WEBVTT 00:00:00.300 --> 00:00:00.920 Well today. 00:00:01.380 --> 00:00:07.080 If you have a Bible with you, I want to encourage you to open up to the book of Philippians in chapter two. 00:00:07.160 --> 00:00:11.260 We're actually going to end begin at the end of chapter one and dive into chapter two. 00:00:11.260 --> 00:00:18.600 And today, what I want to share with you is something very simple, something that we should all be aware of as believers 00:00:18.600 --> 00:00:19.460 in Christ. 00:00:19.960 --> 00:00:24.070 Probably most of us, if you've read the book of Philippians, have come to this portion of Scripture. 00:00:24.580 --> 00:00:31.640 You know this like the back of your hand if you've walked with the Lord and studied this book, but this is this is one of those passages 00:00:31.880 --> 00:00:35.340 in the Bible that it's so simple. 00:00:35.440 --> 00:00:42.660 And I think a lot of times we come to church and we're looking for the next thing that God could tell us to do, when 00:00:42.660 --> 00:00:49.180 in fact, what's really important for us is to live out what we already know God calls important. 00:00:50.280 --> 00:00:57.540 And when God shares something with us and it's significant, we should hold it to our lives and seek to live it within our lives and not necessarily just be diving 00:00:57.540 --> 00:01:03.360 in for the next best thing, but be diligent and seeking after the Lord and the things that we already understand. 00:01:06.240 --> 00:01:13.400 And I want to go through something simple with us together as a church, because there's something that I believe about what God has called our church to 00:01:13.400 --> 00:01:13.860 do. 00:01:13.960 --> 00:01:18.420 And that is, I think the Lord wants to do great things through us. 00:01:20.740 --> 00:01:27.900 And to grab a hold of the passage that we're going to look at this morning in order to get where the Lord can use us and to work through 00:01:27.900 --> 00:01:29.720 us, we have to get rid of us. 00:01:31.940 --> 00:01:32.940 Because it's not about us. 00:01:34.780 --> 00:01:38.420 Bible tells us, whatever you do all to the glory of God. 00:01:38.820 --> 00:01:39.380 It's about him. 00:01:40.920 --> 00:01:48.180 And so in order to live out this passage, as simple as it may seem, and in order to see the God move in you 00:01:48.180 --> 00:01:54.660 and through you in powerful ways, what it requires of us this morning is just simply let go of self. 00:01:56.700 --> 00:01:58.440 And we started this church. 00:01:58.960 --> 00:02:04.470 The idea and the premise behind what Alpine Bible Church is about, as we want to do anything. 00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:07.260 Well, let me rephrase that. 00:02:07.360 --> 00:02:09.520 We want to do anything short of sin. 00:02:11.240 --> 00:02:13.930 To see people come to know Jesus and growing in him. 00:02:16.260 --> 00:02:19.280 In order to do that, we've got to be willing to let go of self. 00:02:21.160 --> 00:02:24.000 To allow the Lord to work in us and through us. 00:02:25.520 --> 00:02:32.540 We're at a place in our church right now where we're about to go through a transition, and it's been a very hectic, 00:02:33.300 --> 00:02:38.840 time consuming, diligent opportunity that we've had since October when we bought the new building. 00:02:38.840 --> 00:02:39.520 We've been working on it. 00:02:39.600 --> 00:02:46.600 And so, before we got into this facility, which should be happening in the next few weeks, I thought to myself, what we need 00:02:46.600 --> 00:02:53.760 is a church family is we want to be encouraged in what God is doing, not just not just focus on, getting the job done, but be encouraged 00:02:53.760 --> 00:02:55.140 to see what God's bigger hand is. 00:02:55.240 --> 00:02:57.820 And so last week we talked about not losing heart. 00:02:58.040 --> 00:03:05.140 How do we not lose heart when we're serving the Lord and we really ultimately and not losing heart and looking what Paul says, we fill our 00:03:05.140 --> 00:03:07.780 hearts with God's joy and sing his worth. 00:03:07.920 --> 00:03:13.440 And through seeing the worth of Christ in our lives, it compels us to then express that joy. 00:03:13.440 --> 00:03:16.880 Do you guys know we're creatures created for worship? 00:03:16.960 --> 00:03:19.960 You will worship something in this world, whether it be God or not. 00:03:20.200 --> 00:03:22.040 You're designed to worship something. 00:03:22.460 --> 00:03:29.540 But when you gather the idea of worship and the fact that we're created to worship, and you look at the glory and goodness of God 00:03:29.540 --> 00:03:36.940 as it's lavished on your life, and you fill your cup up with that, the joy of the Lord consumes your heart. 00:03:36.940 --> 00:03:40.180 And from you the Bible says, flows living water. 00:03:42.220 --> 00:03:44.190 Do not lose heart. 00:03:46.120 --> 00:03:47.040 Second this morning. 00:03:47.040 --> 00:03:54.120 And this is what we're diving into in the book of Philippians is this week, we're going to talk about how to live like Jesus and 00:03:54.120 --> 00:03:56.510 lead like Jesus in this world. 00:03:57.480 --> 00:04:01.120 See, God's called us to a responsibility in this world and representing him. 00:04:01.120 --> 00:04:04.440 We're creatures created for worship set to proclaim his glory. 00:04:04.700 --> 00:04:08.800 There's no greater glory through which we could proclaim in the goodness of God. 00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:16.000 And we know the Bible verses that we can, quote or think of from memory that where God calls us to as a 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:23.160 church, the responsibility we carry, like Matthew 28, 19 and 20, if you ever go to a missions conference at a church or they talk about discipleship 00:04:23.160 --> 00:04:27.280 and evangelism, they always quote that verse go into the world, make disciples right? 00:04:27.760 --> 00:04:30.900 Baptizing in the name of the father, son and the Holy Spirit, doing all things that I teach. 00:04:31.100 --> 00:04:32.780 You are observing all things that I have taught you. 00:04:34.200 --> 00:04:37.840 God looks at his disciples and says, go into the world and make disciples. 