Fulfill my Joy
“Fulfill my Joy”
Philippians – Chapter 2
Preached by: Carolyn Sissom
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Duty of Harmony and Humility:
2: 1-2: “If there be any consolation in Christ, any comfort of love, any fellowship of the Spirit, any bowels and mercies, fulfill my joy that you be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”
Paul was proud of the Philippians. Their dedication thrilled him, but he would have his continued stay on earth result in their further progress in the faith. Complete unity works through humility. This would be higher ground. It would add to the apostle’s joy if they could reach it.
This unity does not mean that we agree on every issue or that certain people have to have their “way”. This is the unity of respect and honor toward one another.
(Vs. 3) “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”
In the U.S.A., our nation is polarized between conservative and liberal views. Would a liberal extol the virtues of a conservative or vise versa. If so, then you will find a gentleman and a statesman. This is not the way of the world. Humility is the precious root from which Godly virtues shoot. Seeking out what is superior to yourself in someone else is the first step. Then to advance that person’s interest at your own expense is higher still. This is unheard of today when Christian workers seemingly vie with each other for stature in the ministry.
Marvin Barham visited my home after the conference. He was discussing playing pool. The skilled pool player “runs the table”. That is an interesting description of human nature and being a winner in competition. This is not to come against playing pool are being skilled to “run the table”, but an analogy of competition in the ministry.
Here Paul is not playing pool, but exhorting the Philippian Christians to be humble and esteem others better than themselves. It is when we think we can do a better job than the person the Lord chose to do the job, that Pride “runs the table”. (Smile)
Selfish ambition or vain conceit will only feed their dissension. Humility is the recognition of our true littleness as those dependent utterly on God. Looking to the interests of others rather than to one’s own is entirely opposed to the spirit of the world, so truly described in Ps. 4:18, “a man gets praise when he does well for himself.”
(Vs.5, 6, 7, &8) “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
This passage is referred to as a hymn and believed to be based on the fourth Servant Son of Isaiah 52: 13-53; 12 where the servant’s exaltation following his humiliation is most clearly celebrated. The very wording of the Song is echoed here and in Isaiah through out the hymn.
Jesus was already in existence. He was incarnated, humiliated and exalted. As Deity, he was in the very nature of God. The Son of God could not possibly divest Himself of the form of God at His incarnation without thereby ceasing to be God. Unlike the first Adam, He did not regard His being on equal conditions of glory and majesty with God as a prize and treasure to be held or as a dignity to be coveted and seized; or something to be exploited to His own advantage.
The human nature is striving for majesty and Jesus stripped Himself of majesty. He divested Himself of this equality of state and thus made himself of no reputation. He emptied himself of all but love (C.Wesley). He was not only man, but God. He was taken from the fathomless depths of Calvary’s woe up to the right hand of God, to be higher than the heavens and this in His Holy man-hood. The language here echoes the announcement of the Servant’s high exaltation in Isa. 52:13 “Behold my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.”
(Vs.9, 10, 11) “This is why God raise Him to such heights giving Him a name which is above every name: That is at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
Here is a reputation indeed for the one who was made of no reputation!!! The name is the ineffable name of the God of Israel, spelled with the consonants YHWH. He who once said, I am the LORD (YHWY), that in my name; my glory I give to now other (Isa. 43:8). Now bestows that name on His Servant and enhances His own Glory.
That every knee should bow…and every tongue confesses…is honor that may be paid to God alone (Isa. 45:23). Here is homage rendered by all intelligences in heaven (epouranioi), from where He descended. All intelligences on earth where He suffered and all intelligences under the earth in the realm of death which He conquered. Every creature will confess to him either by choice or compulsion that Jesus Christ is Lord. It is the Father’s pleasure that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father (Jn. 3:223). God’s glory is the work of Christ. It is also the work of the Church.
