I AM SECOND - Every Knee Should Bow, Every Tongue Acknowledge - April 20, 2025
INTRODUCTION
Easter
"Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime."
Martin Luther
Loyd C.Taylor:
Is Easter just a holiday,
with dyed eggs and yummy candy?
Is it a time when children play
and all dress so fine and dandy?
Is Easter when adults find
some much-needed relaxation?
Is it a break from their work
to enjoy a short vacation?
Or does Easter remind us
how Christ died our debt to pay?
And does Easter remind us
of how Christ rose on the third day?
Easter, Easter!
What a beautiful occasion!
Easter, Easter!
What a glorious celebration!
Easter, Easter!
Christ’s resurrection is in view!
Easter, Easter!
He arose for me and you!
© Loyd C Taylor, Sr., inspired by Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-10, April 2019
I Am Second
Value others above yourselves
Not looking to your own interests
The same mindset of Christ Jesus - humility and servanthood
He let go of equality with God
Jesus made himself nothing becoming a servant in human likeness
Even death on a cross
The name that is above every name
Philippians 2:1-11 NIV
“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 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 acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:1-11 NIV
What is “therefore” there for?
Philippians 1:29-30 NIV
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
Philippians 1:29-30 NIV
Philippians 2:5-9 NIV
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
Philippians 2:5-9 NIV
Philippians 2:10-11 NIV
“that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:10-11 NIV
The name of Jesus
Ed Vasicek:
Our country boasts 18 doctors named Dr. Doctor and another called
Dr. Surgeon. Yes, we have a dermatologist titled Dr. Rash, a
psychiatrist who goes by Dr. Couch, and an anesthesiologist named
Dr. Gass.
But when it came time to name Jesus, the Hebrew name, "Yeshua" has the same sound as the Hebrew word for salvation, "Yeshuah" (with a silent "h"). This was no funny name, but a revelation of what this child would accomplish.
Ed Vasicek, Sermon Central, March 9, 2022.
Dr. Larry Petton:
When I was in college at Dallas Baptist University, I drove through Dallas on the way to my classes. I would always see a huge sign of a dynamic church in the area that said, "Lifting Up the Name of Jesus!" It was very impressive.
One day while I was driving to school, I noticed that workers were tearing down the church sign. As I drove by, I saw the name of Jesus being ripped off the advertising board. It hit me so hard. I think it was a God moment. I thought to myself, "Lord, is this what we are doing in the Church today? Are we tearing down the Name of Jesus by our mediocre lives? You have lifted His Name above all names so high for the world to see. God help me and help every one in the Body of Christ to be a good advertisement so that others may see Jesus and not us."
It was a moment that I have never forgotten.
Dr. Larry Petton, Sermon Central, February 19, 2014.
I. Every Knee Should Bow
Philippians 2:10 NIV
“that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,”
Philippians 2:10 NIV
A. Every knee should bow
The late great Swiss-born, German-educated American Protestant theologian and historian of the Christian Church, Rev. Philip Schaff (1819 - 1893), once said,
"Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mahomet, and Napoleon. Without science and learning, He shed more light on things human and Divine than all philosophers and scholars combined. Without the eloquence of schools, He spoke Words of Life as never were spoken before or since and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of orator or poet without writing a single line. He has set more pens in motion and furnished themes for more sermons, orations, discussions, learned volumes, works of art, and sweet songs of praise than the whole army of great men of ancient and modern times. Born in a manger and crucified as a malefactor, He now controls the destinies of the civilized world and rules a spiritual empire which embraces [more than] one-third of the inhabitants of the globe. There never was in this world a life so unpretending, modest, and lowly in its outward form and condition, and yet producing such extraordinary effects upon all ages, nations, and classes of men [and women]. The annals of history produce no other example of such complete and astonishing success in spite of the absence of those material, social, literary, and artistic powers and influences which are indispensable to success for a mere man [or, woman]."
Isaiah 45:22-25 NIV
“Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. They will say of me, ‘In the Lord alone are deliverance and strength.’ ” All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame. But all the descendants of Israel will find deliverance in the Lord and will make their boast in him.”
Isaiah 45:22-25 NIV
B. Where?
1. In heaven
2. On earth
3. Under the earth
C. How?
1. Humility
2. Action
Romans 14:10b-12 NIV
“For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: “ ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’ ” So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.”
