Philippians 1 ESV

27. Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
28. and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.
29. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
30. engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Philippians 2 ESV

1. So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
2. complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
3. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
4. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others

Citizens

“let your manner of life be worthy”
= “conduct yourself as a citizen”
Our citizenship is in heaven!

The question:

• How are we to conduct ourselves in the midst of a pagan society as citizens of the kingdom of heaven?
• Paul’s answer: “let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ”

v.27–28 Paul is looking for 3 things:

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents

1. That they are “standing firm in one Spirit.”
2. They are with one mind to strive “side by side for the faith of the gospel.”
3. we are not to be frightened by our opponents.

Philippians 2 ESV

1. So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
2. complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
3. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
4. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others

Philippians 2:1

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy…

1. There is encouragement in Christ.
2. There is the comfort from God’s love.
3. There is our sharing in the Spirit. The word is koinonia
4. There is affection and sympathy

To be something in God’s hands you must first acknowledge that you are nothing without him.

Humility

3. “In humility count others more significant than yourselves”

• Tim Keller defined humility as this:
• I don’t think more of myself
• and I don’t think less of myself
• I think of myself less.

Matt 11:28–29

Come to me, all you who are weak and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”.

Conclusion

• Let your pride, your selfish ambition and your empty glory go
  —all it does is diminish you as a person.
• The amazing thing about humility is that when we take the yoke of the humble Saviour on us, it doesn’t diminish us at all.
• We give up what we can’t keep to gain what we can’t lose.