Paul exhorts the Philippians to obey God, even when he wasn’t around. Like parents who hope their kids will behave even when mom or dad aren’t around to check on them, Paul wanted the Philippians to obey, motivated by higher things than just the possibility of being rewarded by Paul or bringing disappointment to Paul.
Maturity isn’t just doing the right things but doing them for the best reasons. So, what are some of the best reasons for obeying God? Notice what Paul says. We should obey God, so that we may . . .
1. Know personal transformation by the newness within us - 12b
Note that Paul doesn’t say we are to work FOR our salvation, but to work OUT our salvation. The idea here is that since we have Christ living within us, we need to allow Him to live His life through us.
Paul just finished speaking about the incarnation of Christ - His deity taking on humanity - in verses 5-11. Now, he applies this to us. Just as Jesus obeyed the Father knowing that “the Son can do nothing by Himself,” (John 5:19); we can only truly obey Christ as we realize that “without Him, we can do nothing,” (John 15:5). So, having made this sober assessment that a life lived out of the will of God is not worth living (hence the “fear and trembling”) we single-mindedly seek daily to commune with Christ and follow the direction He gives so that the salvation within us might be “worked out” through us.
What results is that we experience in our daily walk, the difference that our relationship with Christ has made in our hearts; Because the One who lives within us is freed to live His life through us and guide us in living a life of daily obedience.
We can only truly obey God by depending on the power of the person within us. The key is not focusing on the “stuff” we need to do; but focusing on communing with and depending on our living, loving Savior.
“We’re not focused on the living; we’re focused on the Life!” - Bob George
A. Through the Bible, we focus on learning from Him.
B. Through prayer, we focus on leaning on Him.
C. Through obedience, we focus on living for Him.
But we should also be motivated to obey God so that we may . . .
2. Fulfill our purpose received from the God above us - v. 13
An evidence of genuine salvation is that God has made a difference in us that causes us to want to do His will. By God’s work in me I have become a new person. Now, by God’s work through me, I can live for a His purpose. God has a purpose for each of His children.
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” - Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
Now, I can now live for God’s purposes and my life can take on eternal significance. But I must be willing to let God teach me how to do His will. This is what Paul means when he speaks of God being at work in us not just to will but “to act according to His good purpose.” But apart from obeying God, we cannot live a purposeful life.
“Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver's seat - I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you?” - Luke 9:23-25 (The Message)
“Until you have given up your self to Him you will not have a real self.” - C.S. Lewis
Don’t settle for less of a life than God made you to live! A life lived in fulfillment of God’s purpose is the only kind that is truly fulfilling! So let’s walk in daily communion with Him and daily obedience to Him.
But we should also be motivated to obey God so that we may . . .
3. Present a powerful witness to the world around us - vs. 14-16a
A. A powerful witness is sold out to Christ - v. 14
We have an illustration of the kind of response to Christ described here by Paul in the call of Peter and Andrew:
“Walking along the beach of Lake Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers: Simon (later called Peter) and Andrew. They were fishing, throwing their nets into the lake. It was their regular work. Jesus said to them, ‘Come with me. I’ll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I’ll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass.’ They didn’t ask questions, but simply dropped their nets and followed.” - Matthew 4:18-20 (The Message)
Note the promise - to make them effective witnesses. Note the call of Christ - simply to follow Him. Note the response of Peter and Andrew - They didn’t ask questions (they didn’t complain or argue), but they followed Jesus. It is only as we whole-heartedly follow Christ that we can be used as a powerful witness for Christ. Why? Because . . .
“Christianity must mean everything to us before it can mean anything to others.” - Donald Soper
B. A powerful witness stands out for Christ - v. 15
What is the answer to the objection that there are hypocrites in the church? The answer is for those in the church to not live hypocritically! Which is only possible if we genuinely seek to follow Christ!
A young lawyer was setting himself up in his first private practice. As he sat in his office, which was basically bare except for his desk with a telephone on it and a book case filled with important looking books, he wondered when he would get his first client.
Then he saw a man cross the street and walk toward his front door. Wanting to make a good impression, he picked up the phone and began talking to an imaginary client. The man, now standing in the office in front of his desk, waited while he concluded his visit with this very important client.
Finally ending the conversation, he looked up at the man, and with an air of superiority asked “Can I help you?” Without missing a beat the man replied “I’m from the phone company. I’m here to connect your phone.”
Just as hypocrisy is easily recognized; so is sincerity. A believer who sincerely seeks to follow Jesus and walk in obedience will live a life that will be recognized as different and definitely make a difference!
C. A powerful witness speaks out for Christ - v. 16a
A powerful witness is one who shares, not his opinion, but God’s truth. Only the truth of Christ can make a difference in anyone’s life.
A short story by Carmen Corde tells of a woman who gives birth to a blind son. She determines that she doesn’t want him to know he is blind. So she forbids the use of words like ‘light,’ ‘color,’ and ‘sight’ so he won’t know what he is missing in life. He is unaware of his disability until one day when he meets a girl who uses all the forbidden words. Through this, he life is forever changed.
We’re surrounded by people who need to be awakened to their spiritual blindness and that God has so much more in mind for them. It is only as they hear God’s Word that their lives will be forever changed.
If we determine to obey God, then we will sell out to Christ, stand out for Christ and speak out for Christ. We will be enabled to present a powerful witness that will bring light to a world that is blinded by sin.
But we should also be motivated to obey God so that we may . . .
4. Honor the persons who went before us - vs. 16b-18
Paul speaks of his being “poured out like a drink offering” for the sake of the Philippians. He had sacrificed much for their sake; and he looked forward to boasting on the day of Christ’s return about how his investment in them was not in vain and rejoicing in God’s use of them.
Likewise, we should be motivated to live obedient lives for God for the sake of those who have gone before and sacrificed much to make our relationship with God through faith in Christ possible.
“Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus.” - Hebrews 12:1-2a (Amplified)
We have had the baton passed on to us. The saints who have gone on before are now in the stands of heaven, cheering us on. Jesus, now waits at the finish line in heaven and cheers us on. And we should be inspired, not only by their expectation of us, but by their sacrifices for us. The writer of Hebrews speaks of some of those sacrifices.
“(They) experienced mockings and scourgings, as well as bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they died by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, and mistreated. The world was not worthy of them.”- Hebrews 11:36-38 (HCSB)
Certainly, we should be inspired by the sacrifice of those who have gone before us and of the One who gave Himself for us!
Conclusion: How do you need to obey God today?
