Pour out

In this final installment of our three-part series on Philippians 2, we delve into Paul's teachings on living as faithful followers of Jesus in a world that is crooked and corrupt. As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day, this message becomes particularly poignant, reminding us of the paradox of freedom – it is never free but comes at a great cost.

Paul, writing from a jail cell, speaks of being "poured out like a drink offering" for the faith of the Philippians. This imagery of a sacrificial offering highlights the depth of his commitment and love for the community. Despite his circumstances, Paul remains joyful and encourages the Philippians to embrace the same glad surrender to God's will.

This sermon challenges us to reflect on our own lives and how we can be poured out in service to others. Just as Jesus and the apostles poured out their lives for the Kingdom, we are called to do the same – to GO, LOVE, and DO in our daily walk of faith. As we work out our salvation with fear and trembling, we are transformed by God's grace, becoming true disciples who make disciples, using our freedom to lead others to freedom in Christ.

Join us as we explore these powerful themes and learn what it truly means to live a life poured out in service to God and others.

Scripture Reference: Philippians 2:17-18 (CEB)

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding the sacrificial nature of true freedom.
• Embracing a life of joyful surrender and service.
• Becoming disciples who make disciples through love and action.
• The transformative power of working out our salvation with fear and trembling.

Tune in and be inspired to pour out your life in service to God's Kingdom

Enjoy this message? Consider visiting Ravenna Church of the Nazarene where Pastor Jason is the Senior Pastor. Have a prayer need? Want to share something with Pastor Jason?

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Transcript

     Today we wrap up our three-part series in Philippians 2, where Paul has been teaching us how to live as faithful followers of Jesus in this world. This world is crooked and corrupt, and we are to be true to Jesus as we journey through this life in His grace.

     I find it very fitting that we are studying this passage on a weekend where we are looking ahead to Independence Day. Independence Day is a reminder to us of an important paradox. Freedom is not cheap. For a person to be free someone else has to be willing to give up their own freedom. Paul alludes to that very cost in our text.

     Philippians 2:17-18(CEB):

     But even if I am poured out like a drink offering upon the altar of service for your faith, I am glad. I’m glad with all of you. You should be glad about this in the same way. Be glad with me!

This is the word of God

For the people of God

Thanks be to God

     An important piece of information to remember as Paul is writing this letter to the Philippians is that he is doing so from a jail cell. The verses we have studied up to this point, Paul has been writing with a hope in Jesus. He hopes to be released or that Jesus would return. But now Paul offers mentions another possibility, his death.

     In verse 17, Paul writes, “Even if I am poured out like a drink offering upon the altar of service for your faith.” The Jews practiced a drink offering, given up to God. An animal was sacrificed to God, but wine was poured on the offering. As the offering was consumed by fire, the wine would become a puff of smoke that quickly disappeared. Paul was saying his life was like that puff of smoke, wine poured onto the lives of the Philippians as they lived surrendered to God. His life was lived in glad surrender to God and for the Philippians as they worked out their own salvation with fear and trembling.

     Paul’s words make sense. If you are a pastor, your life belongs to God and the people whom you serve. But Paul does not stop his thought in verse 17. Verse 18 says, “You should be glad about this in the same way. Be glad with me!” Being a drink offering for the Philippians is not something Paul is doing begrudgingly, he is doing it out of genuine love for them. As Paul goes about the work, he is essentially telling the Philippians, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” And as Paul is joyfully being poured out like a drink offering for the Philippians’ faith, the Philippians should gladly allow their lives to be poured out as drink offerings for Jesus and one another.

     And that is what this passage teaches us. As we work out our salvation with fear and trembling, it will always lead us to become disciples of Jesus who make disciples. Believers who GO, LOVE, and DO. We have faith in Jesus, but working out that faith points to being entirely sanctified. Entire sanctification points us to loving God and loving others. Loving others points us to using our freedoms to get other people to freedom in Jesus.

     In his letter, the Apostle Peter wrote, “You are being made into a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5) A priest is someone who represents God to the people and represents the people to God. Jesus died and rose again for the forgiveness of our sins, then He ascended to the right hand of God as our eternal high priest. Our faith in Jesus gives us direct access to God. Jesus is not only man, He is also God. So when we go to Jesus, we go to God. And that makes you and me priests who represent God to others and others to God.

     How did Jesus get to be our high priest? By emptying Himself of all but love for us. By pouring out His life for the ministry of the Kingdom. By pouring out His blood for the forgiveness of our sins. Notice, our Lord, Savior, and High Priest “poured out.” Likewise, the apostles through the power of the Holy Spirit poured themselves out so the message would spread. This is what we must do.

     Working out our salvation with fear and trembling is an inward work of God’s grace that transforms so radically our lives become different. We can leave grumbling and arguing with one another and the world because our love for Jesus drives us to love one another and the world. The love moves us to be so busy pouring out our lives in service for God to our neighbor, that we do not have time for anything else.