00:04:38.420 --> 00:04:40.460 Coincidentally, that's the purpose of the church. 00:04:41.840 --> 00:04:43.360 So whenever I asked you, why does the church exist? 00:04:43.660 --> 00:04:47.030 The church exists to make disciples or followers of Jesus. 00:04:47.800 --> 00:04:49.140 That's what we're about. 00:04:49.740 --> 00:04:56.840 Because we believe ultimately there's no greater goodness, no greater thing in this world worth pursuing than the one who has created 00:04:56.840 --> 00:04:57.260 us. 00:04:57.800 --> 00:04:58.810 Go make disciples. 00:05:00.080 --> 00:05:07.200 The second of that, maybe one of the famous verses you could think of as far as man's responsibility comes in Mark 12 and verse 28, when the ruler, a 00:05:07.200 --> 00:05:10.280 rich young lawyer, comes to Jesus, I just mixed it up with another story. 00:05:11.060 --> 00:05:14.350 But this guy comes to Jesus and he says, what's the greatest commandment? 00:05:14.480 --> 00:05:18.580 And Jesus says, it's simple love the Lord your God with all your heart and love others. 00:05:19.360 --> 00:05:25.200 If you love the Lord the way that God has created you to love him, all things that God desires for you to do in this world will be accomplished. 00:05:26.740 --> 00:05:27.560 All you've got to do is love him. 00:05:28.920 --> 00:05:32.360 And if you truly love God, you're going to love the things that God loves, which is people. 00:05:32.780 --> 00:05:35.720 Jesus has given everything to love the people of this world. 00:05:35.720 --> 00:05:39.950 He's given his life loving God and loving others. 00:05:40.980 --> 00:05:41.940 Life is about relationship. 00:05:44.140 --> 00:05:51.280 When you get to the book of Philippians in chapter one, Paul kind of piggybacks those same things he he's saying to believers, only conduct 00:05:51.280 --> 00:05:57.280 yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, saying, go into this world, Matthew 2819 and proclaim the gospel. 00:05:58.760 --> 00:06:02.740 He's saying to us in this verse, if you love God, you're going to share his message. 00:06:02.740 --> 00:06:06.720 If you love others, you're going to share the love of God with other people. 00:06:06.720 --> 00:06:11.200 Go into this world and conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel. 00:06:13.880 --> 00:06:14.280 When I think about. 00:06:16.440 --> 00:06:16.800 Jesus. 00:06:18.580 --> 00:06:20.480 And the way that people have spoken of him throughout history. 00:06:22.880 --> 00:06:26.440 No one has more drastically changed the course of history than Jesus. 00:06:26.700 --> 00:06:32.920 I mean, we write our dates on our checks every week according to the expected birth of Christ, right? 00:06:33.400 --> 00:06:35.700 He literally split history in two in its time. 00:06:37.290 --> 00:06:44.540 People, when you ask them about Jesus, generally have a positive thing to say something about the character or nature of 00:06:44.540 --> 00:06:45.890 Christ. 00:06:46.440 --> 00:06:53.660 And if you, being a believer in Christ, knowing of the infinite worth that Jesus brings in to your world, the joy 00:06:53.660 --> 00:06:57.060 of just sharing that becomes significant for you. 00:06:58.060 --> 00:07:02.620 Because that same joy that you have in your life, you want others to experience with you in him. 00:07:05.020 --> 00:07:12.340 And so when Paul says in the book of Philippians, conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, when you read those words 00:07:12.340 --> 00:07:17.800 and you see the value of Christ in your own life, it begs the question, well, how do we do this? 00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:21.140 Go into this world and make disciples for Christ. 00:07:21.440 --> 00:07:23.160 Love God, love others. 00:07:23.160 --> 00:07:25.170 Conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel. 00:07:25.460 --> 00:07:26.840 How do we do that? 00:07:26.940 --> 00:07:28.160 For the sake of the Lord? 00:07:29.620 --> 00:07:31.500 And Paul then begins to tell us how. 00:07:32.080 --> 00:07:36.620 He shares in the opening passages of the end of chapter one and the chapter two. 00:07:37.020 --> 00:07:44.060 The explanation for us as believers, to understand how we go into this world and proclaim the name of Christ and help people see the beauty of who 00:07:44.060 --> 00:07:45.460 Jesus is in their own lives. 00:07:46.260 --> 00:07:46.800 How do we do that? 00:07:48.020 --> 00:07:55.480 Paul writes the rest of this passage this way, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you, that you are standing 00:07:55.860 --> 00:08:03.260 firm in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel in no way alarmed 00:08:03.520 --> 00:08:04.340 by your opponents. 00:08:04.540 --> 00:08:06.010 He then goes on to say this. 00:08:06.940 --> 00:08:14.560 Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the spirit, if any affection 00:08:14.640 --> 00:08:21.820 and compassion make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same 00:08:21.820 --> 00:08:29.660 love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 00:08:31.020 --> 00:08:35.419 Paul's about to share with us the how to live this out in our lives. 00:08:35.559 --> 00:08:40.080 But before really, he gets to the detail of the personal implications for you. 00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:42.240 He starts in the community. 00:08:44.200 --> 00:08:47.260 God is all about unity in the community. 00:08:48.820 --> 00:08:49.440 Meaning today. 00:08:49.740 --> 00:08:55.280 If you say to yourself, the joy that I have in Christ is the joy that I desire to share with the world. 00:08:55.280 --> 00:09:00.280 And if you're serious about that, then Paul is saying to you, then you need to be serious about it in your own community. 00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:03.240 Right talking about the church community. 00:09:04.800 --> 00:09:11.980 Because if you can't live out the practical nature of the gospel in the church, you can't live out the practical nature of the gospel 00:09:11.980 --> 00:09:12.560 in the world. 