The Lord Jesus teaches us how to fulfill His joy, which is by being like Him. As we walk servingly with God, He rewards us with joy, peace, and then Paradise forever.

First, Paul wants us to fulfill his joy. vs1-2, “If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal.” He wants us to live to serve others. He bases it upon the comfort that we have in Christ. Thus, we must experience the gospel to live like it, and we must live like it if it’s experienced. These two things teach us the whole counsel of God in our obedience; it can’t be dead formality, and it can’t be talk only. We must be doers of the word, even as Rahab hid the spies. We must live by the gospel that comforts us.

Often, young believers are led astray. They look at serving Christ as optional: they get a taste of His glory and run back to the world. No, we’re to be motivated by the gospel to serve the glory of God from a sincere heart; We’re to get the Spirit in, so we can get Christ out in ministerial character.

Secondly, esteeming others better than yourself is esteeming them as superior. Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” It is not saying that he’s better than me. It is taking the place of a servant, which Christ did, when He came into the world [Matt 20:25-28]. We’re to be SERVICE minded instead of self minded. We’re to trust God and look out for the needs of others, knowing that He cares for us. Use your joy wisely. Use your comfort to go into the world and help people. Serve others in the church.

Oh, how wonderful it is when the whole church is feverish with Christ! The Acts 4:32, “Now the large group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common.” Everyone’s eyes are on doing good unto others, and this is Christ’s power. When the Spirit comes, we speak boldly, we depend wholeheartedly, and we give ourselves to the needs of the church tangibly. It’s like Abraham offering up Isaac; it’s not just talk [James 2:22]. Service is the way of the kingdom; it’s the transformed life!

Thirdly, the Lord Jesus was EQUAL WITH GOD, yet He humbled Himself. This is a great example to us. Philippians 2:5-8, “Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.”

Not only do we get the benefits of His death by atonement, but we get the Spirit to live like Him also. Not only are we to marvel at Him, but we’re to go and do likewise [Luke 10:37]. Not only are we to believe in His love, but we’re to love others. He says,

John 13:34, “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another.”

This following His example is letting His mind be in you, and it is the total transformation of our person! This is a glorious thing God does through the gospel: He makes us like Jesus, which is our highest honor and privilege. Then, the joy comes, as God rewards you [Phil 2:9]. The more you’re like Christ, the happier you are in submission, love, and faithfulness. You’re walking with the Father as a son!

Finally, God will highly exalt you. Philippians 2:9-11, “For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow.” Like Christ, who honored the Father for His reward, you’ll have joy and peace now. You’ll see the cross is easy to carry, because He sends the Holy Spirit [1 John 5:3]. You’ll see the faithfulness of God, and in Paradise, you’ll rejoice forever.

It’s impossible for God to be unfaithful. It’s impossible for Him to lie, not help you, and not reward your service. No one serves Him in vain. He is a just God, and He sees the humble. The meek (who depend on Him) inherit the earth [Ps 37:9-11]. We walk in His ways, and He shows us it’s sweeter and better. We obey His will to our benefit!