Kill pride and put others first!

Philippians 2:1-5 NIV

Context: Because of persecution coming from outside and within the church… (232)

Let's start by reminding ourselves of what we have seen so far. First, Paul is in prison in Rome for preaching the
gospel. He very likely to be executed. So he is facing persecution from the might of Rome.
And at the end of chapter 1, Paul tells us that his beloved Philippians are facing the same kinds of trouble.

So, when Paul starts chapter 2, he is saying in light of all this persecution, he wants the Philippians to live a life
worthy of the gospel.

This is so relevant to us right here in Sweden. Why are we planting a church? Because Sweden needs more
churches that don't compromise the gospel. That's why our Tuesday night "statement of faith" meetings are so
important. We are drawing the lines and markers around "our faith" and saying on these issues, we will stand.
Yet, how should we react when the world hates us for it?

That is why what Paul is about to say to the Philippians is so vital to us today as well. When pressure comes to
compromise, how will we hold the line in a manner worthy of the gospel?

I will summarise Paul's answer to this question under the headings:

1. In response to the gospel. V 1-2

So firstly, let's look at my first point:

1. In response to the gospel. V 1-2 (311)

Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love,
if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by
being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.

All these benefits from Christ come through receiving Him as our Lord and saviour. Saviour because he died in
our place for all we had done wrong. And Lord because He is the King of the Christians life! And Paul is listing
the precious experiences that come from knowing God through the gospel. Look at the list. In the gospel Jesus
gives:

 Encouragement.
 Unity to Christ.
 Comfort.
 Sharing the Spirit.
 Tenderness.
 Compassion.

All received by every believer. But notice Paul isn't just saying these are theoretical ideas. They are gospel
realities. They are supposed to be the tangible daily realities of walking as a Christian.

Paul expects the Philippians to have experienced these gifts from God.

So, before we move on to how we should respond to trials, we first need to spend time glorying in and
experiencing the realities of the gospel.
Have you felt ANY of these realities?

If the answer is no, you want to experience and know them. Then come and speak to Emelie or me after the
meeting, and let's pray about it and maybe spend time looking at the Bible until our hearts sing with the
beauty of the gospel.

If yes, I have experienced God's encouragement, love, comfort, tenderness and compassion, then there is a
right way to respond to the attacks that come our way as we stand for the gospel.

First, we are to…

2. Kill pride. V 3 (342)

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.

First, let me have a go at defining "selfish ambition" and "vain conceit."

These both together are the twin sides of the coin of pride. On one side of pride, we have selfish ambition, as
we want to BECOME better than others. On the other of pride, we have vain conceit because we already think
we ARE better than others.

And Paul says "do NOTHING" out of pride. Nothing. There is no wiggle room here. There is no room for pride
for a Christian who has been saved from the eternal depths of their sin by the glorious Son who descended
into Hell to bring us up from it. In response to this gospel, we can't say pride is OK sometimes. A little bit of
pride is OK now and then. No.

If we have received and experienced the gospel at the cost of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, then killing
pride wherever we see it is the only right response. Right?

But, if you are still not convinced that killing pride is the only right response to the gospel. Remember one
other thing. If we are not killing pride, pride is killing us or others. Look back to chapter one, verses 15 & 17:

"It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry… …The former preach Christ out of selfish
ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains."

Paul's imprisonment is made harder because other Christians are driven by "envy, rivalry and selfish ambition."
They want to boost their importance by making Paul's life harder. They want their followers and their churches
to grow out of pride. And it quite literally might lead Paul to his execution at the hands of the Romans. Horrible
evil, isn't it? And that is from within the church. So let's not think that left unchecked, pride will not kill us or
others.

But it's not just about killing pride. We must remember also…

3. Put others first. V 4 (200)

So, Paul here is describing the total opposite of pride; we are to strive to be humble. Instead of building up our
own importance and value, we are to build up each other. Instead of thinking of ourselves, we are to think of
others first. Instead of thinking we are more important; we are to think the other is more important.
We live in an individualistic culture. I look after me, and you look after you. No one is more important than
anyone else. Now, this can seem reasonable. But it is not the Gospel way. It is not the Jesus way (as we will see
in the coming two weeks). The gospel way is to say, "Because Christ has valued me already because I have
experienced his love, encouragement, comfort and tenderness, I do not need to look after myself. So, I will use
my energy and time to build the other up!"

No one is more important than anyone else in the church. No. We all have our infinite value, as Christ loves us.
But, I will treat you as if your needs are more important than mine. The gospel says I will not claim my rights.
Instead, I will give them up for the other.

This is the gospel way. This is what a gospel community modelled in the image of Jesus will look like. That is
what we want to strive for.

Imagine how many pointless arguments would be spared if we tried to kill pride and put the other first.

How many arguments have I had with Emelie because my pride was pricked over some tiny stupid insignificant
thing? More than I know. How many friendships have I damaged because I let pride have the last say instead
of humility?

So, let's be a community of people who are willing to be the ones to say sorry first.
A community of people willing to be at the back of the line.
Where willing to listen to others more quickly than we speak ourselves.
That seeks to serve where we are needed, not where we can get the most recognition.
Let's be a community that fights over who gets to clean the toilets, not who gets to preach.

Sound tough? Well, it gets tougher…

Remember the context? Paul isn't just talking about how we treat other Christians. He is talking about killing
pride and putting others first, even when they are our persecutors. He is saying when someone is about to
throw you in jail, kill your pride and put others first. He is saying when someone in the church uses your
misfortune to their advantage, kill your pride and put others first.

Paul sounds just like Jesus here. Listen to these words from Jesus in Matthew 5:43-48:

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your
enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He
causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If
you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do
that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

But it's not just what Jesus said. It's what he did.

Jesus was nailed to the cross by Roman soldiers. Not for His own sins, but for yours and mine. Jesus was
surrounded by an angry mob who shouted insults, spat at Him and shouted, "crucify Him!" When Jesus in His
flesh felt abandoned by everyone, even God, as he bore the weight of God's righteous wrath for our sin on the
cross. What did He say? He said, "Father, forgive them!"

And what was He doing as He suffered? He was saving us, who were his enemies.

That's why Paul says in verse five:

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.

And this all may sound impossible. How can we kill pride and put others first, even when they hate us? Wwe
can ONLY do it when we want to because the gospel of Jesus so moves us. And when God empowers us
through His Spirit.
There truly is no better way to live than the gospel life.
There truly is no more beautiful message than the cross of Jesus.
There truly is no better King to serve than the one who was willing to die for you.

So, when the going gets tough, let's out of a responce to the gospel, be like Jesus, kill our pride, and put others
first.

Let's pray.