"The question is whether she is a grumbler, or only a grumble…The whole difficulty of understanding Hell is that the soul to be understood is so nearly nothing at this point... it begins with a grumbling mood, and you still might be able to be separated from it: you can repent and come out of it again. But there may come a day when you can do that no longer. Then there will be no you left… all that is left is the grumble itself going on forever like a machine.” (C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce)
There were three primary problems that the Philippian church faced which created ripe circumstances for grumbling
1. The Philippian congregation was anxious over their beloved missionary pastor, Paul, who was in jail again (Phil 1:13)
2. The Philippian church was experiencing external pressure from “opponents” (Phil 1:28; 3:2)
3. The Philippians congregation was facing internal division from at least two members quarrelling (Phil 4:2–3)
Notice Paul’s prayer
Philippians 1:9-10 - And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent (most important, most worthy, superior), in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ…
Notice Paul’s personal illustration
Philippians 1:12 - Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel…
Notice Paul’s exhortation
Philippians 1:27 - Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ…
Notice Paul’s delight/motivation
Philippians 2:1,5 - Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion… Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus…
3 vital implications of the Gospel to our conduct that enables the believers to live as lights
I. Worthy Gospel Conduct Must Be Worked Out in Our Relationships (v. 12-13)
Philippians 2:12-13 - So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Conduct worthy of the Gospel: Overwhelming thankfulness for Jesus Christ meeting my greatest need - reconciliation to God - resulting in me eagerly relinquishing my grasp on or delight in earthly pleasures and easily placing others needs ahead of my own because I lack nothing in Christ.
A. Requires effort - “work out” - “to bring about, produce, create”
B. Requires God’s work - “God is at work in you”
Philippians 2:13 - …for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Is Gospel growth...
1. God then me? God saved me and left me on my own
2. God not me? Let go and let God. I do nothing
3. God plus me? God does some and I do some
4. God in me?
“This fourth approach is ‘God in me.’ God does everything to save me, and then by his Holy Spirit… unites me spiritually to his Son. The result is that in our growth in holiness (as Edwards put it) ‘we are not merely passive in it, nor yet does God do some and we do the rest, but God does all, and we do all… We are in different respects wholly passive and wholly active.’ This approach, in other words, holds together both human responsibility and divine sovereignty in how we move forward spiritually.” (Ortlund, Dane C., Deeper, pp. 54-55)
C. Requires following instructions - “just as you have always obeyed”
D. Requires seriousness - "with fear and trembling”
E. Requires relationships - in “work out your salvation” “you” is plural referring to the Philippian church
II. Worthy Gospel Conduct Excludes Murmurous Divisiveness
γογγυσμός (gowngusmos) - grumbling - notice the pronunciation of this word even sounds like grumbling. It refers to a low murmuring, behind the scenes talk. (cf. 1 Cor 10:10)
διαλογισμός (dialogizmos) - disputing, arguing
The heart of grumbling is that nothing is good enough for me - I deserve better.
“Your conduct, your life, your actions and your words are dictated by what you deem worthy. If the gospel of Jesus Christ isn’t worth much to you, then it will be obvious in your conduct…” (the esteemed, honorable, reverend, Pastor Greg Wetterlin)
“Even young believers realize sadly that it does not take long for their spiritual fervor to cool and for deadly spiritual apathy to set in. Boiling water takes but a few hours to become ice. A few days without warm fellowship with the Lord cause a person to lose his spiritual zeal for Christ. Each believer consistently needs meditation because each still struggles with a fallen heart. But praise the Lord, the benefit of meditation is that the Lord uses it to return one’s heart affection to the Lord.” (David W. Saxton, God's Battle Plan for the Mind: The Puritan Practice of Biblical Meditation, 108)
Grumbling (delighting in the things of this earth - never having enough) and thanksgiving (delighting in Christ - I have more than enough in Christ) are the opposite and they cannot coexist
Your Work | God’s Work in You for His Pleasure |
Study and meditation on Scriptures | The Spirit makes Christ beautiful to you |
Regular prayer for God to help show you what is most important in life | The Spirit answers your prayer |
Regular exposure to activities and resources that explain the Word of God | The Spirit makes Christ beautiful to you |
Place yourself in the regular fellowship of other believers | God uses His Spirit in other believers to show you the beauty of Christ and hold you accountable |
Intentional effort to recognize and repent of what becomes more important to you than the Gospel | God allows you to taste and see the blessing of walking in His ways |
Strive to solve problems Biblically without grumbling among sinners | God gives you a clear conscience and shows you the beauty of Christ’s ways |
Place yourself in a position of regularly pouring yourself out for others | God shows you the beauty of an others “Gospel” way of life |
Daily, purposeful, intentional thanksgiving | God brings about joy in the midst of trial |
III. Worthy Gospel Conduct Results in the People of God Living Out Their Purpose
Living out your purpose has four key results
1. Evangelistic opportunities—"living as lights”
Philippians 2:15 - …so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world…
2. A clear conscience - "on the day of Christ”
Philippians 2:16 - …holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.
