Ten Marks of a Prevailing Church
Mark #8: Uncommon Sacrifice
Philippians 2:1-17
August 12, 2001
Intro:
A. [Will You Wash My Dishes?]
Sometimes we get a distorted idea about what love is.
One night, a man decided to show his wife how much he loved her.
After dinner he began to recite romantic poetry, telling her he would climb high mountains to be near her, swim wide oceans, cross deserts in the burning heat of day, and even sit at her window and sing love songs to her in the moonlight.
After listening to him go on for some time about this immense love he had, she ended the conversation when she asked, "But will you do the dishes for me?"
B. Today as we continue our series on the marks of a prevailing church, we come to Mark #8: Uncommon Sacrifice.
1. I’m afraid that we talk a lot about the sacrifices we are willing to make for God and others and rarely actually do anything for anyone.
2. But if the church is to prevail against the gates of hell, then we must be a people of sacrifice.
3. Not willing to just ask, "How much do I have to do?" but "How much can I do?"
4. When we think about sacrifice, one of the first passages of Scripture to come to mind is Philippians 2 where the apostle Paul talks about our minds in relation to sacrifice; first…
I. To sacrifice is to be like-minded
Philippians 2:1-2, If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
A. Now I realize that being like-minded may not seem to be what you would think of as being a sacrifice, but I assure you that being like-minded is very much of a sacrifice!
1. Paul was encouraging the people in the city of Philippi to be like-minded to have the same love, to be one in spirit, and to be one in purpose.
2. In order for that to happen, everyone does indeed need to be like-minded.
3. Paul says that we need to agree with one another.
4. Now why would we need to do that?
5. Well, Paul also wrote in Ephesians 4:4 that there is only one Spirit.
6. He meant that there is only one HOLY Spirit; there are of course other spirits that work for the other side.
7. Whenever brothers and sisters in Christ are not like-minded—there is more than one spirit—which means that one or more of those spirits is not the HS.
8. Whenever brothers and sisters in Christ don’t have the same love, there is more than one spirit.
9. Whenever brothers and sisters in Christ don’t have the same purpose, there is more than one spirit.
10. That’s why it is so important that we talk and fellowship and pray together in order to become like-minded.
11. We talk and fellowship and pray together in order to be like-minded, to have the same love, to be one in spirit, and to be one in purpose.
B. Are we like-minded?
1. Do we speak as one for the Kingdom of God?
2. Are we all like-minded?
3. Do we all have the same love?
4. Are we all one in spirit?
5. Are we really one in purpose?
6. Do we agree with each other about the best ways for Somerset to share the love of God with those around us?
7. Are we even in agreement that that should be our purpose?
8. I wonder sometimes.
9. When I hear negative, critical talk about a church member or a church leader—I wonder.
10. When I see people who still aren’t making an effort to get to know others—I wonder.
11. When I see a lack of workers to get things done—I wonder.
C. Now do you see what a sacrifice it is to be like-minded?
1. Do you see what a sacrifice it is to be one in spirit?
2. Do you see what a sacrifice it is to have the same love?
3. Do you see what a sacrifice it is to have the same purpose?
4. It takes time and effort to get to know others in the church.
5. It takes time and effort to find out where we disagree.
6. It takes time and effort to find ways to agree.
7. It takes time and effort to fellowship.
8. It takes time and effort to pray together.
9. It takes time and effort to come together as a team to work together to further God’s kingdom.
10. Being like-minded is a lot of work.
11. Being like-minded is a huge sacrifice.
D. So why would we go to that effort and make that kind of sacrifice?
1. Well…let’s look at what Paul says…let me break it down in phrases for us…
a. If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ…then make my joy complete by being like-minded.
b. If [you] have any comfort from His love…then make my joy complete by being like-minded.
c. If [you] have any fellowship with the Spirit…then make my joy complete by being like-minded.
d. If [you] have any tenderness and compassion…then make my joy complete by being like-minded.
