Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Email | RSS | More

Sermon Notes: How to be Glad and Rejoice

Philippians 2:12Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for Hisgood pleasure.

14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.

Work out your own salvation

• Paul admonishes the Philippian church to “work out their own salvation”
• Just before, in verse 12 he says that this idea of “working out their salvation” is predicated on obedience
• The foundation of working out your salvation is obedience to God and his precepts according to paul
• Note- Paul did not say to EARN your salvation with fear and trembling, but to work it out
• We are still to obey God in our salvation. Not to EARN it but because it was earned
• The Law of God is still good to be followed even if it cannot save us because law can never save- but it is a FRUIT of a life that has been transformed. Since we are FORGIVEN we CHOOSE to walk away from SIN to bring Glory to the Father!

• Katergazomai kat-er-gad’-zom-ahee From G2596 and G2038; to work fully, that is, accomplish; by implication to finish, fashion: – cause, do (deed), perform, work (out).
• Root- By any means /toil and be engaged with
• Paul says- be engaged with your salvation- be on task about it- work this thing out
• Getting SAVED is EASY becoming like Christ is HARD WORK- it takes a full engagement in the task
• To Learn, to worship, to be in his presence, To “Be conformed to the image and the likeness”
• I always liken it to marriage- its EASY to get married- its hard to have a marriage- Marriage is WORK
• Many people don’t want to do the work necessary to make a marriage
• Talked w someone recently- admitted the shortcomings of their marriage- number one problem- wasn’t engaged- wasn’t fully in the relationship- a spectator to the process
• This is something that even a sinner can see in the saints life- They look at a saint and say “I don’t think you should be doing that” and we say “grace! Grace!” when in reality- we should say “thank you”
• Hebrews 5:9 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him
• That is- to put your hand to the plow of your salvation to walk it through and out to the Glory of God
• Paul says “with fear and trembling”
• Paul knew that there was a benefit to having a fear of God- The
• Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
• Paul Instructs the Philipians to work it out- and some of you already are like “man this sounds like a bunch of work” and IT IS- IT’S A TON OF WORK- but doesn’t it deserve your full attention?
• But here’s the best part

• God who works in you both to WILL and TO DO for his Good pleasure

• This process of walking out our salvation is done BY GOD for his GOOD PLEASURE
• God wants you to succeed at working out your salvation! He wanst you to become like Christ!
• It is his WILL that you would grow
• He will DO IT! Why? For HIS GOOD PLEASURE!!!
• HENRY- It is the grace of God which inclines the will to that which is good: and then enables us to perform it, and to act according to our principles
• Isaiah 26:12 Lord, You will establish peace for us,For You have also done all our works in us.

• What does it mean to you?

• Work out your salvation! Do it with fear and trembling!
• If you do not make your relationship with Christ and your salvation a priority, you will not grow in your relationship with Him
• Its quite simple- Read your Bible, Pray, Be discipled, Fellowship, Worship, Serve and Give
• Do those 7 things, some daily, some weekly. Do them relentlessly for 5 years and then see if you’ve grown.
• I do not know anyone who has done this who hasn’t grown. No one
• I know MANY people who do these things sporadically and intermittently and half heartedly and don’t grow at all!
• I have not met one person who said- I got saved, and did absolutely nothing and 20 years later I was more like Jesus. Not one-
• I have known many a person who has not continued to serve God because they were not fully engaged with the process! They were half hearted
• Some will say- “were they saved”? I don’t know- you can ask God- not my problem
• I can tell you they are not working out their salvation though- they aren’t fully engaged in the process
• How do you do it?