3. A living sacrifice - like Paul, like Jesus
Philippians 2:17 - But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.
4. A supernatural joy
Philippians 2:18 - You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.
You may have heard of C.S. Lewis’ book—The Great Divorce
The book is not about marriage and divorce
The book is about the great divide, the chasm and reality separating souls in heaven and hell.
And how even upon an imaginary bus ride of souls from hell visiting heaven—those souls still would not choose heaven if they had a choice.
Lewis’ insight to the consuming and enslaving nature of our self-centeredness which Christ came to rescue us from is immense.
The narrator in the book telling the story is C.S. Lewis, himself,
On this imaginary bus ride of souls from hell visiting heaven, C.S. Lewis encounters one soul that has arrive in hell.
The chatty soul starts a one way conversation with him doing what the grumbling soul has always done in life—grumbling even as she visits heaven.
"Oh, my dear, I've had such a dreadful time,
I don't know how I ever got here at all,
I was coming with Elinor Stone and we'd arranged the whole thing and we were to meet at the corner of Sink Street;
I made it perfectly plain because I knew what she was like and if I told her once I told her a hundred times I would not meet her outside that dreadful Marjory Banks woman's house, not after the way she'd treated me ... that was one of the most dreadful things that happened to me;
I've been dying to tell you because I felt sure you'd tell me I acted rightly; no, don’t interrupt, wait a moment, dear sir, till I've told you
I‘ve tried living with her —when I first came and it was all fixed up, she was to do the cooking and I was to look after the house
and I did think I was going to be comfortable—after all I'd been through!
But she turned out to be so changed, absolutely selfish, and not a particle of sympathy for anyone but herself
And as I once said to her 'I do think I'm entitled to a little consideration because you at least lived out your time, but I oughtn't to have been here for years and years yet'
But of course I'm forgetting— you don't know—I was murdered, simply murdered, dear sir,
That doctor should never have operated on me,
I ought to be alive to-day
and further more, they simply starved me in that dreadful nursing home and no one ever came near me and . . ."
The narrator, C.S. Lewis, speaks to the bus tour guide as the shrill monotonous whine died away.
"I am troubled, Sir," C.S. Lewis said, "because that unhappy creature doesn't seem to me to be the sort of soul that ought to be even in danger of damnation. She isn't wicked: she's only a silly, garrulous old woman who has got into a habit of grumbling
The tour guide on the bus through heaven explains…
"The question is whether she is a grumbler, or only a grumble…The whole difficulty of understanding Hell is that the soul to be understood is so nearly nothing at this point. . . it begins with a grumbling mood, and you still might be able to be separated from it: You can repent and come out of it again. But there may come a day when you can do that no longer. Then there will be no you left …all that is left is the grumble itself going on forever like a machine. —C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce
C.S. Lewis did not say this, but the point is this— not even a tour ride through heaven changed the grumble because the grumble is now the entire essence of that soul. Heaven was not enough for the grumbler
Let’s consider this statement a bit further—grumbling is not wicked, its just the sign of a grumpy old person who got in the habit of grumbling.
- Grumbling is common
- Grumbling is natural
- What is the big deal?
- It’s not worthy of damnation!
