Thursday 19 May 2016

Every Knee Shall Bow by Bro. Yap Don Kiang dated 1.5.16



Bro. Yap is from Scripture Union.  His sermon is based on Philippians 2:5-11.  To illustrate a point about humility Bro. Yap shared a story about Ronald Regan, the former President of United State who gave a speech in English in Mexico.  The audience could not understand English so they were quiet.  The next speaker came to the stage, and as he spoke the audience began to clap.  Mr.Regan clapped even louder each time the speaker paused.  He did not realise that the speaker was translating his speech.
We are all prideful and we tend to “blow our own trumpet”.  This is prideful and it is an idolatry.  How we solve this problem?  According to Bro. Yap we must fix our eyes on Jesus.
Indeed there is a doctrine of Christianity as taught by Apostle Paul.  He taught and spoke to the ordinary people and not to Theologians. 
Philippians 2:5-11 is considered a hymn.  Why is this so?  Because the theme of Philippians is found in chapter 1:27-30 : Live in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ.
    2:2 They should have the same spirit, same mind and same love.
2:3 They should do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others     
       Better than yourselves.
2:4 They should look not only to their own interests but also the interest of others. 
The problem is that we have selfish pride.  It is always about ourselves.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus and learn from Him.
1.       Imitate Christ model of humility 2:5-8
2:6 - Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
2:7 - rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness.
Jesus is God, yet He came in human form and made Himself nothing by being a servant.  This is very profound and we may not understand.
He prepared Himself to be cursed by God Deut 21:23 - you must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day, because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse.
1 Corinthians 1:23 - but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
The Cross is central to Christianity, yet it is a stumbling block to the Jews and Gentiles, as it was not comprehensible to them.  It was not logical how God can be crucified on a Cross.
“To give my life for Christ appears glorious. To pour myself out for others…to pay the ultimate price of martyrdom—I’ll do it. I’m ready, Lord, to go out in a blaze of glory. We think giving my life to the Lord is like putting a RM 100 bill on the table—here’s my life, Lord. I’m giving it all. But the reality for most of us is that He sends us to change the RM 100 bill into RM 1 bills.  We go through life putting out RM 1 here and RM 2 there. ” Fred Craddock
This quote typical of most of us, giving out a couple of Ringgit here and there throughout our lives.
2.       Acknowledge Christ Lordship – Philippians 2:9-11
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,   
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,  and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”              
Ephesians 1:21 (NCV)  
     God has put Christ over all rulers, authorities, powers, and kings, not only in this world but also in the next.”
Isaiah 45:23b (ESV)
To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.”
No matter who we are this applies :  In heaven, on earth and under the earth.
The Exaltation of JESUS  is An Encouragement
To Humility
      For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted”.  Luke 14:11 (NIV)
      Be humble in the presence of God’s mighty power, and he will honor you when the time comes .” 1 Pet. 5:6 (CEV)
The Exaltation of JESUS  is An Encouragement – A Summary
 1.  To Humility
 2.  In Trials
 3.  To Salvation
Isaiah 45:22-25 (CEV)
  “I invite the whole world
    to turn to me and be saved.
I alone am God!
    No others are real.
 I have made a solemn promise,
    one that won’t be broken:
Everyone will bow down
    and worship me.
They will admit that I alone
    can bring about justice.
Everyone who is angry with me
will be terribly ashamed
    and will turn to me.
I, the Lord, will give
victory and great honor
    to the people of Israel.”