Sermon
Jesus, Others and You
May 26-27, 2001
Pastor Leighton Sheley

I'll invite you now to take your Bibles and open to Philippians, if you're using the pew Bible it's page number 790. In our first session with this wonderful little book we came to realize that joy is something that can be learned. Paul said I have learned the secrets of being content in any and every situation. Paul can learn this, so can we. And then we found that Paul left us an outline in Philippians as to how to enjoy this same contentedness. There are four chapters in Philippians and each carries a theme. The theme of chapter 1 is a single mind. That is, a mind that's focused on Christ alone, and His kingdom and sees circumstances through that perspective. Chapter 2 is a submissive mind, wherein we keep the interests of others before our own. Chapter 3 is the spiritual mind, which puts no faith in the flesh; it's strength, wisdom, knowledge, accomplishments and so forth. Chapter 4 is the secure mind that knows that God is in complete control, rejoices in everything, does not worry, in everything gives thanks, and is constantly filled with things that are good, and pure, and noble, and so forth.

You know, a person can get up every day, have breakfast, drive through the traffic, have some coffee at work, do the job, grab some lunch, meet with the boss, and come home happy as a clam. And then one day they get up, have breakfast, drive through the traffic, have some coffee at work, do the job, grab some lunch, meet with the boss, and drive home as angry and grouchy as can be. Now what changed? It was the same traffic. It was the same coffee, same job, same boss and circumstances. The circumstances had not changed, but what did change is the way the person looked at or perceived his circumstances. How we perceive our situation definitely affects our contentedness.

Now few of us would be happy being in prison, and yet, to Paul, it was an opportunity. It was an opportunity to suffer for the gospel and so in suffering share in Christ's glory. It was also an opportunity to share the gospel with those in Caesar's household and the Praetorian Guard. And you know, there was a benefit to us as well. Paul was a considerable type 'A' personality. He went all around the then known world many times preaching the gospel, and it was only when God set him down in prison and made him sit still for while that Paul wrote these letters that have touched lives down through the centuries and touch ours. Instead of depending on his circumstances to bring him joy, Paul saw his circumstances and every difficulty as a way of serving Jesus Christ. He had one purpose, a single mind. Philippians 1:18; The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. The important thing to Paul was that Christ was preached. Paul wasn't interested in comfort and security as we have been culturally indoctrinated. Paul said I've learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Chapter 1 addressed the joy thief of circumstances, and suggested that we put Jesus and His kingdom first. Chapter 2 addresses the joy thief of people. Some people are professionals at robbing other people of joy. You probably run across more than one in your lifetime. You know the acrostic JOY come Jesus-Others-and Yourself, and yet so often we have disappointments with others that can result in anger, disappointment, resentment, and perhaps even a root of bitterness. And Pastor Dave has prepared a skit that I'm going to ask him to come and present to us now. It's thought-provoking.

(Root of Bitterness skit)

Thank you Pastor David -- Others. Philippians chapter 2; If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. You know, believers working and living together in unity is very important to Jesus. In His prayer just before He was going to the cross as recorded in John 17, Jesus prayed - I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

David writes in the Psalms 133, How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! For there the Lord bestows his blessings, even life forevermore. How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity, putting the interests of others before ourselves. We should make that just a daily practice. Some people call it the Golden Rule; treating others as you would desire that they treat you. Things like being courteous, not being pushy, not being insensitive to the needs of others. We can do it here at church. One of the things that is a courtesy is when you arrive to come to the front of the church and move towards the center of the pew. And the reason I say that is because there are those who have been delayed due to circumstances beyond their control, who are going to come late, and it's uncomfortable for them to have to step in front of you or over you in order to get a place in the pew. And so when we come to church and we come into the sanctuary we can prepare ourselves mentally to be interested in the welfare, the interest of others, by doing simple things that make their lives a little more pleasant and a little bit easier.

