Joyful Humility
JOYFUL HUMILITY
Join your Calvary Chapel family today (Sunday, November 23, at 10:00 a.m.) in the main sanctuary or online through our website (www.calvaryinv.com), Facebook, and YouTube (Calvary Inverness) as we gather to exalt Jesus, edify one another in love, and be equipped to evangelize a lost world by continuing our study in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians (2:5-11).
Paul loved the Philippians. During his time in prison, he fondly remembered all that God had done when he and his band of brothers first ventured into Europe.
Their message of the gospel burst onto the scene, captivating men and women who had been enslaved and worn out by the hollow promises and parasitic ways of the Greek pantheon of gods and goddesses.
Soon, the first church in Europe was established. Paul’s efforts were successful, and by the time he and Silas left, they had laid a solid foundation and established a congregation of new believers that continued to grow into a healthy, thriving, and mature community.
But now there was a serious threat to the church's health. Two of the women who had ministered alongside Paul and Silas were at odds with each other. As is often the case, those in the church were forced to choose sides. And if things weren’t resolved soon, everything that God had done would come to a screeching halt.
Paul knew the spirit behind the argument. Signs could be seen everywhere. Selfish ambition, conceit, gossip, backbiting, and selfishness. He also knew what needed to be done. The church and the two who had fallen out with each other needed to be reminded of who and what Christ had done for them.
As Paul thought about his strategy for bringing peace to his beloved Philippians, the Holy Spirit inspired him to illustrate the importance of humility. He wrote a poem that would become a hymn of the early church.
It was sound in doctrine and spoke of the greatness of Jesus and His willingness to leave the grandeur of Heaven, come to earth, and be confined to the limitations of a physical body and willingly submit to His Father by enduring death on the cross.
Paul wanted the church to reflect on what Jesus had done for them and, in response, to imitate His humility. The desire to prioritize others over oneself, not to think of oneself as better than others, and the willingness to look out for each other are gifts from above. But Paul knew that for peace to be restored among the Philippians, each person must deliberately choose to pursue peace and live in humility.
My prayer is that our church, filled with love for God and one another, will continue to maintain the unity of the Spirit and walk humbly before our Lord and Savior so that our ministries remain impactful. Our community will see and recognize that we love God and each other with all our hearts, minds, and strength.
In His Unfailing Love,
Pastor
Join your Calvary Chapel family today (Sunday, November 23, at 10:00 a.m.) in the main sanctuary or online through our website (www.calvaryinv.com), Facebook, and YouTube (Calvary Inverness) as we gather to exalt Jesus, edify one another in love, and be equipped to evangelize a lost world by continuing our study in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians (2:5-11).
Paul loved the Philippians. During his time in prison, he fondly remembered all that God had done when he and his band of brothers first ventured into Europe.
Their message of the gospel burst onto the scene, captivating men and women who had been enslaved and worn out by the hollow promises and parasitic ways of the Greek pantheon of gods and goddesses.
Soon, the first church in Europe was established. Paul’s efforts were successful, and by the time he and Silas left, they had laid a solid foundation and established a congregation of new believers that continued to grow into a healthy, thriving, and mature community.
But now there was a serious threat to the church's health. Two of the women who had ministered alongside Paul and Silas were at odds with each other. As is often the case, those in the church were forced to choose sides. And if things weren’t resolved soon, everything that God had done would come to a screeching halt.
Paul knew the spirit behind the argument. Signs could be seen everywhere. Selfish ambition, conceit, gossip, backbiting, and selfishness. He also knew what needed to be done. The church and the two who had fallen out with each other needed to be reminded of who and what Christ had done for them.
As Paul thought about his strategy for bringing peace to his beloved Philippians, the Holy Spirit inspired him to illustrate the importance of humility. He wrote a poem that would become a hymn of the early church.
It was sound in doctrine and spoke of the greatness of Jesus and His willingness to leave the grandeur of Heaven, come to earth, and be confined to the limitations of a physical body and willingly submit to His Father by enduring death on the cross.
Paul wanted the church to reflect on what Jesus had done for them and, in response, to imitate His humility. The desire to prioritize others over oneself, not to think of oneself as better than others, and the willingness to look out for each other are gifts from above. But Paul knew that for peace to be restored among the Philippians, each person must deliberately choose to pursue peace and live in humility.
My prayer is that our church, filled with love for God and one another, will continue to maintain the unity of the Spirit and walk humbly before our Lord and Savior so that our ministries remain impactful. Our community will see and recognize that we love God and each other with all our hearts, minds, and strength.
In His Unfailing Love,
Pastor
Recent
Archive
2025
January
February
March
April
June
August
2024
January
March
June
July
September
October
No Comments