July 15, 2018
Morning Service

Last week we looked back at the Paul’s first trip to the city of Philippi.  We saw the conversion of Lydia and then an evil spirit being cast out of a young lady.  That act got Paul and Silas arrested, beaten, and jailed.  In jail they began to sing praises to God who then shook the entire prison releasing all the bonds of the prisoners.  As the guard was ready to kill himself, Paul called out to him that no had escaped.  This led to his conversion and eventually to their release.  In the first chapter Paul spoke of his contentment with whatever the future held for him as he awaited the outcome of the Imperial court that could be his execution.  He knew that he had much more work to do but was torn in the thought of continuing his work or moving on.  He put it this way:  “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.”  Paul spoke of the privilege to not only believe in Christ but also to suffer for Him.  Chapter 2 picks up with that thought.

Philippians 2:1-4  If there is therefore any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,  (2)  then fulfill my joy, that you may be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord and of one mind.  (3)  Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.  (4)  Do not let each man look upon his own things, but each man also on the things of others.

·        Paul here speaks of the attributes a church (and each member) should be displaying to the world and each other.  We are to encourage, comfort, love and show affection and mercy to others.  We are to do this in unity of love and of one mind.  We are not to be self-centered or conceited, but be looking out for others.  Selfishness can bring ruin to a church, but a genuine humility can build it up.

·        We all live in a very fast paced society.  We have things to do and places to go on our agenda that sometimes we overlook opportunities to interact with others.  I like to call it “investing” in someone when we choose to spend time with them and build our relationship with them.  At the men’s breakfast each of us who attend are “investing” in one another as we share stories about our lives and spend some time together.  You “invest” in children by attending special events, helping with the VBS, and showing interest in what interests them.  You “invest” in others by engaging them in conversations and getting them to open up about themselves.  Life is not just about me, it is about us. We all feel loved and respected when someone shows we are important to them and “invests” in us.   This is how the church is built up by “investing in each other.”  We can live, love, laugh, and cry together sharing the joy and the pain we all encounter.  “Investing” in someone takes only a little time and a little effort on our part.

·        Who are you investing in? 

·        Who is investing in you?

·        We are better together but we are all different.  Paul is encouraging us not to let those differences separate us, but humbly get to know people and their story.  Slow down and take time to invest in someone every day.  Your small investment may one day play a big part in someone’s salvation decision and really that is what it is all about.  Paul now gives us Jesus as our example to imitate.

 

 

Philippians 2:5-8  For let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,  (6)  who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God,  (7)  but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.  (8)  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

·        Jesus’ life was a definition of humility.  He being the Creator became the creation giving up all His rights in order to serve God and people.  He did not seek to be with the kings in palaces, but instead chose fishermen to hang out with.  He was never too busy to speak to a blind man or to the children.  He actually sought those people out.  We are to imitate Christ (I Cor. 11:1) and His servant attitude acting out of our love for God and others not out of guilt, fear or duty.  You choose your attitude.  You can choose to approach life expecting to be served or looking for opportunities to serve others.  Jesus chose the latter and God exalted Him for it.

 

Philippians 2:9-13 Therefore God has highly exalted Him, and has given Him a name which is above every name, (10) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and those on the earth, and those under the earth;  (11)  and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  (12)  Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, cultivate your own salvation with fear and trembling.  (13)  For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

·        Jesus is exalted above every other name and at His Name every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord!  Knowing this we are not to take our salvation for granted, but “cultivate it with fear and trembling.”   We could also say with reverence and respect.   Jesus is the Lord of lords and the King of kings and deserves to be viewed as so.  It is through submission to His Will that we can obey and serve God and allow Him to do a work in us with the right attitude.

 

Philippians 2:14-16 Do all things without complaining and disputing,  (15)  so that you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation. Among these you shine as lights in the world,  (16)  holding forth the Word of Life, so that I may rejoice with you in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain nor labored in vain.

·        Attitudes that display complaining and arguing tear down rather than build up relationships and a church.  Our attitudes (Christ followers) should be different from what the world offers where it seems there are plenty of unhappy people.  Shouldn’t we offer a more positive and encouraging atmosphere here in God’s house and being God’s people?  We need to “shine as lights in the world.”  There needs to be a difference in our attitude and life as we imitate and follow Christ.

·         Don’t conform to the attitudes of this world but let the Holy Spirit transform your attitude to look like His.

·        Is your life shining brightly or is it clouded by griping and complaining?

 

 

 

Philippians 2:17-18 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you all.  (18)  And you also rejoice in the same, and rejoice with me.

·        Wow!  Look at Paul’s attitude here as he describes his life as “being poured out as a drink offering.”  He is all in with God and is pouring out his life as an offering to God.  “Here I am Lord use me.”  He is fully trusting God for his future and considered it a blessing to give his all for his Lord and Savior.  Is that how you feel when you get a chance to serve or do you gripe and complain?  Do you consider your life a spiritual offering to God?

·        Paul finishes this chapter by lifting up two men that he has invested into heavily that the church at Philippi should know.

 

 Philippians 2:19-30 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly to you, so that I also may be of good comfort when I know your state.  (20)  For I have no one who is like-minded, who will naturally care for your state.  (21)  For all seek their own, not the things which are of Jesus Christ.  (22)  But you know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he has served with me in the gospel.  (23)  Therefore I hope to send him presently, as soon as I shall see the things about me.  (24)  But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.  (25)  Yet I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-worker, and fellow-soldier, but your messenger and he who ministered to my wants.  (26)  For he longed after you all and was full of heaviness, because you had heard that he had been sick.  (27)  For indeed he was sick, coming near death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.  (28)  Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, so that you may rejoice when you see him again, and that I may be the less sorrowful.  (29)  Therefore receive him in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such in honor, (30) because for the work of Christ he was near death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.

 

Paul displays what it means to invest in someone as he pleads the case of these two men who he has invested in.  In this chapter Paul has challenged us to invest in the lives of others and to imitate Jesus’ humility as we follow Him.

 

Heavenly Father, please grant us the eyes to see others as You do and a desire to invest in their lives to bring glory to Your Name.