If you want to sleep better, let it go.

Steve Brown:
If you want to sleep better, let it go. I’ll explain, on Key Life.

Matthew Porter:
That was Steve Brown. He doesn’t want to be your guru, and he’s not trying to be your mother. He just opens the Bible and gives you the simple truth that will make you free. Steve’s a lifelong broadcaster, author, seminary professor, and our teacher on Key Life.

Steve Brown:
Thank you Matthew. We’re looking at paradoxes of the Christian faith, and this is part of our study of the Book of Philippians. And we’ve been centering in on Philippians 2:1 through 11. And we’re seeing some important things, and even when we see them, we’re going to think we’ve only scratched the surface. So, in order to kind of see what this accomplishes in us, and the apostle Paul said it, and it’s important that we understand the paradoxes of the Christian faith. He said.

Do nothing out of selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interest, but to the interest of others. Have this mind among you, which is also in Christ Jesus.

And so, we’re looking at some of the paradoxes in this particular text. And the first one is interesting. You must relinquish in order to possess, Philippians 2:6.

Jesus, who being in very nature God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.

And then the rest of the story is in the 9th verse.

Therefore God gave him the name that is above everything.

I’ve probably told you this story before because it’s one of my favorites, about a man in India who was making the long trip across the continent. And he knew that on the train there were thieves and he had to watch out for thieves. And it was late at night and he said to himself, I must stay awake, and he did. He had a suitcase, and everything he owned was in the suitcase. And he put it in the rack above his seat, and he sat there watching out for thieves into the wee hours of the morning. And then, and then his eyes became, his eyelids became heavy and he just couldn’t stay awake. And for only 30 seconds, he drifted off. And when he opened his eyes and looked up to the rack above his head, his suitcase was gone. And he said, thank God, now get some sleep. Let it go. But I’ll tell you, if you do it Biblically and you see what the Scripture has to say about it, relinquishing it, letting it go, whatever it is, is the way to possess either that or something far better, Philippians 2:6, Philippians 2:9. Now, I don’t want you to misunderstand. I’m not teaching a name it, frame it, claim it kind of thing. That if you have the right principles of peace, then everything will be good, and fine, and you’ll be healthy, and wise, and wealthy, and never be sick. The Bible doesn’t teach that. The Bible does teach the pearl of great price and that it’s worth it and that what do you possess when you let it go. When you put things in order, when Jesus is number one, when you relinquish it all to him, there is such a return that it will blow you away. Alright, I could spend some more time on that, but we’ve got to move along. Let me give you another paradox. You must humble yourself in order to be exalted, Philippians 2:7a.

Jesus made himself nothing.

Philippians 2:8b

He humbled himself.

Philippians 2:9

Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place.

Let me give you some more Scripture. This may be boring, but stay with me cause it’s worth it. This is Isaiah 57:15.

For this is what the high and lofty One who says, he who lives forever, whose name is Holy: I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

This is Matthew 18:4.

Therefore, Jesus said, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Luke 14:10

But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when the host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests.

James 4:10

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

I have in my library, every book that F.B. Meyers ever wrote. And they are really good books. Now, you don’t even know the name, probably. But he’s a great preacher and a great Bible teacher. And profound in many ways. I had never heard of him either until somebody told me a story about something that happened in Meyer’s life. He had a church and it was near the big church that Spurgeon had. And a lot of his people were going to Spurgeon’s church. Now, you need to know that most preachers I know take it personally when people leave. Frankly, I had that problem so bad that when people died, I took it personally. And Meyers, I guess was not totally sanctified, he must have had something in that, but my friend told me that he cancelled his evening service, saying to his congregation, I want you to go down the street because something is happening in Spurgeon’s church. And it’s important, and you ought to be there. That’s where I’m going. You come with me. I went, you made that up. And my friend said, no, it really happened. And when I found out that it really did happen, I went to the bookstore and I ordered from the library and from the websites where I could get books, every book that F. B. Meyer had ever written. How do you feel when somebody forgets your name? I was one time at a conference approached by a lady and said, Oh, Steve, would you? No, she didn’t. She said, Oh, would you meet my friend? Your ministry has changed my life and I want her to know you. And she called her friend over and she turned to me and she said, I feel so embarrassed. I’ve forgotten your name. I laughed, but inside I winced. How do you feel when you work hard at something? And somebody else gets the credit. That drives me nuts. How do you feel when you are ignored? I don’t like being ignored. A friend pointed out to me an interesting parallel in Isaiah 14 to our text for, the one we’re studying on Key Life. You will remember that the King of Babylon is referred to, and then you realize that Isaiah is talking about Satan. Isaiah 14:12 through 15.

You said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven. I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit enthroned amongst the assembly. On the utmost heights of the sacred mountain, I will ascend above the tops of the clouds. I will make myself like the most high, but you are brought down to the grave and to the depths of a pit.

It is interesting, the grace of God always runs downhill. And sometimes I pray, Lord, I want that. I want to be nobody so I can be somebody. I want to not care if people don’t care. I want to be like Jesus. I want to humble myself and God have mercy on me so I will be exalted. It’s a principle. You can’t change it. You just live it. And insofar as it becomes a part of your life, then you’re exalted. Hey, you think about that. And I will too. Amen.

Matthew Porter:
Thank you Steve. Today we continue digging into the first 11 verses of Philippians 2, exploring some paradoxes found there. Tomorrow, we’ll continue in our journey in examining some of the counterintuitive principles found in that passage. Do join us.

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