October 13, 2013 CFBC…The Christ Life (Philippians) MARKS OF A TRUE SERVANT Philippians 2:19-30
Leadership Journal reported the results of a recent church survey. The question posed was this—“To what extent has your ministry or service to others affected your spiritual growth?” A total of 92% answered positively. Serving God and others is crucial for believers.
We shouldn’t be surprised by that. The Bible highlights the importance of servanthood, and Jesus Himself places special emphasis upon it.
“But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:43–45, NASB95)
“But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” (Matthew 23:11–12, NASB95)
The call to humble service dominates all of chapter 2. Of course, Jesus is the most notable and perfect example of a true servant of God. [READ 2:5-11]
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October 13, 2013 CFBC…The Christ Life (Philippians)
It seems to me that verse 5 captures the essence of this entire chapter—“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.” Paul had that attitude, didn’t he? Look at verses 17-18. He declared that he was ready to die in his service to Christ and the Philippian believers.
As I studied this text, this thought seemed to sum up the message…
TRUE SERVANTS OF GOD SHOULD BE RESPECTED AND HONORED.
I want you to see the marks of a true servant of God so that you can have an accurate measurement of your service. A true servant is…
1. CONCERNED FOR OTHER BELIEVERS (19-20)
“But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare”
Timothy was an astounding young man. He was born in a part of what is today called Turkey. His mom was Jewish and his dad was a Greek. His mom and grandmother had a huge impact on his faith.
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October 13, 2013 CFBC…The Christ Life (Philippians)
“For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.” (2 Timothy 1:5, NASB95)
“You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:14–15, NASB95)
“Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And a disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek, and he was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted this man to go with him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.” (Acts 16:1–3, NASB95)
Timothy and Paul had a “kindred spirit.” Literally they were one-souled. Both of them loved the Lord Jesus and they were fully devoted to serving Him!
Out of all the disciples that formed the church at Rome, Timothy was the only one whom Paul considered to have a genuine concern for the believers in Philippi. This is exactly what Paul had in mind when he wrote verses 3-4 of this same chapter.
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October 13, 2013 CFBC…The Christ Life (Philippians)
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3–4, NASB95)
Listen, if this church is going to reach its potential, we need an infusion of Timothy’s attitude in our own lives. If we were more concerned for others than ourselves…
It would not matter where we sit during worship It would not matter where we have to park It would not matter how much sacrifice we have to make It would not matter how much we have to go out of our way to make others feel welcomed and loved It would not matter how much hospitality we have to practice
Do you care about others more than you do yourself?
A true servant is concerned for other believers and second, he is…
2. DEVOTED TO PLEASING JESUS (21)
“For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus”
This little statement in verse 21 gives us great insight into the heart and soul of a true servant of God. You
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October 13, 2013 CFBC…The Christ Life (Philippians) see, a servant of God is Christ-centered, not self- centered. I can’t overstate the importance of this characteristic.
“When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” (Proverbs 16:7, NASB95)
“Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.” (1 Thessalonians 4:1, NASB95)
“By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.” (Hebrews 11:5, NASB95)
Are you driven by a desire to please Jesus—at your workplace, at school, at home, at the restaurant, at the ballgame, in the deer stand, in your finances, etc.?
TRUE SERVANTS OF GOD SHOULD BE RESPECTED AND HONORED.
A true servant is concerned for other believers and is devoted to pleasing Jesus. Third, he/she is…
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October 13, 2013 CFBC…The Christ Life (Philippians)
3. ZEALOUS FOR THE GOSPEL (22-24)
“But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father. Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me; and I trust in the Lord that I myself also will be coming shortly.”
I love that statement in verse 22—“He served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father.” Too many believers measure their success by the amount of control they can exert in any given situation. Timothy did not think that power came with position. He was totally committed to serving both his Lord and his mentor!
Their common bond was the gospel and a keen interest in its explosive growth throughout the world. Can anything be more important in a servant’s life than sharing the gospel with those who are bound up in their sin and destined to spend eternity in hell? Timothy was a young man who had proven his worth!
