A servant always has power.

Steve Brown:
A servant always has power. I’ll explain that on this edition of Key Life.

Matthew Porter:
The deepest message of Jesus and the Bible is the radical grace of God to sinners and sufferers. That’s what Key Life is all about. So, if you’re hungry for the hopeful truth that God isn’t mad at you, keep listening. Steve Brown is a professor and our teacher on Key Life.

Steve Brown:
Thank you Matthew. Hey, it’s Thanksgiving, and I just want to say I’m thankful for a lot of things to a good God, and you are one of them. We’re bringing to an end this study of Philippians 2:1 through 11. And I will, when we finish today, have told you everything I know about that text, and it’s not enough. But we spent a long time talking about what Jesus did, how it affects us, what was accomplished and finished on the cross, the amazing reality of the Incarnation, that Jesus had everything and gave everything up. What we’re doing as we bring this study to an end, is that we’re looking at paradoxes of the Christian faith. Some of the family secrets that Christians know and we’ve seen, paradox number one, you must relinquish in order to possess, Philippians 2:6.

Who, being in the very nature of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself.

Philippians 2:9b

Therefore God gave him a name that is above every name.

So, whatever is yours, let it go. Whatever is important, let it go. And then we saw another paradox. Paradox number two, you must humble yourself in order to be exalted, Philippians 2:7.

Jesus made himself nothing.

Philippians 2:8b

He humbled himself.

Philippians 2:9

Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place.

One thing that’s irritating sometimes when I’m telling a story and we run out of time and I have to truncate the story, and if you were listening yesterday, I was talking about a time when I was speaking for an important conference and made a fool of myself. I mean, I really did. It was awful. And then got on the elevator with the people before whom I’d made a fool of myself, and rode eleven floors in total silence to my room. And I fell on my knees and said, God, how could you do that to me? And God laughed in my face and he seemed to say to me, that’s one of the best things that ever happened to you. And if you were listening yesterday, at the end of the broadcast, I said you should have heard the next sermon I preached. Well, I don’t want to overdo it, but it was better, and it didn’t have to be very good. It was better than the place where I made a fool of myself. But I learned something from that, that I’m nobody. And that I am capable of saying really dumb things, that I have a deep voice and sometimes people mistake that for profundity. I pray, Lord, remind me who I am so that you will be exalted and I can go along for the ride. Let me show you another paradox. You must become a servant in order to have authority, Philippians 2:7.

But he

Jesus

made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant.

Philippians 2:10

That at the name of Jesus every knee would bow.

The authority of a servant. As you know, I teach seminary students sometimes. One of the things I talk to them about is being a servant. Now, I talked to them about politics. And how to win battles in the church without losing your salvation. And that’s important. But the most important thing is that they need to learn to wash the feet of the people in the congregation. That’s a metaphor, and that’s also a reality. When someone is crying, make sure that you taste the salt of their tears. When somebody’s in the hospital, make sure you’re there. When a baby dies, stand with the parents. When a parent dies, hug those who have lost the one they loved. When there’s no money, give it. When there’s no help, make sure that you help. When hearts are broken, bind them up, because that’s your business. That’s what you’ve been called to do. And there is a benefit that comes along when they have the next congregational meeting and you present a controversial program, they will all vote on your side. Now, that’s pretty crass. And sometimes the students said that’s manipulative and maybe it was, but I said, you don’t do it to get the votes. You do it because that’s what Jesus did and told you to do. When he washed his disciples feet, he said.

You call me Lord and teacher and you’re right. And I just washed your feet. All authority has been given to me. Now go and do the same thing, and you’ll have the same authority.

If nobody listens to you, wash their feet. If nobody cares what you think, wash their feet. If when you ask people to do things, they do the opposite, wash their feet, and if you do that, you’ll find that genuine authority becomes a reality in your life. Do you know who has the most authority over me? My wife, Anna. She has authority over everybody in our family, and you would never know it if you hung out with us. I can remember when one of our daughters, I was reading a book and she shouted out, Mom, come here and help me with my homework. Now, if she had asked me, I would have said, Are you crazy? I’m not coming and helping with your homework. If you want to come to me and get on your knees, and ask me to help you, from my position of authority, and the head of this household, I might help you with your homework. You know what Anna did? She put down whatever she was doing, she went to our daughter’s room, and she helped her for two hours with her homework. Sometimes, when we were having a meal, and our daughters were small, things would happen. I remember one time a little bit of Kool Aid was left in the glass, and it turned the milk purple. And one of our kids said, Purple milk? Yuck! Now, I almost said, but I didn’t get to say it. I almost said drink it, kid, it’s a new taste sensation. You know what Anna did? She got up, poured out the milk, washed the glass, and filled it with real milk, non purple milk. And sometimes I want to say, to Anna, Listen, cut that out. You’re the mother. You’re the authority. You’re in charge here. Let them know it. And then I realized the authority that she has. When she asked our daughters to jump, they asked how high on the way up. When she wanted something, she got it from them. You know why? Because she was a genuine servant. Do you know one of the reasons the name of Jesus is exalted above every other name? It’s because He was a servant. And then one other obvious thing, you must die in order to live, Philippians 2:8 and 2:11. Paul said it again in Galatians.

I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless, I live, yet not I, but Christ who lives in me.

It’s a paradox. It’s a paradox of living fully. It’s dying first. So, that’s everything I know about Philippians 1 through 11. About 50 percent of it was wrong, but I’m not sure which 50%, so you’re going to have to get your Bible out and study it yourself. But I do know that Jesus humbled himself and became a servant unto death, and that his name is exalted in the world, in my life and will be exalted for all of eternity. Don’t thank me. I was glad to help. Amen.

Matthew Porter:
And just like that we wrap up this week’s study of Philippians. Thanks Steve. And thank you, as always, we appreciate you taking the time to join us. More great Bible teaching next week, but first, tomorrow, you know what it is, Friday Q&A with Steve and Pete. Tomorrow, Steve and Pete will take on this question. Is it wrong to pray to Jesus? Hmm? Tune in for their answer. So, are you enjoying this series on Philippians? If so, I think you’ll be interested in a sermon CD called How to Be Content …NOT! It’s based on Philippians 4, and if you’re struggling to find peace and contentment, I think it’s going to encourage you big time. Get that entire message on CD for free by calling us right now at 1 1-800-KEY-LIFE that’s 1-800-539-5433. You can also e-mail [email protected] to ask for that CD. If you’d like to mail your request, go to keylife.org/contact to find our mailing addresses. Again, just ask for your free copy of the CD called How to Be Content…NOT! Finally, if you value the work of Key Life, would you join us in that work through your financial support? You can charge a gift on your credit card or include a gift in your envelope. Or you can now get safely and securely by text. Just text Key Life to 28950 that’s Key Life, one word or two. It doesn’t matter. Just text that to 28950. Key Life is a member of ECFA in the States and CCCC in Canada. And we are a listener supported production of Key Life Network. Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving.