Philippians 2:12-18 (p. 819) November 24, 2013
Introduction:
I can remember hearing this quote...”You can only see the stars shimmering when it’s dark.”
And I have to tell you “I’ve seen some stars shine in my life.”
“Melvin...wasting away with stomach cancer. He’d served 38 years in the air force. He served hurting and hungry people by picking up leftover bread and food and distributing it to needy people for decades. Last week Melvin said, “Why should I be afraid to die, it’s my reward, it’s what I long for and my faith. I’m not afraid to die.”
Betty and Jean, both from hospital beds radiate a true sense of peace and even joy and I ask, “Can I pray with you?” Their responses: “Oh yes please, please, I’d love for you to do that!”...Faith shining in the dark.
Charles and Rosella, and their family: I met Charles on the day before he left this planet. The last words I heard him speak were, “Jesus is coming...I’m gonna be with Jesus” and Rosella, sorry to embarrass you but, just weeks after the funeral she broke her hip (Hurray dogs), but through it all, pain and recovery. Gentle, funny, others focused – Shining faith.
Bill, still grieving, heart aching, but trusting His Savior even in the darkest of nights - His faith shining even though he might not think it is. The note he sent me after coffee and zebra cakes (which he didn’t eat, so Lori got), told of “suffering and dying children around the world.” Not having an easy answer to the why and then this highlighted prayer to the unanswered whys. “O God, I know that in all things, you work for the good and that even amidst great evil there is hope for redemption. But, it’s so hard for me to grasp. I feel like Moses who said, “I know God will answer me but I don’t know how. I still don’t know when.”
Or Harold who sits with his trunk open at our Trunk or Treat filled with candy bars. Harold who encourages my heart every single time I see his face. He’s buried a son and a wife and yet grief has not overwhelmed his joyful faith. He shines.
Can I go on? Yes. Jack, brings insights to me after almost every sermon, never critical, but always thoughtful. I shared about letting people know how thankful we are, and He shared with me about his wife’s passing. Months before she knew it was coming to a close she wrote thank you notes, notes of love and grace. Jack said she told him, “I cannot write you one, there’s just too much to put on paper.” And the brightness of the star of faith pierces the darkness.
These are stars I’ve seen in just the last few weeks, or heard about. I’ve got a lifetime of stories, a lifetime of stars shining in the dark.
“Shining among them like stars in the sky...”
You see each of these shining stars understand
I. GOD IS WORKING TO FULFILL HIS PURPOSE
Always! God is always working to fulfill His purpose. His purpose is to save and redeem mankind and when we’ve surrendered to His Lordship His purpose is to transform us “into the likeness of His Son.” (Rom 8:29)
That purpose was in effect before the world was created, and will be in effect until it – and all creation, including us is revealed “on the day of Christ.” (Phil. 2:16).
”For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.
To will and to act, that’s two radically different things.
Our will is the “leb” we talked about last week, the Hebrew word for heart. It’s comprised of more than just feelings, it also is comprised of our thoughts and our will.
[TRIANGLE PICTURE]
A triangle if you will.... (Thoughts, Feelings, Will) that creates your mindset, your attitude.
Paul says, “You’ve always obeyed, not just when the preacher was with you, but when you were by yourself on the job. You understood God’s purpose wasn’t just about getting your ticket punched to Heaven with salvation, but so that people could see the reality of the good news “worked out in the real world” with anxiety and struggle.
How does that happen? If we’re immature, babies demanding our own way, still on the milk bottle, it won’t. But, if we are seeking God, connecting with other believers through His word and through real life and growth, His Word, His Spirit, and mature counsel begin to change our thoughts, then our feelings and in turn, our will.
Jesus taught his disciples a model prayer in Matthew 6. Most of us are familiar with it. “Our Father, who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy name (using the KJV, because almost all of us in Christ learned it here). Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
I know there’s more but let me ask you “How often is God’s will done in heaven? 50% of the time? 75%? 99%? 100% right? The only time it was questioned, the questioner and His followers were ejected.
So, why isn’t God’s will done here on earth through His people? The Church?
