2021-08-08 – Philippians 2:1-18 – Be Humble Ambassadors
2021-08-08 – Philippians 2:1-18 – Be Humble Ambassadors
Good morning everyone. It is so nice to be able to spend some time with you all in fellowship with the Lord. Thank you and God bless you for being with us today.
When I was yet a young lad in elementary school downtown Detroit, I had the opportunity to represent the school as a school crossing safety boy. It seems crazy to me today that a child would be entrusted to do such a thing on the busy streets of such a large and crazy city. Anyway, I remember feeling so privileged to represent the school and serve if you will as an ambassador for them. For the first time I felt that I was part of something larger than myself serving for the benefit and care of others.
Related to that, just yesterday I had the blessed opportunity to examine for Ordination, three new pastors here in the Quad Cities. It brings me so much joy to see the next generation stepping forward in the service to our Lord. With all the negative things going on these days, I really appreciated that boost of Christian confidence, that a few still have the humble servant purposeful attitude to be a part of God’s solution for the benefit of others. I pray that in this church too, we will have the opportunity and privilege to raise up some servant missionaries, some pastors, some evangelists and many, many new believers. It brings me so much joy to see all the positive activities around this little church. And I have to believe we are making a positive impact on the community. That is God’s calling for us here brothers and sisters. And I am so happy that you all are part of God’s recipe for His Good Works here today. Thank you for being part of this blessed effort. May God continue to grow us for His Holy purpose and glory, Amen?
Please turn now to Philippians 2:1, page 1040 in your pew Bibles, which we call God’s Inspired, Infallible and Living Word. Prayer..
Last week we read through the end of Philippians chapter one, where Paul first declared that very famous verse, “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain”, and he meant it too. Paul clearly lived for Christ and he appreciated the unity and continual support from that church he started in Philippi. It is one thing to serve as Lone Ranger missionary for Christ, but a much better prospect is one where you know you are prayed for and supported by a church family of likeminded believers. In our text today, Paul continues to encourage those who are providing for his needs as he continues to serve as Christ’s Ambassador to the nations.
Starting at verse one of chapter two, Paul writes:
1 If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.
In these first four verses of chapter two, Paul gives a succinct and radiantly clear description of what our life now should be like as Christ followers. He underscores the fact that the Christian’s lifestyle going forward to be most effective should be a united one. As Paul put it in the previous chapter, “with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel”. As we stated last week, “All for one.. and One for all”.
Unity is something that all churches should continually strive to achieve and maintain. In that, Paul is not necessarily asking for a uniformity of all our beliefs, nor is he talking about doctrinal orthodoxy. He is calling for the unity and harmony of our relationships. Mutual concern and love for one another, caring for the quality of fellowship in order that Christ may perform His ministry through the body. And overarching all of this is what Paul says in verses 3 and 4, which he tries to convey the importance of what many folks call “the golden rule”, which actually comes from Matthew 7:12 which reads, “do to others what you would have them do to you”. You may have heard about that “golden rule” before, but you may not have heard about the “Silver Rule”. A Biblical Scholar named Richard Thomas France notes that the negative form of the Golden Rule, is what is called the “Silver Rule” which states, ‘don’t do to others what you don’t want them to do to you’. I think both the Gold and Silver rules are in keeping with God’s will and should be an important goal to the Christ-follower. And it all boils down to that other famous verse or which Jesus called the “Great Commandment”: [SLIDE]
In Matthew 22:35-40 it says that somebody asked Jesus, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
So you see, the “Golden Rule” and these Greatest of Commandments work together. We should know them, recite them, and live them out, Amen?
Paul continues at verse 5, where he wrote: [SLIDE]
5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. [SLIDE]
9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every 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.
Let us now endeavor to dissect some of these verses together. Again, verse five says that we are to “Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus”. That is now our goal and charge as Christ followers. As God’s adopted children, we are now being consistently refined by Him. In that, He wants us to adopt His ways and His attitude. You might have seen my posts this week on Facebook that reflect that same dynamic. [SLIDE]
And might I suggest that Jesus is the ultimate example for us of true selfless humility that is lived out. Like Christ, we should endeavor to put others first. Jesus was a humble servant leader, that gave up His rights in order to obey Father God and serve the people. Like Christ, we should have a servant leader attitude, serving out of our gratitude for what God did for us through Jesus’s sacrifice. Remember, although you might not be able to choose your circumstance, you can always choose your attitude.
