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The sermon centers on Philippians 2:8-11, presenting Christ’s exaltation as the Father’s vindication of the Son who humbled Himself and died on the cross. Christ’s supremacy gives believers comfort amid grief and suffering because His kingdom is secure and their union with Him makes His triumph their joy. Spurgeon also emphasizes that every creature will ultimately bow and confess Christ’s lordship. Therefore, hearers are urged to submit to Christ willingly now rather than face His authority under judgment.
Theological center: God the Father highly exalts the incarnate Christ because of His humble obedience and sacrificial death, establishing Jesus as universal Lord.
Applications: Bow before Christ now · Live wholly for Christ · Christ’s kingdom is secure · Exaltation follows humiliation
Primary texts: Philippians 2:8-11
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11 I ALMOST regret this morning that I have ventured to occupy this pulpit, because I feel utterly unable to preach to you for your profit. I had thought that the quiet and repose of the last fortnight had removed the effects of that terrible catastrophe, but on coming back to the same spot again, and more especially, standing here to address you, I feel somewhat of those same painful emotions which wellnigh prostrated me before. You will therefore excuse me this morning if I make no allusion to that solemn event or scarcely any. I could not preach to you upon a subject that should be in the least allied to it. I would be obliged to be silent if I should bring to my remembrance that terrible scene in the midst of which it was my solemn lot to stand. God shall overrule it doubtless. It may not have been so much by the malice of men, as some have asserted. It was perhaps simple wickedness—an intention to disturb a congregation, and certainly with no thought of committing so terrible a crime as that of the murder of those unhappy creatures. God forgive those who were the instigators of that horrid act! They have my forgiveness from the depths of my soul. It shall not stop us, however. We are not in the least degree daunted by it. I shall preach there again yet, ay, and God shall give us souls there, and Satan’s empire shall tremble more than ever. “God is with us; who is he that shall be against us?” The text I have selected is one that has comforted me, and in a great measure, enabled me to come here today—the single reflection upon it had such a power of comfort on my depressed spirit. It is this, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” Philippians 2:9-11. I shall not attempt to preach upon this text. I shall only make a few remarks that have occurred to my own mind, for I could not preach today. I have been utterly unable to study, but I thought that even a few words might be acceptable to you this morning, and I trust to your loving hearts to excuse them. Oh, Spirit of G…