WEBVTT 00:00:00.440 --> 00:00:01.400 Philippians chapter two. 00:00:01.400 --> 00:00:06.500 We're on a series together on the book of Philippians studying this idea of joy. 00:00:06.580 --> 00:00:11.400 When Paul wrote the book of Philippians, he recorded about joy in Christ. 00:00:11.820 --> 00:00:18.820 And the interesting thing about the book of Philippians is that, Paul is writing about joy being persecuted and imprisoned as a 00:00:18.820 --> 00:00:20.760 believer in Jesus. 00:00:20.840 --> 00:00:28.120 And so this book is one that, allows us just to stand and all and what Christ can do for us as we trust in him. 00:00:28.780 --> 00:00:33.660 The Bible tells us that sufficient today are the, what we have to face. 00:00:33.660 --> 00:00:39.460 And so Jesus applies us for what we need for today that we don't have to worry about tomorrow until until we're there. 00:00:39.460 --> 00:00:43.840 As far as walking with it in Christ, God calls us to look towards the future in him. 00:00:44.600 --> 00:00:48.740 But we know in that future Jesus will be with us, sustaining us and providing for us. 00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:54.960 As we study this book of Philippians together, we've looked on just two themes in chapter one. 00:00:55.260 --> 00:00:56.880 The first is this grace is messy. 00:00:58.360 --> 00:00:59.640 God's grace is messy. 00:00:59.640 --> 00:01:02.230 And the reason that it's messy is because we as people are sinful. 00:01:02.280 --> 00:01:04.660 The reason God's grace exists is because of sin. 00:01:04.940 --> 00:01:08.180 God's grace comes into our life when we don't deserve it. 00:01:08.500 --> 00:01:11.480 He gives us his grace and it transforms us from the inside out. 00:01:11.760 --> 00:01:16.100 Grace is intended for messy, which is why as a church family we say, come how you are. 00:01:16.980 --> 00:01:20.520 There's nothing that you can give to God to make him love you more than he already does. 00:01:21.460 --> 00:01:26.190 And what Jesus wants to do by his strength in you is far greater than you're ever going to do in your own strength. 00:01:26.660 --> 00:01:30.620 In fact, there's nothing you're going to do to God or for God that's going to make him love you anymore. 00:01:31.520 --> 00:01:36.860 And so come as you are, give your life over to the Lord and allow him just to work his way in you. 00:01:36.940 --> 00:01:44.260 His grace is messy because it's designed for us as people who are sinful, living contrary to him, or who walk in a different way than he desires 00:01:44.260 --> 00:01:45.060 for us to walk. 00:01:46.360 --> 00:01:47.560 But when his grace grabs hold. 00:01:48.660 --> 00:01:49.580 It transforms us. 00:01:51.100 --> 00:01:54.640 And we saw it the second half of chapter one, this idea of lions and tigers and bears. 00:01:54.640 --> 00:02:01.820 We focused on those areas of Paul's life that he faced hardships in crisis and chains and criticism and all these various 00:02:01.820 --> 00:02:08.919 things that pressured him in his life to live a life contrary to Jesus, but in that he desired to walk with Jesus and saying to us, lions and tigers 00:02:08.919 --> 00:02:09.759 and bears, who cares? 00:02:09.780 --> 00:02:10.410 I've got Christ. 00:02:12.680 --> 00:02:14.500 Circumstances will always change. 00:02:15.880 --> 00:02:18.040 But the joy of Christ can rest with you for eternity. 00:02:19.460 --> 00:02:21.160 Because the promises of Jesus never change. 00:02:22.760 --> 00:02:26.510 When your hope is in a world through circumstances that change, your hope will go with it. 00:02:27.300 --> 00:02:28.100 Your joy will diminish. 00:02:29.980 --> 00:02:33.520 But when your joy rests and the one who is eternal, who has authority over all things. 00:02:35.200 --> 00:02:36.020 You know that he can provide. 00:02:37.780 --> 00:02:45.020 In fact, the Apostle Paul said so in the book of Philippians chapter one and verse 27, I believe he started talking to us about the power of the spirit 00:02:45.020 --> 00:02:46.220 that transforms our lives. 00:02:48.060 --> 00:02:49.960 God provides in our moments of need. 00:02:49.960 --> 00:02:52.320 Oftentimes we worry about tomorrow. 00:02:53.980 --> 00:02:59.420 And the Bible tells us not to worry about tomorrow, but cast your burdens upon Jesus because he cares for you. 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:01.440 And the problems of tomorrow. 00:03:01.480 --> 00:03:04.220 Just as Jesus meets you today, he meets you tomorrow. 00:03:06.340 --> 00:03:10.110 And now Paul takes the start of chapter one in the book of Philippians. 00:03:10.460 --> 00:03:16.160 And walking with Jesus and understanding how Jesus empowered us and understanding what Jesus has done for us in his grace. 00:03:16.340 --> 00:03:19.740 He then propels us and encourages us to live it out in our lives. 