Cornerstone Church October 11, 2015
“Work it Out to Shine Brilliantly”
Philippians 2:12-18
A man dreamed of joining a monastery. His goal in life was to become a monk. So one day he went to a monastery and talked to the head monk and said, “What do I need to do to join?”
He was told that it was more difficult than what he thought. “In our monastery monks are only allowed to say two words every year.” He said, “That sounds a bit extreme, but I’ve wanted to be a monk for so long, I’m going to give it a try.”
So he was shown to his room. And so for the next twelve months the man never said a word. At the end of his first year he was taken to the head monk, and was told he could now say his two words. The Man said, “Food’s bad.” He went back to his room, and was silent for another twelve months.
At the end of his second year he again was taken to the head monk for his two words. This time his two words were, “Bed’s hard.” Head monk said, “OK.” And the man went back to his room.
Another twelve months of silence passed, and he was brought again to the head monk for his annual two words. This time the guy said, “I quit.” The head monk said, “Well, it doesn’t surprise me. All you’ve done is complaining ever since you got here.”
Taken from “Containing our Complaining” from a sermon shared by Mike Turner on www.sermoncentral.com
In our society we could hope for just two negative words spoken!
* Daily every news item instantaneously bombards us!
* Pundits shower us with their rants and opinions following the news!
* Facebook will soon up the ante allowing us to now respond with: Like, Love, Laughter, Yay, Wow, Sad, and Angry! I can picture myself trying to commit to which response I want to give (Wow or Yay)!
* There is an emoji for just about everything!
As Christians I sense we have allowed the world to take our focus off of the LORD Jesus Christ who is our Hope!
Jesus the Light of the World has called us to shine as light in a world that is malfunctioning, filled with broken people, and growing darker every day!
It doesn’t matter what times were like in the 1980’s, the 1880’s or the 1620’s when the Pilgrims established the Plymouth Colony or later the Puritans the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
* We live during these times!
* God who is Sovereign (Absolute Control of everything) placed us here and now!
* Like Queen Esther God has raised us up: “For Such a Time as this!”
A proper attitude they say is everything!
It should be a proper focus is everything!
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb. 12:2 NIV
This is why Paul had supernatural joy while in prison!
This is why Paul wrote to challenge the Philippians to stay focused on Jesus Christ and not on the crumbling society around them (the Roman Empire).
Paul ministered in Philippi and helped to plant the church there with individuals like:
* Lydia – the wealthy businesswoman – fasionista!
* Joe the Jailer
* A Slave Girl (part of the enslaved poor)
These and many more from all types of backgrounds and situations are part of the church in Philippi and Paul is challenging them to keep their joy and witness for Christ fervent!
Since the beginning of Philippians 2 Paul has been challenging the Christians to live a life of humility before the LORD!
It is the necessary ingredient that cannot be left out!
“When Augustine was asked to list the central principles of the Christian life he replied: ‘First, Humility; Second, Humility; Third, Humility.’”
“True humility is not thinking less of yourself;
it is thinking of yourself less.”
“Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis
Paul now continues!
“WORK OUT”
Philippians 2:12-13
Phil. 2:12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Therefore, my dear friends (beloved), as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence…
Phil. 2:12a
JESUS OUR EXAMPLE
Paul ties what he is saying back to the example of the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil 2:5-11).
* Jesus – GOD the Son became human!
* He humbled Himself to the point of death.
The hands that grabbed Jesus to:
* Arrest Him
* Beat Him
* Crucify Him
* Bury Him
Were created by Jesus and were moment by moment sustained by Him!
Jesus restrained His true authority and power!
Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” Matt. 26:53-54 NIV
JESUS OBEYED THE WILL OF HIS FATHER!
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Phil. 2:8
PAUL CALLS THE PHILIPPIANS TO CONTINUE TO OBEY GOD!
“…as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence,
but now much more in my absence…”
“…continue to work out your salvation
with fear and trembling,”
Phil. 2:12b
This verse of scripture is greatly misunderstood and is often taken out of its context.
* It does not say work for your salvation.
* Neither does it say work to keep your salvation.
Remember Paul is speaking to Christians.
The saints at Philippi! (Beloved)!
…continue to work out your salvation
SALVATION IS GOD’S GIFT!
