Today on Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram, when the world seems to grow darker and darker, when corruption and violence and hate and prejudice continue to grow, God does something unusual. He's looking for a man. He's looking for a woman to stand in the gap to make a difference. Would you like to be that person? Stay with me.
That's today. Picture God's eyes moving across the earth, searching for someone special he can use. But he's not looking for credentials, talents, or impressive resumes. Today on Living on the Edge, Chip Ingram reveals what God is actually shopping for. And it might surprise you.
Through the examples of Timothy and Epaphroditus in Philippians chapter 2, we'll see four specific qualities God seeks in people He uses powerfully. If you've ever thought you don't measure up or wondered if God could work through someone with your background, this message will open your eyes.
Well, now here's Chip with today's message titled, Love Cares. I want to share something with you because there's something that God and Teresa have in common. Are you ready for this? They're both always shopping. When Teresa and I are hanging around downtown Los Gatos, if we go away for a little weekend, if we sometimes, I travel to Atlanta and there's a number of shops there, she's always looking, she's always shopping.
Now, don't get me wrong. She's not like a, I have to have new shoes, new dress. She's shopping for grandkids. I mean, there's a birthday like every third day and then anniversary.
So wherever we go, she'll walk in and go, oh, and then she'll tell me, for this season, this would be perfect for, and then she'll name one of the grandkids and tell me why. Here's what I want you to know. She cares about each child in its season, and she wants to get the very thing that would help them be and experience the very best. And what I want you to know is that God is shopping. In other words, he is looking.
He's looking. And what he's looking for is people that are ready and prepared to fulfill his will. In fact, notice on the front of your notes, I put two key Old Testament passages. It's the Lord speaking from Ezekiel 22. He says, and I searched for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before me.
Why? That I should not destroy it. And this is sad. He went shopping and he couldn't find anyone, but I found no one. And then notice the response.
Thus I've poured out my indignation on them. I've consumed them with the fire of my wrath. Their way have I brought upon their heads, declares the Lord. We see the evil in the world. We see the tragedy.
We see disasters. And God is saying in the midst of all of this, this is not my desire. I'm searching for a man, for a student, for a woman that you could stand in the gap that I will fill you and use you. and I will bring light and goodness and restoration and healing. The second passage is one that's profoundly impacted me.
Second Chronicles 16 verse nine, the prophet is speaking for the Lord and he's speaking to Asa, a king who, I mean, for years, for 30 years, I mean, he was walking with God, making a tremendous impact and then he felt like, well, my time's over and I'm just gonna coast and so God brought a situation into his life and instead of trusting God he trusted in himself and the prophet comes and says for the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the whole earth that he might strongly support those whose hearts are completely his and then he says but you have acted foolishly in this from now on surely you'll have wars here's what I want you to know, when we're talking about I choose love, there's a lot on the line. I'm being a little facetious with the shopping analogy, but our God is looking. His eyes are going to and fro throughout the earth, up and down these aisles in churches across the world. And he's looking for a man or a woman who is ready and prepared so he can use them. And as he uses them, it is in that process that he changes us and he meets the needs of the world and the hands and the feet and the love of Christ is poured out through us ordinary, regular people.
And here's the question I want to talk about today. Why does God use some people and not others? Or why does God use some people in a great way and other people not so much? No warning. I want to tell you that it's not about intelligence or giftedness or education.
In fact, open your notes. And what I wanna show you is that the answer to that question is right out of Philippians chapter two, verses 19 to 30. Follow along, notice in your notes, the purpose for sending Timothy. He says, verse 19, but I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly so that I may be encouraged. The word literally is so that I could have joy and be cheered within when I learn of your condition.
For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. For they all seek after their own interest, not those of Christ Jesus. But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father. Therefore, I hope to send him immediately as soon as I see how things go with me. And I trust in the Lord that I myself also shall be coming soon.
The purpose for sending Timothy, why? Paul cared I mean it that simple The next question is well why Timothy I mean what did he bring to the table The reason Timothy was chosen was Timothy cared As you read through the New Testament, Paul talks about him 10 different times. When there's a need, Paul says, I send him, I send him, I send him. You know what? He's willing, he's available, he's loyal, and he's a servant.
