Christ In A Crooked Culture

Christ in a Crooked Culture

Philippians 2:12-18

12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. 17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

Introduction: To start the introduction to this message I’d like to focus on two things. First, this is a letter written by Paul while he was in prison to a group of believers at the city of Philippi. This church along with the church at Antioch were the two works that were the greatest blessing to Paul; Antioch at the beginning of his ministry and Philippi towards the end. These believers were experiencing persecution and needed encouragement.

I. The Command to the Church (…as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling…)

a. There is no substitute for obedience in a crooked culture

The Philippian church has the glory of having always obeyed the words of the Apostle. But it is one thing to be obedient when someone has their eye on us, it is another thing entirely to obey when there is no one to hold us accountable.

ILL: There was a boy who went trekking on the mountain. He reached a great height when he realized that it was getting dark and he had to reach the bottom soon. He began climbing down. It was getting darker and darker, so dark that he could barely see. He was somehow managing to get down the mountain supporting with his hands and feet. Suddenly, his feet slipped. He fell and caught hold of the branch of the tree. He was holding the branch tight enough since that was his only support. He began shouting, “Is there anybody to help me out.” No reply! He kept yelling and yelling. Finally, he heard a soft still voice. “Yes, I am there to help you.” Greatly excited, he shouted, “Thank you, May I know who you are?” Quick came the reply, “I am God. I will help you, but you will have to remove your hands off the branch. Not willing to do so, the boy kept hanging all through the night and finally died. The next morning, the villagers saw the dead boy and found out that the branch on which he was hanging was just two feet above the ground. Had he listened to the voice of God, his life would have been saved.

1 Samuel 15:22b - Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams

b. Assurance of salvation is of utmost importance in a crooked culture.

Paul here is telling these believers to “work” out their own salvation with fear and trembling. We understand that Paul does not imply that we are to work for our salvation for that is impossible. But we are to work in the sense that we are to cooperate with God the in-working of God as he justifies, sanctifies and ultimately glorifies us in this gracious process called “salvation.” We are to make our calling and election sure! We must not leave it to chance. My friend I’m afraid that the events of this last year are revealing that there are many who profess to know Christ but they are not in Christ. How many in 2020 can say that “it is God that worketh in you to will and to do of his good pleasure?”

II. The Conduct of the Christian (Do all things without murmurings and disputings…}

a. Our direction – “do all things”

He doesn’t say a few things, or even many things but all things should be done without whining and complaining.

THE WORLD IS MINE.

God allowed the Children of Israel to wander in the wilderness because of a COMPLAINING SPIRIT that was never satisfied with anything from God. God demands that we cast off the complaining spirit in Philippians 2:14 -- "Do all things without murmuring or complaining.”

Nothing in literature more profoundly shows how weak we are when we are WHINING instead of SHINING more than the following words shared with me by my mother when I was a child: