Sunday 9:00 AM First Service

Can help but rise up out of you. How can you help but worship? What he purchased, what he did. I think his name is to be exalted, just like you've been singing it. Just say his name together, Jesus. Are you ready? One, two, three, say together. Jesus. One more time. Jesus. The name that's above every day. That at the mere mention of his name, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess Possibly quoting Romans 14:11. That Jesus is both Lord and Christ.

Lord, I ask you today to give us a revelation of your work and your word. Every individual that's walked in this room, Lord, I ask that they not leave the same way. They came in. Your anointing, your presence, those who have not bowed their knee of their own life. They've lived their own life, their own way. That they would confess Jesus Christ is their Lord. Not the only the fact that you died, but you died that they might be free. Each one of us in this room. Lord, we pray over the body of Christ in this city that the gospel would be clearly proclaimed in the pulpits of this city. Hearts would respond to that today, we pray. We honor you, Lord, in every aspect of our gathering. Let us be sensitive to the Holy Spirit in one another. Being aware of those you've placed around us to discern Christ and His gifts in one another. Thank you for those who are laboring with the church in the little bodies today. Ministering to them. We bless them in all that you're doing. If you agree with that, say amen.

Our upper elementary are finding their way out. But why don't you find somebody you've just worshiped with? I want you to introduce yourself. If you don't know them, Even go out of your way across the building if you need to. Somebody you wanted a chance to greet. You haven't had a chance to do that, be sure and reach out to them. Would you welcome them. Wow. And there's worship. There's worship in the house. Wow, wow, wow. What do you think? Don't you love his body? His people. I love the body of Christ. I love Christ in people. That changes everything. Bless me. It's beyond us, isn't it? Not by our power, not by our strength. By the Spirit of God.

We're on a theme through Philippians, as you probably know. Today we're talking about being united in Christ. And I got a hold of something recently, and they just turned it into an app this week. It's called the Singing Bible. Now, I want everybody to QR code, that free app. I mean, Alt was tempted just to play by text this morning. I mean, we've got country, African dance, reggae. Come on, somebody help me. We've got choir, children's choir. Come on. No, that's African dance. How about country? Sound like John McCaffrey. Everybody's got to get this app. Come on, you guys. You gotta get this app. I'm serious. That's all you'll want to listen to driving down the road. I'll give you this microphone here. That's all you'll want to listen. Is the word of God. And somebody said, Amen. I love it. I love it. I love it. You ought to listen to Revelation chapter 4, Carmen, and chapter 5 with the angel's choir. You'll come up out of the seat. It is powerful. It is powerful. How's everybody doing? Doing well after that? We have no excuse not to read the word, do we? We've got it for us. I love the fact that we're going through books of the Bible. We believe in reading the scriptures publicly. Paul instructed Timothy to do that to all the churches as well and Thessalonians. He encouraged the reading of the letters. And so we're now in Philippians. And as you well know by now, Paul is in prison. He's uncertain about his future. But his greatest concern that we're going to hear today is. Is that whether or not what we ended last week with is in Philippians 1, where he wanted them to stand fast and to strive together. And he made a statement there concerning when they were under persecution, it was proof that God would destroy the enemy. It's pretty strong, isn't it? And that they themselves would be saved, showing that when strong persecution comes against the church, God's well aware of it. I think that ought to encourage us in the days to come that the gospel is the center. We should not be afraid to preach the gospel. And the stronger it gets, the louder and more bold we should become. Address and deal with those who oppose the gospel. The gospel is the power of God, isn't it? Under salvation. To those who believe, to the Jew first and also to the Greek Possibly quoting Romans 1:16, for in it the righteousness of God is revealed. What do we mean by that? That's how you know righteousness. How do you know it's it'd be great just to know our sins are forgiven? But God doesn't end there. Romans says that he was delivered up for our sins, meaning at the cross. But he was raised for our justification, just as if we never sinned. I'm happy to know my sins are forgiven, but God took it further that it'd be like I never sinned. So justification and understanding righteousness and understanding what it means and the power of the gospel, that he reveals his righteousness, the righteousness that's required. And so Paul here is addressing his desire for them to stand fastly and to strive together. But then he talks about something that may be even more of a challenge, and that is unity within.

