Enjoying Life In A (Mostly) Joyless World
Enjoy Life By Surrendering Control
Philippians 2:5-11

Introduction: Get This Thing Under Control

Whenever our kids are home together we find ourselves watching videos and reliving some of those priceless childhood moments. One such video sees us with our friends at the ranch owned by their relatives about an hour east of Redding, California in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This was a working ranch with cattle, horses and a pony. The featured activity in the video was pony rides for the kids. The only problem was that the pony was far more interested in eating the green grass than the bareback riding daredevils it carried.

Our then 6-year-old son Andy wasn’t real sure about this activity. While he was the designated rider, the pony simply stopped moving so it could eat. Our friend Bob then dropped the reins to the ground as the pony slowly moved from one tasty mouthful to the next. Andy definitely is not enjoying the experience. He knows he is going to go wherever the pony takes him and there is nothing he can do about it. When 3-year-old Jessica picked up the reins Andy became very nervous. Through clinched teeth he desperately asks, “Can somebody get this thing under control?” He knew he would enjoy life much more if he could only control what was going on.

Life feels like that far too often. We want someone to get control of this thing. We are riding on what seems to be an out-of-control bareback horse desperately wanting to control what is going to happen. We sense that, if we simply could gain more control, life would be more enjoyable. We want to take the reins of life in our hands and run the show.

Let me explain what I am asking you to do today. My invitation to you is: rather than trying to take control, surrender control of your life. Stop trying to run the show. The Bible challenges us to surrender control of our lives by trusting Him. Why should we do that? Why would we ever drop the reins and trust Him to take care of us?

Trust Jesus Because He Came To Earth

When the Allied Forces landed on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944 to begin the liberation of Europe the invasion was big news. God’s invasion of earth with the birth of His Son is much bigger news. When Neil Armstrong stepped onto the surface of the moon on July 20, 1969 that lunar landing was big news. That was nothing compared to God landing on earth. This is the incredible news we celebrate each year at Christmas.

C.S. Lewis identifies the Incarnation as the central miracle of Christianity. God becoming man is the most grand and wonderful of all the things God has ever done. Lewis writes,

If the thing happened, it was the central event in the history of the Earth—the very thing the whole story has been about.                                                                                Miracles, p. 112

This miracle of miracles is the theme of Philippians 2:5-11. Many scholars believe these verses were actually a hymn of the early church that celebrated the miracle of the birth, life, death and exaltation of Jesus. It begins,

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,            Philippians 2:5-6 NIV

Let’s tie this to the context established last week. While this is a grand theological treatise, it is presented as an illustration of the unity God desires from His church. Jesus is God’s living, breathing example of what it means to humbly consider others as better than self by making their interests your own. That’s precisely what Jesus did when He came to earth.

Jesus humbly gave up far more than any of us will ever sacrifice for someone else. He was God. He could have claimed His rights as God. But, He willingly came to earth, which is why we celebrate Christmas. Jesus didn’t begin with His birth in Bethlehem. He always was.

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—                  Colossians 1:15-16a NLT

Jesus made the invisible God visible when He came to earth.

I remember when the President came to St. Cloud during the 2004 presidential campaign. It was a very big deal. He came to invite people to vote for him. He wanted people to know they could trust him to keep them safe. A huge crowd turned out to hear him. Many more stood by the roadside—as I did—to watch his motorcade pass. Even for those who weren’t going to vote for him, it was still a very big deal the day the President came to St. Cloud, Minnesota.

It was a much bigger day when God came to earth. In fact, there is no comparison. Jesus, who is God in every detail of His nature, came to the world He created. Jesus was willing to do this for you. In turn, He asks you to trust Him by surrendering control of your life to Him.

Trust Jesus Because He Became A Human Being

Jesus did more than just coming to earth. He could have come to earth like a conquering king enters the capital city of the people he has defeated. He could have come to earth like a Greek god. Jesus came to earth and became a human being.

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, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.                                Philippians 2:5-7 NIV

The One who is God in every aspect of His nature became a servant in every aspect of His nature. He not only became one of us; He became one of the least of us.

These are more than words. In the upper room—on the night before He died when He had the weight of the world pressing down on Him—Jesus became the servant who washed the feet of the disciples. While people expected a mighty, conquering King as Messiah, Jesus came to serve and give His life as a ransom for many. Consider the ways Jesus became one of us.

Jesus Was Born Like Us

Like every other baby ever born He came helplessly dependent upon parents to care for Him. The outcome of God’s plan for the world rested on a baby who couldn’t feed himself, clothe himself or care for himself.