And God greatly used him. Notice we pick it up in verse 25. You ask yourself, well, why does he send Epaphroditus? Are you ready for this? You can get it, can't you?
Epaphroditus cares. Verse 25, but I thought it necessary to send you Epaphroditus. Notice the description, my brother, my fellow worker, my fellow soldier, who is your messenger and minister to my need. Talk about a resume. Because he was longing for you all and was distressed because you heard that he was sick.
For indeed, he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him and not on him only, but also on me, lest I have sorrow upon sorrow. Why is a man so deeply moved by the hurt and the heartache and the sickness of someone else? it's because Paul cares. I mean, sometimes it gets painted in this picture of this, this flaming apostle and this, you know, he brings the truth and messenger and writes 13 books. And, and he did do that, but he was tender and he cared and, and, and tasks were important, but people mattered most.
Notice he says, therefore receive him in the Lord with all joy and hold men like him in high regard because they came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete that which was deficient in your service to me. Do you see these characteristics coming out? Commitment. He's my brother. We're in it together.
We're family. He's a fellow worker. We're arm in arm. I mean, we're setting goals. There's tasks.
There's work to be done. This isn't about us. We're fellow soldiers. We're doing battle. We do spiritual warfare.
We're working out hard things together. We're in the trenches together. And then he says, he's your messenger. And it's a very interesting word. This is a Greek word used in the ancient language of someone during that time who would be called a benefactor and someone who is sort of the benefactor of a city who might bring a drama to the city or a public works and pay for the majority of it.
And what he's saying is Epaphroditus was a messenger, an apostle, a benefactor, a brother. He was the kind of person who cares. Hold people like that in high esteem.
Now, here's where I want to go. That's the passage. You got it? Philippians 2, 19 to 30. What we know is that the command was don't think of yourself.
Put others' interests ahead of your own. The great example was verses right, 5 through 11. Jesus, have this attitude in yourselves that was also in Christ Jesus. He didn't think equality with God a thing to be grasped, but he humbled himself, remember? And then love obeys.
He says, now obey, not just in my presence, but now much more in my absence. And now he's going to say, love doesn't just obey, but in the everyday grind of life, love actually cares. And here's what I want you to get. Notice on the top of your notes, it says, Timothy and Epaphroditus exemplify the kind of person God uses to fulfill his purposes. Let me read that again.
Timothy and Epaphroditus exemplify the kind of person that God uses to fulfill his purpose. You're listening to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. Chip will continue today's message in just a moment, so stay with us. If today's teaching is resonating with you, there's more where this came from. The complete series, Choosing Love, is available right now at livingontheedge.org.
You'll also find study notes, discussion questions, and resources to help you go deeper. Everything is waiting for you online at livingontheedge.org.
Well, now let's continue with Chip's message. Out of this passage, I've done something that I think is going to be very helpful. There are four things that when God is shopping, if you will, when he's looking, when he's saying, should I use this man? Should I use this student? Should I use this woman?
Should I use this couple? Are you ready? Should I use this church? There's four things he's looking for. And I put them in the form of a question.
Question number one, when God is looking, is do you have a servant's heart? Do you have a servant's heart? Do you really care about people to the point of moving out of your current schedule, your current rhythm, and just life as it is today? See, that's what servants do. Remember, for a servant, there's no job too low.
There's no recognition needed, and there's no thanks required. A servant doesn't whine about what's wrong. A servant says, oh, there's a problem or a need. I'm going to be a participant in changing it. Here's the issue.
We in our hearts and minds intend, but it's an action step. Will you please ask God Lord will you show me where to serve and if not in this church in a Christian organization in a very special way of leading a study at work we just want you the body of Christ to have a servant's heart a servant heart is measured by action steps that give and serve and obey and care And so just ask yourself, honestly, do I have a servant's heart? There's a man on Saturday nights, comes early, prays. All during the service, he prays. We have another service, he prays.
and then on Sunday morning I drive in and I can tell you right where he stands and he's helping people get in and out of the parking lot. You'll probably never know his name. You'll probably never recognize him. You know what Jim has? You know why God's using Jim?
