Sunday, March 14, 2010
THE MIND OF CHRIST ON DISPLAY -- PAUL
Phil. 2:17-18
Let’s read Rom. 12:1, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." This is not a harsh command from Paul, but rather a loving exhortation. “Brothers and sisters, I am coming alongside you to urge you to present your bodies a living sacrifice to God. In light of God’s great mercies toward you, give Him your bodies as a living sacrifice, a sacrifice that is holy and acceptable to God. Surely this is your reasonable service to our God.”
We know about the roots of the biblical concept of sacrifice from our reading of God’s Word. Though we have not seen with our own eyes people sacrificing animals, we read about it again and again in the scriptures. You will remember that both Cain and Abel brought an offering to God, but He accepted only one of them. While Cain brought of the fruit of the field, Abel brought a firstborn from his flock, and God was pleased with Abel’s offering. That practice was repeated hundreds and thousands of times among the people of God, including the offering of the ram that became a substitute for Abraham’s son Isaac. The act of offering sacrifices to God came to its climax when Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us (I Cor. 5:7). We read in Eph. 5:2 that “Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savor.” And what was the point of Jesus offering Himself as a sacrifice for us? Heb 9:26, "…but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself."
Now Paul tells the Roman believers and us to present our bodies a sacrifice. But how can we get up on an altar and offer ourselves as a sacrifice? We must not miss the word “living.” We are called to present our bodies a living sacrifice, not a dead sacrifice. This offering is a continual sacrifice. Though we continue living, we die daily. These living sacrifices have been crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, we live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me.
Isn’t it interesting that Paul uses the word “sacrifice” to describe our service to God. We must get our definition of “sacrifice” from the Word of God, not from the world around us. We are not called to sacrifice in the sense of giving up this or that. While it is true that our sacrifice may involve such, that is only a small thing. What we are really giving up is ourselves, even as the animal was given up completely when it was laid on the altar. Remember, we are not our own, but we are bought with a price. We do not belong to ourselves.
This idea of sacrifice is the background of the verse we are going to look at this morning in Philippians. But before we look at it, I want to give us a quick review of Philippians 2. From time to time, it is important that we remember the flow of the passage. Chapter 2 is all about the mind of Christ. 2:5, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” In other words, have the same attitude that Jesus had. That attitude is the secret of the first four verses, which emphasize the unity among believers in the local church. Ultimately, the only way we will be likeminded is by demonstrating the mind of Christ. When it comes to thinking the same thing, we are to think as Jesus thinks. The goal does not begin with all of us trying to think the same thing. Rather, as we think like Jesus thinks, as we conform our attitude to His, we will find that we are indeed thinking the same thing. What we must understand is that there is a standard for this thinking the same thing, and the standard is the mind of Christ. It is only as we are conformed to His way of thinking that we will be able to esteem others better than self and look on the things of others.
The verses that follow verse 5 bless us with the details of Jesus’ attitude. Though He was equal with God, He humbled Himself, being made in the likeness of men. He not only came into this world as a man, but He made Himself a servant of all. But even that was not low enough. Jesus obeyed His Father even to the point of death. It was not any death, but death on the cross. It was there that He became the propitiation for sin, taking upon Himself the wrath of God. What humility; what sacrifice; what unswerving obedience.
But praise God that isn’t the end of the story. “Wherefore God also has highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (2:9-11). Jesus came into this world and took the lowest place, that He might effectively deal with sin by becoming the sacrificial Lamb of God, but when He comes again, every eye will see Him and every knee will bow before Him. He will reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And those of us who have suffered with Him will also reign with Him (II Tim. 2:12).
Then in verses 12-16 we see the results of the mind of Christ. Because that same Jesus lives in us who have been reconciled to God by Him, we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. We are to live out day by day what God has put in us. We are to faithfully bring to completion that which He has begun. But how can we do such a thing? It is because God works in us, to give us both the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. No, it won’t be easy. There will be plenty of opposition, but even in the midst of that opposition, we are to do all things without grumbling and questioning, so that we will be blameless and pure and without blemish. That is the picture of God’s children. No we aren’t there yet, but that is where God is taking us, as He conforms us to the image of His Son. This working out of our own salvation without murmurings and disputings doesn’t take place in heaven, but right here in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation. In that dark setting, we shine forth as lights, like the stars in the universe. As we shine in the way we live, we hold out to people the Word of life, the truth about our Lord Jesus. And in so doing, we bring joy to our spiritual leaders and to one another, as we continue to practice the “one anothering” that is characteristic of God’s people.