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19–20, NASB95)
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October 13, 2013 CFBC…The Christ Life (Philippians)
“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14, NASB95)
Are you zealous for carrying the gospel to the Lingayats, to the people of Toronto, to the people of Memphis, and to your own family members and neighbors and co- workers?
A true servant is concerned for other believers, is devoted to pleasing Jesus and is zealous for the gospel. Fourth, a true servant of God is…
4. COMMITTED TO THE TASK (25-27)
“But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need; because he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow.”
We don’t know much about Epaphroditus. He was probably a leader in the church of Philippi who volunteered to travel hundreds of miles in order to minister to the needs of the Apostle Paul. Paul’s description of him reveals his extreme commitment to Christ.
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October 13, 2013 CFBC…The Christ Life (Philippians)
In carrying out the task assigned to him by the Lord, he became deathly sick, even to the point of nearly dying.
Henry Martyn, on the eve of his departure for the mission field, made this statement…
“I go to burn out for God. I am prepared to go anywhere. I’m ready to help anyone. And I’m prepared to sacrifice anything.”
Now that is what I call being committed to the task! Are you committed to the task that our Lord has assigned to you? Are you willing to go beyond your comfort zone to accomplish great things for the cause of Christ?
Think about what this verse says to the prosperity gospel of our day!
TRUE SERVANTS OF GOD SHOULD BE RESPECTED AND HONORED.
A true servant is concerned for other believers , is devoted to pleasing Jesus, is zealous for the gospel, is committed to the task and finally is…
5. READY FOR ANY CHALLENGE (28-30)
“Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you. Receive him then in the Lord
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October 13, 2013 CFBC…The Christ Life (Philippians) with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard; because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me”
Do you see that phrase in verse 30—“risking his life”? The Greek term means to gamble, to take a risk. Here was a Christian who was not living in fear because he was living in faith. No challenge was too great for him!
A precious little six-year-old girl became very sick. To survive she needed a blood transfusion from someone who had previously conquered the same illness. In addition to all this, she had a rare blood type. Her nine- year-old brother was the only one who qualified.
The doctor asked the young boy if he was willing to be brave and donate blood for his sister. Even though he didn’t understand, he agreed without hesitation— “Sure, I’ll give my blood to my sister.”
He lay down beside his sister and smiled at her as they stuck the needle into his arm. Then he closed his eyes and lay silently on the bed as they drained the pint of blood that was needed.
After the procedure was finished, the doctor came into the room to thank the little boy. Before he could say anything, the little fellow teared up and asked the doctor, “When do I die?” At that point the doctor realized that he did not understand. He asked, “Son, why were you willing to risk your life for her?”
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October 13, 2013 CFBC…The Christ Life (Philippians)
The young fellow replied, “Because she’s my sister and I love her!”
Jesus never promised that the Christian life would be safe! His challenges to our life must be met with a willingness to take risks! (Moses, David, Elijah, Paul, Peter, etc.)
CONCLUSION
Here’s the truth that our Lord fully intends to grip your heart today:
TRUE SERVANTS OF GOD SHOULD BE RESPECTED AND HONORED.
A true servant of God is…
1. CONCERNED FOR OTHER BELIEVERS (19-20)
2. DEVOTED TO PLEASING JESUS (21)
3. ZEALOUS FOR THE GOSPEL (22-24)
4. COMMITTED TO THE TASK (25-27)
5. READY FOR ANY CHALLENGE (28-30)
Let me ask you, how do you measure up today? O, don’t be just a hearer of the Word today! Allow the Spirit of God to produce these powerful characteristics in your life.
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October 13, 2013 CFBC…The Christ Life (Philippians)
Listen now, you can’t be a servant until you are saved! Jesus was willing to give up His life in order that you might be saved and so that all your sins could be forgiven. Will you receive Jesus today as your personal Savior and Lord?
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