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Joy in serving… (3 things)
But when we are humble / a servant – people will confess and believe in Jesus!
The second chapter of Philippians is all about JOY in SERVING…
It is a JOY to be able to serve others – using your life to bless people…
We are only given so much time in this life – and we need to be wise with it…
We can choose to live for ourselves – trying to get as much as we can…
But it means we will waste our life running after something – that will not last!
Ecclesiastes 5:10-11 – “Those who love money will never have enough. How absurd to think that wealth brings true happiness! The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what is the advantage of wealth–except perhaps to watch it run through your fingers!”
Or we can choose to live our lives to bless and serve others…
Serving others means your time is not your own – you are there for others…
Just last week we got a call at 1:30am to take a little boy to the hospital…
I got back at 4:30 in the morning – got up and started studying…
I had to stop about midday because another little boy needed to go to the hospital…
We got back home around 7pm – only to have to go back again a 3rd time!
Serving is not easy – it is a LOT of hard work – and can at times be exhausting…
But we do not serve others because we have to – it comes from a heart full of Jesus…
It is not hard to serve – I cannot imagine not serving – it is my JOY to serve the Lord!
Paul gives us three things in light of ‘being a servant’…
1st – To be a servant we must bring unity to the Church of God…
2nd – To be a servant we must have humility…
3rd – The perfect example of a servant is Jesus Christ!
1st – Being a servant – through untiy… vs. 1-2 (2 things)
1st – To be a servant – we must bring unity to the church – 5 ways… vs. 1
We bring unity when we encourage (paraklesis) each other in Christ…
It is easy to be critical of others – but harsh and cruel words cause division…
A servant looks for the opportunity to encourage – build up another person…
Proverbs 15:1- “A harsh words stir up anger, but gentle answer turns away wrath.”
We bring unity when we comfort (gentle words) each other in love…
Without love to guide us – without love as the glue to hold the body together…
We are destined to be torn apart by our selfishness – seeking our own glory…
It is all about Love – if we do not have love everything we do is meaningless!
We bring unity when we have fellowship (Koinonia) in the Spirit…
How much time do we spend with other believers – who do we hand out with…
If we do not invest our time in the lives of others – we will not be untied with them…
When the Holy Spirit is guiding us – we want to spend time with each other…
We will know about their lives – and be there to encourage / strengthen them!
We bring unity when we have affection / sincere love for one another…
On any given Sunday – we might ask how someone is doing – but do we really care…
We might ask because we feel we have to – but there is no ‘sincere love’…
People can tell if you really care – or are just going through the motions…
People will not care what you say – until they are sure that you care!
We bring unity when we have mercy / be sympathetic towards others…
God is not immune to the suffering of others – neither should we be…
Romans 12:15 – “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”
As we have compassion on others – we look for the opportunity to help them!
2nd – To be a servant we must be like-minded (Imperative)… vs. 2
As believers we need to all think alike…
Now that does not mean we do not have differences of opinion…
We do not all have to like the same color / or wear the same clothes (Mormons)…
But we are to agree on the essential doctrines of the Bible – salvation in Jesus!
On non-essential issues – all believers are to agree – to disagree / not cause division…
Focus on the major issues – overlook the minor less important ones!
The triune nature of God / salvation only through the cross of Jesus – absolute!
Church on Sundays / praise songs or hymns / shoes or slippers – agree to disagree…
Because we have the same love / mind – Jesus…
In an orchestra there are many instruments – all with different sounds – purposes…
If one of those instruments gets ‘out of tune’ – or does not follow the conductor…
The whole concert goes wrong – it causes problems for the whole group…
In the same way when there is dissention in the church / arguments…
It can break up the unity of the church – ruin the harmony within the church…
We need patience – to be able to overlook the little differences we may have…
To be able to encourage – each other to instead keep our eyes on Jesus…
The same mind does not mean we are all alike – we are a VERY diverse group…
As we listen to the directing of our Conductor Jesus – there is harmony in the church
2nd – Being a servant – through humility… vs. 3-4 (2 things)
1st – To be a servant – we must not…
Be selfish – doing things in an effort to impress others…
There should be no competition within the church of God…
We all have our place within the body of Christ – our purpose God has given to us…
We might not like the purpose God has given to us – think we deserve more…
One might think – better to be an ‘eye’ or ‘hand’ / rather than a stinky ‘foot’ or ‘ear’…
But if the whole body were ‘eyes’ or ‘hand’ – how would you hear or walk!