That brings us to verses 17-30. We have seen the nature of the mind of Christ, the results of the mind of Christ, but now we have something in addition. I have already acknowledged that this is a high standard. Remember those terms “blameless,” “harmless,” “without blemish.” And in this messed up world, is it realistic to believe that we can live without griping and complaining? Let’s just ask the question: Is this kind of life really possible? Is the apostle Paul in touch with reality?
In verses 17-30 we have the examples of the mind of Christ. In the rest of this chapter Paul gives us three examples of people who demonstrated the mind of Christ. Those three examples are Paul, Timothy, and Epaphtroditus (an apostle, a young preacher, and a man in the Philippian church). If they demonstrated the mind of Christ, so can any child of God. Yes, it is possible to live in this world with the mind of Christ.
This morning we are going to look at the example of Paul himself in verse 17. The apostle Paul clearly demonstrated the mind of Christ. We will organize our thoughts around two simple statements: 1) Paul lived a life of service; 2) That service brought great joy.
I. The Mind of Christ Seen in Paul’s Service
A. An Attitude of Humility
Let’s begin in verse 14 and read 2:14-18…
Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15. That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16. Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. 17. 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 ye joy, and rejoice with me.
As we saw two weeks ago, Paul brings himself back into view in verse 16, “That I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain.” As the Philippian believers work out their own salvation, doing all things without murmuring and disputing, that will allow them to cultivate godly character, shine as lights in the world, and hold out the word of life to those around them. Their living of such a life of faithfulness will bring Paul great joy when he stands before the Lord Jesus. At that time, he will be able to rest assured that his work has not been in vain.
That brings us to verse 17, “Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you all.” Most translations begin verse 17 with the word “but,” and that is a very accurate translation. (I can’t explain why the King James doesn’t retain the word “but”). The NASV reads, “But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and are my joy with you all.”
Let’s begin by looking at that word “offered.” But even if I am offered… Again, most translations will say something about being poured out as a drink offering or as a libation. That is the idea of the term that is used here. Drink offerings were common in both the religious practices of Israel and the pagan nations around them. This was most commonly an offering of wine or oil. The drink offering accompanied other sacrifices and offerings, such as the burnt offering (Ex. 29:41). Drink offerings were presented during the major feasts of Israel (Lev. 23:13,18,37). Even in the Bible itself we have record that the heathen offered drink offerings (see Dt. 32:38).
The drink offerings were not presented alone, but accompanied the burnt offering, the grain offering, and the peace (fellowship offering). Along with the sacrifice that was placed on the altar, the wine (or oil) was poured out on the ground at the base of the altar. The drink offering accompanied these free will offerings which came before the Lord as a sweet savor (smell). It has been pointed out that the drink offering was never to be offered with the sin offering or the guilt offering. There was no joy in dealing with sin, but there was to be joy in freely offering to God from a heart of gratitude. The sweet savor represented the truth that God was pleased with the offering.
Now let’s come back to Paul here in Phil. 2:17. “But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice.” First of all, notice that Paul did not consider the offering of himself to God to be the most important thing. Hear it again, “But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith…” Paul’s service was only the drink offering. Remember that the drink offering was not the main thing. It wasn’t offered alone. Rather, it went along with the main sacrifice. We might think of the drink offering as the icing on the cake, but not the cake itself.
