Three Shining Examples of Unifying Humility
Notes
Transcript
Scripture Introduction
Scripture Introduction
Last week we looked at the first half of Philippians 2 and discussed the “humility that preserves unity.” We talked about the supreme example of the Lord Jesus Christ as reflected in Philippians 2:6-7
who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
In the last half of this chapter Paul gives to the Philippians three more examples of the unifying humility we need in our local churches in order to fulfill Philippians 1:27
Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,
Before we get to these three examples we do need to look at a few more admonitions the Apostle Paul gives to us that will enable us to strive together for the faith of the Gospel.
We Need to Humbly Work OUT our Salvation
We Need to Humbly Work OUT our Salvation
Notice Philippians 2:12-13
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Notice Paul does not say that we work “FOR” our salvation, but rather we work “OUT” our salvation. He is writing to believers who have already experienced salvation.
God has put His salvation IN them, now His salvation is to work OUT of them. Basically Paul is telling them...what is on the INSIDE through Jesus needs to work itself OUT of you!
We need to do it with “fear and trembling.” This means that we recognize this is an overwhelming transformation that exceeds our capacity. We must acknowledge our dependence on Him and His divine power, because we realize that WITHOUT HIM WE CAN DO NOTHING!
The second admonition we find is about the attitude we should have as we STRIVE TOGETHER for the sake of the Gospel...
We Should Do All Things Without Complaining or Disputing
We Should Do All Things Without Complaining or Disputing
The word translated “complaining” could also be translated as “grumbling” and the word translated “disputing” could also be translated as “arguing.”
We are all tempted to complain from time to time, and from time to time we give in, BUT WE SHOULDN’T BE KNOWN AS COMPLAINERS. When we constantly complain we are demonstrating a DISCONTENT with God, with God’s provision and with God’s providence. Grumbling is a form of REBELLION because it pridefully reflects an attitude that says, “I know better than God.”
The second part of this (disputing/arguing) is a result of pridefully assuming...I know better than everyone else.
True humility reminds us of CHRIST’S MINDSET—SELF-EMPTYING SERVICE—A disputing and complaining “spirit” is INCOMPATIBLE with the crucified life.
It’s also incompatible with LETTING JESUS SHINE THROUGH US...
Let Jesus Shine
Let Jesus Shine
Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
We must remember as we strive together for the faith of the Gospel, there are those in the world that are observing our behavior, our attitudes, our social media posts, and the list goes on.
We have family members who need to see the LIGHT
We have neighbors who need to see the LIGHT
There are waiters and waitresses who need to see the LIGHT
There are teachers who need to see the LIGHT
Everywhere we go and everywhere we turn there are people in this crooked and perverse world who need to SEE JESUS in us!
They don’t need to see “jerks for Jesus.” They don’t need to see people who are always COMPLAINING, GRIPING, and ARGUING with other believers.
Jesus said that it’s by the LOVE that we display toward one another that everyone else will know that we are His disciples.
Now as we think about someone who embodied these traits, other than our perfect example, I think of...
The Example of the Apostle: Paul
The Example of the Apostle: Paul
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.
What does Paul mean when he says that he is “being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith?”
The drink offering goes back to God’s instructions both in Exodus 29:38-41 as well as Numbers 15:1-10. The drink offering was never the main offering, but was offered alongside of the main offering. It consisted of flour, oil, and wine and was poured out and offered with the main offering.
It produced a SWEET AROMA that the Lord said was pleasing to Him.
With that in mind, notice again what Paul said in Philippians 2:17
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.
The Philippians SACRIFICE and SERVICE of their faith was the “main offering” in this context to the Lord. But the Apostle Paul had come alongside them and suffered for the Gospel as well. He was like the “drink offering” to their main offering.
AS THEY WERE BEING CONSUMED FOR THE GLORY OF GOD, THEIR SACRIFICE FOR THE THE LORD’S WORK AS THEY STROVE TOGETHER FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST CREATED A SWEET AROMA TO THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS WHO OFFERED THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE ON THEIR BEHALF!
Paul had served as a great EXAMPLE to the Philippians. Remember what he had told them in the previous verses:
Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
Paul wasn’t just telling them that...HE HAD LIVED IT AND HAD SACRIFICED AND WOULD SACRIFICE FOR THEIR BENEFIT!
Remember what Paul told the Ephesian elders in Acts 20?
And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews;
And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
Paul just didn’t talk the talk, he walked the walk.
Notice again what he said in 2 Timothy as he realized his life was almost coming to an end. Maybe he could hear the executioner sharpening his axe as he penned these words...
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Paul was a GREAT example of AUTHENTIC HUMILITY because he reoriented his entire life around the glory of God and serving other’s spiritual welfare rather than protecting his personal status or comfort.
Another example Paul gives to us is the example of his young protege, Timothy...
