Philippians 2

Calvary Bible stores me to flip Ian's chapter 2. Philippians chapter 2, as we continue on and our study of the church today, we look at Christ, the model of our ministry. What we ought to be doing that just as a church. But as individuals because this building is a building, the church is the individuals. We are the church, you are the church, so what God is guiding us and directing us to do as we have noticed in Galatians in Ephesians. Now here in Philippians and we get through Philippians will go on to Colossians continue this theme as we continued on in the responsibility that you and I have We live in a society today where I think it's easy to pass responsibility onto other people. We don't want to be responsible for any, we don't mind other people being responsible but we don't want to be, we don't even want to be held responsible for anything that we may do wrong. We just want to do it and move on and forget about it, but that's not the way life Works. In fact, Christ, as our model in Ministry is one who says, here's how you need to live your life. Last week, we saw that in Philippians 1:21 for me to live is Christ. And to die is gain soap for you. And I are as Believers. If we are going to to live we need to live is Christ and I keep saying last week, I didn't preach last week, Pastor Duke did right? I'll remember that eventually. But we got a great message on the lordship. We want Christ as our savior that gets us into heaven. Amen. But he is your lord. He can be our savior without being our Lord, but he cannot be our Lord, without being our savior. A lot of people. Yes, I'll believe I'll check just so I can do it just way. Miss hell is if that's our true reason for believing it. So we don't have to go to hell. You might want to recheck that connection because there's some spotty connection right there within that, I use this illustration and the early service how many you have a cell phone. How many feel like throwing yourself home from time to time, right? They don't always work the way you want grade invention, take it with you, wherever you go, but how in the world, did we survive 40 years ago? Without those things, right? You didn't have a cord on that phone, a long enough to go across town, maybe do the back of the house. I seen those cords that are rolled up there. Got a real him back in, like, you do a holes in the garage, they be stretched for the house, but we now, we take him everywhere. We want to go it and we drop a call, we miss this, we met at things, and then they freeze up on us. I'm probably not your phone. You probably got the nice expensive ones, but mine froze up yesterday and I got to make some phone calls today and say, hey I'm sorry I didn't get back to you my phone froze, it sometimes that sounds like a poor excuse but this is the truth. Then we have that thing called the internet, right? And we had that thing called cable television, when they don't work, right? Our life is sort of falls apart. How do we survive? Well, we better get used to it because I think as we go forward I'm not sure it's going to get any better. You know I'm saying in fact in the last days there's going to be perilous times and heartaches and hardships and difficulties and we'll see what comes forth from that and if we can't handle what we go through now, The way God wants us to how we going to handle it, then if we can't run with the horses. Now we're not going to be able to do it later. So let's look at see what Paul has to say. Here's the Church of Philippi in Chapter 2. What are you saying? Is every one of them? You need to look out. That's my first point this morning, look at look what he says in verse 1. Through verse 11. Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any Fellowship of the spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfil my Joy by being like-minded. Having the same Meaning of one Accord enough, one Minds. So I'm thinking and verse one. He's giving us some ideas of what we ought to be doing is Christian's with this comfort with his fellowship with this affection in Mercy. He says, if you have that if you're doing that, fulfill my Joy by being like-minded bursary, let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit but in lowliness of mind letting each esteem others better than himself. Is that the society we live in today? Know your number one. Right? Been going on like that for years and forever. I'm number, it's all about me. First before you let each of us esteem, others better than better than ourselves. Let's look at the needs of others. Before we worry about itself, is not saying we shouldn't worry about ourselves. We need to take care of this vessel that God has worse. But, you know what? We, we put so much on this vessel that we don't have time. For other sometimes, Let each one of you look out, not only for his own interest, so they're taken care of self, right? But don't just worry about yourself. Also worry about others. Also for the interests of others, are you concerned about others? Do I take care of my family Osbourne, No More. What you need to go further than that. It needs to go deeper, then I'd be on just us and our own interest. We need to be concerned and caring about those around us. Those in need Those who may not