Impressions from Philippians 2:1-4

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. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:1-4 ESV)

Lesson Focus: Forget about yourself!

There must have been some discontent in Philippi because Paul is urging the church to seek unity. In this passage He brings back (vs. 2:3) the destructive motives observed in the Romans in verse 1:15 “Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.”  In this chapter Paul gave us four godly examples of the divine humility that produces unity.*
Jesus (1-4)
Jesus (5-11)  – part two
Paul (12-18)
Timothy (19-24)
Epaphroditus (25-30)

What motivations us to seek unity?

“if there is any encouragement in Christ”
Our relationship with Christ should be enough.
It was enough for Jesus -  (John 8:28-29)

“any comfort from love”
ἀγάπη agapē  - the ultimate love that cannot be accessed without the Holy Spirit, the love of your enemy.

“any participation in the Spirit”
if any fellowship of the Spirit – KJV Our fellowship as brothers and sisters in Christ.

“any affection and sympathy”
Paul was reaching for the deepest of our feelings for one another.

“complete my joy”
Paul pleaded that they (we) gather all these motivations and love each other with the mind of Christ.

“but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”
This has been used by those who lean toward continued depravity of the believer to support their view of “just a sinner saved by grace."

Humility is not self loathing to the point that those around you are lifting up to some kind of false caring. True humility is placing a divine value on others that exceeds the value of your own desires.

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Humility is not a vow of poverty.

Where should we find humility, and what will it look like?

Impression: Humility is not a human attribute. Jesus is the divine standard of humility. Humility is not thinking of one’s self as depraved (i.e. a lowly sinner); it is not thinking of yourself at all.

Personal Time: “Lord, who are you leading me to invest in?”

* from Wiersbe's Expository Outlines