00:03:21.180 --> 00:03:28.640 And I'll tell you this morning, I'm going to move a little bit quickly, because at the end of the service, we're going to make a tremendous amount of application to this text, because, for one, 00:03:28.640 --> 00:03:31.460 the church today is pretty familiar with Philippians chapter two. 00:03:31.460 --> 00:03:36.090 If you read the Bible, this is a very highlighted portion of Scripture as it relates to the life of a believer. 00:03:36.980 --> 00:03:41.460 But this portion of Scripture is not something we're supposed to walk away with and understand intellectually, but to live out in our lives. 00:03:42.440 --> 00:03:44.600 And Paul is calling us in chapter two to live this out. 00:03:44.660 --> 00:03:51.440 And so we're going to end our service focusing on the persecuted church and the way that we can be involved as a body of believers for what God has called us to in this world. 00:03:52.940 --> 00:03:58.340 When we talk about helping world systems or presenting the truth in this world. 00:03:58.620 --> 00:04:05.660 Sometimes we as people, when we encounter systems that oppose us, our natural inclinations to get angry and respond to 00:04:05.660 --> 00:04:05.880 that. 00:04:06.060 --> 00:04:07.100 You made me feel bad. 00:04:07.100 --> 00:04:09.920 And so I'm going to make you feel bad, feel the pain that I feel justice. 00:04:10.400 --> 00:04:10.580 Right? 00:04:11.660 --> 00:04:14.430 She offended me and I'm taking her and her whole posse down. 00:04:16.839 --> 00:04:19.920 And so in anger, we attack world systems. 00:04:20.100 --> 00:04:20.680 We do it theologically. 00:04:21.260 --> 00:04:21.910 We do it personally. 00:04:22.220 --> 00:04:22.900 We do it organizationally. 00:04:25.080 --> 00:04:32.220 But if I'm being honest, according to what the Bible says, when we approach someone who holds to a world system, when we don't impose 00:04:32.220 --> 00:04:39.320 the truth of what the world should operate under, with that, then we do someone a disservice by undermining the system that 00:04:39.320 --> 00:04:41.450 they operate under because they're left unto themselves. 00:04:41.460 --> 00:04:43.860 They'll just find another fallible system to operate from. 00:04:45.960 --> 00:04:46.620 Truth is important. 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:49.060 But only is. 00:04:49.220 --> 00:04:50.960 Is truth important? 00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:56.480 We as believers sometimes understand that Jesus gives us truth, that the truth that he gives us. 00:04:56.560 --> 00:05:00.460 It makes sense when God said, love the Lord your God, he said, with all your heart, soul, and mind. 00:05:00.460 --> 00:05:01.380 God gave us a mind. 00:05:01.540 --> 00:05:05.360 The people that should be most intellectual in this world are people who have faith in Christ. 00:05:05.360 --> 00:05:08.270 Understanding that God gave you the mind to exercise that faith. 00:05:08.960 --> 00:05:09.980 Faith isn't blind. 00:05:09.980 --> 00:05:10.780 Faith isn't ignorant. 00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:12.320 Faith isn't just a guess. 00:05:13.120 --> 00:05:18.360 There is a certainty, especially to the Christian faith rested upon the identity of truth in Jesus that can be tested. 00:05:19.020 --> 00:05:22.810 The Bible even says that acts chapter 17, they were more noble than those in Thessalonica. 00:05:23.300 --> 00:05:26.520 They received the Word of God with readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily. 00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:31.680 Whether those things were true, they proved it in first Thessalonians five 2021. 00:05:31.960 --> 00:05:34.560 Prove all things hold fast to that which is good. 00:05:35.600 --> 00:05:38.950 Just because you have faith in Jesus doesn't mean you check your mind out at the door. 00:05:40.620 --> 00:05:42.280 There's truth that can be tested. 00:05:43.880 --> 00:05:48.720 When you come to understand that truth and you find world systems that disagree with it. 00:05:49.740 --> 00:05:54.760 The godly thing to do is not beat up the world system, to make them see that you're right and they're wrong. 00:05:57.300 --> 00:05:57.520 It's not about being right and wrong. 00:05:57.520 --> 00:05:57.940 It's about the truth. 00:05:59.920 --> 00:06:03.960 Theology truth has created for us that we may worship. 00:06:05.520 --> 00:06:08.920 On John chapter four and verse 24, it says, worship him in spirit and truth. 00:06:10.860 --> 00:06:13.500 God has given us his truth, we may worship him. 00:06:15.460 --> 00:06:19.900 And so if you take theology as an excuse to beat someone up as if you're right and they're wrong. 00:06:21.160 --> 00:06:25.090 What God desires for you to do is to take that truth, that it may encourage worship in other people. 