have the hope that you and I have if we truly have this hope of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, then we know that when we look out for the interests of others, he's going to bless that. He's going to provide for you as you need. Not. As we think we need. We not, we've got more than we really need, man. You, I bet I can go to your house and I can probably find food Galore. Where we can go in some places in this world and people are wondering what they're going to eat for the next meal. Not just tomorrow with the next meal. What am I going to eat? What am I eating today? I mean, all throughout the Bible, God has told us how he would provide how he'll take care of us. We just have to have faith and that Faith doesn't mean we're going to get it the way we want it. That Faith tell. This guy was going to provide what we need. If we get everything we want, we're going to be very spoiled. Are we not? I don't want everything I want while I do want every, that's why I want it. But, you know, I don't need everything I want. I do need the things I need. I need breath. I need my heart to beat. I need the blood to continue to flow through my veins, so I can continue to do and be what God has called me to do. And me, even if my legs don't work correctly, I can still do and be what God has called me to be in whatever situation I am. And that's what God is asking us to whatever situation we are in there for to be content. We don't have to like it but be content be content that my legs don't work correctly, but I can still minister Christ is a model for Christian. This is what Paul is trying to share with the people of Philippine. He is a model for Christian Life is a model for Christian service because he thought of others first not himself. Let's go on to read what he says in verse 5. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. So put on the mind of Christ is what he's telling us who being in the form of God. Did not consider it robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no reputation. Taking the form of a bondservant and coming in the likeness of men and being found in appearance. As a man, he humbled himself became obedient to the port point of death. Even the death of the Cross. Therefore, God also has highly exalted him. Jesus and giving him the name Jesus, which is above every name that at the name of Say it With Me. Jesus every knee should bow of those in heaven and those of Earth and those under the Earth and that every tongue shall confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord for the glory of God, the Father Are you looking out? For the needs of others. Are you just worried about yourself? Are you just worried about what I can get in the, how I can hold on to it? And I don't care if my neighbor, my neighbor is starving. I don't care if they're having a tough time. I don't like them. I'm not going to deal with them. That's not the mind of Christ, is it? Now you may have some neighbors that are not nice. My neighbors. Probably think that about me. I don't know. I don't think that about them because I know I can't number one. As a minister of the Church of God. I cannot think that, my, my neighbors are mean. And in Nash, I want nothing to do with them because if I think that and I treat them that way, What are they going to think about my God? What are they going to think about the guy that I standing here in professing on a Sunday morning that we are to do all things that he's called us to do? We have to be working the way he's called us to work. We need to be looking out for the needs of others. Can other people abused that? Yes, they can. But listen, when we see a need, we need to strive to fulfill it for those quite because that's what Christ has called us to do. That's what he did for you. That's what God did. When he looked down on this world, he saw I need. Is that, you know what? These people are lost without hope they need Jesus. So I'm going to send them my son. Jesus Christ, which he already knew before time. Before the world was created before time. Was he you had it all figured out already. It wasn't something. This would have came up with on the spur of the moment. But when he created you and me and he put mankind on this Earth and he said hey Goforth obey and you'll be blessed. This old man, you'll suffer the consequences, we sort of kind of Follow that rule today. Do we not You obey you'll be blessed. You disobey, you have to suffer the consequences. The thing is we sort of changed those consequences up a little bit, you might get away with it. And we think that sometimes we can get away with things with God and we can't. There is nothing that you and I can do. That is hidden from God. He knows us better than we know ourselves. So we need to look out for the interest of others. Not just thinking only of ourselves. Do you have a servant attitude toward those around you whomever? It might be a few weeks ago I said, hey whoever that person is in your life that you want nothing to do with that. You you hate me. I use that word. Hey, I know, we don't like to use that. You hate him if you want nothing to do with, that's the first person you need to desire to wash their feet. Because if you're willing to wash their dirty, stinking, nasty feet.

