This past Sunday, Freedom River was blessed to have Pastor Stephen Davey share God's Word. Davey is the founding pastor of Colonial Baptist Church in Cary, NC. He's also the host of the nationally syndicated radio ministry "Wisdom for the Heart." And he's acclaimed as one of the nation's top expository preachers.
He preached on the Humility of Christ from Philippians 2:5-8. This passage reveals Five Rights that Jesus Reliquished in coming to earth.
1-The right to LIVE like God.
Jesus was equal with God the Father, but renounced this right. He is the ultimate riches to rags story.
2-The right to ACT like God.
Theologians call this the Kenosis of Christ, literally "the emptying of His hands." Jesus gave up His right to use His wonder-working hands. In other words, He gave up the right to access His own omnipotence.
3-The right to LOOK like God.
Jesus was made in the likeness of man. It's hard to imagine what a step down this was. Isaiah 53:2-3 describes our Savior as physically an average Joe.
4-The right to be TREATED like God.
In this passage of Philippians, Paul highlights the humiliation and torture of the Roman cross. We totally betrayed Him. Yet He still gave Himself for us.
Why did Jesus do this? John 1:12 is very clear: But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God.
In other words, Jesus gave up His rights as God in order that we might receive something that we totally did not deserve. God's grace is truly amazing.
Thanks to Pastor Davey for taking time in his schedule to encourage us with such a powerful word from Scripture.
In Christ,
Jay
From a sermon at Freedom River CC on Sunday, August 17, 2008.
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