00:06:26.940 --> 00:06:31.200 To substitute a fallible worldview and system with the truth of who God is. 00:06:32.880 --> 00:06:40.120 And Paul comes to Philippians chapter two with that approach in mind, that not only that we would carry the truth, but he more specifically 00:06:40.120 --> 00:06:42.760 addresses how we share this truth in the world. 00:06:44.020 --> 00:06:48.060 And in chapter two and verse one he says, therefore this. 00:06:48.180 --> 00:06:51.720 This word, therefore, is a summation of what Paul said in chapter one. 00:06:52.320 --> 00:06:59.480 Therefore, in conclusion, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there's any consolation of love, if there's any fellowship of the spirit, if any affection 00:06:59.480 --> 00:07:06.580 and compassion make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in the spirit, 00:07:06.680 --> 00:07:08.740 intent on one purpose. 00:07:08.800 --> 00:07:09.680 Let me just stop right there. 00:07:11.240 --> 00:07:15.940 God desires in his community in Christ centered on him, that we be united. 00:07:17.280 --> 00:07:20.720 And there is a difference between the thought of united. 00:07:22.360 --> 00:07:23.760 And this thought of uniformity. 00:07:25.400 --> 00:07:27.580 We talk about being united as a body of believers. 00:07:27.640 --> 00:07:34.740 What we don't mean is uniformity, because we recognize when people come in, we come from different places, and God has given us different gifts to exercise for him. 00:07:34.880 --> 00:07:36.720 We don't want every Christian to look the same. 00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:43.120 God has gifted you uniquely and specially, and so unity and uniformity are not the same thing. 00:07:43.240 --> 00:07:44.540 Unity looks at your heart. 00:07:44.540 --> 00:07:46.540 Uniformity looks at your appearance. 00:07:46.540 --> 00:07:48.240 Unity flows from the inside out. 00:07:48.260 --> 00:07:50.620 Uniformity is pressed from the outside. 00:07:50.680 --> 00:07:52.980 In unity uses individuals. 00:07:52.980 --> 00:07:55.210 Uniformity loses individuals. 00:07:55.500 --> 00:07:59.210 Unity is all about how God uses you as a part of the bigger picture. 00:07:59.900 --> 00:08:03.880 Uniformity is all about how religion conforms you to match their picture. 00:08:04.980 --> 00:08:06.730 Unity is born out of a heart of transformation. 00:08:07.180 --> 00:08:10.760 Uniformity is forced by behavior modification. 00:08:12.220 --> 00:08:18.430 Uniformity promotes rebellion, but unity in Christ brings joy. 00:08:20.040 --> 00:08:22.600 And Paul, as he calls us, to the circumstance of being united. 00:08:22.600 --> 00:08:24.160 He says in verse two, you know what? 00:08:24.280 --> 00:08:25.260 You know what brings us joy. 00:08:25.260 --> 00:08:26.660 Jesus brings us joy. 00:08:26.840 --> 00:08:31.420 And walking with him, knowing that doesn't change according to circumstances, but his promises are always true. 00:08:31.440 --> 00:08:32.380 But you know what else brings joy? 00:08:32.740 --> 00:08:34.600 When you see the body of Christ doing it together? 00:08:36.080 --> 00:08:38.620 The joy of the Lord is made known in our lives. 00:08:38.640 --> 00:08:45.120 And so when we come to ABC, what we're not interested in is your outward appearance, but rather what we're after is your heart. 00:08:47.180 --> 00:08:49.020 Because we know the Christian life from beginning to end. 00:08:50.100 --> 00:08:51.080 It's always about surrender. 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:54.920 Giving herself over to Jesus empty handed. 00:08:56.040 --> 00:08:58.480 And allowing him to work his way in. 00:09:00.820 --> 00:09:03.670 Unity, therefore, is only found in identity. 00:09:05.460 --> 00:09:09.080 Our unity is not just about being united, to united, to be united. 00:09:10.140 --> 00:09:10.540 It's not that. 00:09:10.620 --> 00:09:11.620 Can't we all just get along? 00:09:11.620 --> 00:09:12.700 We're united to be united. 00:09:12.800 --> 00:09:13.300 Thought don't. 00:09:13.460 --> 00:09:14.060 Don't believe. 00:09:14.060 --> 00:09:19.220 As long as you focus on being united, we will all have this utopia thinking that's not true. 00:09:19.400 --> 00:09:22.300 Every utopia needs a foundation from which it's centered upon. 00:09:23.420 --> 00:09:29.960 And so when Paul's talking about United and when Paul's talking about joy, the message of that is central to our identity in Jesus. 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:33.220 A true unity cannot exist without a clear identity. 00:09:34.220 --> 00:09:41.250 Unity for the sake of unity apart from an unidentified identity, does not lead to a utopia, but rather it leads to anarchy, 00:09:42.460 --> 00:09:47.520 because unity for the sake of unity has no foundation to qualify what it is united under. 