What else would you be willing to do for them? And that's the point humble ourselves, this crisis, he humbled himself, he humbled himself so that he could be exalted in the father's eyes and it's not so humble ourselves.

it's taking care of Annie when nobody else sees it, but God, it's going and providing for somebody with nobody else knows. But God taking care of that need. Not to be seen. But Jesus was in a position of being highly exalted. Anyway, was he not? They were looking for him? They were looking to put him to death because his Christ child that was born into this world, the King of Kings made some adult very jealous. Made the King Herod. Very bothered upset. Hey, I got to kill this kid because he wants my job.

Are you looking out for the needs of others? Versus Walter verse 14. He talks about working out. As you yield to the Lord, he works in you. Can you workout in this way? That you fulfill the plan that he has for your life. Look what he says in verse 12 through verse 14. Therefore therefore my beloved, my beloved as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only but now much more in my work out your own salvation with fear and trembling God has given us eternal life. He meant for those of us who believe he's our savior. The question now is, is he not just our savior, or is he our Lord, as well work out your own salvation? Let others see it. But others, know that you are a child of God. Let others know that you fall within the best way to let others know. It's not necessarily by telling them. By living it. Loving it. I mean, you can go park outside of any gym around around the country and you can see people walking into walking out and if you didn't see them walk in the gym and walk out of maybe you would know they ever went to the gym. But there are certain people that you can see walking in your other their arms and inner thighs, are or so big.

That you can tell that they've been lifted a little bit of weight, right? But here's the thing. When we can do our creation or our our, our Christianity before God the Creator, the way we ought to you, just live your life and people seeing you a hope and enjoying the peace. And they come to you and say, hey, How can you have such joy in the midst of trial and tribulation? How can you have such peace when everything seems to be falling apart?

Am I answer to them in my life is? As my joy, does not come from the World by Joy comes from God. That that true Joy. Yes. We we get joy, some things in the world, but you go in and you can you buy yourself a new car and park in the first parking lot that you come to and somebody scratches that. There goes your joy, a man, it's very short-lived or whatever your you're buying a new house and you move in in the pipes burst there goes your joy, right? It snowing it's knowing that God has it all under control regardless. What we're going through. What did she tell us in? James count it all joy. When you fall into divers Temptations. Many different trials and tribulations that go through this. How many times do we throw up or has? Okay. I've had enough. I don't need to be proven faithful anymore.

And our prayer is okay. Got to let somebody else have the trial and tribulation all that shouldn't be the prayer. Maybe it is, but it shouldn't be. Got, thank you. Thank you for allowing me to experience your grace and your mercy. So, when trials and tribulation, come I know where to turn to. I know who to turn to. Ephesians 2:10 says for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for what purpose for good works. Good works, do not save us. We do good works because we are say, we do good works, because we are a child of God, that's a proof of our Salvation. It doesn't save us. Only one thing that can save us. Jesus Christ, and our belief in him, Good works on a follow. If I'm going to claim to be a child of God, I better live my life to be a child of God. Let me throw out this illustration. I know in 30 years many of you would have been here. I've heard it. My father was a minister Here's what I heard from my father, many days. I would go out into the world, whatever I was doing. He say song. When you go out to this world, don't forget. You're representing Christ. And you're also representing me. I have my father's last name mccaskill, right? When you go out to this world, you're representing me. So those of you those in the world that know, me and know that you're my son, if you do something stupid, it reflects on me.

Hey, he would go. But bigger than that. If you do something stupid, it reflects on God.

How many of you ever done. Rage has ever done something stupid?

Stand up here. I am. We have And if we do something stupid that reflects on God, we go home. That was fun. Or do we go?

Sorry God. To the moments that we don't. Sorry. God shows our true heart or the moment, it was fun.

Somebody did. That's all you. And I guarantee you somebody else or you as well. Somebody other than God, Why? Because it always comes back. My father would tell me when I go out with friends and I wasn't a bad kid growing up. I didn't get into drugs or alcohol and wasn't in the hot rods and didn't have a girlfriend till I went to college. Is just how it was, right? Ask a girl to marry me three times. She said no twice. Third time. She said, yes. Or makes sense, right? Because you should know, said, yes. The first time I wouldn't have asked her any more.

