Called: Filled to be Emptied

Philippians 2:5–11 ESV

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Matthew 22:14 ESV

For many are called, but few are chosen.”

INTRO

Purpose and Calling - two things that are constantly searched.

One of the most asked questions: Why am I here?

For the non-believer:

I am here to be happy

I am here to be successful

I am here to make a difference

I am here to be loved

I am here for no particular reason - I make the purpose of my life

Live

But for the Christian:

I am here with a purpose given to me by my creator.

He’s given you purpose, he’s given you a calling.

I have a calling? yes, you.

Tell the person next to you. God has called you.

Now tell yourself, GOD IS CALLING ME.

Don’t let that call go to voicemail - don’t block his number - don’t ignore Him. God called you, specifically you.

1 Corinthians 7:17 ESV

Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.

Not Dependent on Background

Amos 7:14–15 ESV

Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor a prophet’s son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’

Not Dependent on Ability

Exodus 4:10–11 ESV

But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?

Not even Dependent on Willingness

Exodus 4:13 ESV

But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.”

Look at Jonah

Look at Saul

But, doesn’t someone need to have willingness? Yes, but WILLINGNESS DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN ACCEPTANCE

Sometimes those that are outrightly unwilling, are the ones that hear and receive God’s call.

Matthew 21:28–30 ESV

“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go.

BUT - It’s a matter of GOD’S SOVEREIGN CHOICE

Jeremiah 1:4–5 ESV

Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

BUT AGAIN, DON’T MISS THE CALL:

In a rush? You might miss the call. SLOW DOWN

Occupied with something else? You might miss the call. But God is able to interrupt your life.

Elisha

1 Kings 19:19–21 ESV

So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.

ELISHA got the mantle - he left - and HE KILLED THE OXEN AND BURNED HIS EQUIPMENT - THERE IS NO GOING PACK

Matthew 9:9 ESV

As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

MATTHEW LEFT HIS STABILITY - AND FOLLOWED

BUT WE NEED TO BE FILLED!

God does not call empty vessels to remain empty. He fills before He pours. Calling without filling leads to burnout, pride, or distortion.

1. You cannot empty what you were never filled with

Principle: God never asks you to give what He has not first supplied.

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” — 1 Corinthians 3:6

If you try to pour out without being filled:

You give opinions instead of truth

You give effort instead of power

You give personality instead of Spirit

That produces exhaustion, not fruit.

“Apart from Me you can do nothing.” — John 15:5

Not “less.” Not “a little.” Nothing.

2. What does God fill His people with?

Not hype. Not confidence. Not ambition.

A. Filled with the Spirit

“Be filled with the Spirit.” — Ephesians 5:18

This is not a one-time event. The verb tense implies continuous filling.

You leak. Life drains. Ministry depletes. Sin corrodes.

So God refills.

“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” — Acts 19:2

Paul assumes this is a necessary question, not an optional one.

B. Filled with the Word

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” — Colossians 3:16

The Spirit never fills people who despise Scripture. The Word is not extra credit. It’s fuel.

If the Word does not dwell in you:

Your theology gets thin

Your discernment gets sloppy

Your calling gets redefined by culture

Jesus Himself models this.

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” — Matthew 4:4

If Jesus needed the Word to walk in His calling, so do you.

C. Filled with humility

This matters because your main text is Philippians 2.

Before Christ emptied Himself, He was already full:

Full of glory

Full of authority

Full of righteousness

Yet:

“He did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.” — Philippians 2:6

Being filled does not make you entitled. It makes you available.

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” — James 4:6

Grace flows downhill. Pride blocks the flow.

3. Filling always precedes sending

This is a consistent biblical pattern.

Jesus to the disciples:

“Stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” — Luke 24:49

They were already called. Already chosen. Already trained.

But not yet filled.

Pentecost comes before the mission explodes.

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses.” — Acts 1:8

Power precedes witness. Filling precedes pouring.

ONCE FILLED - WE HAVE TO EMPTY OURSELVES

Pour yourself into others

Now the title lands.

Christ is the model.

“He emptied himself, taking the form of a servant.” — Philippians 2:7

1. Emptying looks like service, not self-erasure

Emptying yourself does not mean:

Losing your identity

Becoming passive

Being spiritually invisible

It means:

Choosing obedience over comfort

Choosing people over position

Choosing faithfulness over recognition

“Whoever would be great among you must be your servant.” — Mark 10:43

2. Pour yourself into others

Paul to Timothy:

“What you have heard from me… entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” — 2 Timothy 2:2

This is spiritual multiplication, not spiritual consumption.

You are not called to be a reservoir. You are called to be a pipeline.

“Each has received a gift, use it to serve one another.” — 1 Peter 4:10

No exceptions. No spectators. No unused callings.

3. Emptying costs you something

Elisha burned the plow. Matthew left the booth. Jesus carried a cross.

Emptying is irreversible if it’s real.

“Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” — Matthew 16:25

God does not call you to safe obedience. He calls you to faithful obedience.

CONCLUSION

God calls you. Not because of your background. Not because of your ability. Not because of your willingness.

But because of His sovereign purpose.

Don’t miss the call. Slow down. Listen. Answer.

Follow Christ. Be filled — with His Spirit, His Word, His humility. Then empty yourself — pour into others.

That’s not just ministry. That’s not just purpose.

That’s the Christian life.