2. That’s our motivation for making the sacrifices of like-mindedness.
3. Paul says that if we have any encouragement from being united with Christ, then we should be like-minded.
4. Paul says that if we have any comfort from Christ’s love, then we should be like-minded.
5. Paul says that if we have any fellowship with the Spirit, then we should be like-minded.
6. Paul says that if we have any tenderness and compassion, then we should be like-minded.
II. To sacrifice is to be low-minded
Philippians 2:3-4, Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
A. To be low-minded is to be humble.
1. You see, in order to be like-minded, we have to be low-minded.
2. Being low-minded is what enables us to be like-minded.
3. There are things that we are going to have to sacrifice in order to be low-minded:
a. our own ideas
b. our own opinions
c. our own ways of doing things
d. our own comfort
4. In short we have to give up self.
5. Don’t give up the Scriptures, but give up self.
6. Can you see that this is why so many churches never grow? Unwillingness to give up self.
7. Can you see that wanting things done my way is what destroys so many churches.
8. Insisting that things are done the way I would like them done is not low-minded.
9. Getting upset if someone does things a little differently is not humility.
10. Do you see that if we get upset with others even when they inconvenience us, we are not being humble?
B. If there is no "Thus saith the Lord," we must be willing to make room for the interests of others.
1. Do you see that this is why God has been leading us down this path of change here at Somerset?
2. Do you see that God wants to see if we really want this church to fulfill its purpose?
3. Do you see that God wants to take away our own comfort in order to grow His church?
4. Do you see that the reason we’ve had so many problems with the changes (that have nothing to do with Scripture) are because of picky personal opinions and high-mindedness?
5. Paul says Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
6. When someone wants to do something that we don’t particularly like, are we willing to make the sacrifices necessary to consider others better than ourselves?
7. When someone wants to do away with something we really liked, do we get upset or do we look to the interests of others.
8. When someone does something in a way that causes me extra trouble, do we look only to our own interests or to the interests of others?
9. When someone gets something that we really wanted, do we in humility consider others better than ourselves?
10. How do we demonstrate humility?
11. How do we demonstrate low-mindedness?
12. Do we demonstrate it by griping and complaining about them behind their back?
13. When we get upset with someone, what is really in our heart?
14. You see there are a lot of people that call themselves Christians that have done a lot of damage to the kingdom of God by their lack of humility and unwillingness to let things be done differently.
15. Paul says that if we have any encouragement from being united with Christ, then make his joy complete by being like-minded.
16. And in order to be like-minded, we must be low-minded.
17. We have to be willing to sacrifice our own selfish desires, ambitions, and comfort in order to be like-minded and low-minded.
18. Now that doesn’t’ mean that we just withdraw and do nothing.
19. It means that we talk and fellowship and pray together while being low-minded and working towards like-mindedness in order to fulfill God’s kingdom as a team.
20. In order for the church to prevail against the gates of hell, God’s people must be like-minded and low-minded, as well as…
III. To sacrifice is to be Lord-minded
Philippians 2:5-11, Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
A. In order to be like-minded and low-minded, we must have the mind of Christ.
1. In fact, that is the way the KJV is translated in verse 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
2. The attitude we should have is the mind of Christ.
B. So how do we have the mind of our Lord?
1. We must acknowledge our higher power (6).
a. Christ subjected Himself to the will of the Father.
b. Christ was God before He was human, but He let go of everything He had as God.
c. Christ did not grasp or hold onto His position with God the Father; He was willing to leave His position in heaven to become a human.
d. He did this in obedience to the Father.
e. And Christ is our model.
f. If anyone deserved to be prideful it would be Christ.
g. But He had learned the lesson of pride when He threw Lucifer out of heaven.
h. Christ was like-minded with the Father as to the best plan for saving the world.
i. Christ was low-minded because He was willing to go through with the plan.