00:09:14.340 --> 00:09:16.460 And this should be the place we're living. 00:09:16.460 --> 00:09:21.000 For Jesus comes the easiest because we all understand we're sinners. 00:09:22.020 --> 00:09:22.750 We all understand. 00:09:23.140 --> 00:09:23.900 We need his grace. 00:09:25.260 --> 00:09:26.390 And we all look to that. 00:09:27.480 --> 00:09:33.000 We don't expect perfection out of each other, but what we do expect is that we encourage one another to seek his face. 00:09:34.500 --> 00:09:39.700 The book of Ephesians says this be diligent or be fervent in your love with one another. 00:09:41.040 --> 00:09:48.160 And the idea of the text and the scripture is saying this to us, that you sweat, you labor, you strive to keep 00:09:48.160 --> 00:09:52.260 the unity of the bond of peace for the sake of Christ within your local body. 00:09:54.700 --> 00:10:02.000 Paul's recognizing something for us as believers in this passage of Scripture that when you're serious about sharing Jesus and you want to see God do 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:05.660 big things within your own church, you've got to let go of self. 00:10:05.700 --> 00:10:08.810 And the way that you let go of self is that you let go of vengeance. 00:10:09.020 --> 00:10:19.080 You let go of anger, you let go of frustration, and you think about the good of what Jesus wants to do through your own community. 00:10:23.360 --> 00:10:23.740 If you're serious. 00:10:28.230 --> 00:10:31.310 This evening or excuse me, this morning, we're going to take communion. 00:10:33.300 --> 00:10:39.200 Communion, as Paul talks about in the passage of First Corinthians, is to be done in a place in our lives where we don't. 00:10:39.480 --> 00:10:40.280 We don't do it with sin. 00:10:43.160 --> 00:10:49.840 We'll do it in a place in our lives where we recognize we need the forgiveness of the Lord, because this communion is all about his forgiveness. 00:10:51.020 --> 00:10:55.170 And we extend that forgiveness to the church, that God can work with us in unity. 00:10:56.400 --> 00:10:57.950 So the Lord can move through us. 00:11:00.500 --> 00:11:02.540 To see the beauty of Christ working in your lives. 00:11:04.660 --> 00:11:05.840 It's about letting go of self. 00:11:08.360 --> 00:11:14.300 It's about thinking about the needs of the church and what Jesus wants to accomplish in us collectively. 00:11:18.200 --> 00:11:22.520 You can't have Christ moving through us without us. 00:11:24.560 --> 00:11:31.680 And so Paul gives us the example and he says in verse two, listen, make my joy complete by being of the same 00:11:31.680 --> 00:11:38.800 mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on 00:11:38.800 --> 00:11:45.650 one purpose, meaning our goal is Christ and making him known in this world. 00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:48.780 We do it together. 00:11:51.440 --> 00:11:58.660 And then Paul goes on and describes for us it's not it's it begins in the unity of the church, but the practical implications of 00:11:58.880 --> 00:12:01.360 how you begin to do this in your life personally. 00:12:01.940 --> 00:12:08.660 He says to us in verse five, he says, have this attitude in yourself, which was also in Christ Jesus. 00:12:12.560 --> 00:12:14.330 Have the same attitude that Jesus had. 00:12:16.100 --> 00:12:22.120 There's a term that's been coined from this passage of Scripture that's called servant leadership. 00:12:23.240 --> 00:12:27.300 This is the only type of leadership that Jesus actually affirmed to us. 00:12:28.300 --> 00:12:35.540 You talk about going into this world and living like Christ, and living for Christ, and representing and leading like Christ in this, in this world, 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:37.040 in your community, in those around you. 00:12:37.460 --> 00:12:44.740 The Bible's thought of that is all about servant leadership, which is a completely backwards thinking from 00:12:44.740 --> 00:12:46.230 the way that we're used to in our society. 00:12:46.580 --> 00:12:46.680 Right? 00:12:47.040 --> 00:12:50.480 I climb the pyramid, and when I get to the top, you bow to me. 00:12:51.980 --> 00:12:55.960 And while Paul is about to explain that when we talk about reaching this world for Jesus, it's flipped. 00:12:56.540 --> 00:13:03.880 The higher you get in this pyramid, the lower you bring yourself to serve the needs of the community, to serve the 00:13:03.880 --> 00:13:04.900 needs of your church. 00:13:04.980 --> 00:13:11.420 If you're interested in what Jesus can do through you get with those who are weak and in Christ, you help them become strong. 00:13:14.500 --> 00:13:15.580 Jesus affirmed it over and over. 00:13:15.800 --> 00:13:22.900 He said multiple times within the gospel, he who is first shall be last, and he who is last shall be 00:13:22.900 --> 00:13:23.600 first. 00:13:24.940 --> 00:13:28.760 The Apostle Paul said, when I am weak, then I am strong. 00:13:28.760 --> 00:13:35.500 I would rather boast in the goodness of Christ, that his power may be made known in my life. 00:13:36.780 --> 00:13:43.920 Paul saying, to be effective in this world, to reach this world, that the way that Jesus has designed you to reach this 00:13:43.920 --> 00:13:46.680 world, it starts through servant leadership. 00:13:48.560 --> 00:13:54.240 Interesting thing about this passage of Scripture is that this passage of Scripture begins a song. 00:13:56.300 --> 00:14:03.380 You read beginning in verse five down to verse 11, Paul begins to explain this doctrine of Christ and how he lived 00:14:03.380 --> 00:14:08.220 his life out for us as a servant leader, that we may duplicate it in our lives. 00:14:08.580 --> 00:14:11.700 But Paul writes to us a song about it. 00:14:11.900 --> 00:14:12.960 I don't know how it goes. 00:14:13.460 --> 00:14:15.690 I'm thinking maybe it's like a Gregorian chant or something. 00:14:15.760 --> 00:14:22.200 He goes, how this attitude in yourself, which was also in Christ Jesus. 