Daring to Shine
Philippians 2:12-18
September 3, 2006
Morning Service
Introduction
One summer my brother and I went on our annual fishing trip to Lake Erie and one of the side trips that we made was to an old lighthouse. The lighthouse had been used to signal ships to avoid the shoreline and to make their way to the nearby port. The lighthouse gave direction and guidance for all of the ships that traveled that area.
Modern lighthouses project light rays produced by incandescent lamps. The light is concentrated and projected by a series of revolving lenses. The type of lens most frequently used in the past was the dioptric lens, or Fresnel lens, which consisted of a central glass disk, surrounded by concentric glass rings that gradually decrease in thickness as they recede from the center. When a series of dioptric lenses, alternated with straight refracting prisms, is placed on a revolving frame with a lamp at its center, it produces a flash for each lens at each revolution of the frame.
It is a great deal better to live a holy life than to talk about it. Lighthouses do not ring bells and fire cannon to call attention to their shining-they just shine. – D. L. Moody
14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16
Our lives are meant to be examples to those around us. We are to shine the light of God that rests within us. We are to show the light and the love of Christ to others. We shine not to glorify ourselves but to bring more glory to God. We are to live our lives as beacons against the spiritual darkness that invades this world. We are to stand against the night and show the world that there is hope in Jesus.
If you have your Bibles with you this morning, please open them to the book of Philippians 2:12-18
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. 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. 17 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. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. Philippians 2:12-18
I. Dare to work out your salvation (12-13)
How many of you either have a daily work out plan or know someone who does?
Each day some people have a routine of doing some form of exercise. Some either walk or jog in their neighborhood. Others go to the gym and use special equipment to work out. All of this is to improve physical strength, endurance and abilities.
We are also meant to have spiritual work outs as well. Paul says to work out your salvation. There are times when this phrase has been misinterpreted so let’s look at what Paul is NOT saying first.
1.) Paul is not saying that we can somehow earn salvation
There is absolutely nothing that we can do to earn our salvation. Paul himself said that if righteousness could be gained through the Law Christ died for nothing (Galatians 2:21) There is no way to do anything that makes you worthy of being saved.
2.) Paul is not saying that there is anything more needed for salvation
Christ is the source of salvation. There is nothing else needed other than faith in Jesus to gain salvation. When I first came to Christ there were a lot of things that needed His work. I had a lot of rough edges that needed to be worked off. Even though I was saved I still needed to grow.
When Paul speaks of work it is not our working for salvation but rather because of it. Once we accept Christ, we often have growing left to do. The word for work out literally means to complete, to finish or to accomplish. The work of salvation is not just to get us to heaven but to make us more like Jesus. Each day we need to be striving to grow more and more like Him.
The need for us is to do things that stimulate that spiritual growth. We need spiritual work outs.
1.) Prayer - Prayer is communicating with God and building that personal relationship with Him.
2.) Scripture - Bible reading is essential to knowing the direction and the leading of God. God gives guidance through His word.
3.) Worship - Worship is more than just gathering on Sunday morning. If that is all the worship you are doing, you’re selling God short and cheating yourself. Worship is the experience of lifting praise and song to God. You need to worship God on a daily basis.
These three are not exclusive but are essential building blocks to developing a vibrant relationship with God.
II. Dare to shine out with the light of salvation (14-16)
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.
The more that we grumble the less we can glow. The more we complain the less we can shine. The more that we argue the less we can augment Christ. Paul tells the Philippians to do everything without arguing and complaining because often people argue and complain over petty things.
Our quest is to live life like Jesus. Our desire then is to be blameless and pure in all of our dealings. Paul was telling the Philippians that they were to be living examples of Christ. Being blameless meant that they were to live with good moral character and live their daily lives above accusation. This is not to say that people won’t say things about you but when they do, the bad things don’t hold water. Being pure is living a life unpolluted by the sinfulness of the world around us.
Witnessing is not a spare-time occupation or a once-a-week activity. It must be a quality of life. You don’t go witnessing, you are a witness. -Dan Greene
Why did Paul point to the stars as an illustration of our witness?
Stars are constant
We are meant to be constant in our walk with Christ. Our walk should not be wishy washy or faulty but instead we are to stand firm. When we stand firm with Christ it becomes a constant reminder to those around us that our lives are different. Our lives show the impact that Christ has made in us. It shows the evidence of the difference that Christ can make in the lives of others.
Stars are reliable
We must be reliable in our witness. Our witness for Christ should be stable enough to reveal the power of Christ in our lives. It should be something that others can depend on.
Stars are bright
The stars shine with a brightness that makes them visible from millions of miles away. The same needs to be true of our spiritual life. We should shine with the light of Jesus. We should show others that the love of Jesus dispels spiritual darkness.
Stars are visible
The stars are visible. When you look up on a clear night and see the stars there is something truly awesome about it. Even though these stars are so far away you can still see them. An invisible witness for Christ is worthless. If people cannot see the power and light of Christ in your life, there is a problem.
III. Dare to shout out the witness of your salvation (17-18)
17 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. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
Paul tells the Philippians that they are to be joyful in their discipleship. They are to proclaim their gladness in Christ. Paul said that his life was like a drink offering. The drink offering was an offering of wine poured out on the altar as a special sacrifice for God. We should offer Jesus our very best, not our leftovers. We often take the best we have for ourselves. The best of our time, the best of our money, the best of everything and give it to us. We hold out on God and give our best for us. Paul was willing to give his life for Jesus. We should be willing to give our service.
Our joy in life flows from knowing and serving Jesus. Our life takes on a new reality in Him. Just because you’re alive doesn’t mean that you’re living. It only means that you exist. Anything less than living for Jesus, isn’t really living. We have traded genuine living for simply existing.
Paul understood that living for Jesus fills us with an excitement and an enthusiasm for life. Jesus gives us reason to live and live to the fullest. Paul knew that his days were numbered. He was facing a Roman execution. The truth is that you’re days are numbered too. You may not be sitting in a prison waiting execution but your final day is coming. It is also closer than you might think.
Final Questions
Are you really living your life for Jesus?
Are you a shining example for Him?
Are you ready when your final day comes?
