Courage To Sacrifice Series

Courage to Sacrifice

Philippians 1:18-30

October 22, 2023

I’m starting a new series today . . . . and I’m excited about it. It’s only 4 weeks long, which will lead us through Thanksgiving and then advent comes. It’s crazy that we’re talking about Christmas fast approaching.

I’m going to be preaching from the book of Philippians. It’s only a 4 chapter book, so read it and glean the message from Paul.

Philippians is often called the book of JOY, as Paul talks at length about joy, in spite of being imprisoned. BUT Philippians is so much deeper than that. Our focus for the next 4 weeks is going to be on sacrifice.

It’s the sacrifice of Christ, and the call for us to seek to imitate Him. This has the potential to be a little more intense, but as I’ve studied and looked at what we need to hear, this really resonated with me.

When I think about sacrifice, I also think about courage.

Most of us have watched movies, like TAKEN, RAMBO, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, JAMES BOND and more. Personally, I’d add Braveheart to that list. We watch those movies and think about how we’d react if we were in that situation. In all honesty, I’m not sure how I’d react. I’d like to think, I’d be more of a MacGyver or James Bond, always finding ways to get out of precarious situations.

I can’t imagine what it was like for so many people in Israel as they faced attacks from a radical group called, Hamas.

I’ve read lots of stories. Having grown up Jewish, there’s an affinity, a closeness to the nation that I can’t really explain. So, I’ve been a bit mesmerized by the stories and the what’s next decisions. Many of the decisions which impact the rest of the world as well. At the same time, I feel for many of the Palestinians who simply want to live life as best as they can.

I read about an Israeli couple who heard the gunfire in their kibbutz.

Adar and Itay Berdychivsky lived in the Kfar Aza kibbutz. They both had previously served in the Israeli army as officers and kept weapons in their home.

When the militants approached their house, the couple hid their 10-months-old twins in their reinforced security room. It’s an Israeli law that all homes built after 1993, must have secure rooms. Imagine that requirement being a reality for each of our homes.

After safely placing their children in the safe room, they returned to wait for the militants in the main part of their house. Their purpose was to distract their attention away from their children.

In the end, Adar and Itay killed seven militants, but they too were killed.

Their children remained in the safe room by themselves for 13 hours. Eventually Itay’s brother and Adar’s father, who fought the militants for hours and saved dozens of people – though couldn’t reach their own relatives in time [to save them], found them - - - and they’re now safe.

That’s not a movie, that’s real life. It’s sad, and it’s heroic and courageous, and is the ultimate sacrifice a parent could give a child.

It’s a story that most of us would say, “Of course I’d do that for my kid.” But would we? Could we? Would we even have to think about it, or would we just do it?

Stories like that leads me to have a desire to demonstrate the power of God’s grace and love He’s given me, so that I would have a great heart towards others. I hope it instills that in you. I hope you’re getting a picture of what it would mean to be described as a person who has a great heart! The heart of a lion!

That’s an extreme case. Maybe in your situation . . . it’s gladly caring for a sick parent, spouse or child . . . with no complaining.

Maybe it’s being willing to give up on some financial gain, in order to serve others. Or it’s to give more financially than you’ve ever done, because that’s what God is leading you to do.

How do you demonstrate courage and sacrifice? That’s what were talking about.

One who has the courage to sacrifice energy, strength, reputation, finances for the case of something greater.

In the case of the Book of Philippians, for the sake of knowing Jesus, for the sake of serving the church, for the sake of loving deeply and profoundly. To have a Great Heart, that’s what Paul teaches. He had a great heart and he calls us to be in a deep relationship with the Greatest Heart.

We can achieve great heartedness by the power of the Holy Spirit - - - - if we would be joined to the Greatest Heart of all - - - - Jesus.