00:14:23.340 --> 00:14:24.180 Amen. 00:14:24.560 --> 00:14:31.880 Who, although he exists in the I don't know, I don't know how it goes, but it was a song which this is the unique thing about what Paul is writing here 00:14:31.880 --> 00:14:35.380 is that this song, many historians believe, didn't come from Paul. 00:14:35.460 --> 00:14:36.280 He was not a poet. 00:14:37.020 --> 00:14:38.460 Paul was like straight to the fact. 00:14:38.760 --> 00:14:39.560 Hit you in the heart. 00:14:39.760 --> 00:14:41.100 Let's get over it and move on. 00:14:41.100 --> 00:14:41.980 We got something to do. 00:14:42.720 --> 00:14:45.760 And then all of a sudden you come to this writing of Paul and he's writing poetry. 00:14:46.100 --> 00:14:48.350 Paul, you've got this sensitive side we've never seen. 00:14:48.560 --> 00:14:48.660 Right. 00:14:49.500 --> 00:14:56.680 And so the thought about this passage of Scripture is that Paul didn't come up with this on his own, this song that Paul is writing to us is actually 00:14:56.680 --> 00:15:03.240 a song that the church had begun to sing in its early days, that people would understand what Jesus desires for their lives. 00:15:04.340 --> 00:15:09.800 And so you can imagine when Paul is telling us, if you're serious about reaching this world with Christ, just remember this song. 00:15:10.140 --> 00:15:11.780 no. 00:15:11.780 --> 00:15:12.380 Right, right. 00:15:12.660 --> 00:15:13.130 It's the song. 00:15:13.720 --> 00:15:14.300 It's the song. 00:15:14.600 --> 00:15:15.640 Sing the song to yourselves. 00:15:15.720 --> 00:15:18.760 It sticks within your mind when Jesus is calling you into this world. 00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:21.060 Be a servant leader for him. 00:15:21.060 --> 00:15:28.060 When it becomes difficult, lower yourself that you may lift up the body of Christ and bless it, because when they are strong, we 00:15:28.060 --> 00:15:28.400 are strong. 00:15:31.020 --> 00:15:32.410 And you yourself are blessed. 00:15:34.580 --> 00:15:36.000 So this was important to the church. 00:15:36.160 --> 00:15:40.800 This was so important to the church that this has a song that they had been singing for years. 00:15:41.480 --> 00:15:43.000 Jesus has called us into this world. 00:15:43.260 --> 00:15:45.720 Jesus desires for us to make an impact in the world. 00:15:45.980 --> 00:15:46.970 How are we going to do this? 00:15:47.060 --> 00:15:53.500 Well, we've written this song to remind us from young to old, what Christ desires for us to do in this world. 00:15:55.940 --> 00:15:56.500 Become a servant leader. 00:15:58.800 --> 00:15:59.380 Servant leaders. 00:15:59.520 --> 00:16:06.520 Primary interest for us is to simply ask the question, what can I do for you to see God's best given 00:16:06.760 --> 00:16:08.040 to you in your life? 00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:16.900 Walks with an understanding that God has blessed us all with particular gifts and serving him. 00:16:17.100 --> 00:16:22.440 But the beauty of the gifts that God has blessed you with the purpose of a gift is to give itself away. 00:16:22.940 --> 00:16:28.770 And when you give that gift away, it blesses the lives of those around you for the sake of Christ. 00:16:30.980 --> 00:16:35.300 And so then Paul begins to describe, listen, there's this song for us that's so important. 00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:38.960 We sing it to remind ourselves of the attitude that we carry in this world for Christ. 00:16:39.400 --> 00:16:45.900 But this is the content of the song in verse six, who, although talking about Jesus, he existed in the form of God. 00:16:46.020 --> 00:16:47.900 Jesus was God come to earth. 00:16:47.980 --> 00:16:53.220 He says he did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but he emptied himself. 00:16:53.400 --> 00:16:55.220 He took the lower form as a king. 00:16:55.300 --> 00:16:57.180 He took the lower form as a servant. 00:16:57.600 --> 00:17:01.220 Taking the form of a bond servant says, I'm being made and the likeness of men. 00:17:02.380 --> 00:17:06.760 Being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself. 00:17:07.859 --> 00:17:15.140 By becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross, so that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is 00:17:15.140 --> 00:17:17.400 Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 00:17:20.940 --> 00:17:22.740 And what's Paul saying to us in this passage? 00:17:24.900 --> 00:17:27.819 A couple of things I think we can gather for this when we talk about. 00:17:29.140 --> 00:17:33.200 For living out Philippians chapter two and one is this it comes at a sacrifice. 00:17:36.560 --> 00:17:43.600 When you desire to live for the Lord in this world and to make his goodness known in this world, you've got to 00:17:43.600 --> 00:17:44.290 be willing to sacrifice. 00:17:46.380 --> 00:17:48.100 You've got to be willing to lay yourself down. 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:55.490 In fact, when you read Philippians chapter one and verse 21, I think is one of the theme verses of this entire book. 00:17:55.880 --> 00:18:01.140 Paul writes to the believers and he says, for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:09.720 And the interesting thing for that, for me, when I look at this portion of Scripture and I look at chapter one and succinct with chapter two, is 00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:17.320 that there is no way Paul could ever get to chapter two and say the things in chapter two, unless he is adamantly believing 00:18:17.320 --> 00:18:19.060 what he says in chapter one. 00:18:19.280 --> 00:18:22.700 For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. 00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:31.900 When I talk about being a servant leader for Jesus and making an impact in him, for him in this world today will never happen. 00:18:33.080 --> 00:18:38.920 It will never happen until you see the goodness and worth of Christ in your own life. 00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:48.280 Paul would have never communicated this to us unless he wholeheartedly believed in chapter one, that to live 00:18:48.280 --> 00:18:54.020 is Christ and to gain is just to see his worth before his face. 00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:58.340 To live this way. 00:18:59.520 --> 00:19:04.140 According to the example that Jesus has given takes tremendous sacrifice. 