TRIUMPHANT JOY #4: REJOICING IN LOVING AND SERVING OTHERS
INTRO TO SPEAKER: This past week, Liza and the family and I went camping at Wild Oaks.
INTRO TO TOPIC: This summer, we are studying the Book of Philippians, a letter written from the Apostle Paul while he was in prison. The letter is all about experiencing JOY.
• One of the things that keeps us from experiencing joy is strained or broken relationships.
• “It is not good that man should be alone.” (Genesis 1:18).
THE BIG IDEA: God created us as relational beings who experience abundant joy when we focus on loving and serving other people.
1. THE FOUNDATION: A LOVING RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD:
“1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic?” (Phil. 2:1, NLT).
• Before we can begin to have a loving relationship with others, we must have a healthy relationship with God. If you are a Christian:
o You belong to God - this should encourage you
o He loves you - this should comfort you
o You are a part of a family - and we have fellowship with one another
o If you know these things, then your heart should be tender and compassionate.
“'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt. 22:37-39, NKJV).
• If we don’t know how much God loves us, we won’t be able to love others.
• Action step: Meditate on the Cross! Behold what manner of love… (1 John 3:1).
“We love each other as a result of his loving us first.” (1 John 4:19, NLT).
• Our love is a response to experiencing God’s love and goodness first.
2. THREE CHARACTERISTICS OF LOVING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS:
“2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose. 3 Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. 4 Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing.” (Phil. 2:2-4, NLT).
1. Work together – unity, agreement, with one heart and purpose. We are partners together – a family, a team, with the goal of glorifying God and saving souls!
- A sports team needs to work together to achieve victory.
Love Defined: “4 Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, 5 Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others… 7 Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end. 8 Love never dies.” (1 Cor. 13:4-8a, The Message).
2. Don’t be selfish – no selfish ambition or conceit (NKJV). This is one of the signs of the times of today’s sinful world! “Arrogant know-it-alls stir up discord, but wise men and women listen to each other's counsel.” (Prov. 13:10, Message).
- Three hardest words to say: “I was wrong.” Admit it when you’re wrong.
- Talk about being a youth pastor at BF, Bible College students – some came to serve, and some came wanting to preach and be on the stage – difference!
3. Be humble – think of others as better than yourself
- Someone described J.O.Y. as Jesus, Others and You – in that order.
QUOTE: “Love is the overflow of joy in God that gladly meets the needs of others and… love is finding your joy in the joy of another… We double our delight in God as we expand it in the lives of others.” (John Piper, Desiring God).
- A church is built by humility, but destroyed by pride.
STORY: A BROTHER LIKE THAT: (Chicken Soup for the Soul).
Paul received a car from his brother as a Christmas present. On Christmas Eve when Paul came out of his office, a street urchin was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it.
"Is this your car, Mister?" he asked.
Paul nodded. "My brother gave it to me for Christmas." The boy was astounded. "You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn't cost you nothing? Boy, I wish..." He hesitated. Of course Paul knew what he was going to wish for. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the boy said shocked Paul all the way down to his heels.
"I wish," the boy went on, "that I could be a brother like that."
Paul looked at the boy in astonishment, then impulsively he added, "Would you like to take a ride in my car?" "Oh yes, I'd love that."
After a short ride, the boy turned and with his eyes aglow, said, "Mister, would you mind driving in front of my house?" Paul smiled a little. He thought he knew what the lad wanted. He wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big car. But Paul was wrong again.
"Will you stop where those two steps are?" the boy asked. He ran up the steps. Then in a little while he came back, slowly, because he was carrying his little crippled brother. He sat him down on the bottom step, squeezed up against him and pointed to the car. "There she is, Buddy, just like I told you. His brother gave it to him and it didn't cost him a cent. Some day I'm gonna give you one just like it...then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that I've been trying to tell you about."
Paul got out and lifted the lad to the front seat of his car. The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable holiday ride.
That night, Paul learned what Jesus meant when he had said: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35). There is a joy and a blessing that comes from loving and serving others!
3. THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS: LOVING AND SERVING OTHERS:
“5 Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had.
• This is one of the key verses in Philippians – a great Scripture to memorize!
• Jesus is the ultimate example for us to follow as a humble, loving servant.
6 Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God.
• This is one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible describing Jesus. He is God!
• No one in the world is more humble than Jesus. He was a joyful servant.
7 He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form.
• Even though Jesus was fully God, He also became fully human.
• We call this the incarnation: Guys – what does chili con carne mean? With meat!
• In-Carne – with flesh (meat). God became a man – a human being! Redneck theology.
• Creator entered creation; He was seated on a throne and chose to be born in a barn.
• Jesus is the greatest example of a humble servant. Humility is the opposite of pride.
8 And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross. 9 Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:5-11, NLT).
• Because Jesus humbled Himself, God exalted Him.
• James 4:6 says, “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Sobering verse!
• If we become humble, loving servants, God will give us more grace.
• One day, every knee will bow to Jesus. We can either do it now as friends of God, or later as His enemies. Either way, one way or another, everyone will bow!
• The right answer to every question is this: Will it bring glory and honour to Jesus?
• I confess that I have failed at this many times. For that I repent and ask your forgiveness.
CLOSING TEXT:
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:1-2, NKJV).
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://pastorchrisjordan.wordpress.com/