00:09:49.320 --> 00:09:56.480 And so Paul says in verse two, in this unity make his joy complete by being of the same mind, 00:09:57.580 --> 00:10:02.800 regardless of the circumstance, trusting in Jesus to provide in our moments. 00:10:04.640 --> 00:10:05.340 And so he tells us. 00:10:06.760 --> 00:10:07.460 In verse three. 00:10:09.080 --> 00:10:13.220 This image that God creates for us and service to the truth that he has given us. 00:10:13.220 --> 00:10:17.820 What stands in the way he says, do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit. 00:10:18.920 --> 00:10:22.140 But with humility of mind regard one another is more important than yourselves. 00:10:24.380 --> 00:10:28.620 What stands in the way of the unity that God has called us to as a body is me. 00:10:30.560 --> 00:10:33.980 Selfishness ultimately, is anarchy against God. 00:10:35.400 --> 00:10:37.140 Because it's God who created the world. 00:10:37.200 --> 00:10:38.670 It's God who is Lord of everything. 00:10:38.920 --> 00:10:41.360 Rather, we, whether we acknowledge it or not. 00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:45.420 And when I make myself Lord in his place. 00:10:46.740 --> 00:10:49.120 I commit anarchy against the kingdom of the creator. 00:10:51.260 --> 00:10:51.840 Selfishness. 00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:54.420 No matter how we want to shift blame to other people. 00:10:54.500 --> 00:10:56.180 They made me or she made me. 00:10:56.200 --> 00:10:58.400 It's always up to me and how I choose to live. 00:10:59.740 --> 00:11:05.380 And the thing that prohibits me from living according to the way that God has called me is nothing other than me. 00:11:08.600 --> 00:11:10.180 Rather than just simply surrendering to him. 00:11:12.280 --> 00:11:17.700 In case the thought of selfishness doesn't ring well with Paul's readers, he gives this other thought to it. 00:11:18.100 --> 00:11:22.300 He says, do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit. 00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:29.380 This word empty conceit literally means absent of the weight of glory. 00:11:31.040 --> 00:11:32.670 It's to say when you put yourself first. 00:11:32.700 --> 00:11:34.200 Yes, you live for purposes less. 00:11:34.440 --> 00:11:35.710 Yes, you live for causes. 00:11:36.040 --> 00:11:38.780 But there's such a bigger picture than just yourself. 00:11:38.800 --> 00:11:40.820 In fact, you were never created for yourself. 00:11:42.300 --> 00:11:42.840 But for him. 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:46.180 And choosing that road. 00:11:46.180 --> 00:11:49.740 You're empty of the weight of glory that God desires to work in your life. 00:11:51.580 --> 00:11:58.220 Ephesians 515 it says, be careful then, how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 00:11:58.560 --> 00:12:01.000 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:03.660 May. 00:12:03.760 --> 00:12:08.700 Some people may argue, I'm not a bad person and I'm not even I'm not going to get to the detail of that theology because I don't have time. 00:12:09.180 --> 00:12:14.320 But as it relates to us as people, we may not define the things that we do as necessarily bad. 00:12:17.140 --> 00:12:19.000 But if it's just focusing, focusing on self. 00:12:21.440 --> 00:12:23.760 It's empty the way the glory that God has called you to in this world. 00:12:26.780 --> 00:12:33.460 Paul said for us as believers in Philippians chapter one to verse 21, for us to even begin to understand what life is about, we. 00:12:33.620 --> 00:12:35.000 We must die to self. 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:38.140 Following Jesus means dying to self, making him Lord. 00:12:38.400 --> 00:12:43.100 In Philippians 121, Paul said, for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 00:12:46.540 --> 00:12:48.760 I get why sometimes we rebel as people. 00:12:49.380 --> 00:12:52.160 I think it's the nature within us against any system. 00:12:53.500 --> 00:12:56.060 And we have the tradition of the 70s. 00:12:56.080 --> 00:12:56.220 Right? 00:12:57.100 --> 00:12:59.380 The flower children that rebelled against everything. 00:13:01.020 --> 00:13:07.340 But when it comes to rebellion, sometimes within our lives, we rebel against systems because we have a distrust for authority. 00:13:08.760 --> 00:13:11.440 Or sometimes we rebel against systems because of idolatry. 00:13:11.460 --> 00:13:14.620 We love ourselves so much that we would rather be Lord than Jesus. 00:13:16.560 --> 00:13:22.820 Or sometimes we lack faith in Jesus and rather trust in our man made religions above him. 00:13:25.320 --> 00:13:32.400 And the truth of what Paul is saying is that in our lives, there's a need to recognize the authority of Christ within us to live for the cause in which Jesus 00:13:32.400 --> 00:13:33.320 has created us for. 00:13:35.180 --> 00:13:39.980 And so he says in verse two and on to verse three, we make his joy complete. 