Shining Like Stars Series

Shining Like Stars

Philippians 2:12-18

Rev. Brian Bill

February 22-23, 2025

Last Saturday night, I gathered here to give God praise through the music and the message by Pastor Kyle.

On Sunday, I traveled to an underground church where I witnessed winsome workers caring for newborns, and trained teachers pouring into toddlers. I observed earnest adults giving the gospel to young girls and young boys. I celebrated as junior and senior high students asked deep questions about eternity while loving leaders took them to the Bible for answers.

In one of the underground adult classes, I heard a teacher celebrate multiple answered prayers and I observed a platoon of men on mission who were encouraging one another and holding each other accountable. I walked into another room at the end of a long hallway where believers were gathered around tables earnestly praying for Muslims to come to faith in Jesus Christ. I stuck around as they were challenged to go with the gospel to unreached parts of the world as they learned that the easy places have already been reached.

I was really moved by this experience as the lyrics to the song “He Reigns” played on repeat in my mind.

It’s the song of the redeemed,

Rising from the African plain.

It’s the song of the forgiven,

Drownin’ out the Amazon rain.

The song of Asian believers,

Filled with God’s holy fire.

It’s every tribe, every tongue, every nation,

A love song born of a grateful choir.

It’s all God’s children singing,

“Glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns, He reigns.”

Let it rise about the four winds,

Caught up in the heavenly sound.

Let praises echo from the towers of cathedrals,

To the faithful gathered underground.

Let me share where this underground church meets so you can gather with them or become part of the teaching team that shares the gospel with young image bearers. The directions are pretty easy. Simply exit the south doors of the Worship Center, walk about thirty feet and take the main staircase to our lower level and you will find these beloved believers gathered underground!

We’re in Philippians 2:12-18 today as we continue in our “Journey to Joy” series. Here’s our main idea: It’s time to work out what God has worked in you. I see six challenges in this passage.

• Live it out.

• Let it go.

• Light it up.

• Lean into it.

• Lay it down.

• Laugh it up.

1. Live it out. We see this in verse 12: “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.” The word “therefore” links us back to what Pastor Kyle taught last weekend: The only remedy to no longer live for ourselves is the gospel of Jesus Christ. We move from exhortation, to example, to expectation. In short, the beliefs we learn must be lived out in our behavior.

Notice the next phrase: “…my beloved…” I love how Paul treats the Philippians. They have problems with pride, they’re dealing with disunity, and two women are in a big fight, but Paul calls them his beloved believers. He picks up on this theme again in 4:1: “Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.” After highlighting their reciprocal relationship, he affirms their commitment to obedience: “…as you have always obeyed.” This is an example of “catching someone doing something right.” Paul affirms them for what they’ve been doing even though he is absent from them, while encouraging them to take their next step.

The next phrase may unsettle us: “…work out your own salvation.” We don’t work “for” our salvation, or “toward” it, or even “at” it, but we are to work it “out.” The word “work” means to “work fully to the point of finishing the job.” It was used for “working a mine” completely, getting out all the valuable ore. Likewise, we are to mine the depths of our rich redemption. At salvation God deposited a wealth of blessings into our lives; we’re to go down deep to experience and enjoy what we’ve been given.

The phrase “fear and trembling” helps us see we must never take our faith lightly or tritely. As Paul Tripp says, “Humans are hardwired for awe.” “Fear” describes fright or terror and reverential awe. We must have so much reverence and respect for God that we will be afraid to sin, coupled with a strong desire to please Him. That’s what Exodus 20:20 states: “…that the fear of Him may be before you, that you may not sin.” If you find yourself sinning all the time and not really being bothered by it, it could be because you’ve lost your fear of God.