The point being every part is necessary – we would not be whole without them all…
Each role is vital for the church – the body of Christ – to function properly…
And we need to be humbly content with the place / purpose God has given to us!
Be conceited – thinking you are better than others…
Most people tend to have a lofty view of themselves – think they are important…
That is why we love titles because it makes us feel like we are better than others…
When in truth – we are all in the same boat – we are all just sinners – equals!
I had a man come up to me once and introduce himself with a high title…
I think he expected me to come back with the same – ‘Pastor David Hinchey…’
My answer threw him off – ‘Hi my name is David – sinner!’
2nd – To be a servant – we must…
Be humble – think of others as more important than us…
Pride can be tricky – it is not always easy to see – but it always sets us up for a fall…
Pride can be – I think I know it all / I am never wrong / I do not need correction
Pride can also be – thinking I am nothing / huya-huya / pride means its all about me
Whether it is arrogance / or ‘false’ humility – if I am the focus – it is pride…
If I am the focus – then I am not looking to Jesus – and I am heading for a fall!
Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goes before destruction, an arrogant spirit before a fall.”
Do not just think about your problems – think about others as well…
We tend to think that life revolved around us – we only think about our needs…
But when we are self focused it is misery – only seeing our problems / troubles…
It is entertaining to watch the line for soup on Sunday mornings…
Right after listening to the Word – everyone rushes to be ‘first in line’!
We do not stop an ask if someone else if hungry – offer them to go ahead…
We only think about ourselves – our hunger – our problems…
If are only focused on our problems – we are going to be miserable…
If are only focused on our problems – no one is going to want to be around us…
When we focus on our problems – it is VERY EASY to get overwhelmed…
But when we serve others – our perspective changes – we see things in a new light…
We might think times are hard because we only have salt to eat with our rice…
Until we see our neighbor who does not even have rice – then we thank God!
3rd – The example of a servant – Jesus… vs. 5-11 (3 things)
1st – Have the mind / attitude of Jesus Christ… vs. 5
Our attitude is very important – because it will come out in our actions…
James 1:14– “Evil desires lead to evil actions, and evil actions lead to death.”
If we have a bad attitude – then you can expect we will do bad things…
But if we have the attitude of Christ – then our actions will reflect Jesus!
The battle for our actions begins in our mind – choosing to have the mind of Christ!
2nd – Jesus mind / attitude – was that of a humble servant… vs. 6-8
Jesus is God almighty – He is equal with God in every way…
One of the great mysteries of our Faith – there is only One God – Deuteronomy 6:4…
Who exists in three distinct persons – God the Father / God the Son / God the Spirit…
Yet Jesus became a man – miracle of the Immaculate Conception…
Isaiah 7:14 – “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
Jesus was always God almighty – but He ‘set aside’ His deity to become a man…
He put aside His ‘reputation’ so He could relate to you and I…
Have you ever wondered why the Pharisees were not terrified to challenge Jesus…
God incarnate – yet children would come to him without thought or care…
Jesus was humble / approachable – so that sinners could hear about salvation!
Jesus came to be a servant of all…
Mark 10:45 – “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…”
In John 13 Jesus stood up after supper and washed the feet of the disciples…
If Jesus was willing to humble Himself and minister to them…
Then they should also be willing to humble themselves and minster to others…
The point is that we should be willing to serve each other in humility!
Too often we look for others to serve us – we want to have our ‘feet washed’…
It is easy to be served – but we are called to serve others!
Jesus humbled Himself – died on the cross…
Not only was Jesus a servant – He was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice!
Too often we are willing to help others – so long as there is no sacrifice…
If it interrupts my schedule / if it takes too much time / if it costs money…
Listen Jesus was willing to die for us – how can we justify not helping others!
3rd – Because Jesus was a servant – He was lifted up to heaven… vs. 9-11
Jesus was more of a servant – more humble – than anyone in history…
As a result there is no name in history more famous than Jesus Christ…
We tend to think if we humble ourselves – then no one will remember us…
But it turns out the exact opposite is true – humility comes with great reward!
Not only will men ‘know our name’ – but more importantly God will bless us!
James 4:10 – “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
Jesus was given a name – which is above every other name…
At the name of Jesus – everyone will bow / every tongue confess Jesus is Lord…
Everyone – male / female / old / young / rich / and poor
From every nation under heaven – every tribe / language / color / and faith
Even satan and all his fallen angles – will all bow before Jesus Christ…
People do not want to hear about Jesus from an arrogant / self centered jerk…
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