For a moment, let’s make another imaginary scenario by putting the face of grumbling on the person of Jesus and then ask the question—would this Jesus be one that you are attracted to..?
- Jesus as a boy left in the temple having been forgotten by his parents—"What kind of parents are you leaving me and forgetting about me? I had to speak with these boorish Pharisees and Scribes all day long!
- Jesus being in the wilderness for 40 days without food—"This situation is intolerable! I’m hot, dirty, and sweaty! This is not the way I wanted to lose 20 pounds! I’m done with this Judaism give me some lamb chops! Better yet—pork chops”
- Jesus dialog with his disciples—“How many times do I have to tell you?!. Do you have rocks for brains? I know I make poor choices but choosing you all was the worst of my choices.
- With Pilot—“I forgot that the world revolves around you pilot…silly me, I thought it revolved around me.”
- On the Cross—“I can’t believe I have to do this for these worms called humanity. Its impossible to underestimate them!
Who would be attracted to that kind of a Savior?
What kind of light would he have been?
He would have simply been one more soul of darkness among the rest of us grumblers
In fact…that kind of Savior would be condemned as well and would have never have made it to the cross on our behalf.
Do you see your murmuring and grumbling as hellish contributing to the darkness around us
…if not you do not see Christ clearly and what he has done to rescue you from this damnable demeanor
Please turn in your bibles to Philippians 2 verses 12-18
That is on page 154 in the back section of the bible in the chair in front of you
Our church’s theme this year is Growing in Gospel Gratitude…
we’ve learned already that this book is essentially a thank you letter…written by the apostle Paul while he was imprisoned in Rome for proclaiming the gospel, to a dear church that had faithfully supported him as one of their missionaries…
Paul also has some additional purposes in writing to them…
As with all churches filled with sinners….there will be problems….
Question: How many churches have problems??? ALL Churches!!
And the tendencies when problems arise will be to revert to the natural responses
Grumbling,
Complaining,
Blaming
There were three primarily problems that the Philippian church faced which created ripe circumstances for grumbling.
- The Philippian congregation was anxious over their beloved missionary pastor, Paul, who was jail again (Phil 1:13)
that is why this letter to the Philippians is called a “prison epistle/letter”
- The Philippian church was experiencing external pressure from “opponents” (Phil 1:28; 3:2)
- The Philippians congregation was facing internal division from at least two members quarrelling (Phil 4:2–3)
The situation was ripe for all of them to begin
To focus on their own interests.
To save face by putting down others
To grumble and complain
During this perfect storm Paul provides tender shepherding.
Notice Paul’s prayer.
Phil 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent (most important, most worthy, superior), in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ.
Notice Paul’s personal illustration
Phil 1:12Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel.
Paul is illustrating what he prayed for in his prayer—what is most important—the greater progress of the gospel in difficult circumstances.
Notice Paul’s exhortation.
Phil 1:27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ
The Gospel seen, understood, believed, and received, must have impact on our conduct including what we tend to delight in when problems arise.
Notice Paul’s Delight/Motivation.
Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,… 5Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.
In circumstances that would naturally cause people to grumble, like prison…Paul sees what is most important….Christ….and an opportunity to shine with conduct worthy of the Gospel itself..
And to that end he prays for the Spirit to make know to the Philippians in a more clear way how the Gospel should work itself out in their lives….
Let’s take a running start at our verses today in verse 1.
1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,
2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Here is the first exhortation….of conduct worthy of the Gospel….If you have been impacted by the Gospel…
If you see the Gospel clearly…
If you understand the Gospel…
Then are you ready….
12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your (Plural) salvation with fear and trembling;
13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing;
15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,
16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.
17 But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.
18 You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.
Today we are speaking about
Growing in Gospel Gratitude
with
Light Filled Conduct Worthy of the Gospel
Three vital implications of the Gospel to our conduct that enables the believers to live as lights.
The first vital implication…
I. Worthy Gospel conduct must be worked out in our relationships (v. 12-13)
Phil 1:12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Paul has prayed that the congregation discern what is excellent or most important
Paul has used his own personal life as an illustration
Paul has said, “ONLY Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel”
Let me take a stab at defining “Conduct Worthy of the Gospel”
Conduct Worthy of the Gospel: Overwhelming thankfulness for Jesus Christ meeting my greatest need—reconciliation to God—resulting in me eagerly relinquishing my grasp on or delight in earthly pleasures and easily placing others needs ahead of my own because I lack nothing in Christ.