00:13:40.020 --> 00:13:45.000 And he says at the end of verse three, but with humility of mind, regard one another as more important than yourselves. 00:13:45.280 --> 00:13:49.500 The thought within this passage is saying to us regarding one another as more important. 00:13:49.580 --> 00:13:52.420 This more important is this word for a dignitary. 00:13:53.660 --> 00:13:56.480 And regarding one another means you're rolling out the red carpet. 00:13:57.840 --> 00:14:02.780 And so when you look at people in this world, you treat them as Jesus would treat them. 00:14:02.800 --> 00:14:04.700 And let me just remind you of what Christ has done. 00:14:04.700 --> 00:14:06.320 Christ didn't just love the lovable. 00:14:08.060 --> 00:14:10.500 In fact, Jesus spent his time with his enemies. 00:14:12.520 --> 00:14:13.830 Jesus washed the feet of Judas. 00:14:15.740 --> 00:14:16.880 Jesus loved those that hated them. 00:14:19.520 --> 00:14:21.480 Even those that oppose. 00:14:22.800 --> 00:14:27.760 We're talking about transforming a world system that lives contrary to God through the power of Christ. 00:14:29.680 --> 00:14:32.920 God calls us in these verses to serve them with the joy of Jesus. 00:14:35.220 --> 00:14:42.280 There is a story of Abraham Lincoln who went to visit general McClellan, who was a part of the Union Army helping lead the Union Army, specifically 00:14:42.280 --> 00:14:45.720 in charge of the Potomac region of the Union Army. 00:14:45.960 --> 00:14:52.940 And Abraham Lincoln goes and visits with McClellan with a couple of companions from the white House, to check on the progress of the Army, because they were a little concerned. 00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:55.020 Lincoln goes into McClellan's house. 00:14:55.020 --> 00:14:56.040 Mcclellan is not there. 00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:59.060 He waits an hour for McClellan to return. 00:14:59.060 --> 00:15:01.320 He finds out McClellan was at a wedding. 00:15:02.120 --> 00:15:09.160 When he returns from the wedding, he walks into the house and the story goes that he walks right past, Abraham Lincoln and the officials. 00:15:09.160 --> 00:15:13.080 He goes right up to his room, and he calls his maid up to his room. 00:15:13.820 --> 00:15:19.440 The maid then comes down after a couple of minutes of spinning with him, and she reports to the president and says general McClellan has gone to sleep. 00:15:21.020 --> 00:15:26.600 Well, you can imagine the reaction of the individuals who came all the way from the white House were one who was furious. 00:15:26.620 --> 00:15:28.140 I've been shamed in this. 00:15:29.860 --> 00:15:37.780 And Abraham Lincoln says, because at a moment like this, there is no time to argue over my dignity or your dignity, but 00:15:37.780 --> 00:15:39.820 rather I would rather hold the horse of this man. 00:15:39.860 --> 00:15:42.520 If we can just find out the progress of what's taking place within our army. 00:15:44.860 --> 00:15:48.700 Ultimately, what should matter to us is a body of Christ. 00:15:50.880 --> 00:15:52.370 Isn't a retaliation of justice. 00:15:54.620 --> 00:15:55.480 But the grace of Jesus. 00:15:58.060 --> 00:16:02.020 Even the most broken of world systems, which might spur within us a hatred for what's taking place. 00:16:02.880 --> 00:16:04.070 We'll share one at the end of the service. 00:16:05.800 --> 00:16:08.520 In order to see the change according to the way Christ has presented to us. 00:16:08.520 --> 00:16:11.020 We share his truth and we do so in love. 00:16:13.500 --> 00:16:15.100 Paul says within this passage. 00:16:15.100 --> 00:16:22.200 In case you want an example of how this happens for us as a body of believers, we do so with humility of mind, which means we're not in submission 00:16:22.200 --> 00:16:27.840 to be abused, but we're in submission because we understand our identity in light of Christ is elevated in Jesus. 00:16:28.400 --> 00:16:35.540 Humility doesn't mean think bad of yourselves, but to simply surrender to what God has called you to so that Jesus may 00:16:35.540 --> 00:16:35.900 lift you up. 00:16:37.680 --> 00:16:39.760 And so he gives this illustration in verse five. 00:16:39.940 --> 00:16:47.120 This is one of the most famous portions of Scripture that I think is written because Paul takes a passage that 00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:50.650 the early church was singing as a hymn, and he inserts it within the book of Philippians. 00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:53.940 This phrase that Paul shares in verses 5 to 8. 