Learning How To Live As A Servant

Intro:

Welcome to week number two of our four-week series on Paul’s letter to the Philippians. This is the story of the community learning how to live together in times of testing in trouble. If you would open your Bibles to Philippians chapter 2.

As we saw last week, the Book of Acts, chapter 16, records the roots of this church. Then nearly 10 years later, the Apostle Paul is in prison in Rome, and he writes a letter to encourage the church he planted a decade before. Think of it: Paul is writing the letter from inside prison and he is encouraging those outside of prison. The people of that day needed encouragement because persecution was becoming an everyday part of life. But we need encouragement, too. Perhaps we do not face the kind of persecution that the early church faced or that the church in China or Iran faces these days, but as individuals we certainly faced times of testing and trial. This letter, Philippians, is God’s instruction to us about how to live during tough times:

· Learning how to live as if God is in control (which we covered last week as we looked at Philippians chapter 1.)

· Learning how to live as servants. (This week, in chapter 2, we will see Jesus’ example.)

· Learning how to live a life of loss. (This is Paul’s example, made clear for us in Philippians chapter 3.)

· And learning how to live a life of generous friendship. (The example of the Philippians themselves, set out for us in chapter 4.)

To briefly review last week, we talked about Learning How to Live as if God is in Control. God is in control, isn’t he? Yes, of course He is. But there is a big difference between saying God is in control and living as if God is in control. It is the difference between our theology and our actions. Together, like the church in Philippi, we can become a community that demonstrates God is in control by the way we live.

So last week we broke chapter 1 into three parts:

1. We can learn how to live as if God is in control by taking on God’s priorities. We saw Paul’s example, that he was gospel-centric. And we asked ourselves, “Do we look at the outrageous events swirling around us in terms of their effect on God’s plan, or do we ask, ‘why is this happening to me?’ as if things are out of control?”

2. We can learn how to live as if God is in control by trusting Him for the outcome—Paul wrote to his friends in Philippi that, “what has happened will turn out for my deliverance.” From this very important phrase we learned that Paul understood God is in control in terms of outcomes, not events. Whatever the outcome, Paul was rock solid about the fact that he would experience glory and goodness from any set of events.

3. And finally, we can learn how to live as if God is in control by receiving suffering as something that is sometimes granted by God to the community of the faith. This is very challenging to our 21st-century ears—our ability to suffer together is a sign of God's kingdom in the earth here and now.

This week, we turn our attention to chapter 2 and discover that Jesus is our model for living in troubled times. His model is not only praiseworthy or notable; it is accessible for us. Paul challenges us to live up to the example Jesus set. And we can do it!

1. Don’t look out for #1

Look at the first four verses of chapter 2. We are instructed that in the midst of difficulties that we should not look out for number one! This certainly runs counter to the spirit of this age. It’s easy to be magnanimous when everything is rolling along well. But Paul laid his challenge in front of people who were experiencing persecution. For example, consider these words:

Philippians 2:3–4 NIV

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

The Scripture tells us that we should not look after our own well-being but that we should look after the well-being of others. We learn from the Gospels that when Jesus was on the cross, he focused on the Father’s will and was concerned about the standing of those who persecuted him. Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them because they don’t know what they’re doing.” (Luke 23:34) Or even before that terrible day on the cross Jesus placed his focus on the Father’s will, and was constantly reconciling people to God. What an example! In fact, whether in times of persecution or in times of safety and security there is simply no other way to reflect Jesus Christ, then to be concerned with God’s will and other people.

What would such an attitude look like in our everyday lives? We are routinely told that if we don’t look out for ourselves, no one else will.

2. The Great Example of Jesus

In the next few verses (5-11) we hear one of the great songs of the early church. Some scholars believe that this passage was actually a worship song, sung by the very first followers of Jesus. It is a song filled with challenge and wisdom for us today:

Philippians 2:5–11 NIV

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

These six verses break down into three sentences.

· First, he made himself nothing.

· Second, he humbled himself.

· And third, God exalted him.

This early hymn is like the steps downward into humility. Jesus is our example. We might think that when God came to earth he would demand worship from everyone. But no: when God came to earth he made himself nothing. He became like an ordinary man. He humbled himself living a life of service, and then humbled himself even until death. And beyond humility, Jesus suffered the kind of death filled with shame. This did not happen to Jesus accidentally. This is the path Jesus chose to walk. Bible scholar Gordon Fee tells us that this passage is the complete picture of what God is like. “There is no other,” says Fee.