We've been married, 42 years. God bless us with three kids and nine grandkids. Partridge in a pear tree. We got more than we need. But I also know that his blessings. Also, give me responsibilities. Because now I raise my three kids, they're on their own. Now, I got nine pairs of eyes watching me. See how pops action reacts to different things? How he lives his life. We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus. For good works. Which God prepared beforehand that you and I we should walk in them. Walk in the good works walk in the things that God has called you to walk in. My heart goes out this morning for the funeral family losing. 40 year old son. I can't imagine. I know the feeling when you think it's possible we were we were there were Tyler a few years ago when it's possible to lose it. I know that feeling of what's possible, but we haven't lost a child. And I knew this morning in the early service. When I mentioned that there were those in here that I have done funerals for their children that it was going to touch a scar. Fresh and new, a bring out feeling back of that loss, by mentioning that, but that's the world we live in folks. Sadly, it wasn't God's plan, but he Allowed by letting you and me make choices.

And our responsibility is our choices, the choices that we make prove, whether we're walking with the world or Walking with God when we have him as our savior, or whether we have him as our Lord, that's the difference to God wants to work in you and through you to accomplish his great purpose in your life. We all can't be ministers. We all can't be doctors or lawyers. We all can't be whatever God has called us to be. We all have different locations in life, and whatever your vocation in life is be the best you can for God and the rest will fall into place. I mean, if you're around on the bridge, Jackhammer that bridge right Frank. Do the best you can cuz guys watching. I don't understand it. He's up here jackhammering on the bridge and he's up here playing a guitar and waving his hands cuz his hand hurts.

What a wimp?

He's not a wimp. I can say that cuz he knows I love him.

Be the best, you can whatever it is if you're teaching kids at school beat up,

Give them Godly principles. Not the World lyrics.

Herbie reminded me this morning, I'd forgotten about it. We're in a society today in the world. where there are kids in our school system that Think their dogs and cats? Call Perry's. Right? So, therefore, yes. Therefore they have to have a litter box. Seriously, it's not made up folks. That's the world we live in. I know, I know there are people that act like dogs and live like dogs and cats those guys. And I'm not trying to negate. Where we going to go with this. God, created You and Me In His Image, amen. And when we live in a world where we got to start catering to all these other. Okay. Yes, I understand there might be mental issues and things going on. I understand that and I say that people go over

Trust God, God's got a purpose and a plan for you to accomplish his great purpose. There's somebody out there on the other side fighting against us to go the other way. The devil is walking about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. And we're being devoured, quickly, Christians are being devoured. Why? Because they're more concerned about their, wanting, their wishes and their desires than they are about being what God wants. I hear people say, well, you know, Pastor Clyde God wants me to be happy and I said, yes, he does. But first, he wants you to be holy. Holiness leads to happiness. When we strive to follow, got a new Gods will happiness follows but it was trying to do the worldly ways. So confused. That ball of string that gets all tangled up and you're spending your lifetime trying to untangle that string.

I shared a little stration, a while back. When I take the grandkids and we go off with the five girls camping with the five girls, it's just been a busy year. The boys haven't been able to get go camping with us. But man, I take those five girls camp and they all want to go fishing at the same time. And I want to go fishing, but you know what I realized. I cannot fish 158 year, olds are fishing and younger. Because all I'm doing is baiting hooks, untangling lines, and then getting that big wall ball of twine. It's all parts. I don't know what happened. I don't want to hear all of that. Are you just cut the line, and put another hook on? Cuz I cut the line, I put another hooked on. And guess what I'm doing? After I get that and beta-2 back in the water. I got another one over here to deal with Can I get that one done? And how did you get that up in that tree the only tree? It's got a barber on. It's meant to stay in the water.

But you do it anyway. You're alright, because I love those. Five girls, write a my worn on afterwards. You better believe, I'm worn out afterwards but I almost 5. So yes, let's do it again. And my wife is when you want to go, let's get it over with. I don't want to think about it. Just go do it.

