This post is based on the sermon of my pastor, Jon Porter, at Milan Christian Church. The scripture reference is Philippians 2:1-11. This is from the letter Paul wrote to the people at the church he started in Philippi. As he writes this letter Paul is in prison, but he writes of the joy that he gets knowing that by sharing the gospel with them, they in turn are sharing the gospel with others.
Joy is a gift. Not something that we can manufacture ourselves. It comes from having a single-minded focus on the gospel and sharing it with those who haven’t heard about Jesus and what he did for us.
The question posed to us was “How are we doing as a church”? Can people tell by the way we live our lives that we are Christians? Do we live our lives to authenticate the gospel?
Paul goes on to explain how we can live out the gospel:
- Do nothing out of “selfish” ambition or vain conceit
- In humility consider others better than yourselves
- Look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others
- Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus
- Jesus did not consider himself the same as God, although he could have, but considered himself a servant instead
- Jesus humbled himself and became obedient to death on a cross
- God exalted Jesus to the highest place, and the name that every knee would bow to
- And every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord
- All of this to the glory of God the Father
There is nothing wrong with being ambitious. It’s selfish ambition that Paul warns against.
Considering others better than ourselves is being humble and that’s not always easy. Human nature causes us to seek some of the glory for ourselves, but we need to realize we do what we do because of the gifts God has given us. The glory goes to Him.
If we are concerned for the interests of others and they are concerned for our interests it would be a pretty good world to live in. Our attitude should be like Jesus. He could have claimed to be equal with God, which rightly he was, but his reason for coming to earth was to become one of us. He became a servant and we should be of the same mind. We should count others first.
Look at the people that Jesus hung out with; sinners, prostitutes, and tax collectors to name a few. That should give us a clue that we shouldn’t look down at these people, but see how we can help them.
In all of this we see that Paul’s joy is made complete by seeing those he proclaimed the gospel to living it out.
So, how are we doing, Church? Are you focused on the gospel? Are a Christian first? Or are you focused on conceit; seeing others as less than you are?
We are faulty, but we have Christ in us. We are imperfect vessels. We stray from the will of God, but we can’t mover from the Holy Spirit. We return to be filled. Without Him we become empty.
Others won’t listen to the Word we share with them if they feel that we think we’re better than them. Humility is key in reaching others with the gospel. We are servants carrying the presence of God within us. We become the meeting place between God and the lost. I can’t think of a more worthy task. I can certainly understand Paul’s joy when I recall that this is what he is teaching the church in Philippi and us! That’s why it’s so important to study the Word.
No matter how many times I read scripture, it so often comes together when I spend some time reviewing my pastor’s sermon!
If you’d like to listen to his sermon, and I suggest you do, click here.
Have a great day!
In Faith,
Pam
Where God Leads 