◄ Philippians 2:18 ►














Pulpit Commentary Homiletics
The Apostle's Readings To Sacrifice His Life For The Philippians
Philippians 2:17, 18
T. Croskery
Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

I. MARK THE APOSTLE'S DEEP AFFECTION FOR THE PHILIPPIANS AND HIS INTENSE INTEREST IN THEIR SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING. He considered not his life too dear a sacrifice to be made on their behalf.

II. MARK THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TRUTH WHICH COULD DEMAND SUCH A SACRIFICE.

III. THE PROSPECT OF MARTYRDOM IN SUCH A CAUSE OUGHT TO BE SUBJECT OF JOY ALIKE TO THE SUFFERER AND TO HIS DISCIPLES. - T.C.

Biblical Illustrator
If I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith
Philippians 2:17-18
The law of the Christian life
A. Mackennal, D. D.
The sacrifices of the Jews were not all sombre ceremonials. A solemn oppression rested on the people on the great day of Atonement; and it was not until the High Priest returned from the Most Holy Place, and proclaimed by His presence that the ceremonial was ended, that the people were able to breathe in gladness again. But there was one special festival which was of a joyous character — the whole burnt offering, or "splendour" offering, which was an expression of gratitude to God for His goodness. This was the service in which beasts in multitude smoked upon the altar, and wine was poured out in libation. It was to this that the apostle here refers. He delighted to think of humanity as presented in offering to the most Holy One — all presenting to God their faith and sacrifice, and to have part in such service was his highest joy. Life itself might be freely poured out upon it in libation. Christian history furnishes us with the reality of these two types. When the Saviour hung on Calvary, the sin-offering, there was no room for any but solemn accessories. "There was darkness," etc.; but when He returned the whole spirit of piety was altered and enlarged. Sadness gave way to joy; death, suffering, endurance, became charged with joyous inspiration; so that the very word "sacrifice" took on a new significance.

I. IN CHRISTIAN SERVICE THERE MUST BE SACRIFICE.

1. This is the law of Christian life. "If any man will come after me," etc.

2. It is the impulse of Christian affection. "Enough for the disciple to be as his Lord."

3. It is the revelation of a higher righteousness. "It is better to suffer," etc., because "Christ also suffered the just," etc.

4. It is the assurance of triumph and the way to spiritual influence. "If we suffer with Him we shall also reign with Him."(1) The spirit of sacrifice is the possession of all Christians.(2) But there are those whose suffering is more conspicuous than that of others. Men foremost in office. "The Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep." These draw most opposition. The qualities which make them worthy of confidence mark them out. Duty demands that they should be faithful in times of danger; and in times of peace they find room to offer themselves. A long life spent in Christ's cause is as truly poured out as that which is cut short by the axe.(3) There are others who, by a necessity of their being, cannot serve without sacrificing themselves. There is feeling in all their labour, and feeling wears out more than toil.

II. FAITH KNOWS HOW TO VINDICATE AND APPROVE THE LAW OF SACRIFICE.

1. The cause of humanity is justly held to vindicate all the sacrifices that individual men can make to it. That story of Marcus Curtius, who threw himself into the gulf opened in the forum at Rome, is one of the noblest legends of history. Now and then we are thrilled by records of shipwreck, how that officers stand on the quarter-deck and go down with the ship. To what purpose is this waste? The cause of humanity demands it, and he would be a dastard who would count his own life dearer than that of the tiniest child. The gifted must not alone enjoy their gifts, but lay them out in the service of the undistinguished.

2. The Christian cause is the cause of man. Philanthropy has drawn its inspiration from the life of Christ. What was the sacrifice of which the apostle speaks, and which missionaries offer? To free the heathen from their licentiousness, to throw a new glory on the lot of the slave, to light the pathway of the dying, to raise woman from her degradation, etc., etc. Whatever be the talk about humanity, the opportunity for serving it must be sought in the fellowship of Christ.