So let's talk about this reading Philippians chapter 2, verse 1 through 11. Are you ready? Let's follow along there with me. Therefore, in other words, he just finished chapter 1 because of all those things he says. Now, therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, this is the NIV. If any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and one in mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interest, but each of you to the interest of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus, who being in the very nature God did not consider equality with God, something to be used to his own advantage. Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on the cross. Therefore, God Exalted him. You've been singing about that this morning to the highest place and gave him a 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. Wow. And every tongue acknowledged that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. I love what Paul does here. He gives us the basis of unity. He addresses this by beginning to lay a foundation. And I want to walk through this here. With you, because when he says, therefore, he's referring to what he has already called the Philippians to do, as we mentioned, to stand strong and to what? To strive together. And then he mentions here that that is an external, in chapter one, that's an external opposition. But then he names what may be a greater opposition, and that would be disunity within his body. And so he's addressing this. That's his concern. In prison, he's concerned: will the church be unified? Why do you think he's carrying that so strong in his heart? Because unity flows out of what we already have. So watch what he says here when he says, if, or therefore, if that word if the Greek is also translated since, meaning he's not wondering if it's already true, as if they didn't, but he said, since. You have these things, and he names for them since this is true. If there be, Paul uses that, he isn't doubting the blessings at all, he's assuming them. Okay, so he gives us, I think, one of the most powerful things on the unity of the spirit, the unity of Christ. And here's what it comes from. Hear me on this: it comes from the reality that we already share in Christ.

He begins with the first one. He says, if there's any encouragement or consolation. The word there is consolation of Christ. If there's any sense, you could say this, since there's encouragement, since there's consolation in Christ. In fact, we could read over in 2 Corinthians this: for as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ Possibly quoting 2 Corinthians 1:5. Christ is the consolation. 2 Thessalonians, he says, Paul says that God has loved us. And give us giving us everlasting encouragement, everlasting consolation. And he says, it's good hope by grace. And I want you to get that because sometimes we're thinking consolation, encouragement is outside of us, that somehow, if this happens, I'll be encouraged. Paul is saying, no matter what you go through, the consolation, since you are in Christ, then the unity comes out of the fact that you're consoled by Christ Himself. And he says, here's what Spurgeon says. Spurgeon says this the Holy Spirit consoles us, but Christ is the consolation. He said, if I may use the figure, the Holy Spirit is the physician, but Christ is the medicine. Christ Himself should be the encouragement of every believer. Not what happens to you or what you go through. When you focus on what you're going through, rather than Christ Himself as your consolation, hear me, you have not reached into the eternal work of Christ. You've only looked at Christ in this present time. If our hope in Christ is only in this life, what does Paul say? Then we're to be pitied. There has to be a reach in every believer that goes beyond this present time. If you're only encouraged by what's happening to you, you'll be just as discouraged as what's happening to you. But if your consolation is in Christ Himself, you can go through anything since, he says, we have this consolation in Him. What you see, he's making a statement because he's going to bring us around to unity. The only way we can be unified is that we already are in him. The only way I can be encouraged is I am already in him. So if I'm trying to be encouraged to get things that go my way, I'm missing it. Consolation is in Christ Himself.

And then he says something else. He said, not only a consolation in Christ, but a comfort from his love. Now, I want to talk about that for just a second. I don't know, apart from revelation from God, how you can know that God loves you. But I do know this. If you don't have the comfort of love from Christ, you will not be able to be in unity with other people. You're going to feel like you got left out. If your response is when hard things happen, God must not. Love me. I'm talking to you. If your thought is, this is really hard, God must have abandoned me. I want you to hear. Because he's saying, since we have this, there's a comfort in his love. If I know that, it's only through that I can love anybody else. Otherwise, you and I'll get in the mutt, get in the way of us loving each other. Come on now. You know that, don't you? There's enough flesh for all of us. If you look at the flesh, no wonder Paul said no one after the flesh. If you look after the flesh, there's no reason to love each other. That's superficial, isn't it? But first of all, to know that I'm comforted with his love. Can I ask that question? Are you? Were you sitting? Do you know by revelation that God loves you? The scripture says we love him because he what? First loved us. Knowing that is a means by which your heart is comforted. I've often said if I had a machine, I could just run people through to get the love of God. We lined up people all day long. That is the Holy Spirit that brings it revelation, is it? So not only a consolation which is in Christ, but a comfort of his love. He's building the basis for unity.

And once you see these four things, okay? The third thing he says is a participation or what we might call koinania or common sharing with the Holy Spirit. He's saying, because you have this partnership already, you have an encouragement, a consolation in Christ, you have a comfort in the fact that you're loved. The fact that you're partnered already, you are participating, Koinonia, fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit. You already have that. He says, because of that, that's the basis of unity. To know that we're already sharing partnership. We're not excluded. We're not out here alone. Are you hearing this? You're not separated. See, if I think I'm separated, then I don't want to be a Part of what he's doing. I feel like I'm being, but he starts with the basis of this, knowing that Christ Himself settles your heart to encourage you, that Christ's love comforts you, and that you know you're participating, you're partnered with the Holy Spirit. Every believer is in kononia, in fellowship, and partnership. You're not in this by yourself. Hallelujah.

