Learning To Love Like Jesus

Rev Gideon

What have we been learning at cell? The book of Philippians and the theme is joy. What does that mean? Jesus first, yourself last and others in between.

Paul wrote this book to the believers, to the Christians. 

Philippians 2:1-11

"Imitating Christ’s Humility

​1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

7 but made himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to death–

even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

10 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."

Paul encourages us to consider others above ourselves. It is hard but we must do what Jesus has done for you. Do the same thing to one another. Always esteem the other person higher. Our attitude should be that of Christ Jesus. 

Jesus humbled himself and God exalted him to the highest place. To go up high we have to first learn to humble ourselves. We have a tendency to want to be the first in line. If possible we will push others aside. But Jesus lowered himself. Then God gave him a name that is above every other name. 

By that name every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that he is Lord. That's how great that name is. On earth, in heaven and under the earth. Some of us may be bowing down grudgingly but we still have to confess him as Lord. 

But this morning I want to talk about love. 

There is a company in the US where they made a perfume called virtue. And you will smell like how Jesus smelt. They took all the herbs during Jesus' time and made this perfume that smell like Jesus. It's a sweet smell like apricot and a dash of frankincense and mirth. Jesus doesn't want you to smell like him but to be like him. To be more Christlike. 

How many of you heard of Max Lucado. He said God loves you the way you are. But because he loves you so much he does not want you to remain the way you are. He wants you to change from glory to glory, to be better. But there lies the problem. We all don't like change. When change comes it becomes difficult. 

When we have combined services, some people don't turn up. Why? I've asked and some people said there's no place to sit. And I asked but we bring in more chairs, but they say yes, but not the place I sit. (Laughs). We don't like change. 

He meets us at the point where we are but he will not stop making you better. He wants us to change. He wants us to move to be better. Paul is encouraging the church to live in harmony. 

In the church sometimes it's difficult to live in harmony. It's easy to come to church, attend and go home. But the moment we interact and serve  sometimes we rub each other the wrong way. How many of you know how I always comb my hair upwards. Don't comb my hair any other way or you're rubbing my hair the wrong way. Even the hair can be rubbed the wrong way. 

Church should be a place where we humble ourselves and serve one another. Jesus humbled himself even to the point of death. If we do that the church will explode. 

There was this speaker that arrived at church early to preach. As he turn into the church compound he saw a funeral service. So he did not want to disturb the pastor but the pastor saw him and asked him to come. He introduced the speaker to the widow and said this is the pastor that is speaking. This is the women who just lost her husband and children to an accident. 

The widow said she cannot come Friday but will be there for service on Saturday and Sunday. The speaker said as expected told her she did not have to come. But the widow said she wants to come because this is her church and she wants to be there. That's how the church should be. When one member hurt we rally around. And encourage one another. Often we criticise and not encourage. 

When we hurt we should be able to be there for one another. But most of us are Sdn Bhd. We should not be Sendirian. But we are a Berhad. We should care for one another. Because we have seen what God has done for us. 

What is the hallmark of a church? Is that we have love for one another. Penang is known for what? Food? Penang is known for its Char Koay Teow. Each country is famous for something. The big Apple is? New York. Paris? Eiffel Tower. What is the church known for? Love. 

I want our church to be known as a church that love one another. Let's do more. More of love for one another. Jesus said by this shall all men know you are my disciple. A healthy church is where everyone loves one another. Are we a healthy church? I think we need to be healthier. My wife said I need to exercise more. 

How many of you know the song by Simon & Garfunkel? 

When you're weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes, I'll dry them all
I'm on your side, oh, when times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

If you know the analogy of the song, you'll know the phrase "I've got your back". That's what God is saying to us, I've got your back. When you're over troubled waters I'm your bridge. 

Wouldn't it be nice we can say that to one another. That we mean it to everyone of our brothers and sisters. Jesus is saying when you are over troubled waters, he can say to the wind, be still. 

When you look at the goose they fly to the south for winter, they fly in a V formation. The geese behind the first geese enjoy less drag as they fly. They can fly 71% further than if they fly alone. We are supposed to line up as a V formation. As a church if we are flapping together we can go further. So it's important we have a focus. Arise. Shine. 

At the end of the V is a single geese that was the leader. When the leader gets tired, another will take the lead position. We can leverage on one another's abilities. If we combine carefully the church can go further. 

Also when they fly they make noise. They honk. Why? To encourage one another. Like at the big party when we scoop the rice we talk and encourage one another and the work becomes lighter. But it is not in our nature to be an encourager. Sometimes we think that we encourage too much the person become big headed. Or your other leaders like the worship ministry. Have you encourage your cell leaders? Encouragement helps people do better. 

Also when one of the goose gets sick, two of the geese will stay with the sick bird until it's healed then they take off still in a V formation. You need at least three to form a V. Let's help one another. To get the person up on his feet. 

This is the kind of church I'd want TOP to become. It will be a wonderful church. 

Jesus at the cross. Our attitude should be the same as Jesus. He became obedient even to the death on a cross. We are suppose to serve one another. 

There was a man who walked on the pier. He missed his footing and fell into the sea and he cannot swim. He was trying to get people's attention. There was one group who saw him but they were too far. There was one person who was near the person but he did not do anything. The man drowned. So the family sued this man saying that this man did nothing although he could. The court said the man although he could save the person was not legally bound to help the person. 

That's not the church. We are not talking about the law but grace. We are called to serve one another. To love one another. Consider the other person higher than us.