• Welcome the fear People say that fear is bad, but the truth is, sometimes fear will keep you safe! God put fear in you to tell you “hey- you shouldn’t do that”
• I was not created to jump out of a plane- that’s not of God- 100% You have to fight God to push yourself out that Door
• When did we become a society that refuses to point out what is wrong and right?
• When I was a kid- neighbor would spank you bring you home- mom would spank you
• YOU have to SUBMIT yourself to the WORKING of the LORD if you want him to WORK it out in YOU
• James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
• It is GOD who wills to DO IT but you must LET HIM
• The worst judgment that God gives us is that he gives us over to that which we want- if we want sin- he lets us sin. If we want to be conformed to the image of the likeness of his son- HE WILL
• Jude 3Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

1. Do all things without complaining

• Personally, I love that Paul includes this in the discourse of explaining how the church should operate
• Obey, work it out, oh, and don’t complain!
• This is a theme throughout the Bible- one of not complaining
• James 5:9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!
• Complaining wasn’t invented in the last 30 years its been going on for thousands of years
• People are complainers!
• The Israelites did it in the desert- God gave them meat and bread to eat from the sky and they still complained about the food
• Did you catch that? Food from the sky- all they had to do was go and pick it up to eat it and they still complained God didn’t like it though
• Numbers 11:1 Now when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the Lord burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp.
• This is a common thread within people- they find ways to complain about stuff- I get it- I fall prey to it sometimes- I’m not immune
• Why do people complain?
• Not satisfied– They hate their life- and want others to hate theirs as well, trying to influence
• Trying to help- People like me- I’m just seeing areas of improvement- (no one likes this)
• Trying to make friends- misery loves company! Find someone to complain with, you got a friend
• Disgruntled Spirit- When you’re wounded- you wound others and find satisfaction in their pain
• Lack of Knowledge- Some people don’t know any better- it’s a lifestyle they inherited
• Mean- Some people are just mean- they look for ways to hurt others they are SOUR
• Main reason- Habit- people just are used to complaining
• But- we’re not supposed to complain- about anything- ever- that’s what the Bible says
• 1 Peter 4:9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
• There’s really no point to it- you think it will make you feel better but it doesn’t- it just hurts you, others, God, and the process
• Can’t I share what I’m feeling? You sure can, with GOD- He’ll listen to you complaints all day long- let him know what you’re feeling- share with HIM not with OTHERS
• WHY DO WE NOT COMPLAIN?

• That you may become blameless and harmless

• The REASON is for YOU- it helps YOU when you don’t complain- Its for you to be BLAMELESS and HARMLESS
• Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.
• Have a merry heart- Its good for you!
• You want be blameless? Quit complaining! You want to not cause harm? Quit complaining!
• AND- THANK PEOPLE when they bring it to your attention! Say “thank you!”

1. Hold fast the word of life

• Pauls encouragement to the Phlipian church was to “hold fast the word of life”
• What were these words of life?
• Jesus Christ was crucified for your sins, believe in him and have eternal life
• 2 Timothy 1:10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
• The Gospel is that Jesus Christ came to save sinners- I keep saying this over and over and over
• And Paul wanted the Church to hold fast to this truth? Why?
• So that I may rejoice (that Christ would endure)
• Why did Paul Rejoice? V 16 so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
• Pauls idea was- if you carry on what I’ve started- and don’t quit- what I’ve done wasn’t for nothing- Keep the word of life going! Keep sharing this truth!
• We are standing here today because the Phlippian church heeded this call- the call to endure
• This is part of modern day Christianity that I think is being lost–
• When we gather- when we come together- we move the ball down field.
• Yes- there is great stuff that we can do while we’re here- Acts of service, missionary work, etc.
• But remember- we’re presenting a church to Jesus upon his return. And if he doesn’t return in my or your lifetime, we’re carrying the torch to the next generation
• Hebrews 3:6 but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.
• We must hold fast to the truth of God’s word. We cannot let it become corrupt.

• The words of Life are becoming corrupt in our lifetime- We cannot let up
• Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven! Salvation is found in HIM Alone!
• Jesus Christ came to save sinners has turned into Jesus Christ came to love sinners
• God made him who had no sin to become sin for us has become God made Jesus, come hang out!
• If we are not defenders of orthodox Christianity? Who is doing it?
• I’ll tell you this much- early Christians in no way shape or form saw Christianity as a means of self help, relationship improvement, or means to change society
• IN Christ- they saw eternal life- remission of sins. And it was COSTLY.
• It cost them everything to come to Christ- But what they gained? Was out of this world
• Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.