To Serve

Verses

Philippians 2:19–30 The Message

I plan (according to Jesus’ plan) to send Timothy to you very soon so he can bring back all the news of you he can gather. Oh, how that will do my heart good! I have no one quite like Timothy. He is loyal, and genuinely concerned for you. Most people around here are looking out for themselves, with little concern for the things of Jesus. But you know yourselves that Timothy’s the real thing. He’s been a devoted son to me as together we’ve delivered the Message. As soon as I see how things are going to fall out for me here, I plan to send him off. And then I’m hoping and praying to be right on his heels. But for right now, I’m dispatching Epaphroditus, my good friend and companion in my work. You sent him to help me out; now I’m sending him to help you out. He has been wanting in the worst way to get back with you. Especially since recovering from the illness you heard about, he’s been wanting to get back and reassure you that he is just fine. He nearly died, as you know, but God had mercy on him. And not only on him—he had mercy on me, too. His death would have been one huge grief piled on top of all the others. So you can see why I’m so delighted to send him on to you. When you see him again, hale and hearty, how you’ll rejoice and how relieved I’ll be. Give him a grand welcome, a joyful embrace! People like him deserve the best you can give. Remember the ministry to me that you started but weren’t able to complete? Well, in the process of finishing up that work, he put his life on the line and nearly died doing it.

Introduction

Today we are continuing our study of Philippians in the sermon series, “Good Posture for a Bad Place.”

As you remember, Paul is writing to the community of believers in Philippi. Paul has not been there for several years, but he feels very close to this community of believers. Paul visited Philippi under the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit. As you remember, Paul is writing from Rome. While Paul is essentially on house arrest, he is in chains, literally chained to a soldier twenty-four hours a day.

Transition

What are the models of success that we generally identify? What does our society define as success? The phrase “The rich and powerful” is a common phrase and, I think, easily summarizes what we as a society consider success. How we judge others in our society is somewhat superficial. In July of 2019 there was a Gallop poll conducted regarding what indicates that someone is successful. Individuals were asked to rank what they perceive as important in measuring individual success. They were also asked to rank what they believe others perceive as success. The results revealed a great deal of confusion. What the respondents identified as being their own personal measure of success was different then what they believed others perceived as success.

For example:

https://www.axios.com/americans-view-success-versus-society-fame-5c1e3a12-444e-438d-8906-ccfb5beec2c7.html

There is clearly some confusion regarding how to define and understand success. But, as always, our faith can clear up this confusion. But with the clarity comes responsibility. Responsibility to shift our values and efforts to match what we are truly called to.

Servanthood

The world encourages personal ambition and pride. As the saying goes, "He who dies with the most toys wins." We live to compete and succeed. We want to be first. We want to be the boss. Our bumper stickers boast of our achievements. Our walls are decorated by our diplomas.

Is it possible that God desires something far greater for us than our own personal ambition? Yes it is, and yes He does. This greater thing that God wills is to be found in the most unlikely of places, a place to which most of us would never look at all: servanthood.

The world does not think highly of servants. To be a servant is to be in the lowliest of positions. No one boasts of their job as a servant. In fact, most people would be ashamed to be called servant.

But being a servant is critical to our faith, just as it was critical to Jesus’s ministry.

In an article written in December of 2017, Claude Lombart writes:

We love titles, even in Christian circles. In stark contrast to all of that is the Apostle Paul’s favorite title, “Paul a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle” (Romans 1:1).

Servant is a key word in the New Testament which nails down our calling and status as Christians and, indeed, is one of the biblical titles, par excellence, which all followers (disciples) of Jesus Christ. It ought to be carried with humility and dignity.

Servant is an incredibly significant designation. Jesus defined it as a critical to the life of a disciple. In the 13th chapter of John, Jesus pauses during his final meal with the disciples to wash their feet. It is the wrong thing for the leader to do and it is certainly the wrong time. As was often the case, Peter is outspoken in his opinion.

