IdentifyStars
Always be yourself
Unless you can be BatmanThen be Batman Always be Batman
i·den·ti·fy:Establish or indicate who or
what (someone or something) is
To associate closely with
We present ourselvesTo our world based on…
How we primarily identify
And our world identifies usBased on how we
Present ourselvesIt's the power of influence
Rather than pursuit of power
If you indentify with ChristYou lose everything
Only to find that you've gainedThe only thing that matters
Philippians 2 Context
…to live is Christ, to die is gain…
Identification- it's all Jesus!
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel
of Christ…
…standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel…
Creation- Live/Give RespectFall- HumbleRedemption- ThankfulRestoration- Seeking to live out
Forms the basis of unity
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…
…engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now
hear that I still have
Identify with Jesus:Live worthy in unity
Knowing you will sufferFor Christ’s sake and
You'll need one another
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy
…complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the
same love, being in full accord and of one mind
When we love Jesus first…When we identify with him
What gives Jesus joyGives us joy
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full
This is my commandment, that you love one another
as I have loved you- John 15:11-12
"This is what Jesus commandedAnd it’ll give me great joy
If you do this…"
…complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the
same love, being in full accord and of one mind
Phroneo- seek after same thing
Agape- same moral preferenceof love
Sumpsuchos- united in soul, closely identified with
When we identify withOne another…we lose unity
When we identify with JesusWe are unified because Of Jesus
Plea for Unity
Based on what we haveIn Christ
The very thingJesus prayed for
Because it tells our worldThat he is real
The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in meCompletely Identified With
…that they may become perfectly one, so that the world
may know that you sent me and loved them even
as you loved me- John 17:22-23
Paul is pleading forCalling believers to
What Jesus prayed for andPromised would identify usAs his followers
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves
Oh! Pick me, pick me!I wanted to hear my name
Oh! Pick me, pick me!I wanted to hear my name
And I was very defensiveWhen it came to criticism
I want this…I just need…
I gotta have…
I’ll get ahead, it's all about meI'll project/protect ego
If you indentify with ChristYou lose everything
Only to find that you've gainedThe only thing that matters
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves
Humility:I trust You to meet my needs
As I serve them
And put them first
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to
the interests of others
This is what unity looks like…
Unity: so identifying with Christ That we die to selfCount others more importantThan ourselves and commit toLooking out for their needs
That's great, really…But we can't do it
Unless we identify with JesusAnd make following him
The primary pursuit of our lives
If you indentify with ChristYou lose everything
Only to find that you've gainedThe only thing that matters
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus(ESV)
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus (NIV)
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus(KJV)
Identify with Jesus
…who, though he was in the form of God, did not count
equality with God a thing to be grasped…
Essential Nature: Outside Agrees with who he is
but emptied himself…
Kenoo- render void, lose valueGive up independent exercise of divine attributes
…by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of menOutside agrees with Who he is= KenosisDoulos- slaves exist to…?
"I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his
Father doing, because whatever the Father does the
Son also does- John 5:19-20
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross
Schema- exterior appearance
Human form= Schema- Exterior appearance
He's human, but not exactly like us…untouched by sin
Completely identified with us
As a human being…pain, hunger, thirst, sun on his skin
Temptation
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses…
…but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are,
yet without sin- Hebrews 4:16
Jesus died as one of us To free us
He became a curse for us toSave us from the curse of Law
If you indentify with ChristYou lose everything
Only to find that you've gainedThe only thing that matters
Before ever asking usTo die to self
And identify with himHe identified with us and died
As one of us for all of us
Why did Jesus go to the cross?
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves
Why did Jesus do it? Why did he go to the cross?
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…
…in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every
tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God
the Father
That's where unity comes fromWe identify with Christ
So we die to self, live worthy of The gospel and put others firstBy the power Christ supplies
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now,
not only as in my presence but much more in my absence…
…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure
Identify: To adjust so as to bring into
Alignment with
Work out- bring to completionWorks in you- step-by-step
…for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the
power to do what pleases him(NLT)
I work out my salvationBy so identifying with Jesus
That what he wants for meBecomes what I want forMyself= new desires & power
Death to self brings powerFrom God to become each day
A little more of What he created you to be
As part of his Church
If you indentify with ChristYou lose everything
Only to find that you've gainedThe only thing that matters
Questions, CommentsDisagreements
Pray
10:30 Group
Game Night