00:16:54.120 --> 00:17:01.340 The church has been singing now for a few decades, and Paul steals it from the early church, inserts it to Philippians and saying, if you want to, if 00:17:01.340 --> 00:17:06.319 you want to think within your mind what this looks like, read this, have this attitude in yourselves. 00:17:07.460 --> 00:17:08.579 Which is also in Christ Jesus. 00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:16.920 Who, although he existed in the form of God, do not regard equality with God as a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of 00:17:16.920 --> 00:17:22.700 men, being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross. 00:17:24.619 --> 00:17:26.510 Saying it's not a big deal what people think about you. 00:17:28.099 --> 00:17:30.510 It's more important about what they think of Jesus. 00:17:32.460 --> 00:17:33.620 Because you've been called to serve. 00:17:35.220 --> 00:17:38.300 And so when you step into an arena of a world that doesn't agree with you. 00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:43.140 It's not about just defeating the system, it's about presenting to them Christ. 00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:45.160 And it's not about proving you right and wrong. 00:17:45.160 --> 00:17:46.540 It's about honoring Jesus and worship. 00:17:48.660 --> 00:17:53.650 Arguing for the sake of arguing and tossing mud for the sake of tossing mud doesn't change anyone's heart. 00:17:54.880 --> 00:17:55.080 Christ us. 00:17:56.860 --> 00:18:03.980 Have this mind in you, which is also in Christ Jesus, who though even being King and Creator 00:18:03.980 --> 00:18:10.980 of all being God Himself, thought at nothing to become a servant to some of the lowliest position in serving you 00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:13.800 and me, that we may see the glory of who he is, and give him praise. 00:18:16.080 --> 00:18:16.980 If. 00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:17.580 Jesus. 00:18:18.900 --> 00:18:22.540 Was willing to even humble himself for his enemies, that others may come to know him. 00:18:23.840 --> 00:18:25.590 What does that mean for me as a follower of Christ? 00:18:27.620 --> 00:18:28.480 From verse 9 to 11. 00:18:28.800 --> 00:18:29.740 Paul says it. 00:18:30.820 --> 00:18:32.260 He says, for this reason also. 00:18:33.620 --> 00:18:40.660 God highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, so that the name of Jesus every knee will bow of those who are in heaven and on earth and under 00:18:40.660 --> 00:18:45.240 the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 00:18:47.080 --> 00:18:54.100 And this says to you, maybe in your life you've been abused by authority, maybe in your life you may have made yourself king of your world. 00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:59.400 Or maybe in your life you've trusted in religion and self to appeal to God. 00:19:01.460 --> 00:19:05.080 This passage says to us, don't be afraid, Jesus. 00:19:06.580 --> 00:19:07.830 Where others have abused. 00:19:07.880 --> 00:19:11.100 When God comes before you, what he has in mind is your best interest. 00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:18.560 And so whatever God shares with you is out of a heart of love for the well-being of you as a follower. 00:19:20.920 --> 00:19:27.940 And trust when it comes to a king who is so gracious that he's willing to just bow down and serve me, who despised him, 00:19:28.080 --> 00:19:35.300 who lived in anarchy to his kingdom, just speaks volume to the love, and within my soul and within my heart becomes a wellspring of joy 00:19:35.300 --> 00:19:37.120 and rejoicing of what Christ has done. 00:19:38.820 --> 00:19:40.140 And to him be the glory. 00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:43.890 So how do you know if you're living united in Christ? 00:19:44.940 --> 00:19:46.440 Or what are some steps to do that? 00:19:47.600 --> 00:19:48.680 Paul concludes the passage this way. 00:19:49.460 --> 00:19:50.200 So then, my beloved. 00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:52.700 Just as you have always obeyed. 00:19:53.580 --> 00:19:54.760 Now is in my presence only. 00:19:54.860 --> 00:19:55.900 But not now. 00:19:55.900 --> 00:19:56.890 Much more in my absence. 00:19:57.140 --> 00:19:58.740 Work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 00:20:00.220 --> 00:20:01.440 Let me just stop and say this. 00:20:02.500 --> 00:20:06.180 Paul says A real follower of Jesus follows Jesus when no one's looking. 00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:13.560 Paul says in this passage, you're not working for your salvation, but rather you're living for Christ out of your salvation. 