3. The service of Christian faith contemplates not only humanity but also God.

III. THE SACRIFICE OF FAITH IS A COMMON SACRIFICE. Paul aims to draw the Philippians into the fellowship of his own sacrificial ecstasy, and assumes that they are already in sympathy with him. He speaks of himself as the libation only, and of them us the sacrifice. He calls it the sacrifice and liturgy of their faith.

1. It is to their service that he is devoted; how, then, could they do other than join with him in the sacrificial spirit which possesses him. They cannot blame the enthusiasm which carried him into danger at Rome when they remembered the vision of the man of Macedonia.

2. It was their cause because it was the cause of Christ, and they were Christians. The same law and sacrifice was binding on them and on him; they would be as ready as he to be offered if the same call should come. Here are two thoughts which should reconcile us to sacrifice, particularly when witnessed in others.(1) We are debtors for all we have to others. The woman experiencing the pangs of motherhood and the anxiety of a family is paying her debt to humanity, for she, too, once costed beneath a mother's heart. The man toiling for his fellows is the son of a toil-worn generation.(2) It is in us to offer ourselves when called upon. There is no tale of manful endurance or womanly self-devotion that does not thrill us. Why? Because of sympathy. It is only the expression of a common passion. There are differences of gifts, but it is the same spirit. The sacrifice of the missionary warrants and inspires our sacrifice.

(A. Mackennal, D. D.)

The spirit of the martyrs
J. Lyth, D. D.
I.FAITH. They died in faith for the faith.

II.Love — to Christ and His cause — to the brethren.

III.Joy, in the prospect of glory, of the benefit derived by the Church.

IV.TRIUMPH over persecution and death.

(J. Lyth, D. D.)

The Christian service
R. Johnstone, LL. B.
I. THE SACRIFICE. The Jewish sacrifices were propitiatory and eucharistic. Our Lord by the offering of Himself once for all has fulfilled the former, but Christians are "to offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually," "to present their bodies living sacrifices," and "with such God is well pleased."

1. All sacrifices involve something given up. Thus we say a man "sacrificed half his fortune;" a father "sacrificed his time for his son."

2. Faith is here represented as a sacrifice, because out of it all other sacrifices spring — love, zeal, liberality. Is our faith such? Do we in it surrender anything really valued? Does it cost us a struggle? If not, may we not suspect that it is a mere assent to doctrine.

3. Real faith is sacrifice, inasmuch as it is a renunciation of pride.(1) The pride of reason. Reason loves to elaborate for itself, but the gospel claims to be believed. Its absolute authority, its simplicity, its mysteries, are all hateful to intellectual arrogance.(2) The pride of self-righteousness. There is a great proneness to dream that eternal life may be earned. With this the spirit of the gospel will not suit; for the reality and universality of sinfulness, and our utter inability to satisfy the claims of the Divine law, and the absolute gratuitousness of salvation are its very essence.(3) The pride of self-will (ver. 5, etc.).

II. THE PRIESTLY SERVICE CONNECTED WITH THE SACRIFICE.

1. The New Testament recognizes but one priest in the strict sense of the word, but by a figurative application of the name, Christians are priests as by "the unction of the Holy One." Set apart from the world for the service of God, "a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices." Such a spiritual sacrifice was the Philippians' faith.

2. In speaking of this faith St. Paul introduces a variation of the ordinary figure, to bring out the relation between him and them. His labours had been blessed to their conversion and advancement, and thus had been a kind of priestly service. Through the spiritual energy given them from heaven, they brought faith and love as a free-will offering to God; and the apostle's part in the work, his teachings, and prayers, corresponded with the priestly act of laying the offering on the altar (Romans 15:15-16).

3. See, then, the comprehensive work of the Christian priest. He is called on to present his whole life by personal holiness, and also to bring other men to God and help them onward. This work belongs to all Christians.

4. The apostle thought it not unlikely that he should close his relations with his converts by a violent death. This would be his "being offered" (lit., poured forth) the libation or drink offering by which his priestly service connected with their sacrifice of faith should be completed. The apostle's joy in this prospect is very sublime, and is a magnificent proof of the sustaining power of the Christian faith. The sources of Christian joy in prospect of martyrdom are two-fold.