You can either approach life expecting to be served, or you can look for opportunities to serve others. Jesus said several times that our attitude needs to be focused on others. As written in Mark 10:43, He said “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” And that is exactly what Jesus did, He paid a huge ransom for me because He knew that I could never pay the wages of my sin on my own. His death on the cross then released all of us from the debt of slavery to our own sin and shame.
In Verse 7 here says that Jesus “emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant”. That term “emptied himself” can also be translated as “pouring Himself out”, and the NIV version says that Jesus “made himself nothing” for us. The King and Creator of the whole universe made himself nothing for you and for me. I pray you understand that. You might recall also, that right before Jesus went to the cross, He paused in prayer and said, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Jesus then took on our sin and effectively poured Himself out. And as a result of that selfless sacrifice, we are now saved. Jesus earned the right to be called our Savior. And now as verse 10 says here, “at the name of Jesus every knee will bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”. How blessed are we brothers and sisters, that we have a God in heaven that cares so much about us that He took on the sin of man so that we might then be able to have fellowship with Him for eternity. Praise His Holy Name indeed.
This next scripture section is entitled “Lights in the World”. Verse 12 reads:
12 Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose. 14 Do everything without grumbling and arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, [SLIDE]
among whom you shine like stars in the world, 16 by holding firm to the word of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing. 17 But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrificial service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me.
Again, the believers in Philippi had been very faithful friends and spiritual children of Paul’s, and he was very grateful for their continued support and fellowship. Paul says in verse 12 here that we should all endeavor to “work out your own salvation”. But please don’t mistake that instruction for what’s referred to as “works-based salvation”, where one can earn their salvation or their ticket to heaven through their own “good works”. Some people think that by doing good works or giving some financial support, or by just “being good” that they can earn the right to go to heaven. They obviously haven’t read their Bible, for it is only because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross that anyone can get to heaven. Nobody has ever, or will ever, earn their own way to heaven. Only Jesus’s perfect sacrifice for our sins will suffice. And on that cross, when Jesus said “It Is Finished” He meant that our debt was Paid in Full. No brothers and sisters, there is nothing we can do to earn our salvation on our own, but realizing that should cause us to want to be better people. That is what Paul is talking about here. When Paul says “work out your own salvation”, he means that if you really understand what Jesus did for you, that He saved you from an eternity of hell, then you will want to “work out your salvation”, out of sheer gratitude. [SLIDE]
That dynamic reminds me of an old movie called “Saving Private Ryan”. If you watched it, you might recall that Tom Hanks, who played the part of an Army captain during WWII, was in charge of a search party that was looking for Private Ryan, because all Ryan’s brothers had unfortunately died in battle, and they wanted to take him back home to his parents to grieve. Then at the end of the movie, when they finally found Private Ryan, the captain and most all his men were all shot-up and he was ready to die. With his last baited breath, the Captain looked at Private Ryan straight in the eyes and said to him, “Earn This! Earn It!” Years later, that same Private Ryan, who I think became a governor or senator, goes to the gravestone of that Army Captain who saved him, and with tears in his eyes he proclaims that he had hoped that he did earn what they did for him in saving his life. He wanted to be assured that he “worked out” the price for his mortal salvation.
That is the kind of sentiment that Paul wrote about in this letter to that church in Philippi some 2,000 years ago, and now also extends the same message to us here today. Although we can never fully repay God for what Jesus did on the cross at Calvary, if we truly appreciate all that Jesus did for us, then we should want to spend the rest of our lives showing that appreciation by “working it out”.
We should also keep in mind that what Jesus did for us, was not just for our mortal salvation, but instead for our eternal salvation, which makes it all the more precious. According to these verses today, Jesus “emptied Himself” out for us, and became the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Then out of sheer appreciation Paul “poured” himself out through sacrificial service. And with that understanding and example, then perhaps, if you too are truly appreciative of Jesus’s sacrifice, you too will consider “working it out” and “pouring yourself out” for the cause of Christ. That is Paul’s hope in all this was, and it is God’s will for you as well.
Again, the title of this message today is Be Humble Ambassadors. In that, as long as God still has us on this planet, then we should be striving to serve as Christ’s Ambassadors. Like when I was a young child on the busy streets of Detroit, choose to become part of something bigger, something better. A Christian Servant leader. And in that you will find, the character of Jesus’s beautiful and caring nature will blossom in your persona going forward. We should all be putting the needs of others before ourselves and searching out ways to exercise the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. Loving God and our neighbors, making disciples, and Baptizing them in the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit. That is what God wants us to be about doing as His Humble Servant Leader Ambassadors. Amen?
Would you please stand now and let us close together with prayer.
[Music].