00:20:14.660 --> 00:20:21.740 Paul is saying in this passage, don't be afraid of God, but rather have a reverential fear of his authority, meaning just as much as Jesus served 00:20:21.740 --> 00:20:22.900 you, Jesus is also Lord. 00:20:24.260 --> 00:20:26.430 If you're afraid of God, let me just tell you first. 00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:28.700 John chapter four is the cure to that symptom. 00:20:30.060 --> 00:20:32.620 First, John four tells us in verse eight that God is love. 00:20:32.620 --> 00:20:35.240 And then verse 18 and perfect love casts out fear. 00:20:35.340 --> 00:20:36.400 God doesn't want you afraid of him. 00:20:38.300 --> 00:20:39.130 What he does want you to recognize. 00:20:40.820 --> 00:20:42.720 That you were never created to be Lord of your life. 00:20:44.300 --> 00:20:44.960 He's Lord of your life. 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:51.430 And it's only an acknowledging that he's Lord of your life, that we begin to discover the joy of the journey for which we were created. 00:20:51.600 --> 00:20:53.100 As Paul says in verse two of this chapter. 00:20:55.120 --> 00:20:58.860 Well, I can just open hands, surrender to God, and allow him to transform me from the inside out. 00:21:00.440 --> 00:21:03.380 This passage is saying to us, don't have a casual view of God. 00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:05.080 He he's the sustainer of all. 00:21:05.080 --> 00:21:07.260 Rather, look to him as Lord and worship him. 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:15.380 And so it comes to verse 13 and says this, for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 00:21:17.180 --> 00:21:18.920 Let me just point out a thought for us in this verse. 00:21:20.600 --> 00:21:22.700 When you read a passage like this in Serving Jesus. 00:21:24.640 --> 00:21:28.000 The tendency within our religious thinking is just to want to get better at serving Jesus. 00:21:28.260 --> 00:21:29.100 And that's not bad. 00:21:29.180 --> 00:21:30.330 But let me tell you how that happens. 00:21:30.940 --> 00:21:31.660 It's not on your own. 00:21:32.860 --> 00:21:33.860 And it's not through your strength. 00:21:35.580 --> 00:21:39.040 This passage tells us at the end of the verse, both to will and to work. 00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:47.000 It is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work, which means the will to even want to serve God does not even begin to 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:49.720 happen until you surrender to God. 00:21:49.780 --> 00:21:53.140 That not only do you maybe in your life feel like you just don't want to serve God, but. 00:21:53.300 --> 00:21:56.280 But it could be because you're lacking the will to want to serve God. 00:21:57.240 --> 00:22:00.340 And so that's why from the beginning of the end, the Christian life is all about surrender. 00:22:00.360 --> 00:22:05.800 Because in surrendering to him open handed, God transforms your heart that you may live in light of who he is. 00:22:07.100 --> 00:22:10.490 His spirit working in you both to will and to work. 00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:12.880 God transforms us. 00:22:14.380 --> 00:22:19.540 The evidence of what he proclaimed in verses 5 to 8, and understanding what Jesus has done for you. 00:22:21.080 --> 00:22:24.800 So let me give this concluding thought with us as we look at the persecuted church. 00:22:26.680 --> 00:22:29.260 This passage is a very simplistic passage and what it says. 00:22:31.460 --> 00:22:38.080 But it's not a passage where we're supposed to stop and with what it says and all shake our head in agreement, but rather we read it. 00:22:38.100 --> 00:22:45.260 We agree with what it says, and we get up and we do something about it because we understand that a world is living, alienated from Christ, 00:22:45.320 --> 00:22:49.820 in world systems that have committed anarchy against God because they're opposed to him as Lord of their life. 00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:54.630 Not understanding that what Jesus desires for you is far greater than any dream that you can come up with for yourself. 00:22:57.520 --> 00:22:58.240 Get up and do. 00:23:00.580 --> 00:23:02.420 And today is the persecuted Church Day. 00:23:03.900 --> 00:23:08.450 And so in honor of that, as a church, we've always focused on that because we want to think outside of ourselves. 00:23:08.520 --> 00:23:13.040 What we do here on Sunday is only a springboard for what Jesus wants to do for us on Monday. 00:23:14.040 --> 00:23:15.540 And so we gather here, empty hands. 00:23:16.040 --> 00:23:19.900 We acknowledge before the Lord that we need him, and we just celebrate God's presence in our lives. 00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:26.280 A part of recognizing what God calls us to do is to see what our other brothers and sisters in Christ are doing around the world. 