Read that with me…..(repeat)
Because I lack nothing…in Christ
The founding of the Philippian church occurred in very difficult circumstances.
I would encourage you to read Acts 16 and see Paul’s conduct worthy of the Gospel
In fact, it was precisely because God used Paul’s conduct worthy of the Gospel that the Philippian church was established.
Who was the first charter member of the Philippian church do you remember? Lydia, the seller of purple.
After that relatively easy convert, things became a bit more difficult.
Who was the second charter member of the Philippian church most likely? The demon-possessed slave girl.
Do you remember the story?
Paul and Silas cast the demon out of the slave girl and this made her slave-master owner mad.
The slave master set the city of Philippi in an uproar and Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown in jail—now there’s a ripe opportunity for grumbling..—can you believe these shackles? I haven’t eaten since yesterday…man why did we cast out the demon from her? This always works out bad for us. Why can’t we ever catch a break?
Do you remember what Paul and Silas were doing at midnight?
…They were singing praises…
And the Philippian jailer observing Paul and Silas ultimately became saved because of their conduct worthy of the Gospel
Conduct Worthy of the Gospel: Overwhelming thankfulness for Jesus Christ meeting my greatest need—reconciliation to God—resulting in me eagerly relinquishing my grasp on or delight in earthly pleasures and easily placing others needs ahead of my own because I lack nothing in Christ.
This is why Paul could say as we have already seen, “my imprisonment has fallen out for the furtherance of the Gospel!” I lack nothing in Christ. Rejoice!
This is why Paul could say as we have already seen, “For to you it has been granted for Christ sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake. Because you lack nothing in Christ. Rejoice!
Say, “I lack nothing”…
Now friends, I’m not saying this is easy…. Or natural to us…it is not.
Conduct worthy of the Gospel comes about in five ways…
Conduct worthy of the Gospel
Requires effort—“work out” — “to bring about, produce, create”
Paul’s overall exhortation here is “Work out the Gospel, work out your salvation” into your daily lives.
There are implications to being redeemed people…
That salvation that the Gospel provides for us is not just for our saving put for our growth in working in out in our lives.
God did not simply come to give us fire insurance from hell but to change us from becoming grumbles to those are thankfuls.
To create a people who are different and supernatural rather than the norm and natural of humanity
Work out your salvation!
We will talk about how this is worked out in just a moment..
Secondly conduct worthy of the Gospel
Requires God’s work—“God is at work in you”
Lest we think that conduct worthy of the Gospel happens from our own work Paul quickly reminds us
Phil 2:13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Phil 2:12–13 is one of the seeming paradoxes of Scriptures
Paul just commanded the Philippians to “Work out your salvation!”
And now he says, “God is working in you”
Which is it Paul?
And for all of us how does Gospel transformation happen in my life and conduct?
Is it God? Is it me?
Dane Ortlund in his new book deeper has posed four options….only one of them is correct. Which one is it below?
Is Gospel Growth...
- God then me? God saved me and left me on my own
- God not me? Let go and let God. I do nothing.
- God plus me? God does some and I do some
- God in me?
This fourth approach is “God in me.” God does everything to save me, and then by his Holy Spirit …unites me spiritually to his Son. The result is that in our growth in holiness (as Edwards put it) “we are not merely passive in it, nor yet does God do some and we do the rest, but God does all, and we do all. . . . We are in different respects wholly passive and wholly active.” This approach, in other words, holds together both human responsibility and divine sovereignty in how we move forward spiritually. Ortlund, Dane C. Deeper, pp. 54-55
Work out your salvation for God is working in you your salvation
Third, Conduct worthy of the Gospel
- Requires following instructions— “just as you have always obeyed”
This is a matter of obedience for those saved by God.
This is not optional….
Fourth, conduct worthy of the Gospel
- Requires seriousness—"with fear and trembling”
Throughout our passage today, Paul will be using phrases drawn from the Scriptures that he had—the OT.