00:19:06.210 --> 00:19:13.280 But when you consider the sacrifice that Jesus is talking about, for you see, I believe in our lives 00:19:13.280 --> 00:19:20.320 that we live for the Lord in two ways one, when we see his goodness and his worth, 00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:23.240 and then we see our identity in him. 00:19:24.860 --> 00:19:31.940 If I told you we're all going to jump on a plane and we're heading to, I don't know, Detroit, I 00:19:31.940 --> 00:19:32.600 don't know why we're going. 00:19:32.980 --> 00:19:33.530 We're going to Detroit. 00:19:33.780 --> 00:19:33.880 Okay. 00:19:35.260 --> 00:19:38.100 And then I tell you know, we got two choices here. 00:19:38.980 --> 00:19:40.540 we can only fit half of you in one plane. 00:19:40.540 --> 00:19:40.840 Half the other. 00:19:41.340 --> 00:19:43.320 This one plane, the motor broke down five minutes ago. 00:19:43.540 --> 00:19:45.280 We just got found this dude off the street to fix it. 00:19:45.740 --> 00:19:46.560 You guys get on that one. 00:19:46.560 --> 00:19:49.500 Everyone else, we're getting this new this new plane right now, okay? 00:19:49.660 --> 00:19:50.800 It's brand new right off the lot. 00:19:50.860 --> 00:19:51.140 They've tested it. 00:19:51.280 --> 00:19:51.660 It's good to go. 00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:53.520 All of us that get on that plane. 00:19:53.620 --> 00:19:55.500 When we ride that plane this way, we're going to be riding that plane. 00:19:56.040 --> 00:19:56.970 Man, this is awesome. 00:19:57.100 --> 00:19:57.300 Right? 00:19:57.560 --> 00:19:59.720 We'll be looking at our window at the other guys, and they'll be freaking out. 00:20:00.260 --> 00:20:01.060 Oh the motor. 00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:01.740 Oh, yeah. 00:20:01.740 --> 00:20:02.600 There's no confidence. 00:20:02.800 --> 00:20:03.510 What are we going to do? 00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:06.900 But it's the same thing in your relationship with Christ. 00:20:07.080 --> 00:20:14.360 When Jesus talks about this sacrifice without the confidence of his worth and his promises and your identity 00:20:14.360 --> 00:20:17.240 in him, the way that you serve Jesus is the same way you ride the plane. 00:20:18.900 --> 00:20:21.430 I don't know if it's going to work. 00:20:23.220 --> 00:20:26.700 I don't know if it will fulfill what it's called to fulfill. 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:27.980 I just I kind of hope. 00:20:30.180 --> 00:20:31.970 And so the attitude you carry into the world. 00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:38.540 Doesn't proclaim the goodness of God because you're not even confident in yourself. 00:20:41.030 --> 00:20:43.690 But to rest assured in Jesus. 00:20:45.760 --> 00:20:48.700 Let's see his worth in your heart and your life. 00:20:51.680 --> 00:20:54.230 Serving Christ in this way comes at tremendous sacrifice. 00:20:54.680 --> 00:21:00.240 In the way that it happens for us, is to take the time to honor his goodness in our world. 00:21:02.860 --> 00:21:05.860 And seeing the sacrifice that Jesus made for you. 00:21:05.860 --> 00:21:07.580 This is what it communicates to us. 00:21:10.680 --> 00:21:13.240 That in your darkest, ugliest. 00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:16.380 Most hopeless moment. 00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:19.780 Jesus still loves you. 00:21:21.900 --> 00:21:29.340 Being a servant leader for this world doesn't say to people, before I serve you have to prove that you're worthy of my service. 00:21:30.760 --> 00:21:36.640 If that were the case for Jesus, he would have never loved you, and the goodness of God would have never been made known in your life. 00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:42.060 Because Jesus loved you in your sin, and he extended his grace to you. 00:21:42.340 --> 00:21:46.260 Great things happen in your life because of Christ. 00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:52.700 In your darkest, ugliest moment. 00:21:53.260 --> 00:21:57.590 Jesus still loves you and he goes to the cross. 00:21:58.000 --> 00:22:04.990 And as a king who didn't deserve any of it, he lays down his life for you. 00:22:07.960 --> 00:22:13.060 Living for Christ is about mimicking his example. 00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:17.820 The last thing that Paul tells us in these verses comes in verse three and four. 00:22:17.920 --> 00:22:21.950 And so we've looked at the example of Jesus, and we kind of jumped ahead a little bit. 00:22:22.100 --> 00:22:26.810 And now we're going to bounce back and look at the practical part of living it out in our lives. 00:22:27.100 --> 00:22:27.590 It says this. 00:22:29.140 --> 00:22:34.440 Do nothing from selfishness, which is the opposite of servant leadership or empty conceit. 00:22:35.540 --> 00:22:39.190 But with humility of mind, regard one another as more important than yourselves. 00:22:40.740 --> 00:22:45.580 Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:48.680 God's not about individuality. 00:22:49.900 --> 00:22:50.780 God's about community. 00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:59.500 God's not completely interested in what he specifically can do just in you, but interested in what he can do through you to bless the 00:22:59.500 --> 00:23:00.500 lives of others. 00:23:02.800 --> 00:23:10.040 The greatest miracle we say from time to time here at church is God has put His Spirit in you, that your spirit may magnify him 00:23:10.040 --> 00:23:11.180 into this world. 00:23:13.560 --> 00:23:20.660 What God does in your heart to transform you, to display his image is the miraculous hand of God at 00:23:20.660 --> 00:23:21.360 work. 00:23:23.320 --> 00:23:26.560 Living as a servant leader in this passage of Scripture. 