John 13:8 The Message

Peter persisted, “You’re not going to wash my feet—ever!” Jesus said, “If I don’t wash you, you can’t be part of what I’m doing.”

Servant is the role Jesus showed us as the key.

What it Means to be a Servant

In our verses today we see three great examples of servanthood.

Paul begins the letter to the Philippians by saying...

Philippians 1:1 The Message

Paul and Timothy, both of us committed servants of Christ Jesus, write this letter to all the followers of Jesus in Philippi, pastors and ministers included.

Paul identifies both Timothy and himself as being servants. He describes Epaphroditus as “...good friend and companion in my work.” Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus are all good examples of servants in ministry.

Paul has dedicated his life, and will lose his life, in service to Christ. Paul has been subjected to violence, loneliness, abuse, rejection, and a multitude of other sufferings. He gave up a life of respect and comfort in the Jewish community in order to follow Christ. He clearly is a leader in the Christian community, but does so from a place of service.

Timothy is an impressive young man. After becoming a follower of Christ as a result of Paul’s first missionary visit to Lystra, Timothy quickly grew in his faith and by the time Paul returned to Lystra Timothy had grown into a respected disciple of Jesus. Timothy was young and somewhat timid, but was willing to accompany Paul on future missionary trips and functioned as Paul’s representative to Corinth when there were troubles among the believers there. Timothy demonstrated courage and strength and was eventually left in charge of the church in Ephesus.

Then we have Epaphroditus. In this passage Paul states that he is sending Epaphroditus to the church in Philippi with the letter Paul has written. Paul states that he also is sending Epaphroditus so that the church can see that Epaphroditus is healthy and encourages the church to be encouraging and supportive to him. The church had originally sent Epaphroditus to be with Paul as a helper and represent the church to Paul. Epaphroditus became sick in Rome and almost died. He was a critical figure for Paul.

As John Lightfoot wrote,

Epaphroditus was one with Paul in sympathy, one with him in work, and one with him in danger.

Epaphroditus put his life at risk, and almost lost it, to be in a servant role helping Paul in ministry.

The kingdom of God is advanced by heroic servants.

Characteristics of a Servant.

Jennifer Stasak identifies six qualities of a servant leader. We don’t have time to closely examine these traits, but I do want to go over them briefly.

INTEGRITY

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. — Proverbs 21:3 (ESV)

Integrity is an intentional lifestyle, reflecting an overall track record of honesty and good character. We will stumble here and there, and we will we fall short (because we’re humans, after all). But true servant leaders are able to confess their sins before God and those they lead.

HUMILITY

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. — Colossians 3:12 (NLT)

FLEXIBILITY

I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. — Philippians 4:12‑13 (NLT)

RESILIENCE

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. — Hebrews 12:1‑2 (ESV)

STEWARDSHIP

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace. — 1 Peter 4:10 (ESV)

EMPATHY

Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. — Romans 12:15 (NLT)

Pastor Appreciation

Conclusion

The gospel of Jesus Christ is radical. It is counter to what the world teaches. The concept of sacrificial servanthood as leadership is no exception. We are not called to be demanding or selfish. We are not called to arrogant or prideful. We are called to be loving and kind. We are called to be aware of the needs of others. We are called to walk in the steps of Jesus, who washed the feet of the disciples.

How important is this? Once again, I quote from Claude Lombart:

If we fully embrace the biblical title of servants of Jesus Christ, at least three things will happen: we will minimize politics, or power struggles; we will rejoice and prayerfully support those who are elected as servant leaders in any capacity, paid or unpaid; most important of all, we will make a real impact on our world as was the case for servants Stephen, Philip, Paul, and others.

As Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus would tell us, the life of a servant leader is not easy. Jesus would tell us that as well. I ask you to seek the servant role. I ask you to be in prayer for Pastor Antonie and be seeking to serve your church and community.