WHAT IS THE ADVANTAGE OF DENYING ONESELF?

TEXT: Philippians 2:1-4 "If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions, 2 make full my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; 3 doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind; each counting other better than himself, 4 not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others."

INTRODUCTION--

1. This text is eloquent in its form, but challenging in its meaning.
   
   1. "Love thy neighbor as thyself" come from Leviticus 19:18, and is made a part of the New Testament.
      
   2. But the Text says, "in lowliness of mind, each counting other better than himself."
      
2. Paul hopes that the Philippians will make his joy full by "Being of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind, doing nothing through faction or through vainglory."
   
3. The "conditions" on which this hope is based are....
   
   1. "If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ..."
      
   2. "if any consolation of love..."
      
   3. "if any fellowship of the Spirit..."
      
   4. "if any tender mercies and compassions..."
      
4. The final instruction is, "not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others."

LESSON--

1. If we ask, "Why should we do this thing, which is so uncharacteristic of fleshly behavoir?" The answer is, "Because Christ left us the prime example." Philippians 2:5-11
   
   1. The advantage Jesus gained by this sacrifice of his own interest is that he was exalted to kingship.
      
   2. What advantage comes to us, if we imitate this self debasement?
      
2. In Philippians 2:12-13, Paul urges you to "...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure."
   
   1. This admonition cannot be self-serving, because its end is "to will and to work, for His good pleasure."
      
   2. Other admonitions follow, but in vs. 19-21, Paul gets back on track, when he says, "But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. 20 For I have no man likeminded, who will care truly for your state. 21 For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 2:19-21).
      
3. The denial of self is probably the most difficult task a Christian is assigned.
   
   1. Jesus rebuked Peter for focusing on his own goals, instead of God's. Matthew 16:21-23
      
   2. The problem is illustrated by a parable of Jesus. Luke 9:57-62
      
   3. Paul confirms the message in Philippians 2:4 "....not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others." (See also 1 Corinthians 10:24.)
      
      1. An example of such self-sacrifice is seen in 1 Corinthians 10:27-32.
         
      2. Paul practiced what he preached. 1 Corinthians 10:33-11:1
         
   4. Love is the motivation for this self-denial. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

APPLICATION--

1. Jesus shows us the advantage of the life of self-denial. Matthew 16:24-27
   
2. Saving our souls rests as much on this as on any other aspect of the Christian life.
   
   1. Denying sensual temptations. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7
      
   2. Denying appetite. Jesus did it.
      
      1. At his Temptation. Matthew 4:2-4
         
      2. At Jacob's well. John 4:7-8, 27-34
         
   3. Denying material obsessions. Luke 12:15
      
   4. Denying the tendency to hear what we want to hear. 2 Timothy 4:1-4