JOY In Humility

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.

Philippians 2:1

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.

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