(1)The confident hope of glory.

(2)The knowledge that glory will accrue to God.

5. In this the joy was mutual.

(R. Johnstone, LL. B.)

The joy of the Church in her martyrs and confessors
J. Lyth, D. D.
I.IN THEIR FAITHFUL TESTIMONY AND NOBLE TRIUMPH.

II.IN THE CONFIRMATION OF THE FAITH AND ITS CONSEQUENT DIFFUSION.

III.IN THE ENCOURAGEMENT AFFORDED BY THEIR EXAMPLE.

(J. Lyth, D. D.)

Priest and sacrifice
J. Daille.
In the first place, he compares himself to a priest, and sets before us the conversion of the Philippians to the faith of the gospel, brought about by his preaching, and their piety as its consequence, under the image of a sacrifice. He speaks in the same way in Romans 15:16. In this mystical sacrifice the apostle was the high priest; the gospel was, as it were, the knife with which he spiritually immolated his victims. The Philippians converted to Jesus Christ were his victims; for as also the ancient priests consecrated to God the victims that they offered, so also the apostle, and all the faithful preachers of the gospel, lead and offer to the Lord those to whom they preach the word with effect. Besides, as the priests of old put their victims to death, so now do the ministers of the gospel in some manner immolate men who receive their preaching, making them die to the world and the flesh, drawing out of their hearts vain affections and lusts, in which their life consisted. And as for the ancient victims, they remained purely and simply dead, without receiving from the hand of the priest any kind of life instead of that of which he had deprived them. But it is not so with the men whom the ministers of the Lord immolate with the sword of His gospel. For instead of this miserable, earthly, and carnal life which they take from them, they clothe them with another that is holy and Divine, changing them by this mystical sacrifice from children of Adam into children of God, from old and perishing creatures into new and heavenly men. Besides this difference, there is still another. For whereas those poor animals, destitute as they were of reason and intellect, suffered death simply, without any act on their part; now the victims of Jesus Christ are only immolated when they knowingly and willingly receive the stroke of the gospel. Thus you see that the apostle here expressly mentions the faith of the Philippians, as it was through that they had been offered to God. From whence again a third difference arises between these two kinds of victims. For whereas the ancient victims remained entirely deprived of their being, without obtaining any new one; men now offered to God by the gospel, besides being made by it new creatures, become also themselves priests, to offer themselves henceforth to God, by a true faith, presenting their bodies to him in sacrifice (Romans 12:1; 1 Peter 2:5). And this is the reason that the Scripture honours with the name of sacrifices all those actions of their spiritual life which they practise in faith, as their alms giving, their repentance, their patience, their hymns, their prayers, and such like. St. Paul comprehends here all those spiritual oblations under the name of sacrifice and service of faith of the Philippians.

(J. Daille.)

The joy of martyrdom
R. Johnstone, LL. B.
The Greeks of old delighted to tell how Phidippides — fleetest of foot among his countrymen — having borne himself gallantly in the great fight at Marathon, darted from the field immediately after victory was secure, ran to Athens, related his tidings to the fathers of the city, closing with the words, "Rejoice ye, as we rejoice," and then, utterly exhausted by wounds and toil, fell down dead before them. The entire sinking of the thought or care of self in joy over the safety and glory of his native land was very beautiful. Yet the noblest feelings which arise out of any of the relations of man to what is earthly and visible, make but a feeble approach to the grandeur of spirit of him who "joys" to think of dying a cruel death, that the unseen God, the God whom he knows by faith only, may thereby be glorified. Paul believed that "out of the eater would come forth meat; and out of the strong, sweetness," — that from the place of his martyrdom there would exhale a rich fragrance of Christ, which would bring spiritual joy to many souls; — and therefore he would gladly "endure all things for the elect's sake, that they also might obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory."

(R. Johnstone, LL. B.)