2. Like Christ, we must make ourselves nothing.
a. Christ emptied Himself of everything He had as God in heaven in order to become a human.
b. We too must empty ourselves of everything that would hinder us from becoming a true servant of God.
c. We must empty ourselves of all selfish ambitions and vain conceit.
d. And the very first thing we must admit is that God doesn’t need us.
e. God doesn’t need me to preach the gospel.
f. God doesn’t need me to further His Kingdom.
g. God is perfectly capable of doing that all on His own.
h. It is simply my privilege to preach for Him.
i. I am so grateful for the shear awesome opportunity that He has given me to be His servant!
j. I humbly go about talking about my master.
k. I tell people what God has done for His servant and what He can do for them as well.
l. God really doesn’t need me and He doesn’t need you.
m. When we realize this, we make ourselves nothing.
n. We rid ourselves of selfish ambition and vain conceit.
3. Like Christ, we must become obedient to death.
a. When everyone around us tells us that sex outside of marriage is ok today, we’re obedient to God anyway.
b. When everyone around us tells us that lying is perfectly acceptable in certain situations, we’re obedient to God anyway.
c. When everyone around is gossiping and want us to participate, we’re obedient anyway.
d. Even if the government wants to imprison us or kill us we’re obedient anyway.
4. That’s the mind of our Lord—He is our example of how to be like-minded and low-minded.
IV. To sacrifice is to be lackey-minded
Philippians 2:12-17, Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. 14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.
A. A lackey is a low ranking servant in a uniform.
1. I first just used this word because it started with "L."
2. But as I researched its meaning I found that it really is the right word here.
3. To think of ourselves as a low-ranking servant in a uniform is exactly what Paul is suggesting here.
4. We are wearing the uniform of Christ and we really are a low-ranking servant in his Kingdom.
B. And Paul gives us six ways to make ourselves lackeys for Christ.
1. Work out our salvation with fear and trembling. (12)
a. A lackey knows his place.
b. A lackey knows that he’s done nothing to deserve being a part of the Kingdom.
c. A lackey knows that he doesn’t deserve to be a part of the Kingdom and it is only by the grace of the King that He is even in the Kingdom.
d. But once we become a part of God’s Kingdom, we have been given salvation by His grace.
e. That salvation is within us.
f. And if it is truly within us, we will work it to the outside.
g. The works don’t help us earn salvation, because we already have it by the King’s grace.
h. We simply have this salvation within in us and we can’t stand to keep it in there.
i. We want to get it out where people can see.
j. And the only way to get it out is to work it out.
k. We make great sacrifices because we are trying to work out our salvation.
l. And we do it with fear and trembling because we serve an awesome King who is rightfully feared because of His great wrath.
m. Therefore, a lackey does nothing for the King halfway.
n. Because of God’s great encouragement, comfort, and fellowship he goes the extra mile in working out his salvation.
o. No slipshod work for a lackey.
p. A lackey works out his salvation with fear and trembling.
2. Forget about yourself. (13)
a. A lackey does nothing out of selfish ambition because he knows who he is in relation to the King.
b. A lackey has no inclination towards vain conceit.
c. As I researched the word "lackey" I found that he is a follower who has no will of his own.
d. And in verse 13 we find that we are to only have God’s will.
e. "for it is God who works in you to will."
f. Our will is God’s will.
g. We have no will of our own, but only the King’s will.
h. A lackey forgets about himself.
3. Do everything without complaining or arguing. (14)
a. A lackey doesn’t even think about complaining about others or things because he knows his rank in the Kingdom.
b. A lackey would never consider arguing because he knows his opinion doesn’t amount to a hill of beans.
c. A lackey simply does what the King tells him to do and lets others do what the King tells them to do.
d. A lackey would never consider getting upset when things didn’t go his way because they aren’t supposed to go his way—they’re supposed to go the King’s way.
e. A lackey does everything without complaining or arguing.
4. Be different. (15)
a. A lackey wears the uniform of the King and therefore stands out.
b. A lackey doesn’t act like people who are not citizens of the Kingdom because he’s wearing the King’s uniform.
c. A lackey knows whose Kingdom he’s a part of and does only what the King wants him to do.
d. A lackey in God’s Kingdom stands out and shines like the stars in a crooked and depraved people.
e. A lackey is different.