And then he adds the fourth thing. That is mercy, affection, tenderness, compassion. He says, if there's any in Christ, how many know there is tenderness and mercy in Christ? Mercy. I ask this every once in a while. I'm asking it for us that we not forget our own sin, that we've been forgiven of. Lest you become harsh on someone else's sin. I've shared with you many times my own spiritual pride. Came to Christ, I guess, when I was three. I don't know. Called to preach when I was eight. Started preaching when I was 16. Married my wife 14 months after she was. To think I was beyond her. It was easy. These passages today will deal with our heart on those areas. When he starts giving us the behavior, right now he's giving us the basis for it. He's saying, Because you have a consolation of Christ. That's why you're encouraged because you have the love, you have comfort from the love of Christ. You have a partnership with the Holy Spirit, and you have tenderness with Christ because He has shown you mercy, hasn't he? If you know He's shown you mercy, you're gonna be a lot more merciful to other people. It took God revealing my sin to me for me to be compassionate toward other people's sin. Mercy creates the basis for unity because you've been forgiven. Doesn't it? The more I'm aware of that, the more tender I can be towards someone. That's the basis.

So, what does it look like? What is you Paul? Gives us what it looks like. I could call it the behavior of unity. He doesn't just give us the foundation. I love this. This is real practical, isn't it? Then he gives us the behavior of it because unity is sustained. Listen, this is really good. It's sustained through humility. Something's hard to find. What is rare? So what he does, he tells us two things not to do, and then he tells us two things to do. This is real practical. Talking about being unified or unity in the body. He was concerned that there was, because later on we're going to find there are two ladies, faithful ladies, and The church of Philippi that we're not getting along with each other. Aren't you glad people are people? And God's God. And the devil's the devil. I don't care where you go, what culture it's in, it's the same. So he's concerned about this.

And here's what he says to avoid. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition. Selfish ambition, it's really a it's rivalry-driven, it's competition-driven. I can tell you that I struggled in leadership in the church, not knowing what is my ambition and what is the call of God. It's interesting, isn't it? What is the call of God? The drivingness of the Holy Spirit and selfish ambition. Selfish ambition has this idea of self-promoting. It's a self-promoting spirit. It's often motivated itself by selfishness and conceit. And actually, that whole idea is its advancement of promotion. So he says, Let nothing be done through selfish ambition. The question we have to ask is anything I'm doing right now. Is it out of selfish ambition? Are you bothered when someone doesn't acknowledge that? So he says, let nothing be done. And then he gets even more detailed with that. He says, the second thing, let nothing be done through conceit. That may sound like the same, but it's two different things, because conceit is the image management. It's the idea of needing to be seen and it's need to be right or important. This is really a second step to what he's calling a behavior, what unity looks like. And the word conceit there means vainglory. In other words, if it's done out of conceit, it's done out of what? Glory that it won't matter. And he's addressing this because obviously it's an issue to deal with. Paul's not writing this just because the Philippians, those in Philippi, were unique. Because we know it's not, it's true for every one of us that he says two things: don't let this be done out of selfish ambition, and don't let it be done out of conceit. And you can only ask the Holy Spirit, you have to show me in my own heart. I remember praying that, Lord, is this your call or is this my selfish ambition? And really, it was out of that, Ron, where we really started talking about bearing fruit rather than being successful. Because I was successful, I had to compare myself with someone else. You know, it's like, what is the what what's are we the biggest? Are we the best? Well, that's vain conceit. I I remember people saying the church alive is worth the drive. And I liked it. Vain conceit. I told you, didn't I? 1981, I was a young 26-year-old pastor. I put out on our marquee, Rogers County's fastest growing church. That's just like bending over and saying, Spank me, God. The same thing. I mean, it's real, isn't it? So much so if we're not careful, we'll become sectarian. And not embrace the body of Christ in the city. That's what Paul's dealing with, isn't he? What we have going on here is so much better. If that's the idea, we have to be careful.