The Example of the Protege: Timothy
The Example of the Protege: Timothy
Notice Philippians 2:19-24
But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.
Notice what Paul says about Timothy specifically in vv. 20-22
If you want to talk about someone who GENUINELY cared for others and their spiritual well-being and not for their own comfort Timothy has to come to mind!
Timothy Was Willing to go Through Circumcision as a Grown Man So as Not to Hinder His Ministry Among the Jewish Population
Timothy Was Willing to go Through Circumcision as a Grown Man So as Not to Hinder His Ministry Among the Jewish Population
Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek.
Talk about LOOKING OUT FOR THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS, rather than your own interests, Timothy was a living, breathing example of this!
Timothy had Proven Character
Timothy had Proven Character
Timothy was not just a “flash in the pan.” Timothy had been faithful over a long season of time. Timothy was not looking of accolades or a cushy life. Timothy was a man who STROVE TOGETHER with the Apostle Paul for the faith of the Gospel. And he had done it FAITHFULLY.
While...
The world celebrates prominence; the church should celebrate faithfulness.
There’s one other example that we should take note of and that is the example of Epaphroditus
The Example the Recovering Co-Worker: Epaphroditus
The Example the Recovering Co-Worker: Epaphroditus
Epaphroditus is not someone we know much about. He is only mentioned in two places in the entire Bible, both mentions are here in the Book of Philippians (here in Ch 2 and also again in Ch 4). Here’s what we do know:
Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.
Paul refers to him as his “brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier” (v. 25). Paul also mentions that he had ministered to some of Paul’s needs. The Philippian church had sent him to MINISTER TO PAUL while Paul was imprisoned in Rome. He had obviously been a great blessing to Paul. Not only did he deliver a financial gift from the Philippian church, but he also provided companionship and support while Paul was suffering for the Gospel in prison. He could have dropped the gift off and left, but he chose to stay and minister to Paul and at some point had gotten sick on this journey.
When the Philippians heard about his sickness they were greatly concerned and distressed over his health issues. This sickness did not cause Epaphroditus to withdraw or quit, but notice again what Paul said in Philippians 2:29-30
Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.
What a great example of UNIFYING HUMILITY. He risked life and limb for the cause of the Gospel. The word translated “lacking” in verse 30 does not mean that the Philippians “failed” Paul in any way. It just means that they were able to be physically present to minister to the Apostle Paul, therefore they sent Epaphroditus in their place to minister to Paul in ways they could not.
The NLT puts it this way:
For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.
What can we learn from each of these individuals that we need to take home with us today?
When we think about the Apostle Paul I think about his
Paul’s Sacrificial Humility
Paul’s Sacrificial Humility
He was willing to POUR HIMSELF OUT for the glory of God and for the sake of the Philippian church.
As a church family, if we are going to be UNIFIED we are going to have to be willing to POUR OURSELVES out for the glory of God and for the benefit of one another.
Moms and dads need to pour themselves out for God’s glory as they raise their children
Husbands and wives need to pour themselves out for God’s glory to improve their marriage
Sunday School and Awana Teachers need to pour themselves out for God’s glory as they seek to impact their students with the Scriptures
Our musicians need to pour themselves out for God’s glory as they lead us in worship
The list goes on. Following Jesus means that you will be POURING YOURSELF OUT as a LIVING SACRIFICE for the glory of God and the benefit of His church!
Maybe this week you need to pour out some of the TIME God has blessed you with to bless someone else. Pouring yourself out for someone this week means that you are going to sacrifice some of your COMFORT and ENERGY. Pouring yourself out for someone this week means that you will be pouring out some of your TREASURES on others.
We also see
Timothy’s Selfless Humility
Timothy’s Selfless Humility
Remember what Paul said about Timothy in Philippians 2:20-21
For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.
Timothy is the embodiment of what Paul commanded in Philippians 2:4
Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Timothy was not the person who was consumed with himself, but he was consumed with OTHERS!
Finally we were reminded of
Epaphroditus’ COURAGEOUS Humility
Epaphroditus’ COURAGEOUS Humility
He took RISKS to his own health and physical wellbeing to serve Paul and to STRIVE TOGETHER for the faith of the Gospel.
In each of these 3 examples we see that the INTERESTS OF OTHERS and the CAUSE OF CHRIST was more important to these 3 men than their own comfort.
One thing they all have in common is our ULTIMATE EXAMPLE: The LORD JESUS CHRIST!
He was POURED OUT for humanity!
He SELFLESSLY LAID DOWN His life for us!
He not only RISKED HIS LIFE, HE GAVE HIS LIFE!
When Paul challenged them to “work out their own salvation” in vv. 12-13, it involves POURING YOURSELF OUT, GENUINELY CARING FOR OTHERS, and TAKING UP YOUR CROSS to follow Jesus.
Salvation
Rededication
Baptism
