Sermon Series: “Help, I Can’t Find My Joy!”
(A Study of Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians)
Sermon #1 “You can have Joy in Serving”
Series Text: Philippians 4:4
OPENING JOKE: ???
INTRODUCTION: Last week we began our sermon series through Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi.
You will remember that we learned that this letter is called the “Epistle of Joy” as we can see references to Christian joy sixteen (16) times within its four (4) chapters.
We learned how we can have joy in suffering as long as we remember that:
(1) God’s in control
(2) His plan is being worked out
(3) He isn’t finished yet!
We also learned that “happiness depends on happenings, but joy depends on Christ”
***Today we are going to continue in this letter and learn how it is possible to have “joy in service”
Most people enjoy “being served” much more than they enjoy “serving others”
In the modern church the idea of “servanthood” has been forgotten and replaced by self centeredness
QUOTE: The Christian lifestyle, which was founded on humbling ourselves, seeking God and serving others has, in this present age, become a lifestyle of exalting ourselves, ignoring God and expecting others to serve us!
The sad thing about this is there is a great amount of joy that comes from service to God
And many Christians are giving up that joy because of a lack of service
Anyone who truly lives a lifestyle of servanthood will tell you the joy received by doing God’s will is much more rewarding than any paycheck
Illustration: “Mother Teresa wouldn’t take a million” Mother Teresa was working among the slums of Calcutta dressing the wounds of a leper. An American tourist observed her work and asked if he could take a picture. She granted permission and the tourist framed his shot. Through the camera’s lens he could see this world-renowned nun tenderly replacing a bloody bandage that covered a gaping hole where the leper’s nose used to exist. The photographer could also smell the stench of this wound as he moved in for a closer shot. After capturing several pictures, the American tourist said, “Sister, I wouldn’t do what you’re doing for $10 million!” Mother Teresa replied, “Neither would I, my friend. Neither would I!”
There is a joy that comes with a life of committed service to God
***Last week we learned about Paul’s committed service as the “Prisoner of the Lord”. He goes on in chapter 2 to give us three more examples of the kind of service that pleases God:
I. Humble Service (Jesus)
Philippians 2:5-11
a. Philippians is a book that contains more practical than theological information
i. But here we see Paul using a theological truth concerning Jesus as an example of why we should be humble in service.
ii. He shows that…
b. (1) Christ is the Pre-Existing Son of God (v.5-6a) “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, being in the form of God…”
i. The phrase “being in the form of God” actually can be translated “existed in the form of God”
ii. We sometimes get confused when studying about Christ and begin to believe that He didn’t come on the scene until Bethlehem
iii. But the Bible teaches that Christ is eternally existent with the Father
iv. This wonderful truth is found in no better place than in the opening words of John’s Gospel:
1. John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
2. And just in case there was any question as to who John was talking about when he addressed “The Word” he goes on to say…
3. John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth”
4. The ‘only begotten’ is Jesus Christ, who WAS God and IS God the Eternal Son of the Father
c. (2) Christ became a Humble Servant (6b-8) “…did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
i. Though Christ is equal with the Father in the Godhead, In His earthly life He never considered equality with God something to be grasped
1. “Consider it robbery” also means “consider it something to be grasped”
2. Instead of exalting Himself, He humbled Himself and became a servant
ii. QUOTE: Jesus could have come as a “conqueror”, yet instead He came as a “carpenter”
1. He made Himself of “no reputation”
2. This phrase could actually be translated that Christ “emptied Himself”
3. Being still “fully God” while on Earth, Christ emptied Himself by temporarily renouncing and setting aside certain privileges, among those being:
a. Heavenly Glory
i. John 17:5 “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”
ii. While on earth Christ gave up His glorious face-to-face relationship with God
b. Eternal Riches
i. II Corinthians 8:9 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”
ii. While on earth Christ was poor and earned very little
c. Favor with God
i. Jesus felt the Father’s wrath for human sin while on the cross
ii. Matthew 27:46 “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
iii. He took on the role of a “bondservant”
