Shine Like Stars Series

Technicolor Joy: Philippians 2:14-18

Pastor Jefferson M. Williams

Chenoa Baptist Church

7-09-2023

Wow!

Have you ever been in a cave? I remember as a teenager going to a cave system in Kentucky. We were deep in the cave and the guide told us they would turn off the lights. It was the darkest darkness I’ve ever experienced. You couldn’t see your hand in front of your face.

People started to laugh nervously and then ask for the light to be turned back on. The guide had a flashlight and we all gathered around her. In the dark, we are naturally drawn to the light.

Work Out What God Works In

Last week, we looked at verses 12-13 and the idea of sanctification - the process of growing more and more like Jesus.

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence but now much more in my absence continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” (Phil 2:12-13)

First, notice that it does not say, “work for, or at, or toward” your salvation.

Paul is consistently clear that we can not earn our salvation by any amount of good deeds:

He wrote to the Ephesians Christians:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Eph 2:8-9)

So what does he mean by “work out?”

This is one Greek word that means “working to full completion or maintaining constant energy and effort to finish a task.”

Spiritual growth isn’t a sprint, it is a marathon. It’s an everyday process where we read, study, meditate, memorize, and apply Scripture.

Spiritual growth is not automatic. We are not passive. We don’t “let go and let God.”

We work diligently and consistently toward holiness.

But we don’t do that in our own strength. It is God who works in us.

Paul wrote:

To this end, I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. (Col 1:29)

When we are in an airport, I love walking on the moving sidewalks. I’m walking but the sidewalk is moving so I’m able to walk way faster than I could on my own.

We work out what God works in and that creates joy!

I’d encourage you to go back and watch last week’s sermon on FaceBook, YouTube, Twitter, or our website.

Turn to Philippians 2.

Prayer

The Command

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing…”

What if I told you that there was a virus going around that is really dangerous? This virus can cause high cholesterol, obesity, heart attacks, and strokes. This virus can actually cause your brain to shrink and sap your physical energy. It can cause anxiety and depression. And it is very, very contagious.

This virus is complaining. All of us have it to one degree or another. And, like secondhand smoke, it affects everyone around us. Research has shown that the average person complains between 15 and 30 times a day.

Paul is going to challenge the Philippians to be different from the world. Are you surprised that he begins with grumbling and complaining? Those are what we might call “acceptable sins,” right? Surely, it’s not that big a deal.

But Paul writes that grumbling and arguing and complaining are joy killers, unity-busters, and have no place in a believer's life.

A young man joined a monastery and the rule was that you get to say two words every ten years. After the first ten years, he said, “Bed hard.” Ten years passed, and then he said, “Food bad.” Ten more years went by and he said, “I quit!” The head monk said, “Good. All you’ve done is complain since you got here!”

According to surveys, Americans complain about bad customer service, the weather (too hot/too cold/too windy), people that cut in line, traffic, their job, their boss, the toilet seat being left up, Mondays, Nickelback, the government, slow internet, barking dogs, loud neighbors, the price of gas, slow drivers, kids these days, people who are late, people who are on their phones and not paying attention, and the fact that Barry Manilow doesn’t perform in Illinois enough.

I saw a post on Facebook that said, “Stop complaining. There are people who live in Illinois.”

Richard Kaufman lists four types of complainers.

Whiners - it’s not fair

Martyr - no one appreciates me

Cynic - Nothing ever goes right for me

Perfectionist - is that the best you can do

At one time or another, we all have fallen into these patterns.

He also lists reasons why people complain.

Get attention

Remove responsibly

Inspire envy (humble brag)

Power

Excuse poor performance