(Vs. 12) “Wherefore my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Salvation workout: Surely not in this liberal culture of any ole’ religion will work for ya’. I have duked out things with the Lord in my lifetime until He won. There are many times I have fought through the wall of flesh to lay hold of the Spirit. Usually if we are in a battle, if we will lay down our flesh, we will soon see the victory. That is not the “way of the world”, but it is the “way of the Lord.”
(vs. 13) “For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
Human responsibility is answered by God’s indwelling Spirit who makes possible our advance in Christ. Flowers appear after the sun has warmed the earth causing seeds to germinate and send forth roots. We respond to the wooing of the Holy Spirit as He coaxes our willingness and supplies the strength when we act. We will never understand how a martyr is willing to die until the Holy Spirit works the will of God into our lives. The Lord will supply the strength to do His will. His Grace will be sufficient for whatever He asks us to walk through in this life.
We do not have to fear the tribulation of the end-times. I have no fear. The Word of God says the time will be shortened for the elect’s sake. Whatever we have to walk through, the Lord will work in us the will to do His good pleasure. I do not believe that it is the timing for the end of the world. Do I believe we will have to go through some tribulation? Yes, because we have already been through tribulation. Ask the families who are out of work. Ask the families who are homeless. Ask the Christians in foreign countries who are willing to die for the gospel. Ask the people who went through Katrina.
(vs. 14, 15, & 16) “Do all things without murmurings and disputings; That you may be blameless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain.
This past week I ran into some crooked and perverse people. I believe the Lord shone as a light in the situation. Living a good life makes Christians stand out, but more important is when the Light of the Word of God is revealed in us in the midst of a crooked and perverse people. Many people promote themselves as do-gooders for their own glory. The true Son of God becomes an exploding flare in the midst of the perverse. Those of a contentious spirit purposely provoke strife. This is a religious spirit of the Pharisees. Out of pride, these critiquers murmur and complain disputing among themselves.
Vs. 17 & 18)”Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. For the same cause also do you joy, and rejoice with me.”
Libation: Paul refers to an ancient custom where a drink offering was poured upon the altar after a sacrifice was completed. This added gesture was to indicate that the sacrifice was made from an abundant heart. The apostle’s great humility is revealed as he pictures himself the libation for the Philippians’ sacrifice, inasmuch as the lesser part is poured out upon the more important part.
The drink offering was complimentary to the burnt offering. Paul accords the greater honor to them, willing to have his supreme sacrifice reckoned to their credit, not his own. To him this will be only joy, and he bids them accept it with like joy.
Paul humbly compares his own possible death to a drink-offering in which he will be poured out.
I believe we experienced this blessing at the tent revival this past weekend. Eastgate Ministries gave all we had financially to the tent. It was a burnt offering unto the Lord. Vincent Xavier delivered the message on Sunday evening and poured himself out as a drink offering on our burnt offering.
(Vs. 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, & 24) “But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s. but you know the proof of him, that as a son with the father, he has served with me in the gospel. Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me. But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.”
Paul has just discounted his own importance calling himself a mere libation. Now he cites Timothy as an example of the Christ-attitude. But others are not like this! Why? They care only for their own interests. They do not have the Mind of Christ. Epaphroditus further typifies the selflessness of the noble character which should characterize Jesus’ servants.
Vs. 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 & 30) “Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you E paph-ro-di’tus, my brother, and companion in labor, and fellow soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because you had heard that he had been sick. For indeed he was sick near unto death; but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I sent him therefore the more carefully, that when you see him again you may rejoice and that I may be the less sorrowful. Receive him therefore I the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: Because for the word of Christ he was near unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.”
Paul is instructing us to value highly our fellow laborers in Christ. Epaphroditus was a leader in the Philippian church but had to leave his people and come that great distance, nearly forfeiting his life in the process. Observe the anxiety of Paul, a healer, as he sought the Lord to heal this good man.
Tonight I will continue in Philippians in chapter 3.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries, Inc.
Bibliography: Lovett’s Lights on Philippians by: C.S. Lovett and F.F. Bruce Bible Commentary by: H. C. Hewlett. Scripture from K.J.V. Comments are my own.