Joy in Christ - folllowing Him
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Joy in Christ by following Him
Joy in Christ by following Him
Anyone who says he is a Christian should live as Christ did.
It is easy to say we are Christians. It is easy to act like Christians on Sundays when we are at church surrounded by fellow believers. The real test comes when we are instructed to simply live as Christ lived…we are to have the mindset of Christ.
That is not an easy task. It is against our very nature. It is something that does not just come automatically but something that we need to both put effort into but also surrender ourselves to. We cannot work hard enough by ourselves to live as Christ did…the only way we can possibly do that is to surrender completely to Him. By allowing the Holy Spirit to live inside of us, we can learn how to follow Christ. Today we are going to discuss the concept of following Christ and the joy we can find in him.
While we are painfully aware that our “normal” Christian walk is far from meeting God’s expectation for us, is not the goal of imitating He who emptied Himself, never committed a sin, and sacrificed His life for the many so lofty a goal that it depresses those who are trying run the race to win crowns that are at best a blur and at worst seen as unattainable? In the following sermon we are going to examine the lives of Jesus, Paul, Timothy and Epaphroditus in order to prove that it is not only possible, but a given for those who lead Spirit filled lives to follow in the steps of their Master!
I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you.
For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.
For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.
I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me,
and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.
I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need,
for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill.
Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious.
So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men,
for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.
Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.
Paul plans to send Timothy as soon as he learns the outcome of his imprisonment. Paul is hopeful that things will go his way and that he will be released soon. He is sending Epaphroditus now for a couple reasons: 1 because Epaphroditus is longing to return home and Paul expects to become joyful after hearing how Epaphroditus is received and that the Philippians are doing well.
This section of Scripture can sometimes be skimmed over and not thought about too much…especially because of the information found later in Chapter 3. But did you notice how Paul adds something special to this passage of basically checking up on people and telling the Philippians his plans? Look at verse 21 again.
For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
This is a reminder to the Philippians to have the mindset of Christ and follow after Christ. Paul kinda sneaks this message into these scriptures. He is commending Timothy because he has the mindset of Christ and is willing to follow Christ. We too are to follow Christ and imitate Him.
Christ - the Ultimate Example
Christ - the Ultimate Example
Following the footsteps of Jesus is no easy task! Is it possible to get the Gospel message to penetrate the calloused hearts of the deaf, blind and foolish of this world when the only way to accomplish this is through imitating the miracles of Jesus so that this unbelieving generation might see God’s rule over both things seen and unseen?
For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’
How can one truly know God’s will or the truth concerning Him when the competing voices of this age have deafened and influenced us to the extent that all that can be heard is “woe to you hypocrites!” Surely those who are sinking fast in the quicksand of “self-absorption” are unlikely to ever become foreigners of this world, living sacrifices fully devoted to paying any cost to serve the Creator and sustainer of all life?
Is it possible to get the courage to be like Jesus and spread the Gospel even in the face of persecution from the pretenders and nonbelievers of the faith? Yes, we can wear the image of Christ on our hearts and minds but not through our own might but through the power of the Spirit whom raised Christ physically and us spiritual from the dead.
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Through the Spirit of God we can become true followers of Christ and not just fake imitations. We can be the real deal! It is the Spirit that will lead the way. Do you love God? Do you love God?
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
The there is no excuse! There is no excuse for not following Christ if we truly love God. This is a simple command and a simple fact…if you love God, then you will follow God and keep his commandments. Not just when it is easy but in any situation!
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
Paul - the Leader
Paul - the Leader
While we are not all called to be missionaries or leaders as fierce in service as Apostle Paul, Don’t we all have the same calling to faithfully listen and obey God’s will for our lives?
With just a glimpse of God’s love, wisdom, understanding, holiness and the compassion of Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross; one can easily be overwhelmed by such lofty standards and become content to live a comfortable and fruitless life! And yet in midst of living one’s selfish life Apostle Peter’s words ring loud and true:
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,
but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
While one cannot live a sinless life, one can certainly live a righteous one with the help of the Holy Spirit. Apostle Paul certainly did not deny himself and take up all those sacrificial crosses of servanthood without divine help! Based on his human effort alone the best Paul could accomplish was to become the chief of all sinners
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
But the moment he made Jesus his Lord the fruits of the Spirit poured out in an abundance as he stored riches and crowns in heaven. While not everyone is called to have an official leadership position all are called to influence others by living holy lives. To not believe this is possible is to deny the sovereign power of God to rule over all things seen and unseen!
Timothy: the worker
Timothy: the worker
Paul had great praise for the young man Timothy whom often accompanied him on missionary journeys. What impressed Paul the most about Timothy was that their union in Christ unified them in heart and purpose to serve as true shepherds of the flock, caring and protecting the church at Philippi.
Timothy was able to have the same mind and same kindred spirit as Paul because his focus was not on his self-interest but on obeying the will of Jesus Christ! So close was Paul with Timothy that he was seen as a “valid member of his family,” his very own son! So, when Paul became concerned for the welfare of the church at Philippi, he could think of no one better suited to shepherd the flock. His “genuine concern” did not contradict his later command to “not be anxious about anything” (4:6) but was merely a reflection of his desire to keep them focused on and under the protection of Christ. Once Timothy had shepherded them, he was to return to Paul and cheer him up with the anticipated good news of their faithful living.
What about us?
What about us?
If we are to fulfill the command to “live as Jesus did” our focus must shift from serving the false “god of self” to the true and only God, our Creator! “Our churches are filled with commotion and emotion but there is little devotion, that is, devotion to Christ.”
To successfully serve inside of God’s kingdom is not a function of effort but of obedience. The ruler of the kingdom knows the evil desires of our hearts can be used to keep us focused and in love with the things of this world
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
The more money, fame and power one strives to obtain the less time and commitment left to serve the one, true Master, Jesus Christ. God will not accept divided loyalty.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
We can’t serve 2 masters! We can’t follow 2 different things…the world & Jesus. We must make a choice. He demands that we fulfill the summary of all His commands to love Him and one another.
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
This is the great and first commandment.
And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
God placed eternity in our hearts so that we might be constantly reminded that our freedom and independence was given not to indulge in temporary pleasures of sin but to keep our focus on faithfully serving Him in a kingdom that will never end! We are to consider others better than ourselves.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
If the church is to walk in the footsteps of Christ, every member must fulfil their Spirit-given role. To the church of Corinth Paul stated a profound truth: Christians have been baptized by one Spirit to form one unified but diversified body. A church that flourishes is one whose members know and use their Spirit-given gifts to perform the divine role(s) assigned to them. Since everyone cannot be a preacher, teacher, miracle worker, healer, helper or one who talks in tongues; seek to run the race well by fulfilling the divine role God has assigned to you. Just because the field is ripe and the workers few does not grant anyone the right to fulfill any role other than the one God as given to them. When faced with a shortage of workers the church is to “ask the Lord of the harvest to send them workers” whom are most likely sitting comfortably in their seats. Honor those who know and work in their gifting so that no one single role will be coveted and sought for without the Spirit’s leading.
And above all if the church truly wants to follow Jesus then we must learn to stop being so preoccupied with our own security and safety and our own desires…and instead choose to live the life of a servant with the mindset of Christ. There are no excuses.
Who will you follow?
Who will you follow?