The Submissive Mind

One of the huge keys in following Jesus is being completely submissive to the person and will of Jesus.

Submissive means ready to conform to the authority or will of another.

In Philippians 2:5-11 Paul gives us four characteristics of a person with a submissive mind.

Philippians 2:5-6

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.

1. He thinks of others, not himself.

Remember: outlook determines outcome. If the outlook is selfish, the actions will be divisive and destructive.

Jesus’ outlook or attitude was unselfish.

Jesus was God and yet did not try to hang on to all the rights and privileges of being God. Jesus’ attitude was one that said, “I cannot keep My privileges for Myself. I must use them for others and to do this, I will gladly lay them aside and pay whatever price is necessary.”

Many of us try to reach beyond what God’s will is and we hurt ourselves and others. We are to focus on doing God’s will and helping others.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is making life about Jesus and serving others.

Philippians 2:7

But made Himself nothing, taking the nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

2. He serves.

Thinking of others only in an abstract sense is insufficient; we have to do it in the real world.

Jesus thought of others and became a servant.

Jesus went from Lord to servant.

Jesus went from Master to slave.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem He entered into union with humanity. He willingly humbled Himself that He might lift us up.

Jesus did not pretend to be a servant; He was not an actor playing a role. He actually was a servant.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is serving others out of love.

Philippians 2:8

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!

3. He sacrifices.

Jesus’ death is not the death of a martyr but the death of a Savior. He willingly laid down His life for the sins of the world.

The person with a submissive mind does not avoid sacrifice. He lives for the glory of God and the good of others, and if paying a price will honor Jesus and help others, he is willing to do it.

Sacrifice and service must go together if service is to be truly for the glory of Jesus.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is willingly sacrificing to honor and proclaim God to the world.

Philippians 2:9-11

Therefore, God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the 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, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The goal of our existence is to glorify God.

Jesus humbled Himself for others, and God highly exalted Him; the result of this is glory to God.

Jesus’ exaltation began with His resurrection.

Men had done their worst to Jesus, but God exalted Him and honored Him.

Men gave Jesus names of ridicule and slander, but God gave Him a glorious name.

This exaltation that Jesus was given by the Father included sovereign authority over all creatures in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.

Every knee will bow to Jesus as Lord.

Every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.

To bow before Jesus now means salvation.

To bow before Jesus at the judgment means condemnation.

Our salvation is not just about us going to heaven.

Our salvation is about us being made to be like Jesus.

Our salvation is about bringing glory to God the Father.

The person with a submissive mind as he lives for others must expect to sacrifice as he serves others, but it will always lead to glory for God.

1 Peter 5:6 says, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.”

The joy of the submissive mind comes not only from helping others and sharing in the fellowship of Jesus’ suffering but primarily from the knowledge that we are glorifying God.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is doing whatever it takes to bring glory to God.

Submissiveness will lead us to place others above ourselves.

Submissiveness will lead us to serve God by serving others.

Submissiveness will lead us to sacrifice.

Submissiveness will lead us to want to glorify God above anything else.

Submissiveness is not weakness.

Submissiveness is not being wimpy.

Submissiveness is being humble enough to serve others.

Submissiveness is loving God so much we want to glorify Him.

Submissively Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls

                                         Joe