Sometimes we get in the habit of trying to make bad things seem good.
My son has a gift for this.
When he gets in trouble, we try and have a conversation to make sure that he understands what's gone wrong.
And usually the conversation begins with me asking him,
Bailey, why are you in trouble?
What have you done that's made Daddy have to punish you?
And he has this incredible gift to take what he's actually done and twist it into a more positive light.
Well, so instead of punching his brother, he was trying to stop him from doing something naughty.
Instead of stealing something out of the cupboard that's not his, he was helping with the cooking.
No matter how he spins it, he's still doing the wrong thing.
But it is incredible how he can take something which is bad and try and make it seem good.
We do it the same when we're trying to convince our kids to eat foods that don't taste nice,
like broccoli or Brussels sprouts.
If you like them, we forgive you.
We know the kid's not going to like them, so we try and trick them.
We drown it in butter or in cheese or in tomato sauce or in something that is good to their taste
to somehow convince them that this other thing tastes good as well.
We take bad things and we try and make them good.
You could be forgiven if you've been here for the last couple of weeks of this series
to feel like we're trying that same trick in this series.
We've got a series called Joy for Everyone.
And so far, we've been encouraged that there's joy in relationships.
Now, you might say difficult but plausible.
Last week, we said that there was joy in suffering.
And then today, joy in sacrificial service.
So like I said, you might be forgiven for feeling like we're trying to take bad things and make them sound good.
But stick with us.
Let's be clear.
When it comes to following Jesus, serving is part of the deal.
It's not an optional extra.
It's not a maybe for those who are particularly keen.
It goes with the territory.
If you've been loved by God, forgiven by God, then the expectation is that you serve Him.
Verse 1 that the kids read out for us.
This is from Philippians 2.
If you've got your Bible there, you can open it up.
If not, as you heard, it would be really encouraging to them
because they're going to be bringing their Bibles if we brought our Bibles as well.
Philippians 2, verse 1.
So the gospel demands that having received so much from God,
that the right response is to show that same kind of love to other people.
And Paul gets explicit about what that looks like in verse 3.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.
Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves,
not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of others.
Value others above yourself.
That's what it looks like to respond to God's generosity,
not looking out for yourself, not looking to your own interests.
Now, as basic as that might sound, as noble and obvious as that might sound,
it's much harder to deliver on.
It's much harder to actually live out.
And as if it's not difficult enough, Paul takes it up the level in verse 5
when he says we need to have the same mindset as Jesus himself.
So it's not just be selfless anymore.
It's be Jesus selfless, like completely selfless,
always putting other people first, seeking their good.
And I mean, by definition, serving people, sacrificing is costly.
That's what it means.
It means giving something up for someone else.
I mean, it requires self-denial.
It requires that you miss out on something
because you're busy doing something for somebody else.
And Paul wants to convince us that the gospel can make doing that a source of joy.
How?
It is costly.
He's not denying that.
But Paul wants to convince us that the message of Jesus can take sacrifice,
can take giving up and missing out
and make that something that is deeply satisfying and joyful.
How?
Well, firstly, the gospel reveals.
Have a look at verse 5.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus,
who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God
something to be used to his own advantage.
What the gospel does is not just tell us a story about what happened,
but it actually reveals who God is.
It reveals what Jesus is like.
It shows us that he is God,
that he's all-knowing, he's all-powerful, he's all-creating, he's holy.
He's everything God is because Jesus is God.
Have a look again.
Being in very nature God, verse 6,
The gospel shows us that the Jesus who is fully God enters our world,
becomes a man and an unimpressive man at that.
He's arrested, tortured, unjustly tried and crucified
by the people that he created.
And all of that is in perfect obedience to his heavenly father.
This is the gospel.
That Jesus came from heaven, lived a perfect life, died in our place,
and then, verse 9,
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place,
gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth
and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord
to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, because of his perfect obedience,
because of his selfless service,
because of his sacrifice,
God exalts Jesus and gives him the name above every name
so that one day every knee will bow to him.
Every tongue will acknowledge that he is the king,
that he is the rightful ruler over all creation.
The gospel transforms service and sacrifice
by revealing who Jesus is,
who it is that we follow,
who it is that demands that we sacrifice and serve in the first place.
I mean, the gospel shows us that the one who demands
selfless, humble, sacrificial service of others
is none other than the one who sits on the throne
over all creation, having served,
and now is exalted with all authority
and is therefore worthy of at least
sacrificial service from those who claim to follow him.
He sits in authority over all creation.
He has the right to demand anything from us.
The gospel shows us who it is who is asking.
It's not a suggestion from somebody
who's just trying to maybe guide us in a good way to live.
It's God who created us.
It's Jesus who died for us and rose again.
It's Jesus who sits on the throne with all authority.