How do you think God feels about us? How many lines of we got caught in the trees? How many fishing lines have? We got all tangled up, and we're trying to untangle it. Gushes just cut it and move on. Cut it and move on. Let it go. Let God do it. Say God, cannot shine through you until he works in you. Can I say that again? God cannot shine through you until he works in you. So let him have his way. Not your way. You're going to mess it up. A man. God's way is perfect. It doesn't make sense all the time. We don't like it when we have a loss in the family or something like that. We don't understand it. But God's got a purpose. God's got a plan and he wants you to work it out. Because you and I folks, or a light and a dark world, where a runner that's holding forth the Living Word to a dead world and we need more Runners. We need more people committed to serving God and Shining forth as God would have them too because there's darkness in this world. And guess what? It's going to get worse before it gets better, but then it gets awesome for us. Believers on the other end when Christ calls us home whether through the rapture Or through death. I don't fear either. Can I be honest? I used to I used to be afraid that God was going to come home, and come back before. I had a chance to have a wife, and kids and and live life. I've got a wife. I've got two kids. I got a kid. I got kids. Got grandkids live live life. Okay? God anytime. But y'all know because if I'm all concerned about God coming back to get me out of here. What about my family and friends? That don't know Jesus what hope do they have? Every knee shall bow? Every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord that's going to happen but I want them to confess our their own. Yes I believe that you are God I accept you or As a thief after the Roman centurions across. When you bow down before Jesus. Yes, I believe you are the Son of God. It's not too late for him, but some day for some, it's going to be too late when they believe that Jesus is who he says he is. I don't want my friend. I don't want my family to fall into that category so I'm willing to stay here as long as God wants me to for such a time as this Looking for 17 through verse 30. Not only do we look at, not only do we work out our own salvation but we are to be poor. He's talking about a drink-offering pour down as I drink off and we're not going to read Numbers chapter 15, but you've take time this week and read that numbers 15 one through 10 to talks about the drink offering being poured out. 417 Philippians chapter 2. He says this. Yes. And if I am being poured on as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and I Rejoice with you off, if I had to suffer for you, he says I'm okay with that, I Rejoice with you in that for the same reason, you also be glad and rejoice with me because listen Paul says why I'm being poor. Then you may be called to be poured out as a drink offering. but I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly that I also may be encouraged when I know your States but I have no one like mine who will sincerely care for your state for all seek their own. Not the things with your Christ Jesus. But you know, his proven character that has a son with his father. He served me in the gospel, therefore I hope to send him at once as soon as I see how it goes with me. But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly. Poster. Hey, I want to come to you, but I can't right now. So I'm going to send Timothy because he's going to continue to encourage you and build you up. And Timothy had a friend, epaphroditus and Timothy in Paradise had the same attitude of service. They had the same attitude as sacrifice, giving themselves to others. What's your attitude today? Have you had enough? Have you said I've done more than I shouldn't. It's time for somebody else to kick in. If in pitch in and help me, I'm gone.

What if Christ did that with you?

I can pick on Chris Brown cuz I can. Okay, okay, Chris Brown. I've had enough with, you know, I no longer you going to have and you're done. God doesn't work that way, does he? Chris Brown. Do you know Jesus as your lord and savior, you know that when you die you know where you're going. Do you know how you're dying? Okay, keep your arm around, Holly. I've seen some look, she's giving you.

You know, I got Chris and Holly coming to church. Chris got invited to a Tuesday night, men's bible study. And then he goes home and tells his wife. You got to come to church guys like Ray Stevens.

There's no reason even staying you younger people. Nevermind.

But I did want to sing when the squirrel got loose in the Mississippi Church. When Holly first came and I thought that would be too much.

Why? Because I remind Chris of Ray Stevens, and Holly's a redneck. Like the rest of us, right? Anyway, and here they are umpteen years later.

But I don't want to. Because when we have gotten rid of people, I don't like that, I don't like that, it's family. Hey man, we're family death in the family, I don't like it. When we got people moving away all over the country. I don't like that because we're family, but then I did that to my family when I moved to New York. Right. They're trying to get me to stay in Kansas and and start a church in Kansas. Why would you want to go New York? I wouldn't have met you had. I not followed God's will. And some of you say, I wish you had to follow, God's will. No this is what Paul and say I'm sending Timothy cuz I love you guys and I want to prepare the future for you guys as best as I can. So hey here's some like-minded to continue on the ministry. 2nd Timothy chapter 2 verse 11 through verse 13 says this. This is a faithful saying for if we died with him, we should also live with him. If we endure, we shall also reign with him. If we deny him, he will also want. Then I asked if we are faithless, he remains faithful. He cannot deny himself. If Christ is in us, we are his A man that doesn't mean we can go out live our life. However, we want, we don't do that to somebody. We love We strive to serve him. Is that okay? I messed up. Where's okay? I mess up. I got away with it. I won't do that again for a couple of weeks and I'll try it again. Now there's a big difference because the world we live in today. They're just living their life. If I got away with that, we never get away with sin. Sin has a cost that takes us further than we want to go Casas more than we want to pay makes it deeper than we want to be sin. Has a price and we might not see it now but guess what? Will eventually see it because scripture the old Tempest as you know, the sins of the father passed down upon their children and their children's children I don't want that, I don't want my son to be passed down upon my children. My children's children. Am I a perfect man? I am not a perfect man. But I strive to be what God wants me to be easy when we pour ourselves out as a drink offering. When we empty ourselves for Christ, he feels as backup. Hey man.

I'm closing with this illustration. I I make my own iced tea. I brew my own tea bags and Put it all in a, in a picture. They asked me the other day, or do you drink? I should have drink. I say. What? How much do you drink? I don't know. There's a picture of Ice-T there and my drink it till it's gone. I make some more

Hello, I drink it. I drink iced tea. But here's what I've noticed. if you don't clean that picture on every time you make it, There gets to be a little bit of. Leftover residue as Shay price as it takes on its own character. Got to wash them character off, right? Sorry, I I clean it out and all of this brown water. Cleaning out that picture pours out, and I didn't think it was that dirty. but then that first batch of tea, Taste different. Right. Depend on how many who, how often do? I don't, I don't know you drink it, you make more, you drink it. You make more. But there's a certain point in there. I guess and I'm not a wine drinker so I don't know how this would look fine. Aged wine. I guess. I don't know. You some fine. Aged tea residue left over in there. That's just perfect. No other things can change the Dynamics of that tea. If I don't put enough tea bags and I try to put only three them for the floor and things. Change little dab, not a lot of sugar little dab of sugar in there. I grew up on the sweet tea sold that's like drinking syrup. Little dab of sugar. I don't even like the McDonald's sweet tea. I go with the unsweetened tea cuz it's just too sweet. These two sweet. But I got just right. And when it gets used to write, I like it. And it goes pretty quick. So what's your point? Well, this vessel that we live in every now and then needs to be cleaned out and that needs to be poured out. I do not pour a new batch of tea into the vessel. If there's tea left in it, the vessel has to be empty. For me to make some new tea. Well, why is that is just how I am. And I think for you and for me for God, to make us what he wants us to be, we need to be emptied out. So he can fill us up. And guess what? When he fills us up, it's fresh and it's new and it's awesome. When's the last time you've been filled by Jesus? When's the last time you've poured out yourself for him and allow him to replenish that which needs to be inside. He wants to do it daily. The daily die for him to daily pick up our cross and follow him so he can guide us and directors. Father, we thank you, we thank you for your word. We thank you for directions. We thank you. That when we pause to share your blessings with others, you bless us back. Paulino the needs in each life. Here, two birds one. Each heart, we leave that into your hand. To guide us to direct us in to help us to be what you want us to be. We left at the funeral family. Again this morning Father to just put your arms around them and let them feel the blessings of the church family. The peace and comfort that can common loss of a loved one. Father, we just ask that you just won't be with them throughout this week and then all the decisions that need to be made. We pray for those in our church and having health problems, lift them up and comfort them as well. Let them put their eyes upon you to be filled with your blessings in your peace, not the Peace of the world. Your peace? Which passes all understanding? Guide us and direct us and we'll give you the praise in Jesus name.