society is like “This is good” or “lets all do this” its an indication to me that I should pray and seek God to see if I should follow what the world is telling me.
• I’m not trying to please the world- I’m trying to please God- and I’m not going to make a lot of friends in the process
• This is what we constantly try to ingrain in our children- don’t be like the crowd! But when it comes to the stuff that really matters are we will to be contrarian? Are we willing to be unlike the world?
• 2 cor 10 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
• Our Job as Christians is not just to love people- its to war against those things that would attempt to infiltrate our minds and get us to think things that are not of God
• TV- I don’t watch a lot of shows- judge me- but My son and I like watching the walking dead-
• But when themes come up in the show that are contrary to the word of God- I’ll literally stop the show and we’ll talk about how that’s unacceptable to people of God
• Some shows you’d have to pause every 30 seconds.
• Do not give up! There is a war going on for your brain! You must fight it!
• Romans 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

• Be of no reputation

• 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant,
• Important to understand- being of no reputation, while humble, isn’t the point- we’ll get to humble- its to be more concerned with reputation of who you are serving, than your own rep.
• Bondservant- someone who is bound to work with no wages

• heart of Christ was such that he wanted no esteem for himself- he only wanted esteem for God
• Jesus could have came in like a storming king- but he chose to make himself a lowly servant of others and of God
• a servant is paid for their work a slave is not paid – they are purchased.

• Being a bondservant is not being a slave- it’s a CHOICE-

• A slave could be bought and sold- sometimes people would submit themselves to a master to pay off their debt- but once their debt was paid- they would sometimes become a BONDservant to the master- serving them because they loved them
• In OT- the Master would pierce the ear of the servant at their gate to remind them- YOU CHOSE this! Exodus 21
• Here’s the big thing about being a bond servant- the person who gets all the recognition for your work is the one you’re working for

• You’re more concerned with THEIR reputation than you are with YOUR reputation
• Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
• The bondservant wants to please their master not people

• What does it mean to you?

• Who are you trying to please? Who are you working for? Who are you a slave to? Who’s reputation are you working on?
• 1 Peter 2:12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
• You must become a person of no reputation if you want to be exalted with Christ
• And yes- that has something to do with your conduct! In how you conduct yourself!
• No- I’m not putting a yoke of bondage on you to earn your salvation- I’m admonishing you in the Lord- to have a mind (like Christ) that THOUGHT (takes your mind) about GODS rep not Urs
• People who care too much about what people think about them instead of what people think about God are not going to make it very long.
• I’m not trying to drive a wedge between you and your relationships- I’m encouraging you to realize what to expect when you take a stand for Jesus!
• The answer? Become a bondservant for Jesus! Become a person who makes their life to please their master!
• Here’s what happens when you become a bondservant for Jesus and you don’t care about your reputation:
• You don’t worry as much. You don’t care what people think about you, you care about what they think about your master
• You don’t go without- Your master takes care of you. He will take care of you!
• Philippians 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

• Humble yourself

• A bondservant is not concerned with himself or his own reputation- but in addition- a bondservant HUMBLES himself!
• See- Paul includes this in his discourse because he is trying to show the Philippians the contrast of the life of Jesus- that JESUS- the Savior of the world- was HUMBLE- he was about his fathers business!
• Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many
• Jesus was a humble guy! He didn’t think that he was too good for something or that he couldn’t bring himself low enough to be a servant
• If you want to be exalted- be humble!
• 1 Peter 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
• IN DUE TIME
• Its so against the grain of the ME FIRST America- the REALITY SHOW mindset that says- if people just KNEW me and how GREAT I was- then I would have VALUE
• I don’t know when- I don’t know HOW but I know what the WORD says- in DUE SEASON God is going to exalt you- he is going to LIFT you up!
• The truth is that many people don’t get lifted up because once they get up there- they’re just going to make it about them anyway- not about Jesus
• God is trying to work something out in you BEFORE he exalts you so HE can get the glory!
• This is why I love me some Tebow- he’s so consistent- his sex life on front street- but that guy REFUSES to bend to the WORLD- No NFL Contract- no love from the media- BRING IT
• It’s a trap man- I get it- but- if you’re HUMBLE- God will exalt you- he will make you HIGHER
• Matthew 23:12  And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
• I’ve seen it time and time again- people who try to exalt themselves get humbled
• Going to Samoan birthday party- showed up late- took a seat in the back- just hanging
• James 4:6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.
• Start to think about how you can be more humble- share less on facebook to try to make yourself look good- you can share some victories- but not everything
• Listen to how you talk to people- is every story about how awesome you are?
• Is there something that is beneath you? Feeding? Washing? Serving? FORGIVING? Letting someone else think they are better than you? Or that you’re not important?
• Be obedient

• and became obedient to the point of death- and what did God do? . 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name
• Jesus 100% God 100% Man- took off his God clothes and humbled himself and became of no reputation- but he was OBEDIENT- he DID what GOD asked of him!
• This is the ultimate trade off- if I put God first, will he still take care of me? Will I still have Joy?
• There is a trade-off for being a bondservant

• You give up your freedom to do what ever you want. You become OBEDIENT to GOD
• and became obedient to the point of death- that’s obedience!
• You give up your will: I hear people say it “I’m never going to do that” or “don’t ask me to do that”
• You’re currently enlisted in the Army of God- if the HS tells you to do something you do it

• 1 Peter 1:14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;
• That verse doesn’t have much weight to you guys because you don’t know what obedience from children looks like- You’re used to watching parents who are obedient to their children
• Little Preston- the other night helping me “I’m not allowed to go up there” Dad not even there
• Psalm 119:30 I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me.
• Its a CHOICE to be obedient to the WORD- I HAVE CHOSEN- There’s many times I have to remind myself- I’m a Christian- I can’t do that
• God has PROMISES for the OBEDIENT!!!
• Exodus 23:22 But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.
• I know the creator of the universe is working on my behalf
• Yeah- that’s right- I believe that if someone double crosses me that God will deal with them
• There’s some theology that supports not messing with God’s pastors, but even more than that there is support of not messing with God’s people-
• God is watching- he is going to bless you for your obedience!
• Luke 6:46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
• Just do what he says- And sit back- and watch how he exalts you! WATCH!