I can not go into all of them, but it is truly amazing how immersed Paul is in the Scripture (and we should be likewise)
The terminology of “Fear and trembling” was used to describe the responses of witnesses in the OT observing God’s great acts of judgement.
Now, Paul uses it of Gospel witnesses…if indeed you have truly understood, believed, and received the Gospel then it must impact you.
In contrast to OT witnesses of God’s judgment responding in fear and trembling, recipients of the Gospel witness the cost, the magnitude of God’s judgement personally….look what was required for the depths of my own depravity—the murder of God’s son!
But at the same time, the recipients of the Gospel, understand that cost was born of God’s great love…..
So a joyous sobriety should be about our conduct to see to it that our speech, actions are worthy of the Gospel which we profess.
Finally, conduct worthy of the Gospel
- Requires relationships—in “work out your salvation” “you” is plural referring to the Philippian church
This may be obvious but do you think there would be much grumbling if there were not people?
Paul is exhorting the Philippians to work out their differences that are occurring in their relationship during their pressure-cooker trials.
Often we think of the verse 12 as only speaking to individuals…as in “you Brent work out the Gospel into your daily life.”
Fine, but what does my daily life consist of…—people.
Ultimately, Paul is expecting that the Gospel be transforming not just a person but a community…
Thus he gave the exhortations in verse 2…be of the same mind, the same spirit.
The first vital implication of the Gospel to our conduct that enables the believer to live as lights is that the Gospel must be “worked out” into our relationships.
The second vital implication…is that
II. Worthy Gospel conduct excludes murmurous divisiveness
γογγυσμός (gowngusmos) —grumbling—notice the pronunciation of this word even sounds like grumbling. It refers to a low murmuring, behind the scenes talk. (cf. 1 Cor 10:10)
διαλογισμός (dialogizmos)—disputing, arguing
There is a reason that I started with the C.S. Lewis extreme example of a grumble in Hell.
Grumbling and arguing are hellish even though we do not always see it this way.
Why is that?
The heart of grumbling is that nothing is good enough for me I deserve better.
Eve and Adam’s heart in the garden of even manifested the seeds of a grumbling heart when they reach for the fruit as if it would make them whole.
In essence, God, you are not enough,
This place Eden —which means delight—is not enough.
So do you find yourself uttering these kinds of statements
Grumbling Statements
“I can’t believe he did...”
“If only they would….”
“Why can’t they ever…
“Nobody serves me...
“Why won’t you simply…”
“How many times do I have to say…”
“I don’t like that kind of …”
“But I want…”
“The weather here is always…”
“Can you believe those people…”
“You always…”
“Why can’t I have…”
The grumbler thinks if only his will were done then he would be satisfied and the world would return to its Edenic like state.
C.S. Lewis wrote in the same book, “There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, in the end, 'Thy will be done.' All that are in Hell, choose it.
The grumble never believes that God and his will enough so God says in return…okay “Thy will be done” and turns the grumbler over to his perpetual state…..an eternal shrill never ending grumble.
Let’s push this even further…
I have been really blessed the last two weeks in hearing from Pastor Greg Wetterlin and Pastor Johnny Kjaer. If you did not hear their messages, I would encourage you to be blessed in their exposition of the word of God by going back and listening to their messages.
And to quote the internationally renown and famous Pastor Greg Wetterlin from two weeks ago.
“Your conduct, your life, your actions and your words are dictated by what you deem worthy. If the gospel of Jesus Christ isn’t worth much to you, then it will be obvious in your conduct…”--the esteemed, honorable, reverend, pastor Greg Wetterlin.
Our words are dictated by what we deem worthy
What do we believe as worthy behind our grumbling?
The mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart
Where your treasure is there is your heart…
So you watch a person’s grumbling words and you have found their treasures, their heart.
What’s the delight behind these words…
- “Can you believe they treated me that way?”—Earthly fairness right now because I deserve it”
- “Nobody ever acknowledges me and my work” —Respect and Recognition from people because I deserve it.
- “Why can’t things ever work out for me.”—Ease and pleasure…because I deserve it.
