Light in a Dark World Philippians 2:12-18

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Peregrine Morton
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1 Light in a Dark World Philippians 2:12-18 Tease: Fort Myers has a long history with providing a source of light in a dark world. Thomas Alva Edison spent may winters in Fort Myers growing various plants from which he experimented making filaments for light bulbs. Edison recognized that the dark world needed a source of light that was safer and cheaper than oil lamps. The Dark sinful world around us also needs spiritual light. The Apostle Paul calls the followers of Jesus lights in the world. Join us this Sunday as Pastor Rich explores Philippians 2: Sunday School 9am Worship 10am. Lights in the World Philippians 2:12-18 Last week we saw the instruction from the Apostle Paul that Jesus was to be an example for us in how we are to live. Jesus sacrificed so much, not just His life, to become both God and man, so that He could die for us. As creator sustainer of the universe who once stood outside of time and space but volunteered to submit Himself to His creation to become part of time and space. Jesus serves as an example of how we are to live as His followers. In our text today the Apostle Paul continues on the same theme by expanding how we are to live and act. So let s dig into the text this morning and see what God has for us there. 1 Page Dr. Rich Schnieders,

2 Philippians 2:12 (ESV) 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, This verse begins with therefore which links what he says in the fallowing verses with what he said in the previous verses. Because Jesus is the example for us and ultimately every knee will be bow and every tongue will confess Jesus is Lord, Therefore we are to work out our own salvation. This is a very interesting phrase that Paul uses here. What does work out your own salvation mean. First of all we know that it does not mean that we do the work for us to be saved. Salvation is a gift from God and not something that we do. Paul is not talking about bringing salvation to us through our own efforts. Paul is saying that since we have been indwelt by the Holy Spirit at our salvation we need to put into practice what is provided to us through the Holy Spirit. Notice what Paul says. He says Work out your salvation and not work for your salvation. Work Out is mining term which meant that you needed to work the mine until all of the product of the mine had been found. Mined out. We are to get everything we can out of our salvation based upon the example of Jesus. 2 Page Dr. Rich Schnieders,

3 The famous modern philosopher, Tim McGraw wrote a song which had a repeating line in it, Live like You are Dying. Instead of live like we are dying we are to live like we have been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ and have indwelling us the Holy Spirit and are working to do all we can to serve Him. Paul goes on to say that the Philippians should work out their salvation with fear and trembling. The Pulpit commentary puts it this way: Have an eager, trembling anxiety to obey God in all things, considering the tremendous sacrifice of Christ, the unspeakable depth and tenderness of his love, the immense importance of a present salvation from sin, the momentous preciousness of a future salvation from death. 1 When we think about the sacrifice of Jesus and the example he set for us we should be excited to be obedient to him. Paul does not say here that we should be afraid to not be obedient, he is not telling us we need to be afraid of God. But that is not all that Paul says in this verse. He gives the Philippians credit for being obedient when he is with them and even when he is not. He was praising them for their obedience. 1 H. D. M. Spence-Jones, ed., Philippians, The Pulpit Commentary (London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1909), Page Dr. Rich Schnieders,

4 Philippians 2:13 (ESV) 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. So we are to work out our own salvation, being obedient to God following the example set by Jesus because it is God who works in you. What we do not see in our English text is that God in verse 13 is in the emphatic position in the Greek sentence. It is God who is doing the work through and in you. The grammar of the word work in this sentence would lead us to conclude that God s Work is continuing and never ending. You could properly translate this verse as for it is God who is always at work. What is He always at work doing. He is giving you the will to be obedient to Him and the way for you to be obedient. That s what to will and work means in this verse. Look why God does it. For His good pleasure. God provides us with the will and power to serve Him so His plan is carried out. Whether it is hauling thousands of cases of water, providing someone with the gospel message or picking someone up for church or many of the many other things that happen in service of God. It is all done to further God plan, His sovereign plan. Philippians 2:14 (ESV) 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, That is not always easy to do but it is part of what we are told to do. Not grumble or complain. Jesus had a right to grumble or 4 Page Dr. Rich Schnieders,