So he gives two things about unity of not to do, then he gives two things to do. Are you ready? In lowliness of mind, each esteem others better than himself Possibly quoting Philippians 2:3. And everybody said, Oh, I thought you were going to say, oh me. Humility that counts others more significant. That really is huge, isn't it? When I tell you that God dealt with me, with my wife in that area, I wasn't considering her more significant. I think that there's a real question for us in this room to ask ourselves, because it's contrary to our present culture, isn't it? You know, we we build our self esteem by being superior. We're taught that way. And I'm not against you teaching your children healthy self esteem, but you we have to be careful that as a Christian, the whole way is the way of the cross. That our dependency of image is in him and not in ourselves. So when you teach your children they can do whatever they dream to do, shouldn't it be you can do whatever God designs you to be? Because that's fruitfulness, isn't it? But it's not sensational. In fact, it comes out of when we just preach through the scriptures. There'd be a lot of people say, Glenn, I wish you'd just tell me how great I am and how wonderful my life's going to be this week. And that's not what Paul does. Oh, in him you're there. That's why he starts off with those basis, right? But then he comes down to the practicable part. And the second thing he says is let each of you look not only for your own interest, but for the interest of others. He's not saying ignore your interest, but include, if you have that need, then somebody else also has that need. Isn't that powerful? What is that? That's the behavior. That's what it actually looks like. That's what unity actually looks like. So here's a good question for each of us. Who in our congregation do you consider more significant than yourself? Take out a piece of paper and write the name down. No, I'm just joking. It wouldn't be a bad practice, would it? One person that you consider more significant than yourself. And I'm not taking away from, you know, oftentimes people would put down the leaders because they'd see them as significant. But, and I don't want to take away from God's giving honor, but it ought to include. Beyond that. There ought to be among us, I see Christ. And here's how when you hear me say, I see Christ in people, that changes everything, that changes everything for me. Because if I just look at you, I'm looking at you what you can do for me. But if I look at Christ in you, I see the gifts and grace. And that's why we need to get to know each other and hear each other's story, is that we can really understand the value that person has in the gifts of Christ. And by the way, let me just add to this you won't know everybody in this room. You'll know who they are, but you won't know them. Human behavior says you're going to only know about 60 people in your life. Count them. You do well to get 60 people that you that really know you, that you really know. And that's normal, okay? That's normal. Sometimes people come into a congregation that's got. A couple, two or three hundred people or more, they feel overwhelmed because they think they got to know everybody. No, the same 60 you knew before, it's a different 60, but you can get to know them. So invest in those that God puts in your life because why? He's causing you to see and consider. And here's the question if that's true, if there's somebody that I consider more significant, then when was the last time I acted on that? That's a good question, isn't it? Why? Because disunity starts at the small, self centered instincts. Needing credit, needing the last word. Can I tell you, I don't know if that ever goes away. You just don't heed to it. That was my idea. I wonder if they know that. I came up with that first. It never goes away, does it? But you don't heed to it. That's why he's saying, don't do these do don't do the first two things, but do these two things, honoring one another. So, what does it do?

