The Importance of Gospel Service

Introduction

In 2010 the San Fransisco Giants won their first world series in nearly 50 years by defeating the Texas Rangers. This team would go on to win 3 world series over the next 5 years and they had many key players help them along the way. From Most Valuable Players, key pitchers, and expert managers, this team had a lot of people in the spotlight to help them get to this point. One of the people in the background was Mike Murphy. Mike Murphy worked for the San Fransisco Giants since 1958 - over 52 years. He started working for the team in the 1950s and 60s as the batboy. As he grew up he continued working for the organization as an assistant and eventually as the equipment manager - making sure that the players cleats and shoes were ordered and ready for use day in and day out. Murphy never hit a home run or struck a player out… But his consistent work of making sure that the players had what they needed when they needed it was second to none. He served the team in the background but his hard work helped the team succeed on the field. Whenever the team won their first world series in 2010, the team owner handed Mike the world series trophy during the celebration! His hard work of over 50 years truly had paid off.

If you were to go and ask a sports fan what led to the Giants winning the world series in 2010 you’d hear a lot of true reasons… But likely no one would even think to mention the equipment manager and the pattern of excellence he set for decades leading up to this point. This man didn’t get much recognition from the outside world, but he did his job faithfully as he served his team.

So many people in our world seek recognition and they will serve if there is something good in it for them. People will help someone who is in need if they will get praised on social media. They’ll serve others if they’ll get rewarded and be served by someone else. But what about whenever there isn’t an immediate prize for doing the right thing? What about whenever there doesn’t seem to be anything exciting in doing the right thing every single day? See, our society is drawn to the extraordinary. We long to have mountain top experiences and whenever they don’t come, we seek them above everything else. We can get bored with the ordinary… And whenever this happens in our Christian life we can fail to be faithful in what God has called us to do.

One pastor once put it like this, “To give my life for Christ appears glorious. To pour myself out for others … to pay the ultimate price of martyrdom—I’ll do it. I’m ready, Lord, to go out in a blaze of glory.… We think giving our all to the Lord is like taking a $l,000 bill and laying it on the table—“Here’s my life, Lord. I’m giving it all.” But the reality for most of us is that he sends us to the bank and has us cash in the $l,000 for quarters. We go through life putting out 25 cents here and 50 cents there. Listen to the neighbor kid’s troubles instead of saying, “Get lost.” Go to a committee meeting. Give a cup of water to a shaky old man in a nursing home. Usually giving our life to Christ isn’t glorious. It’s done in all those little acts of love, 25 cents at a time. It would be easy to go out in a flash of glory; it’s harder to live the Christian life little by little over the long haul.”

In the Bible we see example after example of people being faithful to serve Christ in the little things day after day. While we love the mountain top experiences, more often than not genuinely following Jesus requires us to be obedient in the little things as they lead to occasional big things. In Philippians 2:19-30 we find 2 examples of faithful Christian servants in the middle of 2 sections that are loaded in rich theology. Philippians 2:19-30 is a passage of Scripture that stands out. Philippians 1:21 and Philippians 4:13 will stand out as some of the “key verses” in this book and Philippians 2:5-11 and 3:1-11 serve as powerful reminders of how great our God is… But in Philippians 2:19-30 we are reminded of our responsibility in this life to simply serve our Savior and be found faithful by Him. Today as we read from God’s Word, focus on these 2 examples of Christian humility and ask yourself how you can be faithful to serve Jesus where you are at today in your daily life.

Philippians 2:19–30 CSB

19 Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I too may be encouraged by news about you. 20 For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests; 21 all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father. 23 Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24 I am confident in the Lord that I myself will also come soon. 25 But I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditus—my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my need— 26 since he has been longing for all of you and was distressed because you heard that he was sick. 27 Indeed, he was so sick that he nearly died. However, God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 For this reason, I am very eager to send him so that you may rejoice again when you see him and I may be less anxious. 29 Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with great joy and hold people like him in honor, 30 because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up what was lacking in your ministry to me.

Today we’re going to look at 4 things that Gospel Servants to consistently in our text and look at how we can emulate these things in our lives.

