A Promise

The Lord Has Come – God Has Highly Exalted Him

(Philippians 2:5-11, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, November 10, 2019)

[5] Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, [6] who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. [9] Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, [10] so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

While some Christian groups may diminish the role of suffering in the life Jesus has for his beloved church, we are not in their number. Is it possible, however, that we do not sufficiently contemplate the glory that Christ has won for us through his death and resurrection? Could it be that we are forgetting the scope of Christ's reign over all the people groups of the earth or trivializing the joyful hope that is ours in our Savior?

“Have this mind among yourselves... even death on a cross”

There is a mind which Jesus had when he came

Which we can have now among ourselves

That mind is ours

In Christ Jesus

Last week: “This mind” was beautifully expressed through the incarnation, obedience, and sacrificial death of Jesus. But now...

The exaltation of Jesus is also an essential expression of “this mind”.

The exaltation of Jesus is connected to his obedience and suffering.

God has highly exalted him – resurrection, ascension, gifting, returning, uniting

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.

(More on this next week from Isaiah 45)

Every tongue? The story of the dispersing of the tongues and the uniting of the tongues

Genesis 11:4 “Let us make a name for ourselves.”, 12:2, 8

Acts 2:11 “We hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”, 2:38-39

THE POINT: The Lord has come. Yes, he suffered greatly for us, but he has been and will be highly exalted for us as well. That has to mean something to his followers.

Applying these verses:

1. SCOPE: God has a massive plan for the unity of his people. Don't settle for less.

2. HOPE: Hope is not optional for those who trust in Christ. Be willing to live in hope.

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 119:121-128 – A Secure Pledge of Good

New Testament Reading—Romans 8:18-39 – More than Conquerors