Now he goes deeper than this. If you follow me so far, those are the practicals. He goes deeper than this. He goes into the what I would call the means of unity, meaning that this is how it actually works. And this is Christ. He says, Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Now we know we have the mind of Christ, but what does he mean by let this mind be in you? It means that this is a part of your understanding. You've allowed this to be a part of your understanding. Here's what he says have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus. So the phrase in Christ Jesus reminds us that this is not merely an imitation. Jesus, watch this, is not just an example for us, he is the power for us. Let me say that again. It's easy to look at Jesus, say he's a good example. You say, well, then I'm going to fall short of that example. But he's not just a good example. He's saying, let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, because he is in us. We can do this. Right? You can do it. Because why? Because he starts off by saying this here's the steps. He gives the steps. Are you ready? He was in the form of God. Remember that in verse 6? Meaning he was God, and he is God. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Right? Jesus is the Word. We beheld His glory, the only begotten of the Son, the Father Possibly quoting John 1:14, of the Father. So the glory of the Word, the Word is Jesus. And he says here, he was in the form of God, the essential nature. Paul is describing Christ's deity. He starts by saying, think with me, he as God, okay? What does he do? It says the next part of that, he did not grasp equality with God. Now hear me on this. This is while he was in his glory in heaven and had not taken on the form of a servant. Otherwise, he could not have agreed to come to this earth. He did not consider this place as something to be grasped. He did not hold on to it, but willingly took upon the form of a servant. So though he is God and was in the form of God, notice he was in the form of God. He had not taken on the form of humanity. He did not consider that to be grasped to his advantage, to take it as his advantage. He's showing us the very means by which this happens. Watch what he says. I believe one translation says, He made himself. of no reputation, meaning that he did not give up his deity, but he took up on humanity. In an attempt, listen to me now, in an attempt to teach Christians their authority as a believer, some have used this verse called the Kenosis of Christ to say that Jesus emptied himself out of his deity and he only functioned here on this earth by the power of the Holy Spirit, therefore you can too. That's got half truths to it. Jesus did not empty himself out of his deity. Jesus walked on this earth a hundred percent God and a hundred percent man. Otherwise, he would not have fulfilled the fulfillment. He could not have emptied himself out of his deity. He emptied himself out of the position, so to speak, of grasping. He took upon the form of a servant. So, yes, we operate by the power of the Holy Spirit as a believer, but don't think for one minute minute that Jesus gave up his deity, his divine attributes. Jesus, when he came to be known as Jesus, took up on the servant form. He took up on humanity. Are you with me? It's important for you to know doctrinally, because you can get off there. Start thinking that out of order, man is important to God. God uses man, but you can never bring man to the level of God. God is other than we are. We're created in his image, but we're not equal with God. It's important that you understand that. So Jesus emptied himself and he took upon the form of a servant. Scripture born in the likeness of men Possibly quoting Philippians 2:7. That was the incarnation. He humbled himself by becoming obedient. Listen to this. He humbled himself becoming obedient, even Possibly quoting Philippians 2:8, and Paul emphasizes this: even to the obedient of the cross. The crucifixion was the most shameful way that Romans could have someone die. He became obedient even to the death of the cross Possibly quoting Philippians 2:8. Here's the picture that we see, if we can see a mental picture. Jesus steps out of glory. And he steps down steps, so to speak, doesn't change his nature, but he takes on the form of a servant. He does that for us. Had he not come into humanity form, there would not have been a sacrifice, listen now, that was worthy to pay the price for sin that would meet God's holiness and standard of righteousness. It wasn't just that man fell that far, it's just that it's also that God is so holy, the sacrifice that paid for your sin had to be equal to him. So God, it says in Isaiah, looked for one who would stand in the gap, but he found none. So he stretched forth his own right arm. So God himself sent his son in the form of humanity. Are you with me? And walked under that for you, so that when he went to the cross, he took the full penalty. It was laid on him who knew no sin. He was made to be sin, that we might be made the righteous of God Possibly quoting 2 Corinthians 5:21. If you're in this room today or you're listening, I'm sharing with you the clear gospel. The gospel is that you trust in what Jesus did and nothing else. When I hear someone say, Someday God might be merciful enough to forgive me, I know they don't hear the gospel. Because a Muslim will say that. A Jew will say that. Someday God might be merciful to me. A Hindu will say that. Only those who understand the gospel says it's not what he will do someday. It's the fact that he died for me and I trust in the work he already did and nothing else. That's saving faith. Are you with me? So if you're sitting in this room and your confidence is in anything other than what I just said, then that's not saving faith. It may be religion, it may be hope that God someday will forgive you, that he's a good God, so he's going to forgive me. That is not saving faith. Saving faith is that Christ has already done it for us. He humbled himself. So when he stepped down, really, he did by his own choice.