Here in Philippians, this ancient worship song does not leave Jesus in the grave. We see that God the Father exalted Jesus and raised him to life. Indeed, the Father raised him high above every other name. Now that’s a song worth singing! But it’s more than a worship song. The Apostle Paul tells us that Jesus is our example. Paul tells the church in Philippi to have the same attitude that Jesus had.

During times of trouble or persecution we are tempted to defend ourselves. When people misunderstand us at work; when people ridicule us for our beliefs in public; when our own family members do not understand our faith, we face the temptation to argue and to dispute. But the Apostle Paul says that we should have the same humility of heart and posture as Jesus, our Lord.

Indeed, this message is repeated in many other places in Scripture. Here’s just one example. Four different times, the Bible says, “God gives grace to the humble, but resists the proud.” How different this is from our society! We need to be reminded of the words of Dietrich Bonheoffer, who said, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him to come and die.” There is no place for triumphalism in our lives, or in the life of the church. Exaltation is the Father’s work. And it requires faith from us to trust that the Father will raise us up in His time and in His way.

Remember, these are Paul’s instructions through the Holy Spirit to people facing persecution.

#3 Working Out Our Salvation

After leading the Philippians in this beautiful worship song, the Apostle Paul brings a practical word for them, and for us. In verses 12 and 13 he says,

Philippians 2:12–13 NIV

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

How strange these words sound in our ears! After all, “We are saved by grace, through faith.” (Ephesians 2:8) Right? Yet it’s the same Apostle Paul who said, “We are saved by grace through faith,” who also said, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Has Paul changed his mind? Is Paul inconsistent? Never!

What Paul is saying is that we have been given salvation. It is a gift. And having received the gift, our only reasonable response is to work toward imitating the example of Jesus. Perhaps that will take some work on our part. But the work does not save. We must remember the words of Dallas Willard, who famously said, “Grace is not opposed to effort; it is opposed to earning.”

We do not want to be the kind of person who fails to respond to God’s grace. The truth is that Jesus gave me a free pass to heaven, and he’s been trying to make me fit for heaven ever since! And obedience is the path to Christian growth.

This sounds challenging even for people who are not facing persecution! But the path to Christian maturity is the same in good times and in bad: humble yourself because God gives grace to the humble and resists the proud. So really, in good times or bad, there is simply no other way to reflect Jesus Christ.

#4 Hold On, and Hold Out

In this final passage, we discover that in hard times, blameless and pure people shine forth.

Philippians 2:14–18 NIV

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

You can tell that Paul was quite the preacher, his preaching becomes very practical. He tells us to do everything without complaining or arguing. And this is true for both individuals and for the community of faith. To set aside complaining or arguing is a corporate discipline that is the only possible when people realize the blessings of grace and salvation. We have been saved by grace. What is there to argue or complain about?

And we would look like a different kind of people to the rest of the watching world. If there were a community who could live together without complaining or arguing they would shine forth like the stars in the heavens. They would be seen as blameless and pure, even though they would be well aware that God is the one who made them so.

Finally, Paul tells us to hold on to the Word of Life. This is a wonderful and challenging command. But if we can hold on to the Scriptural word of life given to us by the Holy Spirit, we will also be able to hold out the words of life, offering them to our families, friends, and our community. This would be a demonstration of God’s kingdom on earth. Just as Paul instructed us to do in chapter 1, verse 28.

The second chapter of Philippians puts us in touch with the ancient worship of the earliest Christians, and the very heart of what it means to follow Jesus. When Paul wrote his letter to comfort the brothers and sisters in Philippi, he pointed to Jesus as their (and our) example.The heart of our faith is to follow the humble example of Jesus, especially in times of trial and persecution. His example of humility and service is within our reach. Indeed, it is our calling, both individual and as a church.

Conclusion

Let’s be a people whose lives are a testimony of God’s grace and goodness. Let’s live as if God is in control and let’s be servants. As we live our lives this way we will be living the lives we were called to live.

Lets Pray.

I want you to know that I’m here for you and that I love you. I hope you have a great afternoon and a great week. God Bless You.