Faith Baptist Church
07-18-21 Worship Service
- O How I Love Jesus
- More Love
- My Jesus Fair
Philippians 2:12–18ESV
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Philippians 2:5 HCSB 5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,Philippians 2:5 NASB95 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,Philippians 2:5 NIV 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:You must keep on having this disposition of mind among you (in you/in your midst), the one also in Christ Jesus,That kid of mindset might be easy to put on for a day or a week, but how do we maintain it? How do we grow in it?How do we continually put on the mindset of Jesus?How do we grow in the area of sacrificial gospel ministry?I. Enduring obedience mingled with fear and tremblingII. Enduring obedience devoid of grumbling and disputingIII. Enduring obedience overflowing with gladness and shared joyPhil. 2:17bPhilippians 2:17 (ESV)17 I am glad and rejoice with you all.χαίρωI am rejoicing (pres, act, ind)- to enjoy a state of happinessκαὶ συγχαίρω πᾶσιν ὑμῖν·and I am rejoicing together with you all (pres, act, ind)- to enjoy a state of happiness together with someone else.This same term is used to describe the unity of the body of Christ in I Cor. 12:26-1 Corinthians 12:26 ESV 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.This morning I am arguing that if we are going to grow in the area of a Christlike mindset then there must be both an individual rejoicing and a shared rejoicing that continually goes on within the body of Christ.There are many things to rejoice about- 4th of July recent example. We are in the context however, or maintaing a Christlike mindset. What kind of things should we be rejoicing over in order motivate enduring obedience?What is the biblical cause of gladness and shared joy?A. Gladness and shared joy is contingent on continued spiritual growth in the lives of others (v. 16)Philippians 2:16 ESV 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.Hold fast to- to hold firmly to a particular belief or to continue to believe in.Word of life- this seems to be not just the message of salvation, but the entire scope or content of the Christian faith.Paul’s gladness and shared joy was contingent upon how well the Philippian believers held firmly to the faith.Holding fast the word of life implies not only continuing to believe the Scriptures, but also to bear fruit through steadfast obedience.Luke 8:15Luke 8:15 ESV 15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.In the day of Christ- Paul’s gladness and shared joy was contingent upon the Philippians perseverance until the day of Christ- or all the way until the end!I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain!- If the Philippians fell away from the faith Paul would then see his ministry efforts as vanity.How important was continued spiritual growth in the lives of the Philippians to the Apostle Paul?I Thess. 3:51 Thessalonians 3:5 ESV 5 For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.Galatians 4:8-11Galatians 4:8–11 ESV 8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.Instead Paul wants to be proud that He did not labour in vain or run in vain! The only way that was possible was for the Philippians to hold fast the word of life!How does that make sense? And how does the continual spiritual growth of others cause Paul’s rejoicing?1 Thessalonians 2:17–18 ESV 17 But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, 18 because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.What is the first ingredient you need for Gladness and Shared Joy?People who are dear to your heart! Think about the closeness of these words- torn away / in heart / endeavored the more eagerly / with great desire / face to face.What kind of relationship could produce such a close fellowship between people?I Thess 2:81 Thessalonians 2:8 ESV 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.What kind of relationship could produce such a close fellowship between people? Answer: a relationship born out of the gospel, a relationship where you view another person as your spiritual son or daughter in the faith!How do we develop that kind of relationship? Win one person to Christ! Or adopt a fellow believer who you can help grow in their faith in Christ.Paul was not merely satisfied to see people get saved! His joy was contingent upon continual spiritual growth! Remember- he wants the Philippians to hold fast the world of life all the way until the day of Christ.The first ingredient you need for Gladness and Shared Joy? People who are dear to your heart.What is the second ingredient you need for Gladness and Shared Joy?1 Thessalonians 2:19–20 ESV 19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy.People who are dear to your heart + continued spiritual growth in their lives all the way to the end = gladness and shared joy! How?One day you will stand before our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming! And your joy or your crown of boasting will be the people that you have shared the gospel with, and the one’s who you helped to grow in the faith, the one’s that you taught to hold fast the word of life all the way to the end- those people will be your joy and your crown of boasting! V. 20- Paul says to the Thessalonians, “You are our glory and joy!” Wow!Imagine standing before Jesus one day and the ones standing all around you are the people that you have helped to grow spiritually! The ones you helped because you love Jesus. The ones you will be able to point to and say, “Jesus I worked to help these people grow because I love you.” Imagine the glory and the joy that there will be on that day!Refutation:I am not good at that kind of thing- I can’t do much to help people grow spiritually.Do you remember the Parable of the Talents?To one of his servants the master gave 5 talents, and to another 2, and to another 1- each according to his ability. The one with the 5 made 5 more. What did his master say to him? “Well done, good and faithful servant.” The one with 2 made 2 more. What did his master say to him? “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Same commendation! But what about the servant with one talent? What did he do? He hid the talent in the ground. What what the master’s reply? “You wicked and slothful servant.”We must use what the Lord has given us! Besides, it is God that works in us both to will and to work his good pleasure anyway. God will graciously use you if you gladly obey his Word.How important is it to pray and labor so that God might graciously use you to see one person come to Christ?How important is it to stick with that person and teach them to hold fast the word of life until the day of Christ?What