He has a servant's heart. Second question, are you willing and available? Are you willing and available? many care but not to the point of genuine willingness to act others are genuinely willing you're really willing you're just not available you're just too busy I mean you're just doing lots of stuff and you've assumed all the stuff you're doing is the most important stuff if there's no time for God and if there's no time to serve others for God let me just tell you you're too busy. The application for some in this church is to pause and stop and have a little private moment with God or a family council and say, we're too busy.
We're going to cut some stuff out and we're going to put some God stuff in. Willingness and availability when the eyes of the Lord are going to and fro. You know what? He doesn't use people that aren't available and he doesn't use people that aren't really willing. My question, are you willing?
The second reason people don't serve or don't care is this is so sad, but you actually think that you don't have anything to give. And you actually think, some of you, that because of what you've done or what you've been through or the tragedy or the abuse or the divorce or the separation or the abortion or, you know, the bankruptcy. I mean, I could go on and on and on and on. You think, well, I mean, you know, God uses people that are squeaky clean and have it all together. You know, like the apostle Paul, murderer, or like Moses, murderer, or, you know, like James and John, the guys with anger management issues, right?
I mean, people that really have it together like Rahab. Oh, that's right, she was a prostitute. Or, you know, Matthew, you know, the apostle Matthew. Oh, that's right, he was a tax collector and a crook. I could go on.
It always amazes me when I was a kid, I grew up in a real social church and we didn't believe the Bible, but it was a beautiful church and had all this stained glass. And I'm, I'm for stained glass. Don't get me wrong, but they had all the pictures of all the apostles, like in stained glass. And that's where I had them. And then, are you ready?
I read this book. And one of the greatest things that happened in my life, these people are as messed up as me.
Some of them a lot worse. They're as messed up as you. You know what I have in my hands? These are people who say, this is a list of things that they can check that this is what I've been through. The death of a parent, the death of a child, the death of a close friend, an unwanted pregnancy, the loss of a friendship, a chronic fatigue, unresolved bitterness, job loss, struggles with alcohol, struggles with drugs, a major family change, gone through a divorce, been a single parent, raised in a single family, have an addiction, had a bad church experience, low self-esteem, loneliness, depression, fired from a job.
And you know what we say? Guess what? You qualify. You qualify because the grace of God has taken you through this. You don't have it all together.
We're going to say cancer. This is a person been through cancer, terrible divorce. This is a person been through a terrible divorce. Guess what? God uses people who will lay down their pride, be open to get some training and teaching and say, I want God to use my brokenness and my pain in ways that are restorative, that he's going to leverage my hurt and my pain.
Here's what the scripture declares. God comforts us in all our afflictions so that we can comfort others as they go through it. The eyes of the Lord are going to and fro. And he's asking, do you have a servant's heart? He's asking, are you willing and available?
and as you know the green lights come up on the dashboard of the Holy Spirit he's looking for those kind of people that he's going to give direction and power and joy. Third question you need to ask and answer. Are you faithful in the assignments God's given you? See the fact of the matter is is that God has given us many opportunities and Timothy was faithful. He was proven.
Epaphroditus was faithful and he said you have to be faithful. The thing that amazes me, you talk about faithful, you talk about well-prepared, you talk about people that really pray. I remember a man named Dave Marshall who, beyond all the, quote, great Christians in the world who revolutionized my life, Dave was a bricklayer. Dave wasn't flashy. Dave wasn't cool.
The Bible studies weren't dynamic. He wasn't a good speaker. But Dave didn't give up on me. I was a sort of just came to Christ and I couldn't figure out whether I was going to really walk with God or keep hanging out in bars and doing stuff I knew was wrong. And Dave just was faithful.
Dave invited me into his home for dinner. He cared. Dave modeled what it meant to be a man. He cared. Dave met with me once a week.
And a lot of times I blew him off. I wouldn't get up. He just kept coming. He cared. He cared.