So here's a question I guess I have to ask myself and ask you. If God Himself descended this far for us, what stairs am I refusing to step down for someone else? Pretty good question, isn't it? What am I willing and not willing to do? And here's why it's all so important. Paul wraps it up by talking about the victory of humility. The victory of it is through humility. You know, humility, we think if we humble, we're losing something. But according to the scriptures, humility always brings the exaltation. Those who are proud, he will what? Resist, but you humble yourself that in proper time and due season, God will what? He'll raise you up. He will exalt you in his way and his work. So God honors the way of the cross. Listen to me. He honors the way of the cross. The reason Paul uses the basis for unity, because if they don't see that, they're never going to be wanting to connect with one another. When I first came here as a 25-year-old pastor, in those days, you're supposed to have revivals twice a year. Supposed to have a spring revival and a fall revival. Some of you old enough know what I'm talking about. So we need to have a revival. And I was on staff at First Assembly in Lawton, Oklahoma, and all I heard about those two years I was there is Red Dixon. How great Red Dixon was. Red Dixon was this greatest preacher. You gotta hear Red Dixon. So when I came here, I thought, who else can I have come preach a revival but Red Dixon? So I found him over in Arkansas and asked him to come preach a revival. Sunday through Wednesday night, Red Dixon. And I'm telling you, he came and he preached Sunday morning. He's probably in his 50s then. He had this fatherly voice. And people loved Red Dixon. Oh, they loved Red Dixon. Sunday night he preached and they showed up and packed the house because they loved Red Dixon. Monday night, when you're not supposed to have a crowd, it was full. And he preached, and people loved Red Dixon. By Tuesday night, I didn't expect him to show up. But man, was the house full to hear Red Dixon? And one of the deacons brought to me the offering count. They had come in Sunday night, Monday night, and Tuesday night. And back in 1991, it was a lot of money. It was over $3,000. That'd be like $20,000 now. And I don't know if I liked Red Dixon. I get $450 a week, I told myself. He's got more in three nights than months of income. We went to lunch on Wednesday. And I didn't want to hear Red Dixon. We talked the more his voice. I didn't like Red Dixon. I didn't want to hear Red Dixon. And the guy had the gall to give me advice. This 50-something-year-old wise man gave advice to this 25-year-old pastor. How dare him? I'm not going to do anything Red Dixon says to do. I'm serious. I couldn't wait. To get out of that luncheon. The more he talked, the more I didn't want to hear him. And I went back to the little church building over there on Blue Star where we were having those early days. And the platform was our altar, and I laid across the altar. I said, Lord, I don't like what I feel. I don't like this. And he spoke something to me that knows the Lord because I would have never come up with these terms. Here's what he said: He said, Stay at the feet of Calvary. I might have used the word cross, I don't use the word Calvary. Calvary is the place. Calvary is the place of the cross. Chris, it did something in me. I got up and I said, I'm gonna stay, I'm gonna live my life at the feet of Calvary. And that night, by the help of the Holy Spirit, I got up to take the offering myself. And I was able to take him up the largest offering I'd ever taken up in my life. There was like $1,300 or $1,400. I was so happy to take him a check. For $4,500 for those three or four nights. I handed it to him and he said, Come out to the car with me. He said, The Holy Spirit told me to tithe to you whatever you gave to me. He wrote me a week's long salary, $450. And the Holy Spirit was doing more than blessing me. He was teaching me something. That I could not do myself. We cannot be unified ourselves. We won't even want to hear their talent. We won't even want to hear their voice. Are you listening to me? When somebody brags on them, you're gonna say, Yeah, but you should have seen what I did. You won't be happy at all. That's why he says, This is the steps as Christ Himself, Lord Himself, and went to the cross. He said, because of that, he has been exalted. He didn't exalt himself, he's exalted above every name that's named. In heaven and earth, and get this, and beneath the earth. Jesus Christ was altered by the Father. It did not take from the Father's glory, it fulfilled the Father's glory in the kingdom of God. It does not take one from another, it fulfills the glory of Christ in the house.

Here's my heart for us today. I'd have to say, what he does for us is in every area. He says every name. That means the name of the covenant of God. That's the Lord. He reaches over in Isaiah with the name Yahweh and said, every tongue will confess. There's a universal acknowledgement to the glory of the Father Possibly quoting Philippians 2:11.

Now here's my call. This may be a practical thing at first, and then I want to go to the Application right now. The practical card this week, could I ask you to do something? Would you identify one relationship where you can take a step down for the sake of unity? And that probably will start in your marriage. You see, I hear Christians always trying. To be one. That's not the answer. The answer is to discover that you already are one. I've heard Christians say one prayer that has not yet been answered, that Jesus prayed. In John 17, when he said, Father, that they may be one, even as you and I are one. And I hear whole articles and messages preached on. Well, that prayer has not been answered yet. Can I tell you that Jesus answered it when he went to the cross? He prayed that prayer right before he went to the cross. He says, Father, as you and I are one, I pray that they be one. How are they one? Through the cross. When you become a Christian, you are saved into the church. You can't join the church. Well, you can join man's organization, but you can't join the church. You're born, birthed into the church. You're birthed into one body, one Lord, one baptism, one spirit. You and I are already one. We're not seeking to be one, we're seeking to see the oneness. If I see that I'm stuck with you. And you're stuck with me. I need to see Christ in you. Because we're already one. If you look at your spouse, you say, honey, we need to be one. It's the wrong way. Start with the fact that when you said I do, in that covenant, you became one flesh, bone of bone, and flesh of flesh. You're not trying to be one, you are already one. And your response out of that revelation will do far more than you ever realized. Because you wait a minute, wait a minute. I've got to treat them differently because we're already one. When I see that we're already one in Christ, we're not separated. In this city. You say, yeah, but those believers over there, they believe something different. I know they do, but they're believers. They don't worship like we do. We are the real worship. Oh, no no no. Are you with me? It's so easy for this to slip into our heart among ourselves. So I'm asking the question today. I'm asking this simple question. Where do I see selfish ambition and empty glory in me that's showing up in the body of Christ or in my own heart?

