“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, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain” (Philippians 2:12-16, ESV).
When I was thinking for the introduction of this topic, I remembered my picture when I celebrated my first birthday. You could see in it that I was standing on one of the steps of the wooden stairs of our house then. What an accomplishment for a one-year-old boy! However, when I grew up to appreciate the picture, my mother told me that my father, hiding and covered by the plants at my back, was behind the stairs and actually holding me, so that I could stand firmly and not fall.
Just think what we can do or accomplish, if our Heavenly Father is behind us.
So, this time we will deal on the topic, WHEN GOD WORKS IN YOU, as we focus on our text (Philippians 2:12-16).
What happens when God works in you both to will and to work for His good purpose?
Paul wrote Philippians, while he was imprisoned in Rome. The City of Philippi was named after Philip of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great.
The church in Philippi was largely Gentile. The Christians there faced persecutions (1:27-30) and felt the pressures exerted on them by false teachings (3:2-21). And there were conflicts in the church that jeopardized the believer’s witness to the world and their ability to withstand its assaults (1:27-2:18; 4:2-3).
Some important themes are shown in the letter.
First, Paul’s affection for his readers. This epistle attest to the special bond of love Paul felt for the Philippians. The church at Philippi had faithfully supported Paul’s ministry, and their willingness to suffer with him for Christ was a source of encouragement for Paul.
Second, joy. Even though Paul was in jail, his letters resounds with the theme of joy. Forms of the word “joy” occur sixteen times in the letter. Paul’s joy is grounded in the peace of God, the antidote to all anxiety (4:4-7).
Now, as we come to our passage, we could see the brilliance of what Christians can do, when God works in them. What are those?
First, the person would be able to…
I – DO ALL THINGS WITHOUT GRUMBLING (vv. 14-15).
We read verses 14-15, “Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that 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,..”
Before that verses, the previous two declared, “Therefore, 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, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (vv. 12-13).
There are those who quoted part of verse 12, neglecting verse 13, and taught that we need to do good works to be saved. But the Bible says, “work out,” not “work for” your salvation. The New Living Translation renders the last portion of verse 12:
“Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.”
Actually, Paul was saying that his presence encouraged the Philippians to obey, but their basic motivation ought to be from God who works in them.
And in verse 14, the Apostle pointed out that because God Himself works in them to have the desire and the strength, they could do all things without grumbling or questioning, without complaining or arguing.
The tendency of ordinary people, as Paul described them as “crooked and twisted,” would be motivated to obey only when someone, especially when their superior is watching. And even if they would obey, they would complain, they would argue.
Complaining, arguing, grumbling, or questioning is so common in this world. It is just like the air that we breathe in and out.
Human beings tend to complain in whatever situation they could be. Remember the Israelites during the time of Moses? When they were slave in Egypt, they complained. When they were delivered from slavery and pursued by the Egyptians, they complained. When food from heaven were provided for them, still they complained. They complained about the leadership of Moses and etc.
Do you also know someone, who complained, grumbled, or argued in this church?
I know someone who did. I know him so well. He is no other than the one, who is now speaking before you -- Efren V. Narido.
So, if anyone among you is like me, we need to realize it’s a sin. We need to repent of it. We need to realize we are God’s children without blemish and blameless before His sight. We are not among those “crooked and twisted” people. And we can change. We can do all things without complaining or arguing, without grumbling or questioning.
Why? Because it is God who works in us to will and to act for His good purpose.
And because He works in us, what else can we do? We can also…
II – HOLD FAST TO THE WORD OF LIFE (v. 16).
We read verse 16, “… holding 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.”
In NIV, “holding fast” is translated, “hold out” or “hold firmly.” It could be translated also as “apply, give attention, stay…”
Paul was also telling the Philippians that as God works in them, they would be holding firmly on the Divine declaration, God’s testimony, or the pronouncement of the Gospel. They would not let go, they would not neglect, they would not set aside, they would not take lightly the Word of God.
They would not allow the words or works of those who persecute them, or who teach falsehoods, or who offend them to pull them off from their grip on the promises, instructions, or teachings of God.
As God works in them, they shine as they display the Word in their life.
Jesus Christ mentioned three kinds of persons that didn’t hold fast to the word of life. The first group are those who hear the word, but do not understand it. That happens as the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in the heart.
The second group are those who hear the word and immediately receive it with joy and endure for a while. That happens because they immediately fall away, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word.
And the third group are those who hear the word, but unfruitful. That happens because the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word.
But there are those who belong to the fourth group who not only hear the word, but understand it. They bear fruit. They hold fast to the word of life, according to Paul. They shine with good words and good works in their life. Because God works in them.
In what group, do we belong?
Perhaps, if you do not comprehend the Word, what should you do? You need to pray with the words of the Psalmist, “Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of your law” (Psalm 119:18). “Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works” (v. 27).
Does trouble or persecution rob you of your joy of the Word? Then, pray with the Psalmist, “And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules” (v. 43).
Do you think you are unfruitful, because cares and deceitfulness of riches are ruling in your heart? Pray to God that you could also declare the words of the Psalmist: “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces” (vv. 71-72).
May God work in us to desire to holdfast to His words and grant us the means to display them in our words and deeds.
CONCLUSION:
If we count ourselves as children of God, we need to realize that we become blameless in His sight, not because of anything we think or do but because of what Christ has done for us.
God started to work in us, even before we have faith in His Son. When we were still among the crooked and twisted generation, God gave us His Spirit and enabled us to obey the Gospel, to believe in His Son and in what He did for us – paying for all our sins and clothing us with His holiness. So, we were given the right to become His holy, blameless children.
God continues to work in us. The same Spirit, who enabled us to believe in Jesus, is working in us that we become His obedient children. And He is working in us now, so we can do all things without grumbling, without complaining, and we can hold fast, hold firmly to His Living Word.
