Attitude Adjustment Week 1 Phil 2:1-11

INTRO> This is a picture of Sir Christopher Wren, the very famous English architect and mathematician. He is probably most famous for buying the beautiful St. Pauls Cathedral, this is what it looks like today. Construction started in 1669, it was a reconstruction process. A story is told that the construction was going slow and the workers seemed to have a poor moral. Sir Christopher sent a spy out and asked 3 men a question, “What are you doing?” One replied, “I’m cutting stone for 10 shillings a day.” The next replied, “Im putting in 10 hours a day. The last man said, “I’m helping Sir Christopher Wren construct one of London’s greatest cathedrals.”

APP> What is the difference with these 3 men? Their attitude. The word attitude has an interesting history and meaning behind it. The Oxford English Dictionary defines it this way:

• • • • Attitude -A settled way of thinking or feeling about something.
      • The edimology of the word is interesting. It comes from a Latin art word, that describes your posture while painting. Why? Because it you have a poor posture it affect your painting.
      • The same is true for the word found in our passage today, look in v5 “this mind” its the greek word phroneō, which means posture and way of thinking.
      • “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” Romans 8:5
      • My attitude is the lenses through which I view life.

5 Common lenses:

• • • Entitlement
    • Bitterness
    • Cynical
    • Rebellious
    • Discontentment

APP> My attitude affects every aspect of my life.

Context > These verses before us are some of the most profound verses in all of the Bible. Most scholars believe that these verses starting in verse 5 are a hymn that was sung in the early church. Paul is writing to a group of believers living in community together, patterning together in the gospel. He gives them advice about their attitude toward God and each other, by showing them what Jesus’ attitude was and by re-enstating his Lordship. There lies the key to our passage:

Big Idea > My attitude adjusts by acknowledging that Jesus is Lord over my attitude.

APP> We will see what Jesus’s attitude was by seeing a selfless attitude, a servant attitude and a submissive attitude.

1. A selfless attitude. v6

• • • “ he emptied himself” These verse’s are massively controversial. What did Jesus empty himself of? Was he not God? Yes, of course he was God. I love the way the great reformer put it, “Christ indeed, could not divest himself of God head; but he kept it concealed for a time… he laid a side his glory in the view of men, not lessening it but by concealing it.” – John Calvin

*ILL- Have you ever seen the TV Show “Undercover Boss”? It’s a great show. The owners and CEO’s of HUGE companies, go undercover and investigate and become apart of their company. It’s an awesome show. Question: They conceal their glory but do they still have it? Yes.

APP> What’s the application to this? Jesus showed humility, which is the opposite of the world message. The self-help section in the bookstore is the largest section.

APP> Self-centeredness always leads to self-destruction. What is Jesus requirement to follow him? “And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23 APP> Self-denial always leads to selfless joy. Selfless joy is YOU before ME.

2) A servant attitude. v7

• • • • “by taking the form of a servant…” Do you see how how the progression happens? We see Jesus attitude, his way of

thinking and then we see his actions. We can draw our implications from this.

APP> My actions are determined by my attitude. Service is something that is seen, yes but that flows from an attitude of selflessness.

Now, here is where this kinda get’s scary. We can fake our outward actions and still have a wrong inward attitude.

*ILL> Parents, you know this right? Asking a child to do something and they do it, but they let you know my huffing and puffing that they aren’t happy about it. How does that make you feel as a parent? Like you won? Did you?

• • • • • “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 6:1

3) A submissive attitude. v8

• • • “by becoming obedient to the point of death.. even death on a cross…” Man, there is so much here. But again, look at v7-8 do you see how the actions are flowing from the attitude/Mindset.
    • This is one of the most beautiful things about the life of Jesus, being submissive to his father’s will.
    • “And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39
    • Then do you see the progression, “Therefore….God highly exalted him. Jesus thought the power of the Holy Spirit submitted his attitude to God.

APP> I don’t suppress my attitude. I don’t spill my attitude. I submit my attitude.

Big Idea > My attitude adjusts by acknowledging that Jesus is Lord over my attitude.

Application:

• • • What is my attitude towards life right now?
    • Where can I see that attitude in my actions?
    • How does Jesus’ attitude change my attitude?

“Lord, thank you for your divine truth. Your word is truth. Thank you for loving me, pursuing me and conforming me to the image of your son, Jesus Christ. I choose to submit all my attitude to you in this moment and pray that you will being the process of transformation in me. I want my life to change. I want to experience the unhindered joy and blessings that you have promised to those who repent from their sins and trust in Jesus Christ.

Change my attitude for your own pleasure. Do that work in me, Oh God, and begin today.

In Christ’s Name I pray. Amen!”

(Prayer adapted from James Macdonalds book, “Lord Change my Attitude before it’s too late” pg 29