Here was Paul, who at the time of writing was imprisoned for his faith. He has faithfully served the Lord for years, preaching the gospel, planting churches, and then nourishing those churches. Best we can determine, Paul would be released from prison, but he would be imprisoned again. It was during that last imprisonment that Paul once again used this word that means “to be poured out as a drink offering.” Phil. 2:17 and II Tim. 4:6 are the only places in the New Testament where this word is used. Listen to 2 Tim 4:6-8, "For I am now ready to be offered [poured out as a drink offering] and the time of my departure is at hand. 7. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." Some have concluded that Paul’s being poured out as a drink offering speaks of his martyrdom. However, that is not the case, because here in Phil. 2:17 Paul uses the word in the present tense. He was being poured out as a drink offering long before he was martyred. His offering would culminate in his martyrdom, but it included all of his selfless service to the Lord.
Don’t miss this concept. As great as his service was, even describing it as being poured out as a drink offering, it wasn’t the main thing. So what was the main thing? It was the sacrifice and service of the Philippian church. Paul’s service went along with their great sacrifice and service, just as the drink offering accompanied the main sacrifice presented to the Lord. Paul didn’t have the attitude that said: “Listen, I am a great servant of the Lord. I’m so glad that you can come along and give me some help.” No, Paul’s attitude was the exact opposite: “I praise God for your sacrifice and service of our Lord Jesus, and now I am pleased to add my own life and service as a drink offering to the glory of God.” This is the one of the great significances of the drink offering -- it wasn’t the main thing.
Can you see the mind of Christ here? Just as Jesus took the lowest place, so did Paul. Though we have no record of a greater human servant of God than Paul, this dear saint put the emphasis on his brothers and sisters, not on himself. Paul was the very one who had shared the gospel with these Philippians. God had called him to be an apostle, but who were these Philippians? They were just “ordinary Christians.” Yet Paul turned the spotlight on them. Brothers and sisters, there are no ordinary Christians. We came to Christ through extraordinary means and we live His life by His extraordinary power. By God’s grace, we can always take the low place and call attention to our brothers and sisters in Christ rather than ourselves.
Paul spoke of their sacrifice and service. We have already talked this morning about this idea of sacrifice, as Paul urged the Roman Christians to present themselves as a living sacrifice to God. This is the exact same word. These Philippian believers to whom Paul wrote were indeed offering themselves to God as living and holy and acceptable sacrifices. The word translated “service” is also found in Rom. 12:1, right at the end of the verse: “which is your reasonable service.” Some translations render it, “which is your spiritual worship.” That word “service” was the word that was used of the service of the priest in the temple. But now all of God’s people are priests, and as holy priests we are offering up “spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (I Pet. 2:5).
Paul knew firsthand about the sacrifice and service of his Philippians brothers and sisters. Later in this same chapter, he will speak about Epaphroditus. We are going to look at this man as another example of the mind of Christ. But why does the name of Epaphroditus come up in this letter? It is because the Philippians had sent Epaphroditus to minister to Paul. Let’s read Phil. 2:25, "Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants." He ministered to the needs of Paul. No doubt, his presence was a great encouragement the apostle, but that isn’t the whole story. Come over to chapter 4. 4:10, “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.” Now sip down and read verses 14-19…
Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. 15. Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. 16. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. 17. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. 18. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. 19. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Christians commonly quote Phil. 4:19, but rarely is it quoted in the context. Their God would supply all their needs as a result of their great generosity in meeting the needs of Paul. They had sent help to Paul more than once when he was in Thessalonica, and now they had come to his aid again while he was imprisoned in Rome. While these good deeds were directed toward Paul, the apostle recognizes their service as “an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God” (4:18).
Now please hear me carefully. Though Paul was an apostle, even though he was a faithful servant, though there has never been a greater servant of God, he understood clearly that his service was not the main thing. The focus was on the church, not on the individual servant, no matter how great that servant might be. If that was true of Paul and his situation, how much more so in our day. Jesus did not say, “I will build up great preachers and teachers for my service.” What did He say? “I will build my church.” But He does raise up preachers and teachers. While that is true, don’t ever forget that God has given apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers for a definite purpose. And what is that purpose? Is it so they can advance the kingdom of God? NO. According to Eph. 4:11-12, those leaders are God’s gifts to the church, in order that they might help the saints to mature. Why? So that they saints might do the work of the ministry? Why? So that body of Christ might be built up. How will God receive the greatest glory? Will it be through the great preachers of our day? NO. Eph. 3:20-21, "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21. Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." Did you catch that? “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus.”