Gospel Servants Care About Others (19-21)

Philippians 2 has been all about humility and walking worthy of the Gospel. One of the reasons that we are called to be humble is because Jesus humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death on the cross in our place even though He never once sinned! As followers of Jesus, we are supposed to be like Jesus in our world and Philippians 2:12-30 is all about how exactly we walk that out. We let our light shine and we serve Jesus in everything that we do! These 12 verses are often called the “travelogue” as we see Timothy and Epaphroditus about to travel to Philippi and before they do, Paul tells the church to welcome them. As he does this, he tells them just a little bit about both of these brothers in Christ.

In our world sometimes people write a letter of recommendation for someone else, what do we normally include in those types of letters? Usually something about how the person is a hard worker and skilled at what they do. Sometimes those letters will include a story or a list of accomplishments that this person has made in their life. How does Paul begin his letter of recommendation for Timothy? He simply says that Timothy has a proven track record of genuinely caring for other people. What is the best thing that someone can say about you when it comes to serving in God’s Kingdom? It isn’t that you’re an expert administrator or a gifted public speaker. It isn’t that you’re really good at making chocolate chip cookies or that you can teach really well. Those are all good things and we need those things in the church - praise God for those of you at FBC Salem who do those things and especially those of you who make yummy chocolate chip cookies - but more importantly, at FBC Salem we need to be people who genuinely care for other people. We need to be known as people who live out Matthew 5:21-48 as we go the extra mile, give the shirt off of our back, turn the other cheek, forgive others, and care for those who are in need. Imagine if the consensus in our community about FBC Salem was that we are a congregation of Christ-followers who not only talk the Gospel talk but we genuinely put our money where our mouth is and we care for others individually and as a collective body. What kind of doors would that open up? Paul is writing this about his friend and the hope is that Timothy would help the congregation get through the difficult times they are enduring.

Whenever you are suffering and going through hard times, it’s a blessing to have someone around you who cares about your interests rather than their own. We’ve all encountered people who help out whenever they can get something in return or they’ll assist when they think that it’s in their best interest… But what about whenever doing something for someone else isn’t in your best interest? What do you do then?

See, Paul is in prison as he is writing this letter. He’s likely in Rome, possibly Ephesus, under house arrest. He’s alone. He’s in chains. He’s in need of friends to bring him food to survive because he can’t go to the market under house arrest. He can’t order door dash and expect Chic-fil-a to show up. He’s in need of help. He needs someone to care for his needs. Paul needs someone like Timothy in his current situation. He needs someone who is faithful and dependable and caring… Yet, Paul does what is in the best interest of the church in Philippi rather than what would be in the best interest of Paul - he sends his right hand man miles away to help a church in need. Why would he do this in his time of need? Because Paul is living our Philippians 2:3-4

Philippians 2:3–4 CSB

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.

He is looking out for the interests of others. On Thursday we’re sending 14 members to Guatemala to partner with 13 people from Ozark and Springfield to do Kingdom Work. As we do this, even though we are a long ways away, we’ll still be able to post prayer updates on our church Facebook page. I’m still going to be able to see Lindsey and Gabriel every night on FaceTime. Even though we’ll be a long ways away, we can still communicate with our loved ones. They didn’t have this luxury in the 1st century world. If you wanted to care for someone back then, you either sent a messenger with a letter or with some money, or you personally went and helped. Rather than simply telling this church that he cared about them, Paul sent his top dog to care for them in their suffering… And this is what Gospel servants do. We go where we’re called to go and we do whatever we’re called to do… Not because it’s easy, but because that’s what God wants us to do. We care for others and put their interests above our own. As we do this, next, we work with those in need.

Gospel Servants Compassionately Work With Others (22-24)

As Paul sends Timothy, he sends someone who puts others first and selflessly works well with others. How does Paul know this? Paul shares that Timothy has served with him in the Gospel ministry like a son with a father. In Philippians 1:1, Paul says that he and Timothy are servants/slaves of Jesus Christ - they’re on the same team… but their relationship goes a step deeper than just this, though. Here he shares that they are truly family. As far as we know Timothy’s dad was not a Christian and Paul never had children. Yet, in God’s perfect plan, these two would meet and do ministry together for years and grow to truly become like father and son. Paul talks about this unique relationship in other places like 2 Timothy 1:2