00:23:26.620 --> 00:23:33.800 It's telling you to take off things that are self-focused and start asking questions and saying, God, what do you desire to do in us 00:23:33.900 --> 00:23:34.440 and through us? 00:23:34.540 --> 00:23:39.000 And Lord, where is my part in this that I can enhance the Body of Christ in pursuing you? 00:23:41.220 --> 00:23:43.340 And it requires us to take on humility. 00:23:44.560 --> 00:23:49.350 Because it's an attitude of service where sometimes we've got to lay ourselves down for the sake of Christ. 00:23:51.860 --> 00:23:54.120 You're interested in reaching this world for the King. 00:23:54.220 --> 00:23:58.220 When you're interested in doing what it takes to bring the message of the king to this world. 00:23:59.580 --> 00:24:00.120 I like this quote. 00:24:00.120 --> 00:24:01.470 It comes from Tony Evans. 00:24:01.560 --> 00:24:06.760 Faith is how we get to heaven, but your works is how heaven comes to earth. 00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:17.240 If you want people to see the goodness of God being displayed in you and through you in your life, it's 00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:24.480 a matter of living this life for the sake of Christ that it becomes evident you are God's spokesman called into 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:26.200 this world to display Christ. 00:24:28.260 --> 00:24:29.700 Huh? 00:24:30.050 --> 00:24:31.450 This is how I'm going to conclude today. 00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:36.460 William just with five thoughts related to this. 00:24:37.600 --> 00:24:45.070 Five helpful thoughts for us as people in order for us to become good servant leaders in Christ. 00:24:45.940 --> 00:24:52.700 I was reading a story this week, going through some devotional thoughts, and I got to the life of Elijah and Elisha. 00:24:54.460 --> 00:24:56.470 Second Kings chapter two is where that story starts. 00:24:56.600 --> 00:24:58.040 If you know the story of Elijah and Elijah. 00:24:58.440 --> 00:25:00.840 Elijah was this incredible prophet follower of God. 00:25:00.840 --> 00:25:02.380 Miraculous things happen through him. 00:25:02.700 --> 00:25:09.900 There comes a place in chapter two when Elijah is carried off in a chariot of fire, and Elijah is about to take over for 00:25:09.900 --> 00:25:14.220 the Lord and fulfilling the ministry that Elijah had been called to. 00:25:16.140 --> 00:25:16.540 Elijah. 00:25:16.740 --> 00:25:20.780 The Bible tells us, comes before Elijah and asks him to go with him on a journey. 00:25:20.820 --> 00:25:22.780 They're going on a journey together. 00:25:24.660 --> 00:25:28.860 And while they're on this journey, Elisha knows that it's his last moments with Elijah. 00:25:30.200 --> 00:25:37.420 And the Bible tells us that as he's walking on this final journey with Elijah, that these prophets of God 00:25:37.420 --> 00:25:44.580 or these excuse me, these false prophets continue to come out and they continue to say to Elijah, don't you know, this is this is your last 00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:46.480 time with Elijah before he leaves? 00:25:47.980 --> 00:25:49.840 And Elijah's response is the same time. 00:25:49.840 --> 00:25:53.080 I think it happens three times in the chapter and his response is the same every time. 00:25:54.020 --> 00:25:54.360 Shut your mouth. 00:25:56.280 --> 00:25:57.940 I mean, it was a little bit more harsh than that, right? 00:25:58.020 --> 00:26:00.020 But that's the PG version. 00:26:00.020 --> 00:26:00.450 Shut your mouth. 00:26:00.660 --> 00:26:00.860 Right. 00:26:02.030 --> 00:26:04.220 I don't even want to think about that. 00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:07.360 I just want to enjoy these final moments with him. 00:26:07.360 --> 00:26:09.900 And the Bible tells us Elijah comes to Elijah and says, what? 00:26:10.140 --> 00:26:17.160 What one thing can I do for you, Elijah, before I go and Elijah says, give me a double portion of your spirit, that same spirit that 00:26:17.160 --> 00:26:17.720 moves in you. 00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:20.240 I want to experience that twice as powerful. 00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:20.980 Give that to me. 00:26:21.300 --> 00:26:27.100 And Elijah says, okay, well, if you see me taking off in a chariot of fire, then the spirit and double portion will be given to you. 00:26:27.100 --> 00:26:28.740 And Elijah is walking with Elijah. 00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:33.420 They get to the Jordan River, which is always a place of transition for the nation of Israel. 00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:38.970 Elijah pulls out his cloak and he hits the river with the cloak and it parts, and they just walk across like nobody. 00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:39.800 Nothing's going on. 00:26:39.960 --> 00:26:40.580 This is a normal day. 00:26:40.760 --> 00:26:40.960 Watch. 00:26:41.120 --> 00:26:42.120 Let's go. 00:26:42.120 --> 00:26:42.280 Right. 00:26:43.800 --> 00:26:47.730 And I can imagine Elijah sitting on the other end thinking, man, if I want to go back home, I got to cross that river back. 00:26:47.940 --> 00:26:50.660 If you desert me on this, I don't know what I'm going to do. 00:26:51.940 --> 00:26:54.000 And Elijah and Elijah go across the river. 00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:59.500 Gets to a place where on the other side of the river and in the Jordan, that. 00:27:00.120 --> 00:27:04.980 The chariot comes and Elijah is taken away and Elijah sees it. 00:27:06.060 --> 00:27:07.880 And he's living now on this promise. 00:27:09.580 --> 00:27:11.220 He saw what God told him. 00:27:11.220 --> 00:27:13.870 If he had seen, he would have the double portion of his spirit. 00:27:15.840 --> 00:27:16.420 I'm not going to tell you. 00:27:18.040 --> 00:27:19.720 Where Elisha went after that. 00:27:20.980 --> 00:27:22.980 As a place that all of us have to go in our Christian faith. 00:27:25.160 --> 00:27:27.260 Bible tells us that Elijah picked up the cloak. 00:27:28.620 --> 00:27:31.400 He turned around and he went back to the Jordan River. 