Praise God for the church that Jesus is building. Brothers and sisters, you are that church. If anyone ever gives the impression that the church consists primarily of its pastors or some other leaders, lovingly but firmly rebuke him. That is a lie. The glory is in the church, not the individual. I praise God for this church. You are coming to maturity in Christ. And as you are maturing, you are increasingly doing the work of service. And as a result, the church for whom Jesus died and rose is being built up for the glory of God. No, you may not be doing it perfectly, but you are doing it, because you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.
Sometimes people get a bit tired of me reminding them of who owns the church. When someone says something about Ron Tyson’s church, I am compelled to say something like: “I don’t have a church. It is Christ’s church.” “But Brother Ron, you know what I meant.” I’m not sure I know what you meant, but I know what you said, and what you said can lead people astray. Roman Catholicism has been accused of promoting the concept that the priest is the church, but sometimes that idea is promoted in the practice of other churches. Christ is the head of the church and the church is His body. That can never be said of any individual. I am not the body of Christ. Norman is not the body of Christ. We are the body of Christ, and I count it a privilege to be a part of that body. The church and its life is not about stars. We have a tendency to look at Paul and see him as the great star of the early church. That wasn’t Paul’s view and it must not be ours. Brothers and sisters, all of you are like stars that shine in the world, as you hold forth the Word of life.
B. A Willingness to Sacrifice
Now come back to the apostle Paul, who was being poured out as a drink offering. His description emphasizes the truth that his service was not the main thing, but it also emphasizes something else. Think about the pouring out of the wine at the base of the altar. If we restrict ourselves to logic and practicality, we might say, “What a waste.” Why pour out the drink offering? This offering couldn’t stand alone. It was always just in addition to the main sacrifice. Once the wine was poured out, it couldn’t be used for anything else. What a waste!
Think about Paul for a minute. Why did that man insist on being so radical? If he had just toned things down a bit, wouldn’t he have been more effective for God? If he hadn’t been such a fanatic, he could have gone to Philippi and worked with these brothers and sisters in person, rather than having to send them a letter. If he would have eased off a bit, he might have stayed in this world a few more years and been a great blessing to many of the churches. After all, who could replace the apostle Paul? Nevertheless, Paul was content to be poured out as a drink offering for his Lord.
Remember Jim Elliot and his four fellow-missionaries who longed to take the gospel to the Auca Indians in South America. Why didn’t they recognize the dangers of such a mission? They did recognize the dangers, but they went any way. And what did they get for it? They were killed by the very people whom they went to tell about Jesus. These were bright, young, capable missionaries. What a waste! Was it? They didn’t think so. Time would prove that God used their service in a mighty way. But even if that hadn’t been the case, nothing done in service to the Lord is ever a waste. Those young missionaries gladly poured out their lives as a drink offering, and it started long before they were martyred.
I’m thinking of a precious sister who was accused of wasting her valuable resources. Do you remember? She took that perfume which was worth a year’s wages and recklessly poured it out upon the Lord Jesus. Jesus disciples criticized her severely, suggesting that the perfume might have been sold and the proceeds given to help the poor. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. You will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. She has anointed my body for burial.” Like the drink offering, that perfume was poured out and could never be recovered. Nevertheless, to our Lord how precious was that perfume and the one who poured it out sacrificially to Him. What was her name? Yes, Mary. Jesus said that wherever the gospel is preached, Mary will be remembered for this special service.
Again, can you see the mind of Christ in Paul? Jesus’ life was poured out to the point of death on a cross, and that is exactly the case with Paul. No, he didn’t die for our sins, but he was willing to be poured out for the sake of the One who died and rose for him. As Jesus was obedient to His Father, so it was with Paul.
II. An Abundance of Joy
Now let’s read together verses 17-18, "Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. 18. For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me." Paul’s life was being poured out as a drink offering for his Lord. Though he apparently would be released this time, he would land back in jail and would finally be executed. What was his attitude in light of this impending danger? “I rejoice.” His life of unselfish service brought him great joy. Can you read between the lines and hear Paul saying, “Don’t worry about me. I’m doing just fine; my heart is full of joy.” Paul was practicing what he preached in verse 14. There was no grumbling or questioning God. Murmurings and disputings were choked out by an overflowing joy.
