Joy in Serving

Joy in Serving

Philippians 1:27-30

Theme: There are three observations found here regarding serving.

Introduction: Why do we serve the Lord? Is serving the Lord a horrible duty or a joyful privilege? There is tremendously powerful insight in the Scriptures an what God wants us do now that He has saved us.

God wants His kingdom to spread into the world and we are given the privilege to do our part in seeing this accomplished. Paul speaks of this in Romans“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1) Reasonable means if you are a Christian, it is a reasonable expectation from God for you to serve the Lord in expanding the kingdom.

There is one consideration, I don’t think of serving as a duty but as a privilege.

The work of God is accomplished through willing servants. Paul is writing to this church regarding the joy of serving the Lord. We are not “duty bound” but we are joy-privileged people.

There are three observations regarding our service to the Lord.

I. Serve with a consecrated walk v.27a

A. Model the message

1. Our message is seen by the way we live our lives

“Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:” (2 Corinthians 3:2)

2. Conversation means to walk-the most effective weapon against the enemy is a consistent Godly life.

3. Becometh is political terminology that means we are behave as citizens are to behave in their nationality—sitting on a train in Japan where the social custom is basically quiet and respectful-hearing a group in the front of the bus making loud noises, I thought how out of place that is. When my stop came to get off, I realized it was three Americans—made me blush a bit.

4. We are citizens of a heavenly country and should walk accordingly 3:20.

B. Share the meaning

1. The message is so powerful and impacting that it will be seen and heard by others.

2. This walk will be reflective of Christian living and a testimony for Christ

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,” (Ephesians 4:1)

“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;” (Colossians 1:10)

3. The Gospel is good news because it brings deep-seated joy in our hearts to know we are forgiven and promised heaven.

4. Whatever Good News we have, we cannot help but want others to know of it.

So we are to serve with a consecrated walk that will bring joy to our hearts. We are also to serve with a committed unity.

II. Serve with a committed unity v.27b

A. Commitment to the truth

1. Strive together has the idea of a team working together.

2. The Philippians church had a problem in chapter 4 with a division between two church members—this is one of Satan’s great tools-to create divisions within the church.

“Only by pride cometh contention: But with the well advised is wisdom.” (Proverbs 13:10)

3. If you ever watch a team fight themselves, you will find they start losing.

4. The prefix-sun is used 16 times in the book which means together and Paul is driving this point home that as the church is committed to unity, it will accomplish God’s will.

B. Commitment to the task

1. The task for a team is to win but for the church is to glorify God and advance the cause of Christ.

2. Each has an assigned task with an overarching goal of glorifying God.

3. The team is not made up of one person but everyone accomplishing the task God has called him to do—as he fulfills God’s will for his life, it will unite with God’s team strategy.

4. The moment any of us cease to obey God’s will or seek to get glory for ourselves, team unity disappears and the enemy will start winning the victory.

Serve with a consecrated walk that brings joy, serve with a committed unity also brings joy, and serve with a common purpose that brings joy and peace.

III. Serve with a common purpose v.27c

A church that understands its purpose and its direction will have the joy of the Lord.

A. Witness of the Gospel

1. Faith of the Gospel is the body of divine truth entrusted to the church.

2. Called faith once delivered

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 3)

3. This treasure is committed to Paul I Tim. 1:11 and we are in turn to commit it to others like Timothy I Tim. 6:20.

4. There are still some who will turn away from the truth

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;” (1 Timothy 4:1)

B. Work of the Lord

1. We are to work together as a team to advance the message of the gospel to the world.

2. Nursery workers provide a part, choir and special music, ushers, greeters, teachers, pastors, and every member.

3. There is a special joy in knowing I am doing something of eternal value that is far greater than the temporal things in this life-when a game is over, the moment is done but when a souls is saved, eternity with Christ begins.

Conclusion: The reason tonight there are so many sad Christians is because they are not serving Christians. There is a joy in serving knowing that we are serving the Savior. Paul calls it reasonable service. Are you serving Him?