Proverbs 6:16-19 says, There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension, strife, contention among brothers. Unity is so important to God that He hates a person who promotes discord and strife. Now some have probably been taught that God is really only interested in the vertical relationship; the relationship between us as individuals and Him. That's not so. Of the Ten Commandments the first four deal with that vertical relationship, us and God, and the final six address how we should treat those around us. When Jesus was asked to identify the greatest commandment He responded Matthew 22:37, Love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all of your soul and with all of your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Jesus was only asked to give the most important commandment, and yet, He felt that it was important that He give the two most important commandments, because both are essential to living a life that is pleasing to God. Love God - love your neighbor.

Now disagreements between people and disagreements in the church are nothing new. Evidently there was some disagreement in the church at Philippi because Paul writes in chapter 4:2, I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. Now what does that indicate to us? It indicates that there was some kind of disagreement between Euodia and Syntyche that was bringing Paul's attention to bear. Now what is it that causes a lack of discord or lack of unity? James gives us the answer in James 4:1 and following, he says, What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but you don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. And when you do ask God, you do not receive, because you asked with the wrong motives, that you might spend what you get on your pleasures.

What is it that causes fights and quarrels? It's not getting our way. It's not getting our own way. That's true between children, spouses, co-workers, political parties, nations. Strife is the result of being self-centered or me-centered. The mindset that perceives everything and everybody existing to serve me and my goals and my purposes. Now to contrast that and to illustrate a submissive mind Paul writes, Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him a 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 confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Jesus though He was rich, made Himself poor for us. He enjoyed the throne room of heaven and glories beyond our wildest imaginations, and yet He came to earth as a little baby. Not born to parents of aristocracy, but rather peasantry. God did this for us.

Jesus declared that He did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. Jesus is the ultimate model of not being self-serving, self-centered, me-centered. Now Paul is very precise in his selection of words, and the Greek language allows for this precision. In verse 6 the word for robbery can mean two things. It can mean snatch at and it can mean clutch. This passage could mean that Jesus did not need to snatch at equality with God because it was already His to be had. It can also mean that He did not need to clutch equality with God as if to guard it jealously, because He chose to lay it down for the sake of men. In the same verse there are two words which could be used to translate form or nature describing Jesus. Morphe is an essential form that never changes, schema, the other word, is the outward form which changes from time to time. As an example of the difference between these two words: Leighton's schema changes. At one time Leighton's schema was a baby, and then Leighton's schema was a toddler, and so forth. Maybe if we're lucky someday Leighton might have a schema of an old man, but that remains yet to be seen. Leighton's schema changes from time to time, but Leighton's morph remains Leighton. Paul uses the word morphe to describe Jesus' unchangeable nature in being God. At the same time He was man, Jesus remained being God.

Now in verse 7 Paul uses an interesting word for made in the phrase 'being made in human likeness'. This word describes a state of being that is not permanent but passing, only for a time was Jesus made in human likeness. The very first creed of the new Christian church is found in four words in verse 11 -- Jesus Christ is Lord. This was the creed of the early church. In fact, when someone made that declaration 'Jesus Christ is Lord' they were considered a believer and a member of the church. Later creeds tried to expand as they tried to define aspects of the salvation of mankind, but that was the first creed of the church -- Jesus Christ is Lord. Now that title Lord at first meant owner or master, and then a little while later it was that title that was ascribed to the Roman emperors. Later it was ascribed to the heathen gods, and finally that was the word that was chosen by the translators which translated the Hebrew 'Jehovah' into Greek. And so when Jesus is called Lord it means that He is the owner and master of all. It means He is the Sovereign of sovereigns, the Caesar of caesars, the King of kings. He is the God of gods. He is Jehovah.