The kindled torch
J. Hutchinson, D. D., R. Johnstone, LL. B., M. Bonnet.
Perhaps one of the closest parallels with the apostle's spirit and word is that of the venerable Latimer, as at the stake in front of Balliol College at Oxford he encouraged his younger companion in tribulation, Ridley: "Be of good cheer, brother! We shall this day kindle such a torch in England as by the blessing of God shall never be extinguished."

(J. Hutchinson, D. D.)William Tyndale, the grandest figure, perhaps, take him all in all, of the English Reformation — a man of Pauline strength of character and singleness of devotion to the work which God had given him to do — suffered martyrdom in circumstances of such seclusion that we know scarcely anything more than the mere fact. But no information of his demeanour. in the dungeon of Vilvorde could possibly either tell us more of his character, or speak more weightily for Christ to any one who has ears to hear, than these words, written years before, in his preface to "The Parable of the Wicked Mammon," — "Some man will ask, peradventure, why I take the labour to make this work, inasmuch as they will burn it, seeing they burned the gospel. I answer, In burning the New Testament they did none other thing than that I looked for; no more shall they do if they burn me also, if it be God's will it shall so be. Nevertheless, in translating the New Testament I did my duty, and so do I now, and will do as much more as God hath ordained me to do."

(R. Johnstone, LL. B.)Luigi Pascali, pastor of the Waldenses in Calabria, being condemned to death after the horrors of a long captivity, and but a little while before his death by fire, was visited by his brother. The spectacle he presented in consequence of his sufferings caused his brother to fall powerless when he attempted to embrace him. But as the visitor has himself told us, the martyr exclaimed, "My brother, if you are a Christian, why do you allow yourself to be thus cast down? Do you not know that not a single hair can fall from our heads without the will of God? Trust in Jesus and take courage. The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us." "These are the feelings of my heart," wrote the martyr; "My faith becomes stronger as the hour approaches, when I am to be offered as a sweet-smelling sacrifice unto Christ. Yes, my joy is so lively that I can fancy I see my fetters broken, and I would be ready to brave a thousand deaths, were that necessary for the cause of truth." To his betrothed wife, Camilla Guarina, whom he was to see no more, he wrote, "My love to you increases with my love to God. The more I have suffered the more progress I have made in the Christian religion, and the more also have I loved you. Console yourself in Jesus Christ. May your life be a copy of His."

(M. Bonnet.)

People
Epaphroditus, Paul, Philippians, Thessalonians, Timotheus, Timothy
Places
Philippi
Topics
Bid, Cause, Congratulate, Glad, Gladness, Joy, Likewise, Manner, Rejoice, Share, Urge
Outline
1. Paul exhorts them to unity, and to all humbleness of mind, by the example of Christ's humility;
12. to a careful proceeding in the way of salvation, that they be as lights to a wicked world,
16. and comforts to him their apostle, who is now ready to be offered up to God.
19. He hopes to send Timothy to them, and Epaphroditus also.

Dictionary of Bible Themes
Philippians 2:17-18

     8289   joy, of church

Library
Notes on the Second Century
Page 94. Line 9. The Book of ---- The reference here is to the apocryphal Wisdom of Solomon xiii. 1-5. Page 104. Med. 33. As originally written this Meditation commenced thus: Whether the sufferings of an. Angel would have been meritorious or no I will not dispute: but'---- And the following sentence, which comes after the first, has also been crossedout: So that it was an honour and no injury to be called to it: And so great an honour that it was an ornament to God himself, and an honour even to …
Thomas Traherne—Centuries of Meditations

January 17. "It is God which Worketh in You" (Phil. Ii. 13).
"It is God which worketh in you" (Phil. ii. 13). God has not two ways for any of us; but one; not two things for us to do which we may choose between; but one best and highest choice. It is a blessed thing to find and fill the perfect will of God. It is a blessed thing to have our life laid out and our Christian work adjusted to God's plan. Much strength is lost by working at a venture. Much spiritual force is expended in wasted effort, and scattered, indefinite and inconstant attempts at doing good. …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