00:27:33.600 --> 00:27:37.780 A place that always stood as a time of transition for the nation of Israel. 00:27:38.140 --> 00:27:42.780 This is the place that Joshua crossed, and they built this monument to honor the Lord. 00:27:42.820 --> 00:27:48.160 As the people of Israel went to Israel for the first time, the Jordan holds a significant place in the hearts of Israel. 00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:54.410 They know as a place where they came to make a decision and following after God and just simply trusting in him. 00:27:55.800 --> 00:27:57.440 And Elijah comes to that river. 00:27:57.640 --> 00:28:02.460 And the quote in the Bible says this where is the God of Elijah? 00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:07.500 And Elijah gets ready to lift up his cloak and hit this river. 00:28:08.040 --> 00:28:08.140 And he. 00:28:08.380 --> 00:28:11.760 And right before he hits it, he says, where is the God of Elijah? 00:28:11.780 --> 00:28:18.920 And I don't know about you, but I kind of read into the context when I saw that and I and I saw this Elijah or Elijah saying to 00:28:18.920 --> 00:28:20.760 God, God, I hope this works. 00:28:21.060 --> 00:28:22.690 Oh my gosh, I hope this works. 00:28:22.960 --> 00:28:24.020 I want to get back home. 00:28:24.080 --> 00:28:28.540 Lord, I know what your promises is, but I hope this works. 00:28:29.020 --> 00:28:34.570 And he pulls out the cloak and he hits the river and the Bible tells us the water parts. 00:28:36.880 --> 00:28:37.710 Well, the story for us. 00:28:39.340 --> 00:28:41.460 It's the same story that continues throughout all the scripture. 00:28:41.860 --> 00:28:44.080 You ask yourself, why are these stories in the in the Bible? 00:28:44.660 --> 00:28:47.480 God's always the hero in Scripture. 00:28:47.480 --> 00:28:48.620 It's always about him. 00:28:48.620 --> 00:28:55.200 But he gives us story after story about the way he works in this world to tell us if God wants to do it, he's going to accomplish it. 00:28:55.220 --> 00:28:58.300 And if God gives you the promise, he's going to fulfill it. 00:28:58.460 --> 00:29:01.890 All you have to do is to be faithful to him. 00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:11.480 We all come to this place in Scripture in our lives when we see the promises of God, where we've got to allow the rubber to 00:29:11.480 --> 00:29:12.820 meet the road. 00:29:14.040 --> 00:29:21.080 And the way that we get there in our world is if you fill your cup up with Christ, then you have the 00:29:21.080 --> 00:29:23.420 opportunity to share Christ. 00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:30.900 When your cup is full in Jesus, then you can offer to this world Jesus simple way of saying to us, take the 00:29:30.900 --> 00:29:33.610 time to grow in your confidence with the Lord. 00:29:35.560 --> 00:29:37.780 Come to understand who he is. 00:29:39.200 --> 00:29:41.430 And who you are in light of him. 00:29:43.080 --> 00:29:44.940 Unless you fill your cup up in Christ. 00:29:46.540 --> 00:29:49.310 You won't have any of Christ to offer to this world. 00:29:49.400 --> 00:29:52.480 So fill your cup up in Christ. 00:29:52.600 --> 00:29:55.600 Elijah coming to that river. 00:29:56.620 --> 00:29:59.440 He saw the beauty of God working in Elijah. 00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:07.700 And so he comes to the river, understanding all that Jesus has done in him, living in the promise that God is going to continue to work through 00:30:07.700 --> 00:30:08.250 him. 00:30:10.520 --> 00:30:12.360 And so Elijah strikes the river. 00:30:14.160 --> 00:30:20.580 When you have confidence that God will do the job, you will enjoy the ride with him. 00:30:21.380 --> 00:30:24.960 Second is this don't be simply a doer. 00:30:25.740 --> 00:30:27.780 Be a beer, right? 00:30:27.840 --> 00:30:28.360 I was going to. 00:30:28.560 --> 00:30:30.720 I think I spelled that in your notes and I put a hyphen there. 00:30:31.040 --> 00:30:32.960 It turns out that the word beer spells beer. 00:30:33.280 --> 00:30:36.370 So don't be a doer. 00:30:36.900 --> 00:30:38.140 Be a beer. 00:30:38.140 --> 00:30:40.690 And this is what it means when you hear servant leadership. 00:30:40.780 --> 00:30:45.340 Here's my tendency and my flaw as a human being, I immediately think, what task? 00:30:45.760 --> 00:30:47.260 What task does God want me to accomplish? 00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:48.860 What job do I need to finish? 00:30:49.020 --> 00:30:49.400 Let's get in there. 00:30:49.720 --> 00:30:50.960 Let's get in there and do the task. 00:30:51.400 --> 00:30:54.920 But do you know God isn't a God that's primarily interested in just accomplishing a task? 00:30:56.580 --> 00:30:58.140 What is interested is moving in your life. 00:30:59.560 --> 00:31:06.560 And so when you go into an opportunity to do something for the Lord, and all you seek to do is accomplish the task, you miss the blessing of enjoying the ride with each 00:31:06.560 --> 00:31:07.110 other. 00:31:08.320 --> 00:31:09.900 It's not about just being a doer. 00:31:09.900 --> 00:31:11.980 It's also about being a beer. 00:31:12.440 --> 00:31:15.260 Beer, right? 00:31:15.400 --> 00:31:19.560 When Moses was called out by God, God repeatedly said to Moses, Moses, come up with me on the mount. 00:31:19.640 --> 00:31:21.020 Moses, come up with me on the mountain. 00:31:21.020 --> 00:31:22.400 Moses, come up with me on the mountain. 00:31:22.460 --> 00:31:26.460 And what God was saying to Moses in the Hebrew context is literally just be. 00:31:27.480 --> 00:31:30.000 Just be and enjoy that moment with me. 00:31:30.380 --> 00:31:32.400 Look at what I'm able to do in you and through you. 00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:33.410 It's not just about the task. 00:31:33.420 --> 00:31:34.510 Listen, I can give you the Ten Commandments. 00:31:34.680 --> 00:31:35.670 We can get off the hill at any moment. 00:31:35.880 --> 00:31:36.960 But it's about being. 00:31:37.420 --> 00:31:38.900 It's about being with me. 00:31:40.500 --> 00:31:43.450 When we talk about servant leadership, it's not just about, okay, what do you need done? 00:31:43.540 --> 00:31:43.840 Okay, I did it. 00:31:43.900 --> 00:31:44.240 See you later. 