Romans 14:10b-12 NIV
II. Every Tongue Acknowledge
Philippians 2:11 NIV
“and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:11 NIV
Bruce Howell:
Four preachers met for a friendly gathering. During the conversation one preacher said, “Our people come to us and pour out their hears, confess certain sins and needs. Let’s do the same. Confession is good for the soul.” In due time all agree. One of them said that he had a problem with losing his temper on occasion. The second confessed to liking to smoke cigars and the third one confessed to liking golf so much that he would fake being sick so he could play on weekends.. When it came to the fourth one, he wouldn’t confess. The others pressed him saying, “Come now, we confessed ours. What is your secret or vice?” Finally he answered, “It is gossiping and I can hardly wait to get out of here.”
Bruce Howell, Sermon Central, August 4, 2001.
Isaiah 45:23b NIV
“Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.”
Isaiah 45:23b NIV
A. Every tongue acknowledge
B. What?
1. Knowledge
C. How?
1. Proclamation
Romans 14:11 NIV
“It is written: “ ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’ ””
Romans 14:11 NIV
III. Jesus Christ is Lord
Philippians 2:9-11 NIV
“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 acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:9-11 NIV
A. The greatest truth in the universe
1. Foundation of the universe
2. Fundamental truth of reality
Romans 10:9-11 NIV
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.””
Romans 10:9-11 NIV
John Phillips wrote these words about Jesus that deeply stirred me. He said, "He never uttered a hasty, unkind, untrue, or frivolous word. He never entertained an impure thought. His talents never debased for selfish ends. His influence, never bad. His judgment, never wrong. He never had to apologize for anything that He did or retract a single word He said. He was never too late or too soon, never upset, never insipid, never shallow or afraid...He had absolute victory from the moment He drew his first breath in that Bethlehem barn until the moment He closed His eyes in death on the cross of Calvary."
B. To the glory of God the Father
1. God is glorious
2. Jesus lordship gives glory to God
3. Infinite praise
Colossians 1:15-22 NIV
“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—”
Colossians 1:15-22 NIV
“A true Christians enthusiasm for the Lord Jesus Christ should be so exuberant that it would be far more likely to set others on fire than to be extinguished by worldly influences. Have a Christianity that is contagious.”
Anonymous
CONCLUSION
Christians died in the Roman Empire because they would not proclaim Caesar lord.
In America, we need to remember that Jesus is lord.
Trump may be president, but Jesus is lord.
Philippians 2:9-11 NIV
“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 acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:9-11 NIV
Serve our Lord.
Serve our neighbor because of our Lord.
We are not here to be served but to serve.
We are second. If the Lord of all, can humble himself and take the form of a servant, we can too.
Easter Eggs
Little Philip, born with Down Syndrome, attended a third-grade Sunday School class with several eight-year-old boys and girls. Typical of that age, the children did not readily accept Philip with his differences, according to an article in Leadership Magazine. But because of a creative teacher, they began to care about Philip and accept him as part of the group, though not fully.
The Sunday after Easter the teacher brought L'eggs pantyhose containers, the kind that looks like large eggs. Each receiving one, the children were told to go outside on that lovely Spring day, find some symbol for new life, and put it in the egg-like container. Back in the classroom, they would share their new-life symbols, opening the containers one by one, in surprise fashion.
After running about the church property in wild confusion, the students returned to the classroom and placed the containers on the table. Surrounded by the children, the teacher began to open them one by one. After each one, whether a flower, butterfly, or leaf, the class would ooh and ahh.
Then one was opened, revealing nothing inside. The children exclaimed, "That's stupid. That's not fair. Somebody didn't do their assignment."
Philip spoke up, "That's mine."
"Philip, you don't ever do things right!" the student retorted. "There's nothing there!"
"I did so do it," Philip insisted. "I did do it. It's empty. The tomb was empty!"
Silence followed. From then on Philip became a full member of the class. He died not long afterward from an infection most normal children would have shrugged off. At the funeral this class of eight-year-olds marched up to the altar not with flowers, but with their Sunday School teacher, each to lay on it an empty pantyhose egg.
Bible.org
What miracle do you need right now? The God of the resurrection can make any impossible thing happen. Just ask little Philip.
INVITATION
It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word. You may want to follow Jesus. You may want to proclaim your faith. You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things). Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church. If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now. If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.
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