April 28. "For it is God which Worketh in You" (Phil. Ii. 13).
"For it is God which worketh in you" (Phil. ii. 13). Sanctification is the gift of the Holy Ghost, the fruit of the Spirit, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the prepared inheritance of all who enter in, the greatest obtainment of faith, not the attainment of works. It is divine holiness, not human self-improvement, nor perfection. It is the inflow into man's being of the life and purity of the infinite, eternal and Holy One, bringing His own perfection and working out His own will. How easy, how …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

July 11. "For it is God which Worketh in You" (Phil. Ii. 13).
"For it is God which worketh in you" (Phil. ii. 13). A day with Jesus. Let us seek its plan and direction from Him. Let us take His highest thought and will for us in it. Let us look to Him for our desires, ideals, expectations in it. Then shall it bring to us exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think. Let Him be our Guide and Way. Let us not so much be thinking even of His plan and way as of Him as the Personal Guide of every moment, on whom we constantly depend to lead our every step. …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

November 30. "In Lowliness of Mind Let Each Esteem Other Better than Themselves" (Phil. Ii. 3).
"In lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves" (Phil. ii. 3). When the apostle speaks of "the deep things of God," he means more than deep spiritual truth. There must be something before this. There must be a deep soil and a thorough foundation. Very much of our spiritual teaching fails, because the people to whom we give it are so shallow. Their deeper nature has never been stirred. The beatitudes begin at the bottom of things, the poor in spirit, the mourners, and the hungry …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

May 28. "He Humbled Himself" (Phil. Ii. 8).
"He humbled Himself" (Phil. ii. 8). One of the hardest things for a lofty and superior nature is to be under authority, to renounce his own will, and to take a place of subjection. But Christ took upon Him the form of a servant, gave up His independence, His right to please Himself, His liberty of choice, and after having from eternal ages known only to command, gave Himself up only to obey. I have seen occasionally the man who was once a wealthy employer a clerk in the same store. It was not an …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

June 6. "He Emptied Himself" (Phil. Ii. 8, R. V. ).
"He emptied Himself" (Phil. ii. 8, R. V.). The first step to the righteousness of the kingdom is "poor in spirit." Then the next is a little deeper, "they that mourn." Because now you must get plastic, you must get broken, you must get like the metal in the fire, which the Master can mould; and so, it is not enough to see your unrighteousness, but deeply to feel it, deeply to regret it, deeply to mourn over it, to own it not a little thing that sin has come into your life. And so God leads a soul …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

Palm Sunday
Text: Philippians 2, 5-11. 5 Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; 8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; 10 that …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

Work Out Your Own Salvation
Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.'--PHIL. ii. 12, 13. 'What God hath joined together, let no man put asunder!' Here are, joined together, in the compass of one practical exhortation, the truths which, put asunder, have been the war-cries and shibboleths of contending sects ever since. Faith in a finished salvation, and yet work; God working all in me, and yet I able and bound to work likewise; …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

A Willing Sacrifice
'That I may have whereof to glory in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain neither labour in vain. 17. Yea, and if I am offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. 18. And in the same manner do ye also joy, and rejoice with me.'--PHIL. ii. 16-18 (R.V.). We come here to another of the passages in which the Apostle pours out all his heart to his beloved Church. Perhaps there never was a Christian teacher (always excepting Christ) who spoke more about …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

A Plea for Unity
'If there is therefore any comfort in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions, 2. Fulfil ye 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.'--PHIL. ii. 1-4 (R.V.). There was much …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Copies of Jesus
'Do all things without murmurings and disputings; 15. That ye may be blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world, 16. Holding forth the word of life.'--PHIL. ii. 14-16 (R.V.). We are told by some superfine modern moralists, that to regard one's own salvation as the great work of our lives is a kind of selfishness, and no doubt there may be a colour of truth in the charge. At least the meaning …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Paul and Timothy
'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 like-minded, who will care truly for your state. 21. For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ. 22. But ye know the proof of him, that, as a child serveth a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the gospel. 23. Him therefore I hope to send forthwith, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me: 24. But I trust in the Lord that …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Paul and Epaphroditus
'But I counted it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need. 26. Since he longed after you all, and was sore troubled, because ye had heard that he was sick. 27. For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow. 28. I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Descent of the Word
'Have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus: 6. Who, being in the form of God, counted it not a prize to be on an equality with God, 7. But emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; 8. And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.'--PHIL. ii. 5-8 (R.V.). The purpose of the Apostle in this great passage must ever be kept clearly in view. Our Lord's example is set forth as the …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Ascent of Jesus
'Wherefore also God highly exalted Him and gave unto Him the name which is above every name; 10. That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth; 11. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.'--PHIL. ii. 9-11 (R.V.). 'He that humbleth himself shall be exalted,' said Jesus. He is Himself the great example of that law. The Apostle here goes on to complete his picture of the Lord …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