He cared. He cared. And you know what? Whatever my life ever amounts to, whatever number of people or depth of people who ever get changed or helped by Jesus. Dave Marshall is the human reason because he cared.
Final question that God is asking is, are you loyal and teachable? Are you loyal? There people here that have lived through the ups and the downs of you know leadership up and down and struggles and crisis And you know what They loyal They didn come to this church and say Hey what in it for me And if it isn the way I like it I leaving They prayed They hung tough They been faithful They keep giving They keep coming They just don't give up. And we are here because of them. And my prayer is that I will be loyal and faithful for the generation that's going to come after us.
The final word I have there is not only loyal, but teachable. Are you willing to learn something new? You know, God is looking for people that are willing to say, you know, I don't know how to do that, but I'm open. What are you willing to do so that you could experience the blessedness and the joy and that you could be a part of meeting the needs that are you ready? Only you can be.
This is Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. And what a convicting message about becoming the kind of person God is searching for. Chip has more to share in a minute. Want to revisit today's teaching or pass it along? You'll find it online at livingontheedge.org.
Now, as you think about developing a servant's heart, let me point you to Chip's newest book that connects beautifully with what we're learning. It's called I Choose Love. A servant's heart flows from agape love, the kind that isn't based on feelings but on action. Chip unpacks how this love gives sacrificially, serves joyfully, and cares genuinely about others' needs. When you choose to love this way, everything changes.
You can order I Choose Love at livingontheedge.org. Right now, millions of people around the globe are being discipled through Living on the Edge. Whether it's a commuter listening on the way to work, or a family learning to apply biblical truth at home, lives are being transformed. And it happens because partners like you invest in this mission. Your generosity creates a ripple effect that extends far beyond what you can see.
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Well, now here's Chip with more on today's lesson. As we wrap up today's program, I would like to invite you to just pull up a chair and pause for just a moment. And let's really think about some things because the eyes of the Lord are going to and fro throughout the whole earth. That the world as we see it now, if you're concerned, you ought to be as am I. We look at what's happening globally and the violence happening, the polarization in America, the hate, the prejudice, the kind of things that I see that in my lifetime I have never seen.
God is not wringing his hands. And if you look at history, whether it's the Greek world or the Roman world or the Persian world or the brutal Assyrian empire, God has always raised up a man or a woman, usually an ordinary person, and often either an older person or a teenager. And as we talked about really caring, that love cares, I've got a few questions for you that I'd like you to really think about because God's eyes are looking for the man, the woman, or the student that answers yes to these questions. Question number one is, do you have a servant's heart? Are your eyes outward?
Are you a servant in your home? Are you a servant in your church and in your small group? Are you a servant at work? The second question is, are you willing and available? You know, you may have a servant's heart, but, you know, there's a lot of us that get so busy and so wrapped up doing so many things that God wants to use you.
But, you know, busyness kills the joy in your life. Busyness and authentic, deep spiritual transformation don't go together. And it's hard to slow, to ponder, to spend time with God, and to be available for just the assignments that have your name on them. What does God have your name on? What does he want you to do?
What has he gifted you to do in this season? The third question is, are you faithful in the assignment God has already given you? You know, the Lord is a very, very wise steward of his people. And God always gives us small little assignments. And as we're faithful in the small assignments, then he gives us bigger assignments.
And the final question is, are you loyal and teachable? You know, it really gets hard and enduring in this battle of the Christian life, enduring when he said, start a ministry, keep loving that husband that's unresponsive or that wife or one of the kids that just doesn't seem to really get with the program. Can you be loyal and say, Lord, rather than all that has to happen in them, I want you to teach me. I want you to grow me. And as he changes you and changes me, it always has a ripple effect.
But you never reap in the same season that you sow. As you are a faithful, godly mom, dad, student, roommate, as you walk with God in the integrity of your heart, I will guarantee this, all the power in heaven and earth is behind you. Don't give up and don't give in. Keep pressing ahead. How do you keep love alive when the honeymoon is over?
I'm Dave Drury. Join us as Chip Ingram shares practical insights on deepening love in marriage. Tomorrow on Living on the Edge. Today's program is produced and sponsored by Living on the Edge.