1. Jesus’ role of servanthood is our ultimate example
2. The all powerful Son of God became a servant to set the example for all of us!
iv. He “Humbled Himself”
1. Christ’s humiliation took Him to the point of death
2. The most embarrassing of all deaths at that – a public execution, clothes ripped off, nailed on a cross, lifted up for the world to see
d. (3) Christ was exalted by the Father (9-11) “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”
i. Jesus’ name is now above every name
1. Acts 4:12 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
2. The actual name ‘Jesus’ is not what is special, as many people bear this name
3. But the person to whom this name refers, “Jesus the Christ”, is He who has been exalted above all
ii. All people will bow before Him and confess Him as Lord
1. QUOTE: It has been rightly said that everyone will confess Jesus as Lord – either in this life or in the next
2. Facing eternal judgment, even the lowest sinner will not be able to deny His majesty
3. But if we wait until then to recognize it, it will be eternally too late
e. QUOTE: “We can see by studying the ‘humiliation and exaltation’ of Christ a powerful picture of what it means to be a Christ-like servant and how being Christ-like in our service can bring us the joy of knowing that one day God will glorify us”
f. Matthew 23:12 “And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
II. Persevering Service (Timothy)
Philippians 2:19-24 “But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. 20For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. 21For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. 22But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. 23Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. 24But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly”
a. Paul tells the Philippians that he is sending Timothy to them as a model of spiritual service
b. Timothy was the model because of his:
i. Sincerity in caring for others
ii. Perseverance in service
iii. Proven character
c. What makes this powerful is v.21 where Paul says, “they all seek after their own interests”
d. Who are “they”?
i. Paul is referring to the many who began serving Christ along side of him and yet departed
ii. He lists a few names of these people in his various epistles, most notably II Timothy where he tells Timothy to be watchful for those who lack perseverance
e. There are basically two type of Christian servants:
i. “Drag Racer” Many people begin their Christian service real excited. They are willing to be on every ministry, volunteer for every event, be available for any service…but then they get overloaded and they fizzle out. They are like these drag racing cars you see on TV. They are very powerful, but only for a short distance…then they are out!
ii. “Diesel Engine” Then there are those who see Christian service as a lifestyle of commitment. They look for where God has gifted them and they devote their gifts to a ministry of service that will last. They are like diesel engines. It may take a little longer to get them started, but once they begin they can go the distance…in fact you almost can’t wear them out!
f. Timothy was a “diesel engine” servant
g. REMEMBER: “Christian service is not a sprint, where we are called to run super hard and wear out easily. Christian service is a life long marathon where the end result is the joy of saying, along with the apostle Paul, ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith’” (II Tim 4:7)
III. Self Sacrificing Service (Epaphroditus)
Philippians 2:25-30 “Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; 26 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. 29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; 30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me”
a. Not many people know about this man named Epaphroditus, and not much else is said in the whole NT about him than the portion we just read
b. But it is interesting to note that he is the major reason Paul penned this letter to the Philippians…we see in these verses:
i. Epaphroditus was on his way to Rome to give Paul a gift from the Philippian church
ii. He was also to stay and minister to Paul in prison
iii. On his way he became ill and almost died
iv. Word got back to the Philippians about his condition and many feared for his life
v. But apparently when he reached Paul his condition had bettered, and he was able to continue with his mission of service
vi. But his heart was troubled because he knew that the people in Philippi didn’t know he was better and were probably getting conflicting reports about his health
vii. So Paul, pleased with his service, commends Epaphroditus to the Philippians by writing in this letter about his near death experience
c. Question: Don’t you think there were times during Epaphroditus’ journey that he felt like he could just give up?
i. These verses indicate that he was deathly ill
ii. Yet he didn’t worry about his own health, he went forward, ready to die for his service to God
1. That is why Paul said we are to “hold men like him in high esteem”
2. Because, while many boast a faith to die for, Epaphroditus had showed his heart by not giving up
d. Quote: “What is sad is that there are far too many church members today looking for reasons NOT to serve that there are those who would give their lives for God’s service – and the joy received from serving Him and serving others is often left unattained”
CONCLUSION: I want to close with a familiar story about service…
Illustration: “God’s Wife” While shopping in New York, one woman noticed a young boy shivering in the cold November weather. He was pressed against a store window looking at a pair of shoes. She asked what he was doing out in the cold and he replied, “I was asking God to give me a pair of those shoes.” A quick glance down at his feet revealed tattered shoes that barely covered his protruding bare feet. Her arm immediately wrapped around him and she wisped him into the store. She pulled several pairs of socks from the shelf and instructed the department employee to bring the pair of shoes her young friend wanted. He was soon walking around the shoe department with not only the shoes for which he had prayed, but socks to go with them. The woman paid for everything without asking for a cent. She then turned for the door and said, “You’ll be a lot more comfortable now.” The little boy looked up into her eyes with an inquisitive expression and asked, “Are you God’s wife?”
QUOTE: “The joy of serving others in Jesus’ name is inexpressible – as Mother Teresa implied, it is invaluable”
Too many of us have not been able to find joy in service because we choose to be served, rather than to serve
I encourage you today to seek the service God has gifted you to do
And experience the joy of a life of service