5. Hold out the Word of Life. (16)
a. A lackey invites others to become a part of God’s Kingdom because the King has given him the privilege of doing that.
b. He shares with others how great it is to be a part of this Kingdom.
c. He is so grateful for the life that the King has given Him, he shares the Kings Words of Life with others.
d. A lackey holds out the Word of Life.
6. Be a living sacrifice. (17)
a. Paul said he was being poured out like a drink offering—that’s a sacrifice.
b. Paul said he was being sacrificed for the sake of the Philippians.
c. A lackey is very willing to pour himself out for the sake of others.
d. A lackey is willing to give his life in order for others to become part of the Kingdom.
e. And that doesn’t just mean to be willing to die so others can be a part of the Kingdom; it means to be able to live in such a way that others can become a part of the Kingdom.
f. A lackey is a literal living sacrifice.
g. He is still alive, but has sacrificed his self in order to further the Kingdom.
Conclusion:
A. [Cannot Choose Which Cross, Citation: Oswald Chambers, So Send I You (Discovery House, 1993), p.21]
God can never make me wine if I object to the fingers he uses to crush me.
If God would only crush me with his own fingers, and say, "Now, my son, I am going to make you broken bread and poured out wine in a particular way, and everyone will know what I am doing."
But when he uses someone who is not a Christian, or someone I particularly dislike, or some set of circumstances which I said I would never submit to, and begins to make these the crushers, I object.
I must never choose the scene of my own martyrdom, nor must I choose the things God will use in order to make me broken bread and poured out wine.
His own Son did not choose.
God chose for his Son that he should have a devil in his company for three years.
We say, "I want angels; I want people better than myself; I want everything to be significantly from God; otherwise I cannot live the life, or do the thing properly…"
Let God do as he likes.
If you are ever going to be wine to drink, you must be crushed.
Grapes cannot be drunk; grapes are only wine when they have been crushed.
I wonder what kind of coarse finger and thumb God has been using to squeeze you, and you have been like a marble and escaped?
You are not ripe yet, and if God had squeezed you, the wine that came out would have been remarkably bitter.
Let God go on with his crushing, because it will work his purpose in the end.
B. Galatians 2:20, I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
1. That is the kind of sacrifice that is necessary in a prevailing church!
2. Prevailing churches consist of people that have allowed God to crush them using whatever situation and whatever people He chooses.
3. Prevailing churches consist of people who don’t run away from painful circumstances, but hang in there and allow God to crush them into new wine.
4. Prevailing churches consist of people who are willing subject themselves to God through whatever means that He chooses and thereby sacrifice their self.
5. Prevailing churches don’t consist of whiny, complaining, arguing, negative, critical people who fight desperately to hang onto their self.
6. Prevailing churches consist of people who have been broken and crushed and allowed God to make them into what HE wants them to be.
7. Prevailing churches consist of people that know real joy from allowing God to have His way with them.
8. Prevailing churches consist of people that because of what God has done for them will go to extraordinary lengths to serve God and people.
9. Prevailing churches consist of people who have been to the altar and sacrificed their self once and for all.
C. Have you sacrificed your self?
1. I didn’t ask you if you were a Christian.
2. I asked you if you have sacrificed yourself?
3. Are you negative and critical of others?
4. Do you find yourself at odds with others?
5. Do you get upset with others when things don’t go your way?
6. If so then you need to sacrifice your self.
7. Or maybe today you know that you aren’t saved?
8. Perhaps today you need to come and sacrifice your self and let Him give you a new life.
9. Or perhaps you just need to come and kneel down before Him and ask Him to take your self as a sacrifice to Him.
10. Tell Him that you are now willing to submit yourself to His crushing—not matter whose hands He uses—you are now willing to submit your WHOLE self to Him.
11. Perhaps the whole church may need to come and do this.
12. But I know there are many who do need to come and once and for all let Him have His way with you.
13. Let’s sing #385 "His Way with Thee" and let’s sacrifice our self.
