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DEVELOPING A LEADERSHIP MENTALITY
 
Philippians 2:1-12
Introduction:  In these verses, Paul instructs the believers in the matter of the mind. Notice the following…
1.  Philippians 1:2 – “be ye like-minded”
2.  Philippians 1:3 – “in lowliness of mind”
3.  Philippians 1:5 – “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”
Paul uses the Lord Jesus Christ as the perfect example of the right mentality the Christian needs in order to effectively work out his salvation. 
In the context we see that God is working in the believer to accomplish His Divine will.  Paul admonishes the Philippians to adopt the same mindset
as Christ.  In verses 6 through 11 we find five characteristics of Christ.  The first three relate to Jesus personally.  The last two relate to God the
Father and His response to the work which Jesus Christ completed.  This study will analyze these five points.  The Christian leader must imitate
Jesus in order to receive the same approval from God.
 
I.  PURPOSE:  A DETERMINED CHOICE – “thought it not robbery to be equal with God”
    A.  The Need of a Chosen Purpose
             1.  Notice the importance of God’s will in the mind of Jesus Christ.
                 a.  These verses show us the will of God being acted upon by Jesus. He chose to do the will of His Father.
                 b.  Throughout His ministry we see the will of God dominating His life and work.
                     1)  John 4:34 – “…My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.”
                     2)  John 5:36 – “But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath
                         given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.”
                     3)  John 9:4 – “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day…”
                     4)  Luke 22:42 – “…remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”
                 c.  Doing the will of God was paramount in the mind of Jesus.  We must follow this example.
             2.  Why is knowing and doing the will of God so important for the believer?
                 a.  Obedience to God’s purpose is the only sure way of fulfillment for the Christian.
                 b.  Most people live without any purpose and thus never are fulfilled because they never have a sense of
                     worth.  They are not a part of anything greater than themselves.  
                 c.  There is nothing greater for the believer than knowing and doing the will of God.  The will of God acts
                     as a compass which directs the life of the Christian and gives as sense of value and intention.
    B.  The Nature of a Chosen Purpose
             1.  It is of utmost importance that we understand that the purpose of Christ was chosen and not forced upon
                 Him.  Jesus willingly accepted the will of God and determined within Himself to do the work.
             2.  Great leaders choose their purpose.  They act based upon their own conscious decision-making.
             3.  As a Christian leader, one must choose by an act of freewill to submit to the will of God.  Too many
                 believers are serving out of duty and pressure and therefore never experience the joy of choice.
             4.  Jesus acknowledge this type of service in John 15:15. He stated to the disciples, “Henceforth I call you
                 not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things
                 that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.”
             5.  Jesus was teaching His disciples that there is a greater motive for serving than the Law.  It is the personal
                 relationship of friendship with God.  Servants serve by obligation.  Friends serve by willing desire.
             6.  The point to be made – You will never become a great leader if you begrudgingly serve your purpose. 
                 Like Christ you must offer yourself as a willing servant, ready to accomplish the task ordain for you.
 
II.  PASSION:  A DESIRE TO CHANGE – “a servant… the likeness of men… fashion as a man”
    A.  The Attitude of Change
             1.  Jesus was so passionate about His purpose that He was willing to change in order to accomplish it.
             2.  We know that Jesus is the Son of God and thus perfect.  However, He had to become a man to effect the
                 purpose which He had embraced.  His attitude was one of willing adaptation.  He became a man!
             3.  The Principle – As leaders, we must be willing to change, adapt, and get better if we are to lead
                 effectively.  Many never move forward in their leadership ability because they will not acknowledge that
                 they need to change.  Always remember the greatest room in the world is the room for self-improvement.
    B.  The Action of Change
             1.  The attitude of Christ was followed by the action of becoming a man.  His purpose led to change.  He
                 became the man God could use.  There were great changes, but these led to great accomplishments.
             2.  As a leader, why is change so vital?
                 a.  If you will change, people will be more willing to follow you and what you say.
                 b.  If you change, you show that you are sincere in your devotion and focus. 
                 c.  A person will not change unless they value the thing for which they are making the change.  If you do
                     not value the purpose you have chosen, you will be resistant to change.
             3.  Examples of the Attitude and Action of Change.
                 a.  Preacher – He must acknowledge his lack of wisdom and therefore study to show himself approved.
                 b.  Husband – He understands his accountability and therefore loves his wife as Christ loved the church.
                 c.  Wife – Considering the importance of harmony in the home she follows her husband in submission.
                 d.  Student – Focusing on the end result, he applies himself diligently to his studies.
             4.  The point to be made – Change is never easy and often it is painful.  However, if one is truly passionate
                 about his purpose, the need for change will be readily admitted and quickly acted upon.
             5.  Colossians 3:10 – “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him
                 that created him:”  Paul acknowledged that change was necessary for service.
            
