RTBS: 10/29 Philippians 2:17-18

RTBS | Philippians 2:17–18 — “Joy Through Sacrifice”

Focus: Humility, Anxiety, and Christ-Centered Contentment

📖 Main Passage

Philippians 2:17–18 (NKJV)

“Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.”

1. SEEK

Start with prayer “God, expose any anxiety rooted in self and teach me the joy of sacrifice. Empty me of self-preservation, self-production, and self-worth — and fill me with Christ-centered joy.”

Private Reflection

Where am I trying to protect, produce, or prove myself?

Am I anxious because I’m too focused on me?

What would it look like to truly rejoice in giving myself up for others?

2. EXPLORE (Expanded)

Let’s walk slowly through this text and allow Paul’s mindset to cut through cultural Christianity.

“If I am being poured out as a drink offering…”

🔹 Old Testament backdrop: A drink offering was poured out entirely—often wine—over a burnt offering (Num. 15:1–10). Once poured, it couldn’t be retrieved. It was wasted for God’s glory. Paul is saying: “Even if I’m used up, spent, wrung out for your sake—I rejoice.”

🔹 Key truth: This is not ministry from abundance — it’s ministry from surrender. Paul isn’t waiting to feel full before pouring out. His joy doesn’t come from being preserved, but from being poured.

🧨 American Contrast: We’re taught to measure worth by what we keep. Scripture says value is in what we give away. Anxiety flourishes when we try to preserve self — joy flourishes when we pour self out.

Q: Do I serve only when it’s convenient? Or do I rejoice in being poured out for others?

“On the sacrifice and service of your faith…”

🔹 Paul’s humility: He’s not even saying his sacrifice is central — he sees the Philippians’ faith as the main offering. He’s just the wine poured over it. He’s amplifying their worship with his suffering.

🔹 Ministry = Service + Sacrifice Paul didn’t separate doing from dying. For him, serving others meant sacrificing for them. The American believer tends to serve until it hurts. Paul serves because it hurts — that's where the joy shows up.

🧨 Modern Parallel: We tend to say, “I’m burned out, I need to pull back.” But Paul’s joy actually increases the more he gives.

Q: Have I bought into a version of Christianity that seeks comfort instead of cost?

“I am glad and rejoice with you all… You also be glad and rejoice with me.”

🔹 Joy is not circumstantial. It’s sacrificial. Paul doesn’t say, “Let’s rejoice once things get better.” He says, “Let’s rejoice as we’re being emptied.” That’s a different kind of faith — not based on outcome, but on obedience.

🔹 He invites them into his joy. He’s not saying, “Pray for me, I’m suffering.” He’s saying, “Join me in joyful suffering.”

🧨 Cultural disconnect: We avoid pain and call it wisdom. Scripture embraces sacrifice and calls it joy.

Q: Do I believe joy comes through ease—or through obedience?

3. ANALYZE (Expanded)

3.1 | Key Doctrine

➡ The Doctrine of Mortification of the Flesh

Definition (Historic & Reformed Language): Mortificatio carnis — the Mortification of the Flesh — refers to the believer’s Spirit-empowered practice of putting to death sinful desires, selfish ambitions, and self-centered anxieties in order to live unto righteousness, humility, and joyful obedience to Christ. It is rooted in Romans 8:13:

“If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”

Scholarly Perspective:

This doctrine was central to Puritan theology (John Owen’s The Mortification of Sin) and classical Protestant spirituality.

It draws from Paul’s repeated exhortation to “die daily” (1 Cor. 15:31), “crucify the flesh” (Gal. 5:24), and “present your bodies as a living sacrifice” (Rom. 12:1).

It is not asceticism for its own sake, but a cruciform life — the shape of sanctification modeled after the cross.

Key Distinction: Mortification is not self-hate, nor is it mere emotional repression. It is the theological opposite of self-preservation, and the Spirit’s answer to anxiety rooted in self.

Where psychology says, “Affirm yourself,” Paul says, “Crucify your flesh.”

Root of American Anxiety: The Self

From your blog post, here are the 3 common questions plaguing American Christians:

1. Will I Have Enough? → Self-Preservation

“I need to protect myself — financially, emotionally, physically.” This leads to hoarding, not generosity. Guarding, not giving.

2. Am I Doing Enough? → Self-Production

“I have to perform. Hustle. Prove my worth by my output.” This leads to burnout, comparison, and never feeling finished.

3. Am I Enough? → Self-Worth

“I don’t measure up. I’m not valuable.” This leads to shame, paralysis, and trying to find identity in performance.

🧠 These are not bad questions—but we’re looking for answers in the wrong place.

3.2 | The Real Issue: The Source of Fulfillment

🔹 The problem isn’t that we want provision, purpose, and value. 🔹 The problem is that we look within instead of to Christ.

Scripture doesn’t teach self-discovery. It teaches self-denial.

🧨 Therapy culture vs. Gospel truth: The world says, “Look inside to find peace.” Christ says, “Deny yourself to find joy.” (Luke 9:24)

3.3 | The Global Church vs. the American Bubble

Compare:

American BelieverNigerian BelieverMiddle class, secure, anxiousPoor, persecuted, peacefulObsessed with mental healthObsessively dependent on ChristMore stuff → more stressLess stuff → more joyThinks suffering is strangeExpects suffering as normal

Paul didn’t find joy in his environment — he brought joy into his sacrifice. True spiritual joy has always flourished in persecution, in lack, in humility.

3.4 | Cross References (Reminder Table)

VerseThemeLuke 9:24Lose your life to find it1 Timothy 6:6Godliness + contentment = gainProverbs 15:16Better a little with fear of the LordPsalm 37:16Little with righteousness > abundance of wickedJames 4:10Humble yourself before God1 Peter 5:6God exalts the humbleMatt. 23:12Exalt self → humbled. Humble self → exaltedProv. 22:4Humility + fear of the Lord = life

📌 Key Doctrine:

God never promises physical blessing for spiritual obedience—but He always promises spiritual blessing. If you obey, expect deeper peace, joy, and fruit—not necessarily more money or comfort.

4. RESEARCH

Paul’s Theology of Joy

Joy in Philippians is never tied to circumstance — it’s always tied to Christ.

Even in chains, Paul is free because he’s empty of self and full of Christ.

His joy comes through humility, not after it.

The Roman Honor-Shame Culture

Paul is dismantling a culture that equated status with honor. He’s saying:

“If the greatest honor is to be exalted by God… then the path upward is downward.”

This is anti-American and anti-flesh — but it’s the way of the cross.

5. CONNECT

5.1 Application to Anxiety

If anxiety is rooted in self-focus… Then peace is found in Christ-focus and others-focus.

➡ Therapy can help reveal symptoms. But only sacrifice and surrender will cure the source.

“Call the therapist, cancel the appointment, and instead pick up a Bible, and go serve someone, and you will see your anxiety melt away as true joy fills your heart.” (from blog post)

5.2 Discussion Questions

Why do we feel more anxious when we’re more focused on ourselves?

What’s an area where you’re being “poured out”? Have you found joy in it?

How does knowing other believers around the world suffer more yet worry less challenge you?

What’s one way you can intentionally sacrifice this week—not for results, but for worship?

6. HEAR

Read Philippians 2:17–18 aloud again. Let it land with all the fresh weight.

➡ Am I being poured out? Or self-preserved? ➡ Am I chasing peace through control—or through surrender? ➡ Am I finding joy in Christ—or waiting for circumstances to get easier?