Verse 12, Therefore, my dear friends, 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 according to His good purpose. It's very important for us to study and understand the meaning of this phrase found in verse 12: continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, because it's a misunderstanding of this particular phrase that often leads to certain cults that are works oriented. In other words, certain cults that teach that your salvation is the product or the result of your work. There was such a cult that was dressed up and visiting neighbors and telling about how wonderful their particular religion was, and I asked the question, I said, I understand there are only 144,000 spaces in heaven. And they said, well, yes that's true. I said, now am I correct in understanding that those spaces are full? Yes, that's also true. Are you planning on going to heaven? (Congregation chuckles) They said yes. I said, how? They said, well, I'm hoping that one of them will fall out of place so that I will have a place (congregation chuckles). I wanted to ask them if someone else could fall out of their place in heaven, couldn't they also fall out of their place in heaven to make space for someone else? That's not the eternal kind of security that I think is very appealing.

You know some people believe that it's up to their pastor to work out their salvation. After all, that's what they get paid for. But this verse is very clear, isn't it? You're responsible for working out your own salvation. You are responsible for your salvation. Now what does it mean to work out your salvation? Well that word work in this verse is katergazomai, which has the core idea, core meaning, of bringing to completion - bringing to completion. Now when you join that meaning of the word with the following verse, the meaning of what Paul is saying is, God is working in you - don't stop the work of God. God is working in you. Don't stop or resist the work of God. It's God who is working salvation in us, but we can choose to put roadblocks in God's path. We can choose to delay and resist what God wants to do in us and through us. How is it that we put up these barriers and resist or delay? It's through disobedience.

Jonah was a man who was called by God to do something he didn't want to do. And so what Jonah did is he got on a ship going the other direction. And God gave him a PTE (Personal Transportation Experience). Jonah ended up doing what God wanted done, but he had tried to delay the will of God working through him. Sometimes we can impede God's work by using shortcuts or trying to do things our way. Moses knew that he was called to save his people from the slavery of Egypt, but killing an Egyptian guard wasn't what God had in mind, and Moses waited forty years on the backside of the desert until God had prepared the way and the man. Moses and Jonah are examples of how God works through His people.

How God works in His people is not so easily illustrated. God's work in our lives is at the most personal, intimate, deep level of human existence and experience. Each of us is aware of some area in our life where we know God wants to do a work in us, but we are resisting it. It may be a habit that we know is not pleasing to God, but we continue to feed the habit, and by so doing, we impede the completion of God's work in us. It doesn't matter what that habit might be. It might be smoking, or drinking, gambling, eating to access, whatever it might be, but our feeding that habit is not pleasing to God and impedes the completion of God's work in our lives.

Now the phrase fear and trembling the Paul mentions here is not the fear that drives us away from God, but rather the fear that drives us into God. For it's an understanding that we do not have the ability, we do not have the strength, to overcome our sinful inclinations, that we are dependent upon God and God's Holy Spirit. And so how do we cooperate then with God's work in us and through us in working out our salvation? And the answer is, to be obedient to God's direction. And that's why Paul begins this instruction; Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed, continue to work out your salvation.

Verse 14, Do everything without complaining or arguing. That should be a model for every church in America. Do everything without complaining or arguing. It has so many applications. What is it that Jonah did when he finally accomplished what God had sent him to do in Nineveh? He went outside the city and complained to God. God I didn't want this city saved. You know we do complaining and arguing against God. Sometimes instead of thanking God for releasing us from some captivity in sin we complain against God. It's like a pig is drawn to slop. We are drawn back into our sin and say, you know, God, I rather enjoyed that sinning. And so we complain that God has released us from the captivity of that sin. There are people in church, we have them too, who are faithful servants in the work of the church, but it seems like just about everything they do, they do complaining. They complain there are not enough workers and too many pew warmers. They complain that they don't have adequate supplies, training, or support. Complain that their faithfulness is not acknowledged enough. They complain that they are more faithful in meeting God's needs in His church, than God is in meeting their needs. They complain that the music is too loud. I usually get those notes.