- “Can you believe how the government’s policies are robbing us of our investments and inflating our riches away”—wealth..
What’s the solution to grumbling and complaining?
It’s not explicit in our passage today, but Paul has been laying it out prior to our passage.
Paul prayed for the Philippians to discern what is most important—what is superior
- Not earthly fairness right now
- Not recognition and respect
- Not ease
- Not wealth
He modeled what was most important…
- · I am in chains because of what is most important and its not my freedom
- · I have been beaten because of what is most important and its not my health
What is most important to Paul?
What did He model?
For me to live is Christ….and to die is Gain.
Even if I die I gain…I LACK NOTHING.
How do we get there though to that love, that desire?
Paul has already told us how to stop delighting in
ease, my respect, my freedom, my health, which results in our grumbling when we don’t get them—Set your mind on the Christ who emptied himself for you…..
David W. Saxton in a book called God's Battle Plan for the Mind: The Puritan Practice of Biblical Meditation writes,
Even young believers realize sadly that it does not take long for their spiritual fervor to cool and for deadly spiritual apathy to set in. Boiling water takes but a few hours to become ice. A few days without warm fellowship with the Lord cause a person to lose his spiritual zeal for Christ. Each believer consistently needs meditation because each still struggles with a fallen heart. But praise the Lord, the benefit of meditation is that the Lord uses it to return one’s heart affection to the Lord. David W. Saxton, God's Battle Plan for the Mind: The Puritan Practice of Biblical Meditation, 108.
So, let’s put this practically…
Your Work | God’s Work in You for His Pleasure |
Study and meditation on Scriptures | The Spirit makes Christ beautiful to you |
Regular prayer for God to help show you what is most important in life | The Spirit answers your prayer |
Regular exposure to activities and resources that explain the Word of God | The Spirit makes Christ beautiful to you |
Place yourself in the regular fellowship of other believers | God uses His Spirit in other believers to show you the beauty of Christ and hold you accountable |
Intentional effort to recognize and repent of what becomes more important to you than the Gospel | God allows you to taste and see the blessing of walking in His ways |
Strive to solve problems Biblically without grumbling among sinners | God gives you a clear conscience and shows you the beauty of Christ’s ways |
Place yourself in a position of regularly pouring yourself out for others | God shows you the beauty of an others “Gospel” way of life. |
Daily, purposeful, intentional thanksgiving | God brings about joy in the midst of trial. |
Grumbling (delighting in the things of this earth — never having enough) and Thanksgiving (Delighting in Christ—I have more than enough in Christ) are the opposite and they can not coexist.
Conduct Worthy of the Gospel: Overwhelming thankfulness for Jesus Christ meeting my greatest need—reconciliation to God—resulting in me eagerly relinquishing my grasp on or delight in earthly pleasures and easily placing others needs ahead of my own because I lack nothing in Christ.
The first vital implication of the Gospel to our conduct that enables the believer to live as lights is that the Gospel must be “worked out” into our relationships.
The second vital implication…is that Worthy Gospel conduct excludes murmurous divisiveness
The third vital implication…
III. Worthy Gospel conduct results in the people of God living out their purpose
As the Gospel is worked out into your life you are achieving the purpose for what God has created you for.
A new person…a new community… a people of renown…a people of for God’s glory
Not a hollow shell of a person resulting in a grumble that nobody wants to be around.
living out your purpose has four key results….
Evangelistic opportunities—"living as lights”
Phil 2:15so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,
A clear conscience—"on the day of Christ”
Phil 2:16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.
A living sacrifice—like Paul, like Jesus
Phil 2:17But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.
A supernatural joy
Phil 1:18 You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.
What do repetitive bitter thoughts lead to? Bitter people..at the end of life what is left—a pile of bitterness that forever seethes like a smoldering blaze that will never be put out.
What do repetitive grumbling words lead to? Grumblers and at the end of life what is left—a grumble forever ongoing like a monotonous machine.. the individual in Hell could not even see that Heaven would be enough if he visited.
But now….now…But when our hearts behold the one who without a grumble and only thankfulness took the penalty for our grumbling, out of love for us, we say He is more than enough and we are people of praise and thanksgiving.
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