Series: March Forward and Stand Firm

Title: March Forward with Serving and Evangelism

As a reminder, the apostle Paul finds himself imprisoned in a Roman prison for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Though his surroundings are miserable to say the least, Paul is optimistic and hopeful about being released.  Meanwhile he composes this letter to the church at Philippi making much of his time while incarcerated.  Much of the letter is giving thanks to the Philippians, as they have been very supportive of Paul’s work both spiritually and financially.

Philippians 2:1-8

¹ So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, ² complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

Last year in our Philippian series we looked at this passage of scripture.  We had focused in on the fact that Christ counted others more significant than himself by emptying himself on a cross.  He is the ultimate example of a servant.  But today I would look to dig in a little deeper. 

First, we see that there are certain characteristic traits that are to be evident in the believer’s life. 

• We are to be of the same love which Christ demonstrated towards us.
• We are to be of the same mindset, as Christ is the one who governs our thoughts.
• We are to be in one accord as we are all part of the family of Christ Jesus.

This is possible because:

                  Ephesians 4:4-6

⁴ There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 

We are connected as one through the Spirit of God who lives within us.

It never ceases to amaze me when I find myself in fellowship with another believer who is not in my sphere of influence, that we already have a common ground for conversation.  Not only do we have common ground it is as though we were long lost relatives who have recently been reunited.  The Spirit of Christ connects us to one another with a unique bond. Paul encourages the church at Philippi to walk accordingly.

Selfishness Suffocates a Serving Heart

³ Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit,

(KJV) Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves

Vainglory- kenodoxia groundless, self esteem, empty pride

I think the key word that stands out is “self.”  It is one thing to be ambitious, Paul was one of the most ambitious people in the bible regarding evangelism. But it is a whole different matter when we are only ambitious about promoting ourselves.  There is nothing wrong with wanting to perfect your craft and be the best at it that you can be.  The problem comes when we seek the praise of men rather than doing what we do as a praise unto God.  It is all about the heart.

A person who is self-centered does not have the heart of Christ, a servant’s heart, nor the want to walk in unity.  They care only for themselves and do not care about the people they trample upon to get where they are going.  

Humility Cultivates a Servant’s Heart

^3b but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Humility- (tapeinophrosynē) having a humble opinion of oneself; a deep sense of one's (moral) littleness; modesty, humility, lowliness of mind

There is a healthy mentality in which we ought to think of ourselves so that we can serve others.

I realize that when we think of the word humility that there is an extreme which we are to avoid. 

Humility is not degrading oneself lower than scum of the earth. 

Humility is not insulting the Creator by diminishing His creation. 

That is not humility, that is self-pity.  Self-pity seeks to find value in the consolation of another person.  The problem with this is that one seeks a perfect remedy (finding worth or importance) from an imperfect person.  Consequently, having someone join your pity party will never bring eternal value and worth to your life; this is not walking in humility.

Rather humility is knowing that you are:

Ephesians 2:10

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Humility is having a healthy understanding that God has created you in His image and in His likeness.  He has created you for His good purpose. If you are a believer then you are His child, He is your Heavenly Father. 

This should bring about a tremendous amount of value and worth to your life.  At the same time, it should bring you to terms with the fact that He is your Lord.  Meaning you do not live for yourself. You live to serve Him. 

Knowing this we allow humility to bring us to a point in which we submit to His purpose in serving one another. 

Christianity Demands a Servant’s Heart

⁴ Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵ Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Notice in vs 5 it says to have this mind among yourselves.  We must make a conscious effort to direct our thoughts to focus on serving the interest of others.  Why, because by nature we are generally selfish people.  We must purpose in our hearts to serveto some capacity or another.

However, being a Christian demands that we not only look after our own interest but also after the interest of others.  If we are to have a Christ-like mindset, then we must make a conscious effort to do so.   You must purpose in your heart to do something that is in complete opposition to what your flesh wants to do.  Just as Jesus made a conscious effort to empty himself and become an obedient servant even to death.

John 12:26

If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also.

Follow- to cleave steadfastly to one, conform wholly to his example, in living and if need be in dying also

To serve Jesus is to follow him to places he would go, to reach people that He would reach to serve others as He served.  It means we follow His example.  

Being Jesus has ascended to the right hand of the throne of God, we cannot physically serve Him. But in other scriptures we learn that as we do it unto the least of these, we do it unto Him. 

Matthew 25:40

⁴⁰ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Christianity demands a servant’s heart.  So, we serve Jesus by serving others.

And who knows, a passage in Hebrews says that we could be entertaining angels through our serving.  (Hebrews 13:2)

God Honors a Servant’s Heart

In that same passage in John, Jesus tells us that Our Heavenly Father will honor us when we serve Him.

John 12:26b If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

What does it mean to have your Heavenly Father honor you?

In the military, The Medal of Honor is the highest decoration that may be awarded by the United States government. It is presented by the President of the United States and is conferred only upon members of the United States Armed Forces who have distinguished themselves in active service.

There are only 2,458 medals of honor that have been given throughout all time.  One recipient is a man named Sasser, Clarence Eugene.  On January 10^th, 1968, he was serving as a medical aidman with Company A, 3d Battalion, on a reconnaissance mission to investigate reports of enemy activity. 

Upon landing Sasser helps one man to safety then he was painfully wounded in the shoulder by an exploding rocket.  He then runs through barrage of rocket and automatic weapons fire to help others who were seriously wounded.

Despite two additional wounds immobilizing his legs he dragged himself through the mud toward another soldier 100 meters away. Although in agonizing pain and faint from loss of blood, Sasser reached the man, treated him, and proceeded on to encourage another group of soldiers to crawl 200 meters to relative safety. There he attended their wounds for 5 hours until they were evacuated

For going above and beyond the call of duty Sasser Clarence Eugene received the medal of honor.

While that might be the highest tangible honor one could receive in this life, as believers we will receive an honor that is even greater than that. 

God will honor Christians with the crown of life, and we will dwell in God’s Kingdom with Him forever and ever.  We live to hear those words well done my good and faithful servant.  Meanwhile, we combat forces of darkness while serving those whom Christ died for. 

Our title is servant, our responsibility is to serve.  The reward is to be honored in God’s kingdom.

Hebrews 6:10

¹⁰ For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.

Selfishness Suffocates a Serving Heart

Humility Cultivates a Servant’s Heart

Christianity Demands a Servant’s Heart

God Honors a Servant’s Heart

Charles Spurgeon- If we give God service, it must be because He gives us grace. We work for Him because He works in us.