Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ

Chariot April 2009 - Norm Wakefield

Reality Check: It's Not About You - Part 7

   Over the past seven months, we've been going through a series of reality checks from the book of Philippians. Thus far, we've considered these reality checks.

Have you realized the power of your life?
Are you a participant in the gospel?
Have you realized that the only way to live is in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ?
Have you realized that living for self is anti-Christ?
Do you have a gospel mindset?
Are you obeying the gospel by working out your salvation?

    The Apostle Paul unpacked the gospel mindset in three aspects. The gospel mindset is the same mindset as Jesus which involves...

Emptying yourself.
Humbling yourself to be a servant.
Willingly bearing the sins and weaknesses of others.

    After describing the mindset of Christ and His work, which brought about the salvation of those who are participants in the gospel, Paul provided three rich examples of men who had the same attitude and standard of living as their Savior. These examples should encourage us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling for the glory of Christ.

The Apostle Paul had the same attitude as Jesus.

    But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me (Philippians 2.17-18).

    Imagine the Apostle Paul living in a Roman prison. Every day was a labor of love. In his second letter to the Corinthians he described his sufferings. If we take only this one account of suffering from the list, "five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes", we gain insight into what Paul wrote about his gospel mindset. After only one beating, his back would have been a mass of scar tissue. Four more times and it isn't hard to imagine the terrible pain and the difficulty with which Paul lived.

    He wrote later that Epaphraditus had come to Rome to "minister to my need." My guess is that Paul needed assistance just to be able to function each day and continue his ministry to the churches. This helps us understand Paul's conflict expressed in the first chapter.

    For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith (Philippians 1.21-25).

    You can see that Paul used himself as an example of someone who believed the gospel and was working it out daily in a worthy manner. If he were to do what he pleased, he would die and gain Christ, however, if he thought of others as more important than himself, then he would choose to remain and serve the church for their sakes and for the gospel. Paul emptied himself, humbled himself to serve, and willingly bore the suffering necessary to minister to others.

Timothy had the same attitude as Jesus.

    The second example of someone who had a gospel mindset and was working out his salvation was Paul's young protege, Timothy. Perhaps you may remember what Paul wrote to Timothy in his second letter, "Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe" (1 Timothy 4:12). Timothy has been a tremendous example to believers now for centuries. Notice what Paul said about this young man.

    But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father (Philippians 2:19-23).

    What a rich, powerful, convicting example was Timothy! Of all of Paul's entourage, Timothy was the only one who was genuinely concerned about other's interests and the interests of Jesus Christ more than his own interests. Not only that, but Timothy had the attitude every child should have toward serving his father. According to the Holy Spirit, children are to serve their fathers in this manner, a manner worthy of the gospel. How? By being more concerned about the interests of their fathers than about their own interests. It's preparation for the being children of God. A father's interests should be Jesus Christ, his wife, and then his children. So children should be taught that when they serve their mother, brothers, and sisters, they are serving their father's interests and demonstrating their faith in Christ and His gospel.

    Timothy's example flies in the face of what is generally expected of teenagers and young adults. So often selfish living is excused in youth. That ought not be the case, especially if they profess to believe in the gospel. Young believers are just as responsible as adults to live in a manner worthy of the gospel and to work out their salvation with fear and trembling so they may shine as lights in this world. It's the only way to live if they are indeed believers in Jesus Christ. If they trust in His emptying Himself and humbling Himself to serve them by willingly bearing their selfish sins on the cross so they could be saved from them, then they should do the same. I believe this is one of the greatest reality checks for young people in the Scriptures.
Epaphroditus had the same attitude as Jesus.

    The third example of a man with a gospel mindset who worked out his salvation was Epaphroditus, a dear man from Phillipi, sent to minister to Paul in Rome. Epaphroditus exemplified a man who willingly laid down his life for the sake of the gospel and regarded others as more important than himself.
But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need; because he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you. Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard; because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me (Philippians 2:25-30).

    When you're sick, how concerned are you that others not be burdened and concerned about you? I've known many that when they are sick, want everyone to know of their condition! They expect everyone to make them their first consideration. Not Epaphroditus. He was concerned when he heard that his home church had heard that he was sick to the point of death. So much so that his concern shifted from Paul to his brothers and sisters in Christ in Phillipi.

    Clearly Paul had Jesus' attitude in mind when he wrote that Epaphroditus came close to death, risking his life to serve him. Epaphroditus' decision to go to Rome was with full understanding about what he was going to: a hostile political environment, a Roman prison, and serving Paul's needs. Why did he do this? He emptied himself, humbled himself to serve, even to the point of being willing to die for the sake of the gospel. Epaphroditus was working out his salvation, and he was to be held in high regard for his ministry and example.
Are you obeying the gospel by working out your salvation?

    These examples bring the six reality checks into focus. The only way believers in Christ are to live is in a manner worthy of the Lord Jesus Christ–just like Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus. That is the quality of life that is to ripple through our lives and reveals that we really believe in Jesus Christ who saved us by emptying Himself, humbling Himself to serve us, and willingly bearing our sins on his own body to the point of death on a cross so we might be set free to know Him and serve others. I hope you'll take some personal quiet time and family devotion time to consider these three rich examples of gospel living. Could your pastor write about you as an example to other believers of someone who has a gospel mindset? Young people, are you serving your fathers like a child ought to serve his father? Are you obeying the gospel by working out your salvation? I invite you to take a few moments of silence before the Lord and consider these questions and reality check number six.

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            Norm Wakefield
            Elijah Ministries
            P.O. Box 377
            Bulverde, Texas 78163
            830.980.5606
            info@spiritofelijah.com
            http://www.spiritofelijah.com

04.09

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