Arthur Ayotte reads Philippians 2 and explains Paul's call for believers to adopt Christ's humility and servanthood. He connects the passage to practical Christian living: the necessity of works with faith, serving others, and being a light in a morally inverted generation.
Chapters
Um, I just went through Philippians 1 and I thought I'd read this aloud.
Hopefully anyone else wants to join me.
The Bible study that I'm doing right now, that would be great. Um, I don't know, I could do green screen. Turn that off, please. Uh, So yes, so yes, so yes. We'll be reading scripture today. Who's reading on their mind? Who's got your time? What's up, Connor? All right, so today we'll be reading Philippians 2, um, and I'm reading through the NASB version. So if anyone's interested in reading NASB, that's what we're reading, Philippians 2. What's up, what's up, what's up? And it's Be Like Christ, the title of this chapter. All right, so Philippians 2:1. Therefore, if there's any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there's any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, Uniting in spirit, intent on one purpose. Okay, that was a mouthful. So basically what it's saying, if there's anything that's good in Christ, if there's any act of love, if there's any fellowship within the spirit, if any affection and compassion, right, if there's any compassion, make my joy complete.
By being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, uniting in the spirit.
So Paul is writing to Right, he's writing to the church of Philippians, and what he's telling them here is this: be united as one, right?
So this is almost the same prayer Jesus had.
Why am I going out? Can you hand me my headphones right there? So my mic keeps going out.
They're right there.
Oh my goodness, please don't make me get up and grab them. Thank you.
All right, see if this is okay.
Maybe I just need to put on better.
Tell me if this is better. Please be better because I don't have that many headphones. All right, so I'm reading Philippians right now for everyone who's new in the chat, um, and I'm talking a little bit about what he's saying in chapter 2. Um, I just read chapter 1, but I read chapter 2, and it's be like Christ, and it's telling us obviously how to be like the Messiah. Okay, so, um, in Philippians 2, um, therefore if any is encouragement in Christ, if there's any consolation of love, if there's any fellowship of the Spirit, if any of affection and compassion make my joy complete, by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in the Spirit. Okay, intent on one purpose, do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility treat others more significant than yourselves. Philippians 2:3. I love this verse. I memorized it. So what Paul is telling us here is that we should be the body of Christ. We should be the church, and as the church if there's any ounce of love in Christ, we should be united in that, right? So every spirit that Christ carried, right, um, we know the fruits of the Spirit— every spirit of gentleness, kindness, love, self-control— all the spirit that Christ carried, we as believers, we as the church, should also carry this. And so Paul is writing to the, um, the church of Philip— of the Philippians about this. And then he's telling us, do not act in selfish ambition or conceit, right? So in everything you do, whether that's getting a job, whether that's doing anything, you don't want to do that selfish ambition and conceit. Why? Okay, so if we act in a way that is only to benefit ourselves and not the people around us, then no one's going to want to be around us because we're always aiming at us, at yourself, at me. And we know that when we aim to bring not only benefit to other people, but also glory to God, then the things that we're doing are no longer hollow and there's actually a meaning to it and it gives us purpose. No, I do not worship one God. I worship— I mean, I mean 3 gods. I worship one God in 3 persons. One God in 3 persons. Okay, so do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but with humility Regard one another as more important than yourselves. Do not merely look out for your own personal interests. This is the same thing we're just talking about. Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others, also for the interests of those around you. Have the attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus. Right, again, same thing. The attitude we carry should be a similar attitude to that which Christ carries. Even those who are atheists or those who don't believe in a God understand that Jesus Christ was a good character. He was a good person, and they recommend people follow what he says because he gives us the golden— or he gives us the Golden Rule. He gives us the standard of how we should live, like loving our enemies, right? That was very contrary to the times. Jesus said to love your enemies as you love your friends, which back then it was like, no, an eye for an eye. And Jesus told us, no, if one man slaps you on the cheek, turn the other cheek. So the idea is that you show love and humility to everyone, no matter if they are your best friend or your enemy. And so that is the attitude we should carry. And Paul again reestablishes this. Is the Father God? Yes. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are God. They are one being again. So I think— so the Trinity, I don't really want to get into this again, but the Trinity can be confusing. But the idea is this: there is one essence. Essence is being, that is what is, and then who is personhood. So we have distinct, not separate, not different, but distinct personhoods. And the same being. So Jesus Christ is God, the Holy Spirit is God, and, um, uh, the Father is God. They are one being and one essence. They make up— they are God, but they are distinct in personhood. And this can be about relation to one another is what gives us that distinction. And that's how we can sep— or that's how we can see the Son and the Father differently, right? Because the Son was on the cross, the Father was not on the cross, but they are, they are still God. Um, and the Hebrew— actually, the Bible makes this pretty clear. If you read Genesis in the Hebrew, it says Elohim. All right, Elohim in the Hebrew is God plural, not gods, but God plural, because the Hebrew is much different than the English language. But even in the beginning of the book That we call the— or not the book, even the beginning of Genesis, the Book of Genesis, we, we see this idea of a Trinity because it is the pluralness of El. El means God singular. Elohim is God plural. Not God plural as in gods, but God plural as in there is, um, 3, 3, uh, or multiple identities within one term. So it can be confusing though. All right, back to what I was saying. According to Jesus, who's the only true God? The Father is not the Son. You don't understand Trinitarian theology. It's a whole thing that you would have to get into, and I can show you scripture in which it says, like John 1:1, in the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, the Word was God. And no one comes to the Father except— or no, in the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, the Word was God. Nothing that was created— I'd have to read that later. Anyways, it's basically saying that Jesus Christ is God. Yeah, that wasn't a state— that wasn't a statement of saying he wasn't good. He was simply questioning what he was saying. Okay, so he was trying to highlight to him the statements he was saying. By calling him good, he was calling him God. He says, why do you call me good? Because he was trying to make him think. Because during this time, the Israelites, um, didn't have a— didn't have the same view we Christians have. So the Israelites saw it as blasphemous that Jesus was claiming— that's why they hung him on the cross, because Jesus was claiming to be God, and they knew this. And so if you were an Israelite or a Jew who lived during that time and you saw the practices that Jesus did and the way he acted and the manner in which he went about his life, then you would understand what his claim would be and you would hang him on the cross for blasphemy.