Jesus who is God made the decision to serve us.
He didn't have to.
It was a choice.
It was a decision.
He could have just stayed in heaven
and looked after number one
because he is literally number one.
He is the name above every other name.
It would have been reasonable and right
for him to just stay in heaven
and look after himself
because he is the most important.
He is the most worthy.
But he did not consider his position.
He did not consider his equality with God
something that was there just for his own advantage.
He doesn't just demand service from us.
He does demand it
but he doesn't just demand it.
He models it to us.
God serves us
at incredible personal cost.
And yet we find it difficult
to put our family
before ourselves
or our friends
let alone our enemies.
The Bible tells us
that when we were still his enemies
Christ died for us.
That as Jesus hung on the cross
he served and prayed for those
that put him there.
And somehow
he did it with joy.
Hebrews 12 tells us
that it was because of the joy
set before him
that he endured the cross.
I mean let that mess with your head
just for a second.
All the pain and suffering
of that first Easter
everything that Jesus went through
the cost that he paid
his suffering and his anguish
was actually a path of joy.
Just let that sit for a second.
The gospel demands
sacrifice and service
from those who claim to follow Jesus
but it also reveals
the God who demands it from us
to motivate us
to show us that it's reasonable
for him to demand that from us.
The gospel strikes at the heart
of the two main reasons
we find it difficult
to serve and sacrifice for others.
Fear and selfishness.
Have a look at verse 12.
Therefore my dear brothers
as you have always obeyed
not only in my presence
but now much more in my absence
continue to work out your salvation
with fear and trembling
for it is God who works in you
to will and to act
in order to fulfill
his good purpose.
It's another therefore.
It's pointing us to what was just before.
Because of who Jesus is
because of what he's done
work out your salvation
with fear and trembling.
Now this is really really important.
These are two verses
that it's easy to trip up on.
This isn't a baton passing.
This isn't God saying
I've served
I've loved
now it's your turn.
This isn't God saying
I've done my bit
and I've forgiven you
and I've loved you
and I've given you a clean slate
and a second chance
now put some effort in.
Now kind of you know
live up to the standard
that I require of you.
That's not it.
In these verses
at the same time
you've got God
working in us
to will
that is to want to do
the right thing
to want to serve
and empowering us
to do the action as well.
He enables
and empowers
and we're told
to work
together
at the same time.
This isn't an excuse
to be lazy.
But have you ever wondered
why the words
fear and trembling?
Paul's just given
one of the most
incredible descriptions
of how unconditional
God's love is.
About the incredible price
that Jesus paid
for people who didn't deserve it
and then he says
with fear and trembling.
What does fear and trembling
have to do with grace?
Have to do with
the unconditional gift
of God for you?
What is there to fear
if we're forgiven?
The gospel message
is the good news
that Jesus
did all that he did
so that we could be
in a relationship
with God.
a perfect God
a powerful God
a holy God
a righteous God
a God who is just.
The gospel is not
the message
that we just got out
of getting in trouble.
The gospel is Jesus
drawing into a relationship
with the almighty creator.
God is not a domesticated God
once you hear the gospel.
He doesn't go from
being big and intimidating
to being small and fluffy
just because of Jesus.
He is a fierce lion.
C.S. Lewis describes him
in the Narnia series
by saying he's good
but he's not safe.
He is still God.
He is still powerful
and mighty
and he's to be treated
with awe
and reverence
fitting for the creator
and sustainer
of all things.
The gospel
motivates us
out of being
self-seeking
out of pursuing
our own gain in life
as the most important thing
by showing us
the majesty
of the one
we claim to serve.
By showing us
the worthiness
of the God
who asks that we would
serve on his behalf.
It's hard
to be selfish.
It's hard
to see yourself
as more important
or more valuable
than others
when you stand
in the presence
of the God
who created you.
The God
who sent his son
to die in your place.
The God
who reigns
over all of creation.
The God
who paid
the highest price
just so that
you could know
him
and know
the joy
of being loved.
God
and the gospel
crushes our fear
because as Paul
says somewhere else
if God gave
Jesus
if God gave
that which cost
the most
if God gave
the bit
that was hardest
to give
that mattered
most to him
how will he not
also
along with him
graciously give us
all things?
the fear
that makes us
not serve
and not sacrifice
is the fear
that if I give
this up
I'll miss out.
If I put you
first
who's going to
look after me?
If I spend
all my time
looking after
other people's
needs
then
does that mean
I'll just spend
all my life
missing out?
I'll spend
all of my life
going without?
What the gospel
does
is it shows me
who I serve
and who serves
me.
As it reveals
God
who I sit
under
and who I have
given my allegiance
to
and who I seek
to obey
it also reveals
the God
who is committed
to me
who is committed
to my good
who has proved
that in sending
his son Jesus
the gospel
shows me
who I'm called
to follow
and who loves
and provides
for me
in every way.