Jesus Grew Like Us

He learned the kinds of things we all learn as we grow. He learned to walk and talk. He learned to check for Romans chariots at the crosswalk. He learned how to do his chores. He went through growth spurts when Mary must have lamented, “But, I just made that robe and you’ve already outgrown it. Oh well, it has a lot of wear left so we’ll pass it down to your brother.” Eventually, He grew into a real man who was also real God.

Jesus Was Tempted Like Us

Jesus experienced the same pressures as we do—just with the heat really turned up. The writer of Hebrews comments,

Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin!                                                                                         Hebrews 4:15 CEV

Some people feel they can never relate to someone who never sinned. Please understand that’s exactly the point. He experienced each and every temptation we do—without sinning. Who better to help you if you really want to overcome  temptation.

Jesus Suffered Like Us

Jesus felt pain and disappointment. He became tired—so tired He fell asleep in a boat during a terrible storm. He cried. He grieved. He agonized over the choices He faced. Listen to His agony.

He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”                                                                                                                Matthew 26:38 NLT

Warren Wiersbe compares Jesus’ attitude to that of Lucifer and Adam.

It would be worthwhile to contrast Christ’s attitude with that of Lucifer (Isa. 14:12-15) and Adam (Gen. 3:1-7). Many Bible students believe that the fall of Lucifer is a description of the fall of Satan. He once was the highest of the angelic beings, close to the throne of God (Ezek. 28:11-19), but he desired to be on the throne of God! Lucifer said, “I will!” but Jesus said, “Thy will.” Lucifer was not satisfied to be a creature; he wanted to be the Creator! Jesus was the Creator, yet He willingly became man. Christ’s humility is a rebuke to Satan’s pride.

Lucifer was not satisfied to be a rebel himself; he invaded Eden and tempted man to be a rebel. Adam had all that he needed; he was actually the “king” of God’s creation (“let them have dominion,” Gen. 1:26). But Satan said, “Ye shall be as God!” Man deliberately grasped after something that was beyond his reach, and as a result plunged the whole human race into sin and death. Adam and Eve thought only of themselves; Jesus Christ thought of others.

Jesus invites you to enjoy life by surrendering the control of your life to Him. His invitation is a request; not a demand. He doesn’t demand your grudging allegiance. He offers the benefits of His kingdom.

Trust Jesus Because He Came To Die

This early Christian hymn isn’t finished yet. The next verse tells us how far Jesus was willing to go in serving us.

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!                                                                                Philippians 2:8 NIV

I often remind myself of this astounding fact: Jesus voluntarily went to the Cross and offered His life in exchange for mine. I need that perspective. There are times it drives me to my knees. There are other times it has me jumping for joy.

Jesus didn’t have to do this. He was and is God. He could have called (as the song tells us) 10,000 angels—or whatever number of angels it would have taken to deliver Him. He didn’t need to die on the Cross, but He humbly surrendered Himself to do so.

Why? Why would He do such a thing? Consider two reasons.

Jesus Demonstrated God’s Love

Look at a verse that blows me away.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

                                                                                                                                Romans 5:8 NIV

Does that blow you away? It blew Charles Wesley away. He wrote what is my favorite hymn: And Can It Be That I Should Gain?

Jesus Paid For My Sins

Those who break the law pay the penalty demanded by the law. When you break human laws you pay the prescribed penalty. At the very least you will get off with a warning. There may be a fine. You may have to do time. In some extreme cases the life of the lawbreaker may be the penalty.

When you break God’s laws you pay God’s penalty. The Bible says,

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.     Romans 6:23 NIV

Jesus paid my penalty. He paid your penalty. The apostle Peter who denied Jesus understood what it means to have the penalty for sin paid by Jesus.

Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross so we would stop living for sin and start living for what is right. And you are healed because of his wounds. 1 Peter 2:24 NCV

The angels sang the song of triumph on the night Jesus was born.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.           Luke 2:11 NIV

What’s does it mean for us to have a Savior?

Lifeguards are taught that when they swim out to a person who is drowning to not grab them right away. Drowning people are panicked. Move too quickly and they will most likely grab onto you and pull you down. You tread water and wait until they are going under for the last time. When they have given up, you put your arms around them to help them back to shore. As long as a person is trying to save themselves, you cannot save them.

Jesus came to be the Savior of the world. As long as you think, "I'm OK. I'm not that bad," you are the person in the most danger. The person who realizes he needs a Savior is much more open to receiving a Savior. If you think you don't need a Savior, you have a problem. If you didn't need a Savior, God wouldn't have wasted all the effort to send one. The very fact that Jesus Christ did come to earth, gave up the glory of Heaven, became a human being, was born as a little baby, grew up, experienced pains, pressures and temptations, died on a cross, and was raised again on Easter means that you need what He has to offer. God would not waste all that energy.