2 Timothy 1:2 CSB

2 To Timothy, my dearly loved son. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Why would Paul talk about Timothy in this manner? Again, he is writing a letter of commendation to this church about this man, but he’s also demonstrating the humility and reliability of Timothy. Not only does he care for others, he has proven character. In our world character is something lacking in so many people but this can’t be true for followers of Jesus Christ. We are a new creation and have been saved by our God to serve Him in this world. We have the Holy Spirit leading us in this life and part of being a new creation means that we act differently. How has Timothy proven his good character? By serving in the Gospel ministry. You and I demonstrate that we have been saved by Christ by serving Christ. So many people today think that Christians are a bunch of hypocrites that only care about money and “nice” people - they don’t care about the person who has made mistakes or the person who doesn’t go to church. If you want to confuse someone, direct them to a ministry like Love Thy Neighbor where churches and Christians gather to simply help other people out regardless of their church membership or lack-thereof. Better yet, you and I should help such people out not because it’s easy but because it’s the right thing to do!

Notice how Paul says that Timothy has served: He has served in the Gospel ministry. Timothy is loyal to the Gospel. Timothy isn’t just going to show up and meet physical needs without also meeting spiritual ones. He works with others and he tells others about Jesus without shame. Think about yourself for a minute. Would you say that you’re a person of proven character? Do people around you know that you are a faithful servant of Jesus Christ and that you stand on the Word of God? For this church, they knew that Paul was a faithful servant. They knew that Timothy was a faithful servant. They knew that these servants would work with them and build them up in the Gospel hope. Paul goes on to talk about how he longs to be with this church one day and believes that he will… But until that day comes, he sends his beloved spiritual son to encourage these people.

Gospel servants are willing to do whatever it takes to proclaim the Gospel and do Kingdom work. For Paul that meant sending his right hand man. For Timothy, that meant leaving his dad of sorts and going to a place that was under persecution. Yet, they wanted to work with others and do the work that God had in store for them? Are you willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish the work that God has in store for us as individuals and as a church? If so, we’d better start with the little things and prove to others that Christ has changed our lives by the way that we act, talk, and work with others.

Gospel Servants Courageously Proclaim the Gospel (25-26)

As Paul concludes talking about Timothy, he transitions to a person that we know very little about and his name is Epaphroditus. Once again, Paul is writing a letter to tell this church to welcome this servant leader and lists several things that this man does: He’s his brother, coworker, fellow soldier, messenger, and minister in the Gospel. This man is yet another Gospel servant who wants to tell others about Jesus Christ. If you look in your Bibles in Philippians 4, you see what he has done

Philippians 4:18 CSB

18 But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you provided—a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

Again, Paul is under house arrest and he’s in need of financial assistance to make ends meet for himself and to write his letters to other churches. This church in Philippi provided out of their poverty for Paul’s ministry and they sent their gift with Epaphroditus. He gave the money to Paul and then fell sick. This is a person who cares about the Gospel being proclaimed and lives being changed because of God’s Word. It didn’t matter the traveling inconveniences or the sickness that he experienced along the way, Epaphroditus wanted to serve king Jesus!

A hallmark for Gospel servants is wanting to proclaim the Gospel, even in times of suffering. In 1907 there was a missionary who traveled from England to Nigeria in order to share the Gospel with many people who had never once heard the name of Jesus before. This missionary’s name was Reverend Fox - he was a former professor at Cambridge University and found himself in a completely foreign world as he was proclaiming the same Gospel as he did in England but to a totally different context. As he proclaimed the Gospel, many people came to know Christ as Lord and Savior and he planted several churches… So many turned to Jesus that he needed help! He contacted his brother, a physician also from Cambridge, who came down to help those in physical pain and to proclaim the Gospel. God was moving and people were being saved and growing to be more like Jesus but sadly, both brothers died very unexpectedly. The mission society wrote a letter to the parents of these brothers and the parents sobbed at the loss of their sons. After grieving, though, they too did something unexpected: they sold their property and possessions and brought the proceeds to the mission society and said this, “As much as we grieve the death of our two sons, we will only be consoled if the purpose for which they died continues.” Friends, why would two educated, successful men in their late 20s and early 30s leave everything behind in order to bring the Gospel to Nigeria? Our world would say that they were crazy and that they wasted their life… But these men and their parents believed in Jesus’ words so much that they were willing to do what seems crazy to the world in order to serve Jesus faithfully. See, they not only believed Jesus’ words but they were willing to invest their present life in a way that would pay dividends for all eternity.

