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Sunday 30 September 2001 - Called to be servants

(Summary of sermon by Rev John Powys)

Phil 1:27 - 2:11

Text: Phil 1:27-2:11

" . conduct yourselves worthy . suffer for His sake .
esteem others better than yourself . interests of
others . this mind e in you . made in human likeness .
death of the cross . at the Name of Jesus . every
tongue confess . Jesus Christ is Lord."

Is it a hassle for you to serve the Lord?
You are missing the mark.
Paul suffered much - he was not a chocolate soldier -
he was a man of god.
Here Paul speaks of things he's gone through.
There's a misunderstanding about what Christianity is.

Vs. 29, " . not only to believe in Him, but to suffer
for His sake."
This is a gift - given out of loving grace, i.e. Jenny
asking the ladies to wear black in the hot summer
weather in Durban.

We think, "I must go as comfortable as I can."
If Christianity is not comfortable, we don't want it.
Our Christianity is an "idol" of our own making -
we've missed the mark.

Some come to the Lord because they want god to solve
all their problems.
Life of comfort & ease.
We are called to be soldiers of Jesus Christ.

2:1-4.  "We mustn't live a selfish life." Paul says,
"Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus."
By reading Paul's letters we see the problems in the
churches.
Here, Paul grabs us and reminds us of our Lord, Jesus
Christ.
Paul did not grumble.

Jesus left heaven, a place without sin or sorrow,
holy, eternal joy, peace, voluntarily,
To come down to earth.
He knew man.
He was born of a woman,
Lived in this wicked world,
Worked and sweated in a carpenter shop.

Remember who He was, the Lord of Lords, working in a
carpenter shop.
He heard all the cursing.
His eyes saw wicked men.
He owned no home, had no where to lay His had.

We complain, in our homes, lose our spirituality, i.e.
sleep deprived.
When Jesus was born, there was no room in the inn,
He was with the donkeys and sheep.
He's the one Paul says we must be like.

Form of a servant.  He took it. 
He wasn't forced into it.
He went further by humbling Himself, obedience to the
point of death, the King of Kings.
How far are we willing to be obedient -
      i.e. to our husbands?
We battle with will, anger, lust, etc.
Are we willing to do this?

Cor. "The Lord will not allow us to be tempted beyond
which we are able to bare."
That's God's promise.
Paul had a thorn in the flesh,
     a messenger from Satan. 
He cried to God 3 times.
Answer.  "My grace is sufficient."
Paul, " . I will glory in my difficulties."
When I am weak, I am strong."
Jesus was obedient to the death of the cross -
He was innocent, it was a shameful death.

To stand for the truth . is not popular - i.e.
dressing like the world,
Ashamed to be recognized as a Christian.
Jesus was willing to go to the point of death.
The true Gospel is different.

Let this attitude of humility be in you.
Don't only consider yourself; consider others better
than yourself.

Jesus washed the feet of the disciples.
Remember who He was - the King of Kings.
He washed Judas' feet, the one who was to betray Him.
Jesus knew it.

We are called to serve our brethren AND our enemy.
To be considerate.
We forget that, i.e. driving on the road.
Some don't obey rules, speed,
   or do not use the mirror, i.e. road rage.

The driver believes HE is the important one.
Christian, who is important in your life?
Don't let anyone disturb your comfort or happiness.
The Last Days. What are we doing? Looking after
ourselves?

Paul says don't be afraid.
You are called to do something - to follow Christ.
Paul didn't WAIT for things to happen, he MADE them
happen.

"Go yea therefore . preach the Gospel . healing the
sick, cleansing lepers . raising the dead."
That's what Jesus did, the King of Kings.

Where have YOU been, Christian?
Have you been to reach out to the prostitutes? The
prisoners?
The murderers? The thieves?
Have you been to these sorts of people,
   showing the love of Christ?
If you do that, you'll suffer.
It won't be easy.
There will be difficulties.

Do it for His sake -
Paul rejoiced in it while in prison.
It's a privilege.
When family, friends, or devil go against you,
     don't cry.

Phil 2:2, " . having same love."
Do we have the same love?
Do we love the same things?
What does our heart burn for?
We will never have unity if.

Do we love the Gospel?
Love is a strong thing.
If we love the Lord Jesus Christ with all our heart,
our love will take us to the point of death.
Peter had to learn that lesson.
He denied Jesus Christ 3 times.

Do we love Jesus Christ?
Only on Sunday?
When He blesses us?
When things turn against us on Monday?
That's why we're not prepared to.

Paul says we must have the SAME love or spirit. 
He was prepared to be beaten 5 times,
        39 stripes each time.
Still that didn't put him off.
Paul went through many trials but never forsook the
Lord Jesus Christ.

If we have the same love, we'll be of one mind,
      the same joy,

CHALLENGE: 

Who is important in our life? Self?

THOUGHT TO LEAVE WITH YOU:

"He TOOK on Himself the form of a servant.." 
He chose it.
Don't wait to be ASKED.
Some Christians see no needs in the world,
They see no sinners,
They believe they have no gifts,
That God has nothing for them to do.
They don't want to dirty their hands.

CONCLUSION:

There's a lost world out there.
Millions who . what are YOU doing about it?
Jesus was a man of action.
He was a servant.

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