Would you bow your head? Father, I pray over this house. Pray over every individual in this room. This is the time now for us to be before Him. What is the Holy Spirit saying to you? What is He saying to you in this room? Is there someone you need to go to this week and recognize the oneness and the unity that you already have? Are you isolated in your mind? Waiting for someone else to encourage you when you've already received the encouragement and consolation in Christ? Are you thinking that God doesn't love you when He's already said that you have comfort in his love? If you know Christ. Have you already trusted in Jesus Himself? Have you trusted in the fact that faith is in the completed work of Christ, is the only means of being delivered from damnation ahead. It's the only means. Are you at a point where the Holy Spirit is speaking? And saying, Glenn, or calling you by name, here's where you need to respond, and here's what you need to do. I'm going to invite everybody in this building to stand to their feet. And I'm going to open this moment of prayer time. If you want to kneel where you are, you're welcome to do that. If you want to come and kneel around the front, you're welcome to do that. If the Holy Spirit is telling somebody here to stay at the feet of Calvary, then hear the word of the Lord today. If there is something rising up inside of you, selfish ambition, anger, jealousy, all of those areas, Paul says, here's the basis. Know that you have Jesus Christ as your consolation. Know that you're comforted in him. Know that you have a partnership with the Spirit. Know that you've been given mercy, so have mercy. Upon those bases, you say, Lord, I lay my life down. Just take a moment right there where you are. Pray and cry out to him. Whatever the Holy Spirit is drawing upon you. In this room, obey the Spirit. We have time. We have time. This is important. We don't want to miss the word of the Lord today. We don't want to miss the move of His call upon our hearts and lives. What if the Holy Spirit is dealing with eternal matters this day? We'd want to be cautious. We'd want to be sensitive. We'd want to be aware. Would you just be in prayer right now? Praying in the spirit, praying under your breath, praying for one another, couples. This may be your chance to take a different approach in your home and marriage. Though God has already made you one. And where do you need to step down from what you would grasp in order to see unity? Maybe for you it's it's important that you be right. Maybe for you it's important that people know about you, know your knowledge. The Holy Spirit is speaking. It's all about the unity of Christ in his body. That we dare honor and consider those more significant than ourselves. Lord, would you show me that? Where that's not true in my life? Would you just ask the Holy Spirit that? Where that's not true in your life? Maybe you say, Well, Glenn, I feel insignificant. I don't feel any significance. Go back to the bases first. Know your consolation is in Christ. Know that you're comforted in his love. Know that you share with the Holy Spirit. There's a reason he gave those four basics. Because you can't move further. You may be putting yourself down. You might say, pride's not my issue. Actually, it is self-pity. Honestly, that is pride. Self-pity is a subtle form of pride because it's about you. A person who's humble, C. S. Lewis said, you wouldn't even know he's humble. You just like being around him. You would not even know about humility. You just like being around him for some reason. That's Christ. That's Christ.

So, Father, I pray. As you're working and dealing in our hearts today, let's not be in a hurry. Let's not be in a hurry. Let's let the Holy Spirit do his work. Let your will be done. Somebody here is probably thinking, I need to go do this today. I need to express interest in others. I need to consider others. more highly than myself. I I just sense hearts being adjusted. That's what the word of God does. And we don't have to be fearful because God exalts. He's the only one that does. Otherwise it's called empty glory. When he used the word vain conceit it's talking about empty glory. The reason it's called empty glory is because it's without anything. It's empty. But when God honors, He does it in a way, whether it's in this life or the next, He does it in a way that only He can do. If you've got your family near you, would you just grab hands together? If we're close friends, you feel free to do the same thing. Let's just pray before we shift here. Father, we pray over the unity of the body. Lord, thank you for the scriptures as we go through them that we don't choose these subjects. You've chosen them for us. Early in the year that we walk through this time of humility, honoring one another, considering others more significant than ourselves, taking steps down, we might honor. Let it begin in our marriage, in our home, in our family, and our children. Your glory for your grace. Lord, if anything happens today, Let the word of humility be released, I pray. In Jesus' name. Amen. If you're praying, continue to pray. Otherwise, you can be seated.

We're going to make a shift, and Lon's coming to help us. In our next part, God bless you. Come on, can we just put our hands together for what God has done today in our hearts? Amen. Claire Moore, so good to see you this morning. I'm Ron. How many of you, if you felt inspired by the message today, can you just say amen? If you felt convicted by the message, can you say, Oh me? Me too. Amen.