is the biblical cause of gladness and shared joy?It is contingent on continued spiritual growth in the lives of othersB. Gladness and shared joy is contingent upon sacrificing your life for others (v. 17 a)Philippians 2:17 ESV 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.How do you pour out your life as a drink offering?Paul switches from the metaphors or running and laboring in v. 16- “so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.”Now he switches to a priestly metaphor.As long as the Philippians hold fast to the word of life all the way to the end- so that his running in not in vain or his labor is not in vain- Paul is content for his life to be used up for gospel ministry. Even if it means his life is poured out like an OT drink offering.A drink offering was something practiced often in OT worship.Numbers 28:7Numbers 28:7 ESV 7 Its drink offering shall be a quarter of a hin for each lamb. In the Holy Place you shall pour out a drink offering of strong drink to the Lord.The priest would take a vessel of liquid, most often wine, and he would pour out the contents of the vessel onto the ground. Whatever was in the cup would be pour out or used up for the Lord’s sake.Paul is using this metaphor for his own life. Paul is willing to pour out his own life for the sake of ministry for the Philippians. As longs as the Philippians hold fast to the word of life, Paul is willing and actually rejoices at the opportunity for his life to be poured out for the gospel.Where is Paul at the time of writing this letter? In Roman prison. He is mostly sure he will be released, but there is no guarantee. He might be martyred for the faith. And as long as his life is counting for gospel ministry in the lives of other people- he can rejoice at the prospect of his death.2 Tim. 4:62 Timothy 4:6 ESV 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.How can we pour out our lives as a drink offering for others without being martyred for the faith?Luke 17:33 ESV 33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.Matthew 16:25 ESV 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.Mark 8:35–37 ESV 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul?John 15:12–14 ESV 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.What does it mean to lay down your life for someone? What does it mean to lose your life for someone? What does it mean to lose your life for the sake of the gospel?1 Thessalonians 2:8 ESV 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.1 Thessalonians 2:9 ESV 9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.Sharing their own souls with the Thessalonians meant to Paul labouring and toiling night and day. Paul and his companions literally worked from night until day- probably meant they work up while it was still dark and worked the rest of the day through to provide money for their own expenses for the sake of the gospel ministry. Paul viewed this labor as sharing his souls / lives for these people. In giving of his sweat and effort and time he metaphorically viewed this as pouring out his life for the sake of other people.Illustration:You-Tuber whose goal is to smelt a metric ton of metal. Waste of a life.Refutation:I have enough of my own problems, I don’t have time to worry about other people.Philippians 2:3–4 ESV 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.Application:How much do we pour out our lives for others? Do we seek to lose our own lives? Do we seek to give away our lives for others for the sake of the gospel? Or do we spend our lives on ourselves? Do we keep our lives for our own interests?You must find a way to spend your life on someone besides yourself. You must pour out your life for the sake of the gospel!What is the reason we should pour out our lives for others?Philippians 2:17 ESV 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.Sacrificial offering of your faith! What does that mean? Paul viewed the faith of the Philippians as a sacrificial offering to God? In what way?Romans 15:16 ESV 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.Every believer is a priest before God according to Hebrews 10. And part of our duties as priests is to offer up spiritual sacrifices of worship to the Lord. There are many different sacrifices we can offer to the Lord, but one of the sacrifices we can offer up to the Lord is our ministry of the gospel in the lives of others. When you give your life for others and for the sake of the gospel and someone else places their faith in Christ, spiritually as priests before God we can offer up their faith as a sacrifice of worship to the Lord!So why should we pour out our lives for others? As an act of spiritual worship to the Lord!What is the biblical cause of gladness and shared joy?It is contingent on continued spiritual growth in the lives of othersIt is contingent upon sacrificing your life for othersC. Gladness and shared joy should be the normal experience for every believer (vv. 17b-18)Philippians 2:17–18 (ESV)17 I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.18τὸ δὲ αὐτὸ καὶ ὑμεῖς χαίρετε καὶ συγχαίρετέ μοι.And in the same way you must rejoice and you must rejoice together with me.Imperative- we must do this!We must seek to rejoice the same way Paul is rejoicing- through the continued spiritual growth in the lives of others and through sacrificing our lives for others.And there must be a shared rejoicing- a rejoicing together over sacrificial gospel ministry.How do we personally rejoice this way?Getting involved in sacrificial gospel ministry!How do we rejoice together this way?One legitimate biblical way to do this is through shared testimony about the work of the gospel.Missionary letters, Good News Testimonies, Good News Videos, common conversations with believers ought to be gospel themed!How do we grow in the area of sacrificial gospel ministry?Enduring obedience overflowing with gladness and shared joyWe overflow with gladness and shared joy when continued spiritual growth takes place in the lives of others.We overflow with gladness and shared joy when we sacrifice our lives for othersThis kind of life- a life filled with rejoicing personally and a life filled with rejoicing together as a church should be the normal experience for every believer!May God grace us with a devotion to gospel ministry, and with a devotion of rejoicing in this kind of a life and rejoicing together as the Lord works out his good pleasure in our midst. Amen! Philippians 2:16ESV
1 Thessalonians 2:17–18ESV
1 Thessalonians 2:19–20ESV
Philippians 2:17ESV
Luke 17:33ESV
Matthew 16:25ESV
Mark 8:35–37ESV
John 15:12–14ESV
1 Thessalonians 2:8ESV
1 Thessalonians 2:9ESV
Philippians 2:3–4ESV
Philippians 2:17ESV
Romans 15:16ESV
- Servant's Heart