II. PEOPLE BEGIN TO GRUMBLE AND ARGUE OVER OUR PURPOSES INSTEAD OF HIS
“Do everything without grumbling or arguing so that you might become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”
Paul the amazingly learned Apostle quotes from Deuteronomy 32:5 – “The Song of Moses.”
Why did Moses sing this song? Was it a happy song like “This Little Light of Mine?” Nope! Here’s why he sang it to God’s people:
“For I know how rebellious and stiff necked (stubborn ) you are. If you’ve been rebellious against the Lord while I am still alive and with you how much more will you rebel after I die? (Deut. 31:27)
Here’s the Song as Moses recited it from beginning to end.
DEUTERONOMY 32:1-6 (p. 143)
God had a plan, Moses sought to lead them in it, and over and over again “they complained, they argued, the gossiped, they rebelled.
Paul uses this illustration to say “God’s real children” don’t do that in regard to His plan for redeeming the world and transforming it into the likeness of Jesus.
Instead, even when it’s dark, even when we’re thirsty, even when we’re in the minority, “WE SHINE, like stars in the sky.”
“Warped” and crooked are horrible descriptions for people who are supposed to show a straight path to God!!!
We might think that our generation at this time is the most warped and crooked, and yes, Satan has tools like the internet, pornography, and a culture that seems to believe life owes us, and we should have what we desire instantly, but every generation has it’s evils. Rome certainly had its indulgences.
The Israelites found sexual sin and idol worship quickly and easily, especially as they put their trust in kings instead of God. Israel was never intended to be a monarchy, led by a king. It was always intended to be a theocracy, led by God and His laws. But, God’s will let us go our own way, if we insist on taking a “warped” and ”crooked” path, if we chose to ”argue and grumble” over selfish pursuits we’ll never accomplish “His good purpose.”
Paul says when we live our lives seeking our own pursuits “we labor and run in vain.”
What does all this mean for us today? What’s the application for God’s people here at Gardenside?
III. REAL JOY IS FOUND IN SACRIFICE AND SERVICE
Paul says to the Philippians, if you hold on to these truths I’ve shared with you then when Jesus returns and finds you living them out, my work will be all worthwhile.
Then he says:
PHILIPPIANS 2:17, 18 (p. 819)
If I die here and now I’ll rejoice in being a part of what brought you to faith, part of me flows through your sacrifice and service to others. So, even if I die you should rejoice in this truth that keeps on living through you.
Real joy will never be found in trying to please all our desires. Even if, like Solomon, we get them it’s vanity, emptiness.
Real joy is found in loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and that love then oozes out so we love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
One of my favorite stores is this one:
The story is told of how William Carey, founder of the modern missionary movement came up with his "Rope Holder" philosophy for ministry...
India has horrible cases of blindness, some were treatable and other not...in one of the treatable cases an elderly Indian man with severe cataracts was healed almost miraculously through surgery...after his recovery he was released and he returned to his native village in a remote section of India.
After two weeks the staff at the Medical clinic heard a knock on the door...and when they opened the door they were met with the sight of twenty blind men, standing in a line, all holding onto a rope...they had walked from a remote village so that they too could have the cataract surgery...and at the front of the rope was the formerly blind man leading the way.
Our salvation is possible because someone extended to us the rope...our healing is possible because someone led us to a place of healing...
the question: Who held the rope for you? And now, Who are you holding the rope for.
When we talk about being at the end of our rope, we mean we’re hanging over a cliff! We barely have enough strength to hold on. In fact, we’ve already started to think about letting go. I haven’t been there many times, but I have been there, personally and in ministry, and I’ve been with hundreds who are just barely hanging on, personally and in ministry.
People who let go are people who cannot see whose on the other end of the rope. What if the rope holder is pulling up as hard as the rope grabber is hanging on?
This week we celebrate Thanksgiving. And, all of us are grateful for stuff. But when we really start to prioritize, it’s people not stuff that come to the top of the Thanksgiving list. So, take out your little piece of rope and we’re going to pray. We’re going to pray for two things. 1) First that we would remember those who held the rope for us and 2) We would think about people who need the rope to be held for them.
And, this week I’d like for you to find both. Ask them to hold the other end of the rope and tell them how thankful you are for them and why, or why you want to be in their lives holding them up.
Let’s pray.