There is no fear
for those
who are loved
by God
because he has
proved he will
give you the good
that you need.
He will never
hold good things
back from us
and this transforms
our perspective
when it comes
to serving
and sacrificing.
Do you remember
what life was like
for the Philippians?
They lived
under the persecution
of the Roman Empire.
The same people
who had imprisoned
Paul who was writing
this letter
for preaching Jesus.
There would have been
social consequences,
economic consequences
for being a Christian
and yet
having called them
to gospel-shaped
service and sacrifice,
Paul turns the knife
even more
and raises the bar
in verse 14.
Do everything
without grumbling
or arguing
so that you may
become blameless
and pure,
children of God
without fault
in a warped
and crooked generation.
Then you will shine
among them
like stars in the sky
as you hold firmly
to the word of life
and then I will be able
to boast
on the day of Christ
that I did not run
or labor in vain.
But even if I am
being poured out
like a drink offering
on the sacrifice
and service
coming from your faith,
I am glad
and rejoice
with all of you.
So you too
should be glad
and rejoice with me.
Do it without complaining.
Do it without grumbling.
Give up things
that matter to you.
Miss out on things
that matter to you
without grumbling
or complaining.
Wouldn't you permit them
just a little bit
of complaining?
I mean we've already
kind of conceded
that service
and sacrifice
and in their case
dealing with
the oppression
of people
is a difficult situation.
haven't we agreed
that sacrifice
is costly?
That there is loss
associated with
what's being asked
of us here?
So isn't complaining
a reasonable response?
Don't we normally
reserve joy
and gratitude
for things
that are enjoyable?
Things where we win?
Things where we get benefit?
But that's just it.
The gospel
so transforms
our perspective
that selflessness
and service
and sacrifice
what is costly
what is difficult
is actually a gift
and a joy
at the same time.
Those who are loved
by Jesus
can pay great cost
for the sake of others.
Can love in a way
that is personally
expensive.
and rejoice in it
and see it as a gift
from God.
I mean complaining
only makes sense
if you don't have Jesus.
Complaining makes sense
because you're giving
something up
that you won't get back.
But the message
of the gospel
is that in Jesus
we have all we need.
The message
of this series
is that ultimate joy
is in knowing
that God loves us
unconditionally
and being drawn
into a relationship
with him
as his precious
children
in such a way
that all other things
are just peripheral.
And so Paul
can sit in prison
with shackles on
and rejoice
because he has
an immovable hope
and satisfaction
in an immovable savior.
when we have Jesus
complaining
does it make sense
because even if I
give up my time
give up my money
give up my energy
give up my
relational energy
my emotional energy
give up whatever it is
that I have
to love
and serve those
around me
I will still
always have
more than enough
in Jesus.
I will still
always be loved
unconditionally
I will still
always have
the certain hope
of the fact
that God promises
I will never
be without
what I need.
God promises
to not withhold
good things
and he proves it
in sending Jesus.
And so for a Christian
complaining
is illogical.
What are we
complaining about?
We're full
we have everything
we need
we have more
than we need
and no one
and nothing
can take that away.
I mean even here
Paul's getting explicit
like he did last week
to say even if he dies
he's going to rejoice.
That's what he means
when he says
he's being poured out
he says I'll rejoice
and you Philippians
you too should rejoice.
What is it
that makes that possible?
Is it just
hey I've got heaven
in the future
so I don't need
anything now
attitude?
Well it's at least
that but I think
there's something
more here.
Look back at the
beginning of the
passage.
Verse 1
follow the logic
of what Paul
is saying here.
The gospel demand
to serve
and to put others
first
flows out of
the gospel blessings
of love
and comfort
and encouragement
and even the spirit
himself.
They're connected
they're inseparable
it's those things
that God
gives you
flowing in
and overflowing
and flowing
through you
that produces
sacrificial service
and
it's in that
Christ-like
service
that the joy
of his love
for you
in the gospel
is most
fully experienced.
Let's try
and unpack this
because this is
so important.
It's almost
like when
you begin
a relationship
with that
special someone
and you get
this incredible
joy from this
person.
They just seem
to understand
you,
they love you,
they put you
first,
you're just happier
when they're around
and there is so
much joy
in that relationship
but have you
noticed how
when you get
the opportunity
to brag about
that,
your joy grows?
When you get
the opportunity
to tell other
people how amazing
that person is
and how much
you enjoy them,
it's almost
like your awareness
of how much
enjoyment is there
grows as you
have to articulate
it and tell other
people it just,
it gets bigger
or it's like that
time you discover
an amazing restaurant
that's hidden away
in a laneway
that no one else
has ever been to
and the food
is fantastic
and the atmosphere
is perfect
and it's the
greatest culinary
experience you've
ever had
and you love it
but it's not
until you take
someone with you
and they share
that experience,
they share that
joy,
that your joy
kind of can
reach its fullness.