Listen, I want to take a moment and receive our giving today. You know, there's a couple ways that you can give. One is by cash or check, and that's with an offering envelope that's in front of you. And as you leave, there's receptacles there. But many of us give online. We have a slide there. You can text to give. Any way you see. You know, I was thinking about how. You know, so many people, um, you know, this is such a well-established church that there's probably many people here who just give uh just automatically. You know, maybe you're like me. You know, I I have our giving automated. It just comes out every week and I don't even really think about it. And then there may be some of you here today that that you even just considering giving, that you've never given before, that you've never taken that step of faith. I just want to encourage us all today to remember this is a moment of worship. How many of you know we give for only one reason? That's because God gave first. Can I get an amen there? So can we with that attitude, can we just pray over this today? Father, as we give today, we thank you that our motivation for giving is one reason alone. And that is because you gave first. Lord, something happens in all of our hearts when we realize that it's yours anyway. That anything that comes into our homes is only by your hands. So God, I thank you today that those of us who maybe are giving consistently and we've just automated and put it out of our mind that today we're reminded that it's holy unto the Lord. For those a day that may be considering taking a step of faith, would you just give them boldness and peace? And would you remind them of your provision in their lives? In Jesus' name. Church, can you say amen? Amen.

Listen, we got a quick video, but I want to remind you as well to fill out your books. If you're here, check these announcements out. Hey, DLC fan. My name is Trisha. We are so glad that you're here today. Let's check out these announcements. Hauling all golfers, the 2026 CCS Warrior Classic Golf Tournament is coming up Saturday, October 3rd. Grab your team and come out for a great day of golf while supporting Claremore Christian Schools. We'll have a 9 a.m. shotgun start, and there are several team and sponsorship options available. If you want to play or just help support CCS, head over to dlcsignup.com to get signed up today. Next Sunday, October 4th, is our Meet the Family dinner. If you're newer to DLC and looking to learn more about who we are, meet some of our pastors and leaders, and find out how you can get connected, this night is for you. Come enjoy dinner with us and get to know the DLC family. Hi. Hi. What name did you register under? I didn't register. Jesus knows my name. He knows my name. Okay. Well, I don't see you on my list. Did you not pre-register? No. Ladies, don't be that person. That's right, ladies. For this event, you must pre-register because we have limited space available. This is going to be a really fun event and we want you there. Our fun at the farm event is Tuesday, October 13th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. We are going to have so much fun at this event with lots of food and fellowship and crafts and loads of laughter. To sign up today, use the QR code on your seat flyer or go to dlcsignup.com. Well, that's all the announcements for this week. If you have a prayer need, please let us know. You guys have a great week. Amen. No single men signing up for the farm event now. Ladies only. It's going to be fun. Ladies, make sure you sign up for that. And gents, let's get on that golf tournament. It's going to be a lot of fun. I hear if you buy enough bogeys, you could win that tournament.

Would you stand with me this after or this this morning? Listen, I want to remind you, you know, what a powerful message. I want to invite our prayer teams down. You know, we talked about at times just how there is a shift when we do those announcements. But we know that God is still working through the word. So I want to encourage you today. If there's God was speaking to you there in the message, you did get a chance to really express that. Maybe there was someone that you're considering. Today, like, man, you know, I think about that sometimes that moment of humility, there's a challenge that comes to it. Maybe you need someone to agree with you today, to hold you accountable. You say, man, I'm gonna take that step and go to that person to ask for forgiveness. Maybe if you haven't bowed your knee and your heart to Christ Himself, you know, I've been there before in my own pride, thinking that I could push his call off into the future. And that I could lift myself in the moment. But today God is dealing with you. Said, hey, why don't you bow your knee to the name of Jesus? If it's that step of humility today, I want you to find someone down here to pray with. Before you leave this building, make sure that anything that's in your heart, anything that God was dealing with, He could take care of it. Father, with that said, I pray that there wouldn't be one person that would leave today wrestling in their own heart, but there would be a full surrender. Christ, you took ultimate steps of humility to come down. We pray today that those of us who may be dealing with some kind of pride in our heart, that we would take those steps of humility to respond to your call to. Lord, keep us safe as we go. Keep your hand upon your people, your goodness, your mercy to follow them as they leave this place, hand upon their businesses, their families. Their health in all ways, God, will they prosper and be in good health? We go in the name of Jesus today. Church, can you save me? God bless you guys. Have a great Sunday.