5 complain but He didn t, He carried out the plan of God. He is our example and He did not complain. Philippians 2:15 (ESV) 15 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, Jesus is our example in how we are to live and what we are to do. The Philippians did not have it all together. Before their reputation in their communities was good they had to correct some issues they had. Here is the long and the short of it. We are to be obedient to God in everything we do, with grumbling and complaining so that we might have a good reputation in this crooked world we live in. We should never give the world a toehold to use in going after us, they will go after us regardless so lets not make it easier for them. This verse also contains the main theme of this entire section of Philippians 2 that we are the light in a dark and twisted, crooked world. We are to shine brightly as a light and not allow our light to be dimmed by scandal and problems. Jesus is the light of the world and we are to shine reflecting His light. But everything that gets in the way diminishes the light a little. Every wrinkle in our person cause the light to not be 5 Page Dr. Rich Schnieders,

6 reflected properly. God empowers us to both will and work in reflecting the light of Jesus to a dark and dying world. Philippians 2:16 (ESV) 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. This statement here is a pastor s heart. Paul says that the people of Philippi is to hold fast to the word of Life, specifically the gospel message and the entire Word of God in a more general sense. Digging into the scriptures, learning them and living them following the example of Jesus. Paul says when the rapture occurs and we are all taken to heaven and our works in Christ are judged it will be shown that he did it right and they responded properly. He is proud of their growth and their involvement in ministry. I have to say as Jim, Steve and Mike drove around to the other churches to pick up water I was proud of them. A relatively small in number church that stepped up and served God. Much larger churches did not step up like Friendship did. So I understand Paul s heart here. Proud of his folks for doing what God called them to do. I am proud of our church as well. God has used this church to do mighty things for the kingdom. The next verse carries that idea even further. 6 Page Dr. Rich Schnieders,

7 Philippians 2:17 (ESV) 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Paul was in prison when he is writing to the Philippians with martyrdom an almost near certainty. He viewed his death as a form of worship towards God because he was in prison and would die because he served God. He willingly sacrificed his life to present the gospel to as many as he could. Paul followed the example of Jesus. In Romans Paul says: Romans 12:1 (ESV) 1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. It is the same here in Philippians. The right response of a follower of Jesus is to be willing to sacrifice it all to serve Him. If that means you sacrifice your life then you worship God by sacrificing your life. If He does not require from you your life then the life that you live should be full of following God and being obedient to His direction and will. Paul viewed his own sacrifice as being an addition to the sacrifice of the Philippians. An added offering like the drink 7 Page Dr. Rich Schnieders,

8 offering was in Israel. Poured out on the burnt offering rising up as a sweet aroma. Philippians 2:18 (ESV) 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. Paul tells the Philippians that they should rejoice with him at his sacrifice. Paul was not suicidal but he looked forward to reaching the end of the race and being with his Lord in Heaven. Paul was satisfied that he had done the right things and saw his people become obedient to serving God. So he asked them to be excited for him in the now near execution time. He knew they did not want him to go, they wanted him to remain alive and free to come to them again. But he was tired and knew that soon he would be with his lord and wanted them to be happy about that with him. I get that. I am not afraid to die, I look forward to being with Jesus in heaven. So, what do we take away from this paragraph today? I think the primary theme here is that we are to be lights in a dark and dirty world. Lights that reflect Jesus Christ. We are to prevent ourselves from being in a position where we tarnish our reputation and dim the light we reflect. God called us to be His slaves who are responsible to Worship God through our life. Paul was proud of his people and wanted them to also look to the end of Paul s race with joy. Sure they will miss Paul but he will be with his lord and will be blessed most of all by it. 8 Page Dr. Rich Schnieders,

9 We are to be lights in this dark world by holding fast to the gospel message specifically and generally the entire Word of God. Learning and living God s Word. Throughout this passage, I see in Paul a sense of satisfaction that he did all he could do in the power of the Holy Spirit. His satisfaction is also seen in the people of the churches he planted. He was proud of the work they were doing. Not in arrogance, but in a sense of them all being obedient. God has blessed Friendship Grace Brethren Church. We have a tremendous reputation in our District and the fellowship. We have a very high participation rate in our ministries. We are working out our salvation while preserving our reputation so that the light of Jesus reflects off of us full bright. We worship God with every case of water picked up, every Christmas party at the ACT shelter or mission trip to build a fence or teach in a Bible institute. Our lives are worship of God every day. Let s Pray! 9 Page Dr. Rich Schnieders,

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

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