Introduction

Friends, welcome. Some of us arrive today with a spring in our step; others shuffle in under the weight of worries. Either way, you made it here, and I’m glad you did. In a world that runs fast and talks loud, your soul has come to the quiet room of God’s Word. Here, grace meets grit. Here, real life meets real hope. Here, Jesus meets us—skin on our knees, dust on our shoes, questions in our hands. Could it be that the very places that felt like failures this week are the fields where God plans to grow something fruitful?

Paul writes to beloved believers and tells them to “work out” what God is already working in. That sounds like sweat and song both at once. It sounds like Monday morning holiness—simple obedience in small places. You know those places: the kitchen sink, the conference call, the school pickup line, the hospital hallway. Obedience there becomes a steady light. No spotlight. No fanfare. Just faithful steps, because the Father is faithfully at work within you.

And then Jesus speaks of a seed. He points toward a cross and calls it glory. He opens his hands to the will of the Father and shows us a path that looks narrow and costly and yet leads to life that never ends. A grain of wheat falls, and the harvest begins. A Savior surrenders, and the world receives hope. Could it be that in our ordinary surrender, God will write an extraordinary story?

Maybe this week felt like soil—dark, hidden, a little cold. You prayed and didn’t see much. You gave and weren’t thanked. You forgave and still felt the ache. Friend, do not underestimate what God grows in quiet ground. He turns seeds into fields, tears into songs, and obedient hearts into bright beacons. When you feel small, remember: candles were made for nights like these.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship) That sounds tough until you see the smile behind it. The seed surrenders and multiplies. The saint yields and shines. The Savior lays down his life and lifts us up into his. This is not the end of joy; this is where true joy begins.

So take a deep breath. Let grace steady you. Today we will consider how God keeps on working in you, how surrender brings fruit that remains, and how faithful lives can shine in a twisted age. God is near. His hands are kind. His strength is sufficient. And his Son, lifted up, is still drawing hearts—yours included.

Scripture Reading (King James Version)

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.

John 12:20-33 20 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: 21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. 22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. 27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. 30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. 31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.

Opening Prayer Father, thank You for Your nearness and Your never-failing mercy. We come with open hands and expectant hearts. By Your Spirit, stir fresh desire to obey You with gladness. Work in us to will and to do for Your good pleasure. Make us like the grain of wheat—willing to be laid down so that Your life might rise up in us and through us. Lift our eyes to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Purify our speech, steady our steps, and make our lights shine in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation. Let Your Word take firm hold in us today. Give courage to the weary, comfort to the wounded, and conviction to the wandering. May Christ be glorified in our thoughts, on our lips, and in our lives. In the strong name of Jesus we pray, amen.

Obedience Sustained By God's Work

Obedience can feel heavy. Many of us think of rules. We think of tasks and checklists. The text opens a better way. God is at work inside his people. He gives desire. He gives strength. So we act with care before him. We act with hope.

Paul tells a church that has obeyed before to keep going even when he is not there. He wants them to take their faith seriously. He wants them to treat God with awe as they live it out. Then he gives the reason that makes it possible. God himself works within them. He shapes the will. He fuels the doing. This is not hype. It is steady help. Think of the places where it is hard to obey. The commute where anger rises fast. The inbox full of hard notes. The bill that scares you. The person who hurt you. In those places God does quiet work. He turns a heart that wants to snap into a heart that waits. He turns greed into open hands. He turns shame into steady steps. He does this by his Spirit through the gospel. We respond with effort that matches his gift. We plan. We practice. We repent fast. We rise again. We keep a sober mind because God is holy. We keep a warm trust because God is kind. This mix of awe and action keeps us from quitting. It keeps us from pretending. It keeps us reaching for real change because God is present in the middle of it.

Paul also talks about our tone. He says to do all things without grumbling and without arguing. That reaches into every corner. It reaches the home, the office, the classroom, the group text, the comment thread. Complaints spill when our hearts forget who holds us. Fights flare when pride runs hot. God’s work in us shows up first in our words. A quiet tongue is not weak. It is wise. A soft answer does not hide the truth. It makes room for the truth to land. This is how sons and daughters live. We become harmless, like gentle people who do not scheme. We become blameless, like people who do not take part in harm. And people notice. Paul says we shine in a dark world. Picture a warm light on a porch that helps a traveler see the steps. That is what happens when our mouths stop feeding fear and anger. That is what happens when our feet move in peace. No loud brag. No show. Just clear witness that God is making a different kind of life here.

Then Paul says we hold out the word of life. That is more than quoting a verse. It means we let Scripture shape our choices. We keep the gospel near our lips and near our habits. We carry it into hard talks. We carry it into meetings and meals. We carry it into quiet hours when no one is watching. The good news feeds our hope, checks our motives, and sets our path. Paul wants to rejoice on the day Christ returns. He wants to know his work counted. He wants to know this church did not stall. When a church holds out the word, no labor is wasted. Teaching lands. Prayer grows roots. Giving bears fruit. Even a tired pastor can pour himself out and still sing, the way Paul says he does. He uses a picture from worship. He sees his life as a drink offering poured on top of their faithful service. That is not loss. That is joy. He invites them to share that joy. When God keeps us steady in the word, our obedience blesses many people and lasts beyond our years.

Jesus shows the deep ground of this in John 12. Some Greeks want to see him. He speaks of his hour. He speaks of a seed placed in the soil. A seed that goes under does not stay as it was. It gives rise to many more. He talks about holding on to life in a way that never ends. He calls servants to follow him. He promises that the Father will honor those who serve. His own soul is troubled as the cross draws near. He gives himself to the Father’s name. A voice from heaven answers. Then he speaks of judgment on the world and the fall of the evil ruler. He says that when he is lifted up, he will pull people to himself. All of this anchors our obedience. We are not trying to earn a place. We are living as people won by a Savior who gave himself. We are helped by the One who was raised up and now draws our hearts. We are guided by his path of humble surrender and steady trust. We follow where he is. We serve where he leads. Honor from the Father may be quiet now. It will not be small in the end. So we keep going. Not with grit alone. With grace that keeps filling the tank.

Dying To Self For Fruit That Endures

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