God came to earth and it split history as we determine time. But He came as a man with real flesh and blood, problems, tears and emotions so He can understand exactly how you are. You can look at Him and know what God is like. That's the reality. He came to show how much God loves you and by dying on the cross to give you salvation. Salvation provides freedom—freedom from guilt, worry, fear, and purposelessness. Salvations let you know that your eternity is settled and you are free to live the way God meant for you to live. God invites you to enjoy life by surrendering your control because Jesus died for you.

Trust Jesus Because He is Lord

Surrender is never surrender until it is full surrender. Paul tells us that every single person will offer full surrender to Jesus. For some it will be during this life. For far too many the surrender will not come until it is too late. Paul concludes this section,

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.                       Philippians 2:9-11 NIV

The cross is not the end and the grave was not final. He's alive! That's what Easter is all about. Because Jesus humbled Himself, God has done two things:

God has given Jesus the place of top honor in the universe. He's honored above all else.

God has given Jesus a new name.

The name "Jesus" in New Testament times was a very common name. It wasn't unusual. The name would have been on the annual list of most used baby names—like Jacob or Michael or Emily or Madison today. Jesus means "salvation is of the Lord." The Hebrew is Joshua. That’s why it was necessary to distinguish which Jesus they were talking about by calling him Jesus of Nazareth or Jesus, the son of Joseph the carpenter.

As a result of His finished work of redemption He is given a new name: LORD. Jesus is Lord. The word is misused, misunderstood and used flippantly by many people—even Christians. They don't understand the meaning of Lord. In Greek is the word means master or ruler. It identifies the one in control. Over 600 times in the New Testament Jesus is called Lord.

In the New Testament era, Lord was applied to Caesar because the Emperor was treated as a god. The Romans would swear allegiance saying, "Caesar is Lord". It became a test of loyalty. When Christians refused to say that and would only say "Jesus is Lord" they were put to death. Many of them lost their lives simply because of this one phrase—Jesus is Lord.

What does it mean to say "Jesus is Lord"?

I acknowledge that He really is God. He's more than a man or a prophet. He really is God.

I believe that He has everything under control. Since Jesus is God and God has everything under control, Jesus has everything under control. To say Jesus is Lord is a statement of comfort and encouragement.

I commit all of my life to Him. He calls the shots because He is God, has come to earth, died for me and rose again. Because He has done those things, He has the right to determine what's right in my life and to direct me. I seek to live according to His plans.

That’s why we shouldn’t use the word Lord lightly.

This special name stands at the center of our salvation. Do you ever wonder how you can know you are saved? Paul answers the question.

If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.                                                   Romans 10:9 NIV

When I confess, “Jesus is Lord,” I acknowledge that He is God, that He has everything under control, and that I have committed everything I have to Him.

Paul says that one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess what God has known for the ages—the truth of all truth—Jesus is Lord. It will happen. One day every knee will bow and every tongue confess and He will be given His due honor. All of the arrogance in this world that puts itself up against Christ, all of the denial and all the pseudo-scientific, psychological and philosophical arguments that are postulated will wither away. Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.

On what the Bible calls Judgment Day, everyone throughout history will acknowledge it is true. Every nationality, every age group, every male, every female, people of every religion will agree, "Jesus is Lord." All of the politicians will be there and say, "Jesus is Lord." All of the rock stars will say, "Jesus is Lord." All of the scientists, professors, businessmen, and homemakers will say, "Jesus is Lord." Everyone will admit it.

There is no question whether or not you will admit that Jesus is Lord. You will. The issue is not if you will; it is simply when you will. You will either admit it now in love and honor and respect or you will admit it later with the horrifying realization that you have been wrong and made a big mistake—a very big mistake. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.

To enjoy life here and now what you need to do is offer the surrender of your control over your life by confessing that Jesus is Lord. Can somebody get this thing under control? Jesus can—and He will handle all the other stuff.

Conclusion: Our Greatest Need

I am convinced this is the greatest need in American Christianity. We need to admit that there is someone who is greater than we are. There is someone who is able to provide love and meaning and protection. There is someone who can save us for eternity and give us a purpose for living now. Our greatest need is to surrender control to the one who came to earth, who became a human being, who came to die and accomplished it all because He is Lord.

 In a world where it may seem like the only thing that makes sense is to take control, what you actually need to do is turn over control to the One who has always had it—Jesus. Jesus is Lord! Amen.