It's not that
the first meal
wasn't amazing
but it's there's
something extra
when you get
to give that joy
to someone else,
when you get
to share it.
See,
when we get
to share God's
love for people
by serving them,
when we get
to sacrifice
and show God's
love for people
by putting
their needs
first,
by valuing them
the way that
Christ does,
when we get
to see them
experience
God's love
for them
through us
getting to
serve,
God is actually
giving us
a fuller
experience
of His love.
I mean,
being forgiven
by God
is incredible.
Being loved
by God,
being guaranteed
heaven,
let's not sell
that short,
that is overwhelming
and we could spend
our whole lives
exploring that
amount of joy
but God,
because He is
so generous
and so gracious
and just God,
gives us the
opportunity
to understand
it more fully
by passing
it on,
by loving
people in
that same way,
by putting us
almost in His
shoes when He
came to us.
Because we're
getting to love
them,
not because
they're love
worthy or
because they
deserve it,
but just
because,
that grows
our confidence
that,
hey,
that's how
God loves
me.
Not if I'm
good or bad,
just because
He chose
to.
And so that
incredible joy
is getting
deeper and
stronger.
God has
made it
possible for
serving and
sacrificing and
giving up and
missing out to be
an opportunity to
get more
engagement and a
fuller encounter
and experience of
His incredible
love for us in
Jesus.
isn't the
gospel amazing
that God can
take something
that seems bad
by definition,
that seems like
you lose by
definition,
you have to
give up and
make it a win,
make it an
opportunity to
encounter Him
more fully.
Full gospel
joy,
full Jesus
joy is not
found in just
being a recipient
from God,
but in when
what you have
received,
enables you to
serve others on
Jesus' behalf,
when you get to
be the conduit
for other people
to experience
God's unconditional
love,
when you get to
be the connection
point, the
instrument,
there can be
joy in
self-denying
sacrificial
service,
because ultimately
it's just a
full expression of
the gospel joy
that you received
when you placed
your trust in
Jesus,
when you heard
that He loved
you, even
though you
didn't deserve
it.
If serving
joyfully is a
struggle for
you personally,
could it be
that you see
serving as a
task that has
nothing to do
with the gospel?
could it be that
you've separated
out, Jesus
loves me and
I need to
serve?
And so
you've separated
the source of
joy from the
task that He's
put in front of
you and of
course it's going
to be hard
work.
You've kind of
cut yourself off
from the good
bit and you're
just holding on
to the giving
up and
sacrificing bit.
For service
and sacrifice
to be joyful,
it's got to be
connected to the
way that God
has loved you
and served you
in Jesus.
It's got to be
the result of
what God has
done for you.
It's got to be
the result of
the sacrifice
and service
that God has
given you.
Christian joy
is always
Jesus' joy.
I said it
before, I can't
remember if I
said it in the
morning, but
week one I
said this series
could have been
called Jesus
for Everyone
because Jesus
is the source
of joy.
Each week
Paul is
unpacking ways
that Jesus
has chosen
to give us
access to
more of him
in the
Christian life
and here
he is calling
you to serve
others
and at the
same time
calling you
to know him
better as you
do it.
Calling you to
know his love
more fully as
you do it.
Service is an
opportunity for
joy when in it
you grab hold
of the opportunity
to engage the
Christ who
loved and
served you.
Serving and
sacrificing is
an opportunity
for joy when
it is done in
the strength
and love that
has come to
you first
through the
cross.
This isn't
about making
bad things
good.
This is about
encountering the
greatest thing
where he has
chosen to
reveal himself
in serving
just like he
did.
Let's pray
that God
might shift
our hearts
and our
eyes to
see him
and to
chase him
and to
pursue him
and to
find him
in serving
as he
demands.
Father God
I want to
ask that
you would
give us
eyes to
recognize
what it
means to
follow you
what it
means to
embrace all
of the good
gifts that
you have
placed in
our lives
including
the
opportunities
to serve
including
the
opportunities
to go
without
to sacrifice
to miss
out so
that others
might be
blessed and
loved in
the ways
that we
have been.
God I
want to
thank you
for including
us in
what you're
doing not
because you
need us
but for
our sake
help us
to recognize
that the
agenda is
always that
we might
know you
better
that we
might taste
more of
your goodness
that we
might be
more fully
satisfied in
you as we
understand what
it is to
love unconditionally
what it is to
serve and to
sacrifice confident
that we still
have all we
need in you
God please
fill us with
your love and
grace in such
a way that it
just flows out
of us that
our service
might be
wholehearted
humble
sacrificial and
joyful and
we pray it in
Jesus name
Amen