How Do We Honor God? Series

Sermon Brief

Date Written: August 12, 2011

Date Preached: August 14, 2011

Where Preached: OPBC (AM)

Sermon Details:

Series Title: A Series from Philippians

Sermon Title: How Can We Honor God

Sermon Text: Philippians 2:12-18 [ESV]

Introduction:

When you were young, what was your parent’s constant request for you to make them happy? If you had siblings, I can almost tell you what it was in ALL of your houses when you were growing up… I know this because it was what I wanted as a parent when our children were growing up…

What I wanted most was for our children to get along with one another, and listen to and obey their mother and me. That was it… it was really simple. This is because I knew that if they could get along, there would be peace in the house and what Michelle and I wanted to get done would get done much easier if there was peace in the house. Get along with one another and listen to what we teach you and ask you to do… it was really simple!

And here in this passage Paul is painting that same picture, but this is NOT Paul’s desire for the church, this is Paul relaying God’s desire for His church. It is God’s desire that believers get along with each other so that there is peace in the house… peace in the fellowship. And it is also God’s desire that we listen to and obey His Word… and having peace in the fellowship leads to us being able to submit in obedience to Him.

Now over the past few weeks in the book of Philippians we have been looking at how Paul challenged these Philippian believers to “Walk the Talk” or live out their faith in Christ so that it is readily evident in their lives! Today we are going to look at several more verses that play to that same sentiment and even give us teaching on how we can live out what God desires.

Let’s read Phil 2:12-18 and see what Paul is saying…

Show verses 12-18 here…I will read

12Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. 14Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

There was once a little boy who was in a play at church and he forgot his lines. His mother had sat in the front row to prompt him in case this happened. When her son forgot his line he looked helplessly at her and she gestured to him and silently formed the words of his line with her lips, but it did not help.

The young man’s memory was blank. Finally, she leaned forward and whispered the line to him, "I am the light of the world." Instantly the little boy smiled and with great feeling and a loud clear voice said, "My mom is the light of the world!!"

Now as believers we know that JESUS is the true light of the world, but as His followers we are ALL called to let His light shine in this world so that others will see Him, and accept Him as Savior and Lord of their life. This is exactly what Paul was telling the believers in our passage this morning, and in the first 2 verses of our passage, Paul gives a gentle warning to these believers to be the light God has called them to be…

Paul’s Cautions the Philippian Believers (v.12-13)

Show verses 12-13 here…I will read

12Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

In v.12 we find Paul actually giving the Philippian church a complement in that they were Christian in their living, no matter who was present. They have ‘always obeyed’ meaning obeyed God’s commandments and God’s calling in their lives! They were faithful in that obedience and it was something they held fast to and did not waiver in…