Enough already! Do everything without complaining or arguing -- please. You know there can be another source of irritation that leads to complaining and arguing, and this does need to be addressed. You see it's important for us to understand the love that we have been called to give towards others, and if we do not understand this love it can result in situations that result in anger, resentment, and bitterness. You see, believers are called to give and forgive. Believers are not called to be doormats. We are not called to be walked on. Jesus said, I've not come to be served that I have come to serve and give My life as a ransom for many. Jesus was not walked on.

Dr. James Dobson calls this tough love in his book by that title. And Paul writes these words as recorded for us in Galatians 6:2, he says; Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill law of Christ. Now at first it might sound that each of us is responsible for carrying everyone else's burden. But Paul writes a few verses later, verse 5, for each one should carry his own load. Now what does this mean? Well, the words in verse 2 and verse 5, burdens and load, are two different words. Verse 5 says that each of us should carry our own burden of daily toil, the everyday things that we need to do. Each of us is responsible for carrying our own load of the everyday responsibilities that we have. Verse 2 says that we should carry each other's excess burdens or as some translations might put it, boulders. These are big boulders too great for a person to carry by themselves. Now each one of us is responsible for carrying for ourselves, but sometimes we're hit with crises, boulders, that are too big to lift with our own resources. And it's during these times that the extended family of God steps in and helps carry the burden, but it seems like some people live from crisis to crisis. Either due to laziness or greed, they regularly presume upon the generosity of believers. This is nothing new. Paul had to deal with this issue in his letter to the Thessalonians. 2 Thessalonians 3:10, when he writes, If a man will not work, he shall not eat. Now it wasn't that these people couldn't work, it was that these people wouldn't work. They wouldn't bear their own daily responsibilities, but they would manipulate others into doing the work for them. If a man will not what he shall not eat.

You know Jesus distinguished legitimate need from illegitimate need or being used. After an extensive teaching, a long day, the disciples realize that the crowds that were following Jesus were very hungry. And the crowd was very large that day there were over 5000 men there, and there was no local McDonald's that could handle a crowd of that size. And so the disciples went to Jesus and said, Jesus, we have a need. These people are hungry and there are no cities around here that could provide for this need. That was a legitimate need. Jesus met that need and so we have the feeding of the 5000. Jesus met a legitimate need. Not too long after that the Pharisees came to Jesus and said we need something, we need a sign. And you know what Jesus said to them, it's not going to happen. It's not a legitimate need. Jesus distinguished legitimate needs from illegitimate needs or usury.

You know, Jesus also protected His own prayer time, His own private time. Often the Scriptures tell about how Jesus slipped away and had a time of prayer. And you know, with as popular as Jesus was and with the abilities that He had, I can well imagine there were people that would come up to the disciples and say something like -- I need to speak with Jesus; I've got a need and He can fix it. And the disciples would respond and say, I'm sorry but He's not available right now. Oh, but you don't understand, this is important and it needs to be fixed right now and only Jesus can do it. I need to talk with Him right now. And the disciples said I'm sorry but He is not available right now. So Jesus protected boundaries around those times that He spent in prayer. You know when Jesus left this earth there were still sick people in the region. In fact we know that from the passage in Acts which talks about Peter and John healing a sick man.

You know Jesus didn't try to do everything, and He didn't try to meet every need. He did what His Father called Him to do, and He met the legitimate needs that were brought to Him. Now Jesus distinguished where and when He would give, so should we. In fact, Paul writes as recorded in 2 Corinthians 9:7, Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion. Now what happens when someone comes to you and asks for something you know is not a legitimate need? They are using you. You might say yes or you might say no, but inside you are doing - if you do say yes - you are doing it reluctantly. Are you not? You're doing it reluctantly. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly - or under compulsion. What is under compulsion? There are some people who are master manipulators, and they will use whatever key they can find to turn you into their servant. If it's a guilt trip, they'll lay in on you. Whatever it takes to get you to do whatever it is they want you to do. Compulsion. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. God loves a cheerful giver. But you know some people have not protected themselves, some people have been through situations that are beyond their control. They have been used and abuse to the point where they have nothing more to give. And if they give, and all the experience they've had giving is not cheerful, it's not a joyful experience, it was done reluctantly or under compulsion and they never get the joy of giving and giving cheerfully. Beware, but there are those who like animals prey upon the generosity and the good intentions of believers. Because of this some believers are afraid to give again, and they have built around them walls like a fortress and they won't let you in because they're afraid of being used once again.