EPH. 2:8-9 NIV For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.
Paul will share his utter frustration of trying to merit God’s favor in Philippians 3:3-11.
PRAISE GOD SALVATION IS A GIFT!
* God demands sinless perfection!
* We are born sinners and alienated from God!
THIS IS WHY THE GOOD NEWS IS SUCH GOOD NEWS!
* We are justified / declared righteous by God because of what Jesus did for us!
* God the Father declares us “Not Guilty!” “Paid in Full”
2 Cor. 5:21 NIV God made him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Not one of us will ever enter heaven with one shred of credit to claim we accomplished our salvation by what we did!
God the Father will never share the glory due His Son with us!
PAUL IS SPEAKING ABOUT SANCTIFICATION
Sanctification is growing and become more like Christ every day!
“put into action God’s saving work in your life”
The New Living Translation
God created Adam and Eve perfect and placed them in the Garden of Eden!
* Adam and Eve were created with God’s original default settings to love, obey and worship Him!
* Satan messed up God’s settings!
* Since the fall and the entrance of sin satan has downloaded new software (specifications) where the natural default is to sin before knowing Christ as Savior!
* Since salvation God has set us free and through the power of God’s Word and the Power of the Holy Spirit we are seeking to return to God’s original creation settlings!
This transformation that began in our heart was at first invisible to the outside world. It becomes more unmistakable each day as Christ permeates more and more of our heart and life!
Do you remember Polaroid cameras?
* They developed a photo over several minutes without taking it to be developed!
* Sanctification is the process where the image of Christ is being developed in lives!
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Rom. 8:29 NIV
We will miss the picture God gave us of Jesus in Philippians 2:5-11 if we are focused on taking selfies all the time!
“Work it Out” also has a corporate dimension to it!
It goes back to the challenge Paul gave in Philippians 1:27:
“conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.”
“Work it out” because people are watching how we act and react!
“…continue to work out your salvation
with fear and trembling,”
This is speaking of an Awe-Filled appreciation for God’s work in your life!
Your knowledge of WHO GOD is and thankfulness for what He has done for you intensifies your passion and aspiration to please Him. It doesn’t come from rules!
It did the Apostle Paul!
God because you are so Mighty, Powerful, AWESOME, and good to me I must take my life and devotion for you seriously!
Your desire to please God (fear / trembling / awe) is what:
* Fuels Worship!
* Ignites outreach!
* Changes lives!
* Is a Catalyst for obedience!
“Few things are harder to put up with
than the annoyance of a good example.”
Mark Twain – “Pudd’nhead Wilson”
Quoted by Charles Swindoll, pg. 94 “Laugh Again”
It is easy to be on mountaintop spiritual experience and then easily become frustrated or overwhelmed when you descend into a fog or smog filled valley of day-to-day details.
Paul isn’t calling us to try harder or go back to legalism!
Paul isn’t calling us to a new religious fade or formula (spiritual growth in five easy steps)!
We do not need any Milli Vanilli followers lip-synching lyrics and faking it!
Jesus gave us His example and help to grow (His empowerment)!
HOLY SPIRIT OUR EMPOWERMENT
“…for it is God who works in you to will and
to act according to his good purpose.”
Philippians 2:13
God – The Holy Spirit is actively at work in our lives!
God acts according to His Good Pleasure to conform us into the image of Jesus!
* His Pleasure (Not Ours)
* His Will be done (Not Ours)
* His Glory (Not Ours)
David Ring is a man who was born with Cerebral Palsy.
* People never thought he would be able to go to school – but he did.
* People never thought he would go college – but he did.
* People never thought he would get married – but he did.
* People never thought he would have children – but he did!
* People never thought he would be in the ministry – but he is!
David Ring has now been in the ministry for 37 years and has spoken over 6,000 times!
“I have cerebral palsy... What's your problem?”
I was reminded of David’s ministry this week with the release of his book:
“The Boy Born Dead”
David has just one question for God when he gets to heaven.
“God why were you so go to me?”
David Ring
God the Father wants to pour His life and power through each of us!
“LOOK OUT”
Philippians 2:14-15
Phil. 2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
“Do everything without complaining or arguing…”
These flow naturally from our natural default setting sin!