July the Fourth Emptying Oneself
"He emptied Himself." --PHILIPPIANS ii. 1-11. In Mr. Silvester Horne's garden a very suggestive scene was one day to be witnessed. A cricketer of world-wide renown was playing a game with Mr. Horne's little four-year-old son! And the fierce bowler "emptied himself," and served such gentle, dainty little balls that the tiny man at the wickets was not in the least degree afraid! And the Lord of glory "emptied Himself," fashioning Himself to our "low estate," and in His unspeakably gentle approaches …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

Your Own Salvation
We have heard it said by hearers that they come to listen to us, and we talk to them upon subjects in which they have no interest. You will not be able to make this complaint to-day, for we shall speak only of "your own salvation;" and nothing can more concern you. It has sometimes been said that preachers frequently select very unpractical themes. No such objection can be raised to-day, for nothing can be more practical than this; nothing more needful than to urge you to see to "your own salvation." …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871

The Exaltation of Christ
I ALMOST regret this morning that I have ventured to occupy this pulpit, because I feel utterly unable to preach to you for your profit. I had thought that the quiet and repose of the last fortnight had removed the effects of that terrible catastrophe; but on coming back to the same spot again, and more especially, standing here to address you, I feel somewhat of those same painful emotions which well-nigh prostrated me before. You will therefore excuse me this morning, if I make no allusion to that …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 2: 1856

Consolation in Christ
You will remember, my dear friends, that the Holy Spirit, during the present dispensation, is revealed to us as the Comforter. It is the Spirit's business to console and cheer the hearts of God's people. He does convince of sin; he does illuminate and instruct; but still the main part of his business lies in making glad the hearts of the renewed, in confirming the weak, and lifting up all those that be bowed down. Whatever the Holy Ghost may not be, he is evermore the Comforter to the Church; and …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 7: 1861

The Temper of Christ
PHILIPPIANS ii. 4. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. What mind? What sort of mind and temper ought to be in us? St. Paul tells us in this chapter, very plainly and at length, what sort of temper he means; and how it showed itself in Christ; and how it ought to show itself in us. 'All of you,' he tells us, 'be like-minded, having the same love; being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory: but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others …
Charles Kingsley—The Good News of God

The Mind which was in Christ Jesus. Rev. George Wood.
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." PHILIPPIANS ii. 5. The Saviour left His followers an example that they should tread in His steps; and His example in everything that appertains to His human nature, is not only practicable but essential. We cannot imitate His power, or His wisdom, or His miracles, or His sufferings, or anything in which His Divine nature was manifested or employed; but we can imitate His meekness, His patience, His zeal, His self-denial, His superiority …
Knowles King—The Wesleyan Methodist Pulpit in Malvern

How to Keep Passion Week
(Preached before the Queen.) Philippians ii. 5-11. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every …
Charles Kingsley—Town and Country Sermons

2 Cor. Iii. 5
Not that we are sufficient of our selves, to think any things as of our selves: but our Sufficiency is of God. THE Apostle, in this Epistle, was led, by the cunning Management of some evil-minded Persons amongst the Corinthians, to asset his own Apostleship; and his own Right to be their Director and Instructor, as He had been the Founder of their Church, and of their Faith. But lest they should think that He boasted of himself above measure; as if from Him, considered by Himself, came all their …
Benjamin Hoadly—Several Discourses Concerning the Terms of Acceptance with God

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