00:23:27.560 --> 00:23:29.860 You won't see it reported in media today, but. 00:23:30.100 --> 00:23:32.050 But Christians around the world are being persecuted. 00:23:32.200 --> 00:23:36.380 And in fact, there are more Christians who are killed for their faith today in Christ than ever before in history. 00:23:38.100 --> 00:23:42.440 And so as you leave today, I just want to encourage you to do I want to encourage you to take something with you as you walk out the door. 00:23:42.440 --> 00:23:49.060 Everyone in the church, as you leave, we have a prayer card of commitment, a global report, and a magazine from voice of the martyrs. 00:23:49.060 --> 00:23:49.830 Let me tell you what these are. 00:23:50.560 --> 00:23:57.280 A prayer card is a reminder to you that God is doing things in this world outside of yourself, and especially among believers who are suffering for their faith in Christ. 00:23:57.460 --> 00:24:00.680 This is just a commitment to pray for them and to encourage you to do so. 00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:09.100 Voice of the martyrs is a magazine that writes stories about places around the world where Christians are suffering, and 00:24:09.100 --> 00:24:10.100 they encourage you to pray. 00:24:10.100 --> 00:24:12.640 And if Lord leads you to do more than that, then feel free. 00:24:12.860 --> 00:24:18.360 But it just opens you up to a faith that's outside of you, that's bigger than yourself, that God has called us to in this world. 00:24:18.980 --> 00:24:24.180 I want to encourage you to take one of these per family, but as you leave, I want you to have this disclaimer. 00:24:25.220 --> 00:24:30.880 Some of these images in here are graphic because they want us to see in real time this persecution that's happening around the world. 00:24:31.520 --> 00:24:35.420 So your young kids probably not a good idea to let them thumb through this. 00:24:36.500 --> 00:24:42.050 But if you want to take a look at it just to open your eyes to some things you may not have been aware of, please feel free to take that. 00:24:42.200 --> 00:24:43.700 You can also order those magazines. 00:24:44.460 --> 00:24:45.480 They're I think they're free. 00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:46.860 They'll send them to your house if you just want them. 00:24:47.280 --> 00:24:50.300 The last of this is a global report of the persecution happening around the world. 00:24:50.320 --> 00:25:04.020 I know that you can't see this from where you're at, but this region, this 00:25:04.140 --> 00:25:04.480 discolored place here, this is Asia and Europe and Africa are focused in this area. 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:04.480 This is where Christians are under heavy persecution because of their faith in Christ. 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:08.280 And so this goes through those countries in the world letting you know what's taking place for you to be able to pray for them. 00:25:08.400 --> 00:25:11.120 One of these countries on this list is the country of India. 00:25:11.960 --> 00:25:18.540 And there's something we recognize this morning that all these countries facing persecution, we can't physically do everything that they need. 00:25:18.640 --> 00:25:21.540 We can pray for them, but we can't meet physical needs in their lives. 00:25:21.640 --> 00:25:23.180 But we can do something. 00:25:24.280 --> 00:25:29.720 And one of the things that we've done as a church family is that we have, been a part of a ministry to India. 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:33.920 This ministry in India are churches our church has taken a couple trips to. 00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:40.960 We've had some individuals from our church visit India, and there's a specific man by the name of Joseph Thomas that's doing ministry 00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:41.360 there. 00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:43.460 Joseph Thomas grew up in India. 00:25:43.460 --> 00:25:44.140 He was an orphan. 00:25:44.140 --> 00:25:45.770 He got embraced to a Christian orphanage. 00:25:46.140 --> 00:25:48.400 That orphanage trained him in God's word, sent him out. 00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:50.890 And now he is a minister in the country of India. 00:25:51.980 --> 00:25:56.800 his ministry is beginning to affect both slum children, leper colonies and those around them. 00:25:58.140 --> 00:26:00.620 And we as a church family have been involved in that. 00:26:00.680 --> 00:26:06.040 And this is what we're interested in, because we understand Philippians chapter two calls us to do something for Christ. 00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:07.310 We're going to do something for Christ.