COMPLAINING / GRUMBLING
(greek: goggusmos) Onomatopoetic word (the pronunciation sounds like the activity)
“low-toned discontented muttering of a crowd, murmuring, complaining, whining”
“I didn’t get my way” attitude of life!
Like being an armchair quarterback or backseat driver!
Paul warned the Corinthians to not grumble using the illustration of God’s judgment upon grumbling Israel in the desert:
And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 1Cor. 10:10-11 NIV
ARGUING
Debating! Questioning! Arguing!
“I will get my way”
Several years ago Robert Hughes who was an Art Critic for Time Magazine wrote an article and book titled: “Culture of Complaint: The Fraying of America”
A key to keeping your joy is to avoid verbal pollution!
Admittedly this is not easy!
We live in the midst of a:
“crooked and depraved generation”
Warped and Perverted
Crooked and Depraved
Crooked and Wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse]
You get the picture! You live in the same world I do every day!
God doesn’t want this to contaminate us!
“…so that you may become blameless and pure,
children of God without fault
Paul isn’t calling us to join a monastery and become a Monk! (I can’t say just two-words)
This isn’t speaking about our justification “being declared righteous.”
SO WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT?
“…in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.”
Philippians 2:15b-16
Paul doesn’t want us to have “A Fault in our Stars”
Grumbling, arguing, murmuring, fighting, disagreeing as God’s people not only dulls our own growth (sanctification) but also diminishes our light radiating out to the lost world.
The virus of sin has infected everyone in the world!
It is so potent that it has already brought spiritual death and in the future physical and eternal death to all that do not have the antidote Jesus Christ our Savior offers.
* We do not want to give those who are dying without God’s remedy (salvation) any excuse or reason to doubt the reality of Christ in our lives!
* We in no way want to be a deterrence or stumbling block to them!
* We don’t want to give them any reason to call our faith in our Savior bogus!
Satan may continue to blind them and bind them with the false snake oil alternatives that he offers them so that they think they are not terminal!
But God wants us to be His witnessing community for Him shining brilliantly for Him so that many more might accept His message being transformed from eternal death to eternal life!
* It starts with Salvation – God’s work declaring us Righteous (Justified)
* It continues with Sanctification. He doesn’t just leave us after Salvation!
He gave us His Word, His Holy Spirit, each other and His grace to be continually conformed by daily putting on the mind of Christ.
o We have Jesus’ Example
o We have God the Holy Spirit’s Empowerment
* Glorification completes it! One day we will get a new heavenly body and rewards!
“…in order that I may boast on the day of Christ
that I did not run or labor for nothing.”
Remember Paul calls the souls or people he has reached with the Gospel Message (God’s antidote) his joy and his crown!
“POUR OUT”
Philippians 2:17-18
But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
What Paul is saying here is that you Philippians are living as a burnt offering to God!
* You are living-sacrifices for Christ!
* Paul is the drink offering poured out on their service for Christ that comes from their faith in Jesus Christ to sweeten their aroma!
* Literally Paul’s blood may soon be shed for Christ (drink offering).
Paul has done all he can for them.
They need to continue to follow after Christ even if he is taken by death.
“…as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence,
but now much more in my absence…”
Keep holding fast and holding out the Word of Truth!
I rejoice and share my joy with you all.
You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way
and share your joy with me.
Philippians 2:17b-18 NASB
“SHINE OUT BRILLIANTLY”
I believe when Paul spoke about shining like stars he reached back into the Old Testament and pulled out this thought from the Book of Daniel.
“Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. “Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
Dan. 12:1-3
Stars have magnitude and brilliance!
Diamonds have brilliance!
The brilliance they possess comes from Jesus Christ
By God’s grace let us shine brilliantly as bold blazing, light giving and life giving, stars for Jesus!
* There is no need to shout at the world!
* There is no need to scream at the lost in the world!
* There is no need to make a scene with the world!
Just Shine!
Not like a rock star bringing attention to yourself!
But like a SUPERNOVA focusing your light on Jesus!
The work of the Holy Spirit is to magnify Jesus – God the Son!
It is our calling to radiate the brilliance
of Christ in us the Hope of Glory!
Idea for outline taken and modified from : “Philippians: Eight Places Joy is Won or Lost” by Tom Holladay