III.  PURSUIT:  A DEVOTED COMMITMENT – “became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross”
    A.  The Path of Obedience – “became obedient”
             1.  There is a distinct path which Christ walked because of His choice.  The will of God is more than a
                 decision it involves devotion to the cause.
             2.  We often want to direct our own path of service.  Jesus’ attitude was to follow the path ordained by God. 
                 Psalms 40:6-8 – “Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering
                 and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of
                 me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.”
             3.  The path of obedience developed Christ into the complete Saviour.  Hebrews 5:8-9 – “Though he were a
                 Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;  And being made perfect, he became the
                 author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;”
             4.  God places a path before His servants.  The purpose of this path is to give experiences that will mold the
                 believers into the type of persons God can use to accomplish His will.
                 a.  God developed Moses in the deserts of Midian.
                 b.  David was developed on the hills of Bethlehem as a shepherd of sheep.
                 c.  John the Baptist was in the deserts being developed until the time of his showing.
             5.  We often are faced with difficulties in order to mature us that we can efficiently do God’s will.  Are we
                willing to follow the path God ordains?  Will we humbly and quietly submit to suffering?
    B.  The Price of Obedience – “obedient unto death, even the death of the cross”
             1.  The path of the will of God meant pain.  It is easy to choose the will of God, a little harder to change to
                 do the will of God, but then comes the cross of suffering.  Many forsake their purpose when they see a
                 cross at the end of their pathway.  Jesus remained steadfast and submissive.
                 a.  Luke 9:51 – “And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly
                     set his face to go to Jerusalem”
                 b.  Isaiah 50:5-6 – “The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away
                     back.  I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face
                     from shame and spitting.”
             2.  Paul experienced this same pain of doing the will of God.  II Timothy 1:11-12 – “Whereunto I am
                 appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.  For the which cause I also suffer
                 these things:”  Doing the will of God involved a tremendous cost for Paul.  It will for all true leaders.
             3.  David could have turned away when he saw the enormity of Goliath.  But his cause was worth the price.
             4.  Great leaders press on even though the stakes are raised high.  They are emphatically committed to
                 accomplishing the purpose which they have chosen.  Their devotion is their life!
 
IV.  PROMOTION:  DISTINCT CREDENTIALS – “God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name”
    A.  The Reward of Christ – “God also hath highly exalted him”
             1.  God responds when His servants accomplish His will, and rewards those who pay the price of leadership.
             2.  He promised in Isaiah 52:13, “Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled,
                 and be very high.”
             3.  Acts 2:32-33 – “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the
                 right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed
                 forth this, which ye now see and hear.”
             4.  Acts 5:30-31 – “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath
                God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and
                 forgiveness of sins.”
             5.  God will not forget those who give their all.  Hebrews 6:10-12 – “For God is not unrighteous to forget
                 your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the
                 saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full
                 assurance of hope unto the end:  That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and
                 patience inherit the promises.”
    B.  The Recognition of Christ – “and given him a name which is above every name”
             1.  God not only rewards, but He gives special recognition and identification to His choice servants.
                 a.  Abraham was known as the Friend of God.
                 b.  Moses was a man who was known as he who spoke face to face with the Lord.
                 c.  Joshua was magnified before the eyes of the people.
                 d.  David was a man after God’s own heart.
                 e.  The half could not be told concerning Solomon.
                 f.  John the Baptist was the greatest prophet born of women.
                 g.  Jesus was given a name above every name.  Jesus, there is just something about that name.
             2.  God honors those who give their all.  This fact should put fervency in our service for the Lord.  He is not
                 a man, but the Almighty, the God who created and maintains the universe.
             3.  The point to be made – It is God that does the promoting, not the man.  If we as leaders faithfully execute
                 the plan of God, He will be faithful in rewarding and recognizing our service.  We need not become self-
                 promoters.  That action is the operation of God.  He looks upon the heart and judges righteously.
 
V.  PROCLAMATION:  DIVINE CONFIRMATION – “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… And
that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”
    A.  The Denial of Man
             1.  Though Jesus has been given an exalted name by God, not all men will acknowledge Him.
             2.  It should be noted that doing the will of God does not necessarily mean everyone will appreciate your
                 sacrifice and devotion as a leader.
             3.  The Bible is filled with examples of great men who were faced with opposition though their office of
                 leadership was ordain by God.  Think of such men as Abraham, Moses, David, even Christ.
             4.  Sacrifice does not guarantee respect from all.
    B.  The Declaration of God
             1.  Though some reject the authenticity of Christ as Lord, God will ultimately magnify His Son in their eyes.
             2.  As a leader, remain faithful.  God will justify and vindicate His people.  We often become discouraged
                 when we do all we can for others and still they refuse to follow.  Remember God is just and He will
                 defend and establish His servants.  He will make clear our motives and our accomplishments.
 
Conclusion:  The mind of the world and flesh is totally opposite from the mind of Christ.  Worldly leaders proclaim who they are,
earnestly promote themselves, walk a path of selfishness, adapt to their environment and then announce they have found their purpose. 
 Jesus shows us that we are to choose our purpose, grow and change with passion, pursue it though it may mean the cross. 
 Then, rely upon God to reward and recognize our service.  This is mindset of true leaders.  We follow the example of Christ and
leave the results in God’s hands.