00:31:46.100 --> 00:31:50.540 It's about stepping in to love that heart, to meet that need. 00:31:50.800 --> 00:31:56.140 I mean, Jesus could have just come right down, died on the cross and got out of here, right? 00:31:56.340 --> 00:31:57.590 But he spent time with his disciples. 00:31:59.280 --> 00:32:04.780 He exercised for us, not about just doing, but also being present with them as they were doing. 00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:09.940 Enjoying and seeking after what God wanted to do in them and through them. 00:32:10.120 --> 00:32:11.990 Third is this remember, you're not the Holy Spirit. 00:32:14.980 --> 00:32:18.140 You talk about being a servant leader, you're not the Holy Spirit. 00:32:19.300 --> 00:32:20.760 Only one person has that job. 00:32:21.560 --> 00:32:26.820 And what I mean is that when you come to serve someone, you can encourage them in the Lord. 00:32:26.820 --> 00:32:29.380 You can teach them in the Lord, you can help them in the Lord. 00:32:29.560 --> 00:32:31.740 You can even rebuke them in the Lord. 00:32:33.200 --> 00:32:34.640 But it's not your job to guilt them. 00:32:34.680 --> 00:32:35.800 It's not your job to convict them. 00:32:35.960 --> 00:32:38.500 It's not your job to change them. 00:32:40.980 --> 00:32:42.350 Jesus has called you to serve them. 00:32:44.060 --> 00:32:48.900 And in serving him, you share the goodness of the Lord and you allow the Lord to work in their lives. 00:32:51.280 --> 00:32:54.600 Fourth is this respond in love for God in community. 00:32:55.900 --> 00:32:57.660 We talk about being servant leaders. 00:32:57.820 --> 00:32:59.410 You can't do that without community. 00:33:00.880 --> 00:33:07.700 As a matter of fact, when you talk about the fruit of the spirit that God gives to all of us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness you can't love without having someone to love. 00:33:07.760 --> 00:33:09.840 You can't be patient without having someone to be patient over. 00:33:11.580 --> 00:33:12.060 You need community. 00:33:13.740 --> 00:33:17.140 You need community for relationship. 00:33:17.140 --> 00:33:21.020 You need small groups in order to be open with. 00:33:23.200 --> 00:33:28.690 And God has called us to a community that we may exercise and display the beauty of Christ. 00:33:30.100 --> 00:33:31.640 Last is this to be a servant leader? 00:33:33.860 --> 00:33:34.800 Remember, you're not perfect. 00:33:37.440 --> 00:33:38.520 If we. 00:33:40.340 --> 00:33:41.290 Can't think of something. 00:33:42.420 --> 00:33:43.420 We did wrong yesterday. 00:33:44.640 --> 00:33:47.600 You probably lie about other things too. 00:33:49.400 --> 00:33:49.660 Right. 00:33:50.940 --> 00:33:52.720 Huh? 00:33:53.860 --> 00:33:56.320 We don't come to church expecting people to be perfect. 00:33:58.040 --> 00:34:02.390 Matter of fact, when you weren't perfect, it gives me more to do so for the glory of God to serve you right. 00:34:04.780 --> 00:34:05.880 We don't expect people to be perfect. 00:34:08.100 --> 00:34:10.170 And we don't hold you to the standard of perfection. 00:34:10.500 --> 00:34:14.710 But what we do desire is for you to walk in the light as he is in the light, and to be close to the Lord. 00:34:16.900 --> 00:34:23.940 And so whatever that takes in your life, God's calling not just on the pastor of a church, but on each member, is to come alongside of one 00:34:23.940 --> 00:34:28.130 another as a community and encourage each other to that. 00:34:28.980 --> 00:34:34.570 You think when someone frustrates you, there's nothing more in this world that you can do to display the love of Christ and to give them grace. 00:34:36.460 --> 00:34:37.600 And to say, you know what? 00:34:38.440 --> 00:34:40.179 I've been thinking about myself. 00:34:41.040 --> 00:34:48.650 And this verse obviously says, if I want Jesus to be made known in us, it's not about me, it's about us. 00:34:50.380 --> 00:34:53.960 It's not about getting my vengeance because it doesn't display Christ. 00:34:54.060 --> 00:34:57.420 It's not about making you hurt the way that you made me hurt. 00:34:57.420 --> 00:34:59.980 It's not about guilting you to change you. 00:34:59.980 --> 00:35:07.820 It's about giving you grace and love and saying there's nothing more important in us than the community and unity. 00:35:07.820 --> 00:35:09.880 Walking in truth for the sake of Christ. 00:35:10.100 --> 00:35:15.880 If we want Jesus to move in us and work through us, it's about letting go of self. 00:35:16.020 --> 00:35:23.220 And so whatever I hold on to, I'm letting go that Christ may work in us, and the beauty of him be made 00:35:23.220 --> 00:35:25.080 known in this world. 00:35:27.440 --> 00:35:28.600 Paul. 00:35:30.940 --> 00:35:32.790 This passage of Scripture for us. 00:35:34.440 --> 00:35:35.690 He writes a song. 00:35:37.580 --> 00:35:39.820 And we don't know how it goes, so we can't sing it any more. 00:35:39.840 --> 00:35:43.850 But the important part is that we see the significance of this passage. 00:35:45.140 --> 00:35:46.780 Since the early church began. 00:35:47.080 --> 00:35:53.360 They had a theme that they would gather and rally around together in unison, singing, clapping their hands maybe who knows? 00:35:53.420 --> 00:35:54.020 Or Gregorian chant. 00:35:54.900 --> 00:36:02.200 Whatever it is to say to ourselves, we understand that Jesus has called us into this world and we've seen the worth of 00:36:02.380 --> 00:36:03.840 Christ in our lives. 00:36:03.980 --> 00:36:06.560 And so when we ask the question, how do we do it? 00:36:06.580 --> 00:36:13.740 The answer is it's about servant leadership getting beneath someone to lift them up, that they may see the 00:36:13.760 --> 00:36:17.520 beauty and worth of Christ in his own and their own life. 00:36:19.680 --> 00:36:22.040 If you desire. 00:36:23.860 --> 00:36:26.370 To make an impact in this world for Christ. 00:36:28.220 --> 00:36:29.310 You got to let go of self. 00:36:31.820 --> 00:36:32.670 Let go of self. 00:36:33.900 --> 00:36:35.780 And let Jesus move in you and through you.