It's important that we forgive. It's very important that we forgive. Jesus says if we don't forgive we won't be forgiven. If we don't forgive resentment builds. When resentment builds past a certain point bitterness sets in. Bitterness can lay down roots, and like your worst nightmare of a weed, a root of bitterness is difficult to remove. In their excellent book 'Boundaries', Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend write this concerning forgiveness, to forgive someone means to let him off the hook or to cancel a debt he owes you. When you refuse to forgive someone you still want something from that person even if it's just revenge that you want. It keeps you tied to him forever. Refusing to forgive a family member is one of the main reasons people are stuck for years unable to separate from their dysfunctional families. They still want something from them. It is much better to receive grace from God who has something to give and to forgive those who have no money to pay their debt with. This ends your suffering because it ends the wish for repayment that's never forthcoming, and it makes your heart sick because your hope is deferred. If you do not forgive you are demanding something your offender does not choose to give, even if it's only a confession of what he did. This ties you to him. Cut it loose. Forgive and you will be free.

Not forgiving, not cutting it loose, not forgiving will result in growing resentment and bitterness. Resentment and bitterness will lead to arguing and complaining. Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life. Notice that it doesn't say we become children of God; that is already established. It says that if we do what we're supposed to do as told to us in verses 12 through 14 then we become blameless and pure and without fault. And light is often used as a reference to Jesus Christ and His gospel. In him was life and that life was the light of men, John 1:4. Jesus said that we are to be the light of the world, Matthew 5:14. By God working in us and through us we become the light in the world, the stars in the universe -- the stars, the lights in the blackness. We're called not to hide our light under a bushel, but to display it. Letting your light shine means letting God work in you and through you.

We don't have time to go into it in detail this day, but Paul continues the chapter describing Timothy and Epaphroditus as examples of people who are not self-centered, not me-centered, both had sacrificed their own interests, as the Scriptures put it, for the sake of the gospel and to the benefit of Paul. You see, if anyone offered their services to a man who was awaiting trial on a capital offense, they risked being charged with the same offense. Timothy and Epaphroditus risked sharing Paul's verdict, which may have been death. So they were not interested in carrying their own interests. And so in order to learn how to be content we must put Jesus first, we must put others second with parameters, and we must put ourselves last -- JOY, Jesus-Others-Yourself. Our horizontal relationships are just as important to God as our vertical relationship. Oh let us be the generation of reconciliation and peace. Amen?

Let's pray. Lord, in our worship time this day, in our communion time, and our study of Your Scriptures, time and again it has been reinforced that we need to be a generation of reconciliation, that we need to forgive others for what they have done, we need to seek forgiveness from others if there has been a damaged relationship, we need to put the interests of others before our own, and by doing so somehow reflect the example of Your life. Lord so often we fail and the challenge that this is is beyond our natural abilities. We're so thankful for Your Holy Spirit working in us to enable us to be sensitive, for giving us guidance or enlightening us, for opening our eyes to see things that we would not otherwise see, and Lord we thank the Holy Spirit's forgiveness for the many times that we fail. We fail to forgive. We fail to support. We fail to carry another's burden. We fail to put the interests of another first. Thank you Lord for Your Word, which is so clear and so complete in giving us guidance as to how to live in this world. May You be glorified in our lives we pray, in Jesus' name, amen. God bless you.