Gospel servants long to proclaim the Gospel and see lives be changed by Jesus more than they long to stay in their comfort zone. This requires courage and faith… But it is what our Savior longs for us to do. Gospel servants like Reverend Fox, Adoniram Judson, William Carey, and Jim Elliot are willing to do whatever it takes to proclaim the Gospel to those who have not yet heard and to make disciples of all nations. What about you and I? Are we willing to proclaim the Gospel if it means that we look foolish to the watching world? Are you willing to proclaim the Gospel to a family member or coworker if it means that they might think that you’re crazy for building your life on a book that they view as being outdated? “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Friend, wherever you’re at, whatever you do, proclaim Christ crucified.

Gospel Servants Commit Themselves to Jesus (27-30)

Epaphroditus not only nearly got a little bit sick… Like so many others, he was on the edge of death itself. Paul emphasizes this 3 times in this passage of Scripture to highlight this man’s commitment for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was on the verge of death, but we read that God had mercy on him. How did God have mercy on him? Did he use the modern medicine of the day to heal him? Possibly. Did he miraculously and fully heal him after he was prayed for? Possibly. We aren’t told how he was healed… But we are told that it was simply due to the healing hand of our God who had mercy on him. Whenever you’re committed to following Jesus, it doesn’t mean that you always get the breakthrough or that your life becomes easy. Often, following Jesus will carry with it physical, emotional, and mental difficulties as you are met with resistance and persecution. Yet, as you life a live committed to king Jesus, you have the peace that He is always with you and that He has a perfect plan for your life. Because of this servants faithfulness to following Jesus, Paul says that he deserves to be welcomed in the Lord and honored because of his commitment for the Lord’s work.

Think for a minute about the people that we honor in our world. We honor politicians, athletes, doctors, and many others and understandably so! There are many people who do things for others and benefit our communities and we honor these people for good reason. Tony Merida shares that we often fail to appreciate faithful service to Jesus Christ, though. We celebrate legal wins and game winning hits, but there are more important battles for Christians to engage in. We can’t worship Christian servants, but the Bible tells us to encourage, thank, and honor them. The Philippians are to honor Epaphroditus because of his faithful commitment to Jesus and his willingness to help this church instead of focus on his health and recovery. Whenever we talk about being committed to something, it’s more than just talking a good talk or saying the right things. Being committed requires action! If I simply tell my wife that I love her she’ll believe me for a little bit… But if my actions never demonstrate that level of commitment, my words ring hollow and are empty. If I genuinely love my wife and I want her to know that I mean what I say then my actions and my words will demonstrate that commitment.

So many people say that they love Jesus and that they belong to Him… But what do their actions say? An athlete who is committed to their sport or team will train tirelessly to be in game shape. A person who is committed to their company will work hard to succeed at their job. A person who is a member of a church will work hard to glorify Jesus in the way that they live their life both inside and outside the walls of the church because they are committed to King Jesus. Jesus told His followers in John 15 that we must obey

John 15:14 CSB

14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.

Are you committed to Jesus? Are you doing what He commands or do you only do that whenever it benefits you? Gospels servants follow Jesus and commit to following Him wherever He leads.

Conclusion

Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus live out Philippians 2:3-4. Whenever Jesus changes your heart, you begin to look, live, and love like Jesus! As you reflect on your own life, would you say that you are looking, living, and loving others like Jesus? In Philippians 2:19-30 we see examples of Gospel servants doing whatever it takes to help others and proclaim the name of Jesus. What are you doing for Jesus today?

Faithfully following Jesus might mean that you’re going to give your life for Jesus in spectacular fashion. For many of us, though, faithfully following and serving Jesus means that you pour out a quarter here and there every day of your life. Maybe you help someone who is in need. You babysit for a single parent. You put the needs of someone else above your own with no expectation of being rewarded or paid back. Being faithful to King Jesus involves being faithful with the big ticket items but, more importantly, with the little things that we can often skip over. You and I can practically serve Jesus and proclaim the Gospel with others by looking out for those who are in need all around us every day of our lives. Where can you pour out a quarter today?

Where is a place that you can serve in this church? Who is someone that you can serve today? Let us be known as a people who love and serve others like Jesus.