1)Focus on the cross.
Yesterday at En-Gedi (VCFBN's Leaders training seminar) we learned about people who lose their focus.
Maintaining focus as people of God is critical. If we lose our focus
we will meander through the desert of life.
People out of focus creates a myriad of problems.
Stagnation results. Unproductiveness.
Values start to slip. Complaining rises.
Worship is not about us….it is about treasuring Jesus!
Bringing Jesus to the center of our focus is critical.
Our vision should be to ‘Experience Jesus’!
The cross is the ‘apex’ of Christ’s life work. Therefore, we should focus on the cross of Christ.
Note Philippians 2 immediately leads us to His obedience,
even unto death,
even unto death on a cross.
The apostolic focus was on the cross. Like a great tether ball, never straying from its pole, the apostolic letters regularly wind up back at the cross. The pole
That centers truth in Christianity. It is the focus that brings fruitfulness for all of us!
Five Perspectives on the Cross
A) God’s perspective-Propitiation (14 times God reveals He hates evil doers...in first 50 psalms)
B) Christ’s perspective-High point of unqualified obedience!
C) Satan’s perspective-Revelation 12 appeal to the blood of the cross to overcome the devil.
D) Sin’s perspective-Stain cleansed. Debt paid off.
E) Our perspective-Our attitude: unqualified obedience possible in Christ because the one who unqualifyingly obeyed His Father dwells in us!!!
2) Adopt Jesus’ death as the test of your outlook1:27-30 Teaches that we are called not only to believe on Christ, but also
to suffer for Him!
2:1-4 Teaches that we are not only to enjoy the comforts o the Gospel, but are to
also pass them on by embracing Christ’s mindset! Paul appeals to experience. Conversation-put a button on it! Listen and watch out for others interests…not only your own!
The Son’s self-denial 2:5-8 “Christ did not take the form of God…He was in the form of God”. He took the form of a human being without leaving the form of God. Illustration: Sun & clouds (As the sun is hidden when the clouds cover the earth...so the Son of God's divine nature was hidden from our view when He clothed himself in human flesh. He always was, and is and will be Divine, AND He took on human flesh when He entered Mary's womb.
The Son’s vindication 2:9-11 The Father has exalted Christ to the highest place.
What principle operates here?
Trust in the Father. The way down is the way up in God’s Kingdom!
2:12-18 Teaches we are called to do our best to grow in our salvation!
Outline blended from ACC Vol. VIII & Basics for Believers by Carson
1 comment:
Tonight at dinner we talked about Philippians 2:3. It says "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself."
When most are focused on self, Christ's pathway is to be other focused. Let's follow Jesus' example. He provides the power to do this through the cross and resurrection.
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