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Pastor Steven Blumer
Risen Savior Lutheran Church
Orlando, Florida
21st Sunday After Pentecost
October 5, 2008
“MAKE MY JOY COMPLETE”
Philippians 2:1-5
In the name of our Savior, dear friends,
There is an elusive creature that we’d all like to capture and have in our homes, but it’s very hard
to catch. It’s available to everyone, every person wants one, many have one for awhile, but it’s
very hard to keep. It always tries to escape and run away. What kind of animal is this? No
amount of money can buy it, matter of fact even the poorest of the poor can have it. But it seems
to elude all, rich and poor alike. What could this be? The creature I’m talking about has life, but
it is not an animal at all. It is called joy. That’s not just happiness or good times. If that were the
case, all you’d need is for a pastor to be a good comedian. True joy is a matter of the heart. Paul
had it even while he was in prison because his joy was based totally in Jesus. He rejoices in the
Lord even in the tough times! And that’s a tough thing to do.
Truth is, there are many times when we don’t have the feeling of joy. This sinful old world and
its troubles rob us of that joy, and it’s so true that joy will never be fully complete until we get to
heaven. As Psalm 16 says: “In your presence is fullness of joy.” So when Paul talks about
complete or fullness of joy , it is directly connected to the presence of God, even though he’s still
on this earth. He is able to tell the Philippians, and also us:
“Make My Joy Complete”
1. It starts with the Trinity. 2. It is completed by Imitation.
1. Joy: It Starts With the Trinity
Paul begins chapter 2: 1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if
any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and
compassion, then make my joy complete. Here are all the blessings of the Trinity – it’s the
same as these familiar words: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Let’s examine each one briefly.
If you have any encouragement in Christ… This means that Jesus is right by our side to guide
us and encourage us in our journey of life. By his grace, we have that close connection! Back
when Michael Jordan was playing for the Chicago Bulls, there was one evening when he had
scored 69 points. Not long afterward, one of his teammates was being interviewed. He was
asked: What was your most memorable experience?” He replied, “The night Michael Jordan and
I scored 70 points.” We are united with Christ and on his team! Whatever he has done is
credited to us! We have his power, his presence and his encouragement.
If you have any comfort from his love. What a comfort it is to know about the Father’s love.
That’s what true love is all about: This is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10. Our very beings, our very
lives, our source of any joy, all starts with the love of God.
If you have any fellowship with the Spirit…
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and
the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7.
That’s what the Holy Spirit does when he brings us all together in Christ. It doesn’t matter who
you are or where you came from, we have communion and fellowship with one another and with
the Lord. That’s what we’re trying to do and put into practice with all of our activities this
month. From Bible classes this week, to work days and fall festivals, teens outings and parents
night out, and a spaghetti supper besides. We want to make it a fellowship of one another in
Christ Jesus. “Blest be the tie that binds, our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred
minds is like to that above.”
Emotion, feeling = tenderness. Compassion, sympathetic toward us.
God himself has feelings and emotions for us. When he sees the messes we get into, and the
griefs we bear, he is compassionate, sympathetic. Our Joy for living all starts with the amazing
grace of our Triune God! And that’s why Paul now continues: Make my Joy Complete!
2. Joy: It Is Completed by Imitation
As far as it is possible on this earth, Christian joy is completed by Imitation! Paul continues: 2
then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit
and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider
others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but
also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
There’s the imitation. He encourages us to be like Jesus! Have the same attitude, the same way
of thinking. What was his mindset?
6. Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be
grasped, 7. but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in
human likeness. v. 6 says, he was in very nature God and equal with God. He was the Lord of
the universe from all eternity. He didn’t consider his equality with God to be something he had to
hang on to at all costs. His equality was not something he had to brag or boast about. No – he
was willing to give that equality up for a time, by also becoming a man. He was willing to set
aside his glory and power and came to this earthly as a normal human baby.
To demonstrate what Paul says: Let me pour water out of this pitcher, until it’s completely
empty. “He made himself nothing,” which means he emptied himself of his equality, his power
and his glory. And now Paul says that’s how you should be. Empty yourself of al your personal
pride and glory.
Paul says v.3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Now isn’t it a good thing to
be ambitious, to do as much as you can with the abilities God has given you? Of course!
Ambition is one thing, but selfish ambition is another. The word has a connotation of a rivalry or
a desire to be above someone else. It goes along with vain conceit, or literally empty pride. Pride
in yourself is vain, totally empty in God’s eyes. I remember an old Carly Simon song: “You’re
so vain, you probably think this song is about you.”
We can be so wrapped up in our self-centeredness. I want the whole world to revolve around me!
If I’m going to do anything, we ask: “What’s in it for me?” An unknown author wrote: “There
are two types of people in the world: Those who walk into a room and say: “Here I am!” and
those who walk in and say: “Ah, there you are!” It’s all about others.
So St. Paul continues in v.3: but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Literally, have humble thinking, have a mindset that puts yourself low or under the feet of others.
In other words, be a doormat. That doesn’t sound like anything any self-respecting American
would do. “I’m not going to let anyone step on me!” But then think of Jesus. Out of love, Jesus
became a doormat to his enemies as they ground the suffering into his back and his hands and
feet. Out of love, he became a doormat to the world, and to you and me as well, because he took
all the dirt from our soles and our souls and received their punishment. He humbled himself and
became obedient to death, even death on a cross.
What makes us think highly of famous people? Isn’t it when they associate with just regular
people, pay attention to them, help them and show they care for others besides themselves?
Remember the actor by the name of Dick Van Dyke? He had a plaque on his desk that read; “I
am third.” That sparked many a comment, esp. when everyone desires to be #1. When people
asked, he would explain that Jesus was first, others were second and he came in third. That’s
having the mind of Christ, an attitude that always puts God and others ahead of yourself. And
like we said last week, that brings true JOY.
Paul says, v.4: Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the
interests of others. When you get up in the morning, do you think: “What can I do for me
today?” or “What can I do for others today?” When you plan activities, do you ask: “What will
make me happy? Or “What will make my family happy?” Jesus didn’t need to ask such
questions. Right from the start he had the interests of everyone else in mind and not his own. As
he said: The son of man did come not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom
for many. So be like Jesus.
And as the Lord himself said: Whoever humbles himself will be exalted. That too is like Jesus!
After his deepest humility on the cross, Paul writes: Therefore God exalted him to the highest
place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10. that at the name of Jesus every
knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. That also is for us! We will be
exalted with him! Until that day – don’t let joy hide or run away. Start with Jesus. Then look
around you at your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, and make our mutual joy complete.
That’s was joyful living in Christ is all about! Amen.