Okay, back to what I was saying.
In yourself, which was also in Christ Jesus, who although he existed in the form of God. All right, so this is Philippians 2:5. Have the attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who although he existed in the form of God and did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped. So what's it saying here? Jesus existed in the form of God. This is what I'm talking about, personhood. But he did not consider boasting in the quality of God, right? Scripture also actually probably is about to tell us. There we go. He emptied himself, taking the form of a bondservant and being made in the likeness of men. So he lowered himself below the Father in personhood. This is why he can worship God as man, because he brought himself, he emptied himself of his, I guess, godhood for a temporary moment to become man. Although he is still God. Um, but he just lowered himself under God the Father. Um, and being made in the likeness of man, right? So here we go. So he made himself in the likeness of man, being found in appearance as a man. So he appeared to us as a man. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. So Jesus Christ humbled himself so much that he became humbled himself so much that he was willing to die on the cross because Christ humbled himself. For this reason also, God highly exalted him. For this reason, God highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above all names. So this is again another beautiful point because we learn in scripture that, um, those who humble themselves shall be exalted. and those who exalt themselves shall be humbled. Christ did not come to be served but to serve, right? Christ says this himself in, I believe, John— no, in Luke, um, or maybe Matthew. And so the idea is Christ is telling us something that's again contrary to the times. He's saying those who are last will be first, those who are first will be last. Those who lower themselves and serve one another will be the, um, will be the highest in the kingdom of heaven. And so it's this servanthood mindset, and Christ was the embodiment of servitude. And so he literally served everyone. He washed his own disciples' feet, and then he died on the cross for the sake of all those around him. He is by definition server. He served, and now his name is exalted above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow. In the name of Jesus, every knee will bow. Again, this is worship. This is worship. It is clear that scripture is telling us he will be worshipped. He will be worshipped. Let's see. Yeah. So. Every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. So then, my beloved, just as you've always obeyed, not as in my presence alone, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with more fear and trembling. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you. Both to the will and to work. It is God who is in work with you, so work out your faith with fear and trembling.
Wow!
So a lot of people don't want to read this verse. They're terrified of this verse, if I have to say so myself. So this is how Christianity works: you are saved through faith by grace, but faith without works is empty. So what's this mean? The salvation comes alone from faith. You are not saved because of the works you do. Salvation comes alone from faith. But if there is no works or fruits that are expressed once this faith is grown, then are you truly saved? And I would say no. Many will come to me saying, Lord, Lord, did we not do all these things in your name? And he will say to them, depart from me, you who workers of iniquities. They were not doing the will of the Father. They might have screamed out, Lord, Lord, but their works weren't there. It was empty. It was hollow faith. True faith has works. True faith has works. It does. Works doesn't save you, but true faith that does save you has works. And so if you as a claimed believer are not going out and either, um, being obedient to what he's calling you to do— because everyone has a purpose and a meaning— God is not calling you to lay on your couch all day, eat potato chips, and drown in Fanta. I promise you, he's not calling you to do that. Um, one, because that's also a sin. Um, so what he's calling you to do is distinct. Everyone has a separate, um, calling, but they're all united at the same time. That's why we're called the body of Christ, right? He says the arm is no greater than the head, the head is no greater than the legs, the legs are no greater than the feet. So even though we're different parts of a body, without the other parts, we couldn't do the work. So we must— that's why this one reason the church is important, because when you're united with a fellow brother or sister in Christ, then you can see how y'all's different gifts work together, united together to do his will. For example, like me and my friends, we went evangelizing one time, and I'm very good at articulating my words and giving the right message, but they were very good at understanding where that person was coming from and asking questions. And so I was a better teacher, they were a better listener. Both is highly important, right? You need to be able to listen and understand where the person is coming from and ask the right questions. But you also need to be able to teach or give information and help bestow knowledge upon somebody. And so it is this uniting of gifts given by God that we are able to share in truth and in message. So Do not, do not believe that you can simply live your entire life as a Christian and not do the will of the Father. That is false. You will have to do the will of the Father, and it will not be— well, it will be painful, um, it will be difficult, there will be suffering attached to it, um, you most likely will get mocked, um, you might lose some friends, even family members, and there are going to be seasons in which you're like, God, where are we at right now, right? But trust me, it is so worth it compared to the times that are to come. Sorry, I just went on a little tangent right there, but that's important. For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. God who's in work— God is in work with you for his will. Do all things without grumbling or disputing so that you will prove yourself to be blameless and innocent Children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as light in the world. There we go, there we go, there we go. We are in a generation in which there is crookedness. Everything is backwards. Good is evil, evil is good, right? We're in this generation in which we look down upon those who do, um, the will of the Father, those who do what is What is pleasing to God. Now, why? I think it's the work of the devil. And so what we have to do is be innocent and blameless in our actions. This doesn't mean you won't be judged by those around you. But what this means is when they judge you, even the part of them that knows that you're telling the truth, the part of them that knows this is good, will say to themselves, wow, who is their God? This way you will be glorifying God with your good actions. Your innocence are because our Father is innocent. Your innocence because Christ is innocent. So do nothing in selfish ambition and conceit, but in humility, right? Do all these things in humility so they may look upon our Father who is in heaven. I'm making a video. Who is in heaven? So prove yourselves. To be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as a light. We're going to appear as a light. If you're living in the in the in the in the way of the of the Father, then you will appear as a light to those around you. Holding fast the word of life. Ooh, holding fast the word of life so that in the day of Christ I will have reason. In the day of Christ, I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain. No, I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I will rejoice and share my joy with you all. You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me. The joy that Paul is feeling It's not because life is easy. It's not because life is pouring good things upon him. It's not because he's being blessed beyond comparison. The joy he's feeling is because he's pouring himself out. He's giving himself up. He's working his butt off to do what the Lord is calling him to do. That is the joy he is feeling, right? Because the Lord says— The Lord says it is better that we serve, right, than to be served. It is the action of serving for the Father that should bring us the most joy. If we can't find joy in the midst of servitude, then we need to check our faith. Um, that many Christians don't act like Christians just because those who say that they are lukewarm and therefore have not changed the ways. Exactly. A lot of people want to put on the title because the title looks good, and they don't want to put in— so everyone wants the— everybody wants the high calling Everyone wants the blessings until the blessings ask you to do something about it, right? And therefore, people think that they are just as bad as they are and don't think good of Christians. Exactly. It is the actions of Christians that affect how we are viewed. This is why Paul tells us, like I just read, he says, he says, for it is God who's at work. Maybe I already read it. But he tells us to be blameless, right, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, so that we may bring glory to the Father who is in heaven. All right, let's keep going. But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I may also be encouraged when I learn of your condition, right? He's going to send Timothy to see of their condition. For I have no one else of kindred spirit who would genuinely be concerned for your welfare. Oh, so it's telling us here that Timothy Is of the same spirit, for they all for they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.
Right?
There are many who are seeking after their own interests in the name of Christ. But you know of his proven worth that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father, like a child serving his father. Wow! Therefore, I hope to send him immediately as soon as I see how things go with me, and I trust in the Lord that I myself will be coming. shortly, but I thought it necessary to send to you, um, Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need, because he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. The fact that they are sick to death and that Paul says he had mercy on him is Crazy to me. They were sick to death, but they did not die. Into them that is mercy, because we are deserving of a death much greater than this. God had mercy on him. Therefore, I've sent him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again, you may rejoice and be less concerned about you, and be less concerned about you, and be less concerned about you, and be less concerned about you. That needs to be the mindset for some of us. We need to be less concerned about ourselves. And more concerned about those in need. Receive him then in the Lord with all joy and hold him like— and hold him like him in high regard, because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me. Because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me. There we go. Receive him then in the Lord. And so he's telling us to receive this great prophet, or this great messenger I should say, and hold him in high regard. Um, so that is Philippians chapter 2, um, all the way through. And then we're gonna— I'm gonna hopefully pick up with chapter 3 tomorrow, or when I get the time. Thou shalt not know how Christians live until Christianity is lived through the life of the unbelievers. Right, right, right. Okay, um, yeah, so I hope you enjoyed this video. Um, I pray that you are blessed and edified by the words, um, spoken by Paul and, uh, the Spirit spoke through me. Um, I ask that you like this video, subscribe, um, and join the community because I will try to be doing this more often. Getting on the Bible study out there just to help out whoever needs to hear it. Um, and yeah, just have a blessed day, a great day. Peace. The Brazil game at 1 PM, I might actually— we need— I'm gonna watch the Brazil game at 1 PM, definitely.