Let me pause right here. Our goal is not joy. In our day the gospel is often presented something like this: “If you will just come to Christ, you will have real joy and peace.” Is that true? Absolutely. However, that isn’t the message that Jesus preached, nor is it the message that Paul preached. Our goal is the glory of God, but amazingly enough, one of the great by-products is joy unspeakable and full of glory. Following Christ is a life of joy.
Why is it that all too often we find more joy among Christians in a country like China or Iran than we do among Christians in our country? Is it not because they are learning the secret of being poured out as a drink offering to the Lord? Brothers and sisters, if we get a taste of that, surely we will want more. The joy which is the fruit of the Spirit is not found in the comfort and security and happiness this world offers. This unexplainable joy is found in giving our lives away in the service of our King.
There is a principle here, and it is a very simple principle. It goes like this: The greater the sacrifice, the greater the joy. The more fully you give yourself to the Lord, the greater the joy you will know. I am not saying that we should serve the Lord sacrificially just so we can have this joy, but on the other hand, let us be clear that when we give ourselves to the Lord in sacrificial service, it will be worth it. No one will ever regret being poured out for Him.
For just a moment, ask yourself this question: What are the greatest joys I have ever experienced? Was it when you were able to ride that monstrous roller coaster at some amusement park? Was it when you inherited a large sum of money? Was it when you received a promotion on your job? No, of course not. Those were nice experiences, but they cannot compare with serving our Creator and Redeemer. If we go back to logic and practicality, the greatest waste in all of history was when Jesus of Nazareth was crucified on that hill outside Jerusalem. After only 33 years of life and a little over three years of ministry, He was gone. What a waste? Oh that we might waste our lives in the same way. Paul put it like this in 2 Cor. 4:7-12…
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9. Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10. Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12. So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
Listen to what Paul says here in Phil. 2:17-18, “… I rejoice, and I rejoice together with you. For the same cause also do you rejoice and rejoice together with me.” Out of the last 14 words, four of them are the word “rejoice.” Twice it is the simple word “rejoice,” and twice the word is combined with the little preposition that means “together with.” Now Paul has in mind the whole picture -- his being poured out as a drink offering in addition to their sacrifice and service of faith. Take it all together and it can mean only one thing -- rejoicing. Paul and those in the Philippian church were working together. The main thing was their sacrifice and service; Paul’s unselfish sacrifice and service was the icing on the cake. They were working together, and they were rejoicing together.
Oh the joy of serving the Lord together with our brothers and sisters in Christ. That’s what Paul is saying here. There is no greater joy. This is why Paul could come to the end of his life and speak with such resolve and with such joy. 2 Tim. 4:6-8, "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." How do we love His appearing? Primarily by being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of those who make up His church.
When Jesus said, “I am come that ye might have life and that ye might have it more abundantly,” this is the abundant life that He was talking about.
Conclusion
So let me conclude with a final question. Where did Paul learn to live like this? We look at his life and we are all agreed that he is a wonderful example of demonstrating the mind of Christ. We see in him the humility of Jesus. There are no hints of grumbling and complaining. His joy leaves no room for muttering. But how did he get there? Yes, he was an apostle, but he was fully human, as much a man as any of us.
The answer is very simple. The key was his constant communion with the Lord Jesus. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Ps. 91:1). Paul could say with David, “O God, you are my God; early will I seek you” (Ps. 63:1). How easy to put in Paul’s mouth the words of Ps. 73:25-26, "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 26. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever." Let me remind you of Paul’s great desire, as expressed in Phil. 3:10, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”
One of the great trends today is to emphasize sanctification with little of Christ. There are all kinds of gimmicks presented to help us grow in holiness, but the key is Jesus Himself. In order to be continually set apart to God, do we need to pray and study the Word? Indeed we do, but our motive must be based on a great longing for intimate fellowship with the Lord Jesus. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” That mind will be in us, as we consistently walk with Him. It was Jesus who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, counting the shame as nothing (Heb. 12:2).
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