The Green Forest tribune., 1916-02-11
INTERNATIONAL, SUNlNSQIOOL
 LESSON (By B. O. SELLERS, Acting Director of Sunday School Course. Moody Bible Insttute)
 Copyright 1916, Western Newspaper Union)
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 13
HUMBLED AND EXALTED.
N TFXT-Phil 2.1-11

The key word of the first chapter of Philippians is confidence" (see w. 6, IA. 25). Paul has confidence in the church at Philippi on account of their spiritual condition (vv. 1, 9, which re- suited in fellowship (vv. 3-S) and fruit fitness (vv 9-13). This confidence in- spires boldness and is a source of joy and blessing. Paul's creed is also set forth in chapter 1:5-11. This con- f1dence is in the face of the conflict and suffering which was before them (see 1:27-3O).
 l. Be of the Same Mind, w. IA. The key word of this chapter is the word comfort" (vv. 1, 19). The first sec tion might be entitled "The Comfort of Love" (vv. 1-iS) and the second sec tion "The Comfort of Knowledge" (vv. 19-30). If there was to be opposition from without certainly the Christians ought to stand together. Paul is urg- ing them to unity in order that it might comfort and console him. He had always rejoiced in this church Q:4, but he desires them to fill full his joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being of one ac- cord, of one mind" Paul's comfort of love in the disciples he anticipated would be due to their state of mind, which depended upon (a) unity (vv. 1,2); (b) humility (v. 8; (c) that they might mind the things of oth- CTS" (v. 4. Nothing would so comfort and console, or so gladden. the heart of Paul as such unity It was even so with the heart of our Lord (see John 17:2D. The words "be of the same mind' do not refer merely to a unity of opinion, but rather to a unity of purpose and affection, literally be ing souled together" The word "lov- ing" in the first clause (v. 3, is a strong one. Paul does not want any, thing to be done through faction, or party spirit, or vainglory. Each one shout. put the rights of others before those of his own. Furthermore each one should look with interest and fa- vor, not on his own things, but leach also to the things of others," have an equal regard for the interests of oth- CTS as he would have for his own.
 II. Let This Nina Winch Was Also In Christ Jesus, w. 5-8. The second comfort of love was due, not to a unity of mind, but to the standing which Paul and this church had in Christ, due to his (Christ's) standing in God The words of this passage are among the most wonderful to be found anywhere in the Bible. They contain statement of the most pro- found truth and mystery that we have regarding the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. No plummet has sounded their depth, nor rod sealed their height, nor tape measured their breadth His eternal deity-and on the other hand his amazing self-humiliation-y these facts and truths are brought be- fore us to enforce the homeliest duties of every day life. Equal to God John 1O:30) yet he gave up his divine glory and incarnated himself in the his torical Jesus, was anointed of God, died on 9 Roman cross, buried in Jo- seph's tomb, yet rose again and is alive today as much as when he walked OCT Galilee's hills. The mind that was in Jesus was purpose to choose the lowest depth of humiliation rather than a full equality with God, either choice of which he might have made; but he chose the former-creation's most sublime illustration of self-sacri- fice-and this is the mind we should have. The word robbery" implies a thing to be seized hold of. Instead of seizing hold of equality with God, Jesus let go and seized hold of the death on the cross, and thus made himself of no reputation, literally emp tied himself. The context shows of what he emptied himself: (a) his divine form; (b) his divine glory. This latter is shown by his birth in stable and his death upon cross, thereby being under the curse of God Gal. 3:13). But this was an act of obedi- ence to God (v. 8. The father bade him to do it. The sacrifice of Christ had it's original source in the will of God-his love towards us (John 3:16, Rom. 5:8). There are three thoughts in this passage: (a) the incarnation; (b) the passion; Co the exaltation. Keep this in mind and remember Pauls circumstances in prison when he wrote this letter Remember also how this Philippian church was formed as result of prison experi- ence (Acts 16).
 llI. God Also Hath Exalted Him, w. 9-11. The result of this comfort of love, due to state of mind on the part of the disciples and their having the mind of Christ, was first the ex- altation of Christ (v. 9, and the giving unto him oe "the" name, not "a" name, that is above all other names and secondly, worship on the part of all of Gods creation, every knee bowed in submission; and third, confession (v. ID. Jesus, who humbled himself to the lowest place. God has exalted to the highest place. Humiliation of self is the path to exaltation by God.
 The name Jesus" is above every name, because Jesus has been exalted above every man.