Philippians 2:12–18: 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 in order to fulfil his good purpose. 14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 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.
Few things are harder to put up with,” wrote Mark Twain, “than the annoyance of a good example.”
Admiration for a great person can inspire us, but it cannot enable us. It takes more than an example on the outside; it takes power on the inside.
Paul has just presented Jesus Christ as our great example. We read it, and we agree with it, but how do we go about practicing it?
Paul was not asking us to “reach for the stars,” though the higher the goal the more we ought to achieve. He was setting before us the divine pattern for the attitude of Christ and the divine power to accomplish what God has commanded:
2:13: for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose.
It is not by imitation, but by incarnation:
Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Weirsbe: The Christian life is not a series of ups and downs. It is rather a process of “ins and outs.” God works in, and we work out.
We cultivate the attitude of Jesus by responding to the divine provisions God makes available to us.
There Is a Purpose to Achieve (2:12, 14–16)
2:12: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, …
Philippians 2:12 does not suggest, “Work for your own salvation.”
Paul was writing to people who were already “saints” (Philippians 1:1), which means they had trusted Christ and had been set apart for Him.
The verb “work out” carries the meaning of “work to full completion,” such as working out a problem in mathematics. Remember what your maths teacher used to say to you - show your working out.
In Paul’s day it was also used for “working a mine,” that is, getting out of the mine all the valuable ore possible; or “working a field” so as to get the greatest harvest possible.
The purpose God wants us to achieve is Romans 8:29b: … to be conformed to the image of his Son.
There are problems in life, but God will help us to “work them out.” Our lives have tremendous potential, like a mine or a field, and He wants to help us fulfil that potential.
One of the wonderful things about being a Christian is the knowledge that God has a plan for our lives:
Ephesians 2:10: For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Our God is a God of infinite variety! No two flowers are the same, no two snowflakes are the same; why should two Christians be the same?
All of us must be like Christ, but we must also be ourselves. We are not to be cheap imitations of other people, especially superstar Christians. We are to follow only what we see of Christ in their lives:
1 Corinthians 11:1: Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
Every superstar Christian has feet of clay and ultimately may disappoint you, but Jesus Christ can never fail you.
In Philippians 2:14–15 Paul contrasted the life of the believer with the lives of those who live in the world:
2:14-15: Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky…
- Unsaved people complain and find fault, but Christians rejoice.
- Society around us is “warped and crooked,” but Christians stands straight because they measures their life by God’s Word, the perfect standard.
- The world is dark, but Christians shine as bright lights.
- The world has nothing to offer, but the Christian holds out the Word of life, the message of salvation through faith in Christ.
In other words, as we allow God to achieve this purpose in our lives, we become better witnesses in a world that desperately needs Christ.
It is important to note that this purpose is achieved “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation,” (Phil. 2:15, quoting Deuteronomy 32:5).
Paul did not tell us to retreat from the world and go into a spiritual isolation. It is only as we are confronted with the needs and problems of real life that we can begin to become more like Christ.
It is not by leaving the world but by ministering to it that we see God’s purpose fulfilled in our lives.
We are in the world but not of the world (paraphrasing John 15:19; 17:14-19).
There Is a Power to Receive (2:13)
2:13: for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose.
The principle Paul laid down is this: God must work in us before He can work through us.
Too many Christians obey God only because of pressure on the outside, and not power on the inside.
People would be obedient when Paul was around them, but he warns them against this. It is the presence of God that brings loving obedience to our lives (Phil. 1:27; 2:12).
We have a tendency to please people and to obey God only when others are watching. But when you surrender to the power of God within you, then obedience becomes a delight and not a battle.
The power that works in us is the power of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16–17, 26; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 6:19–20).
Our English word energy comes from the word translated “works” in Philippians 2:13. It is God’s divine energy at work in us and through us!
The same Holy Spirit who empowered Christ when He was ministering on earth can empower us as well.
Because of the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, God’s divine energy is available to us:
Ephesians 1:18–23: I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
The power is here, but how do we use it? What tools does God use, by His Spirit, to work in our lives? There are three “tools”:
Tool One: The Word of God.
1 Thessalonians 2:13: And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.
God’s divine energy is released in our lives through His inspired Word. The same Word that spoke the universe into being can release divine power in our lives!
- We must appreciate the Word.
The Word of God is unique: it is inspired, authoritative, and infallible.
If we do not appreciate the Word, then God’s power cannot energise our lives.
- We must appropriate the Word—“receive it.”
This means much more than listening to it, or even reading and studying it. To “receive” God’s Word means to welcome it and make it a part of our inner being. God’s truth is to the spiritual person what food is to the physical person.
- We must apply the Word!
It works only in those that believe. When we trust God’s Word and act on it, then God’s power is released in our lives.
2 Corinthians 1:20: “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God”.
Tool Two: Prayer.
Prayer is the second tool God uses to work in the lives of His children.
Ephesians 3:20: Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us
Ask or think are two of the actions in prayer.
The Holy Spirit’s presence in us should lead us to more prayer, not less.
Rom. 8:26–27: In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
Zechariah 12:10a: And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit[a] of grace and supplication.
The book of Acts makes it clear that prayer is a divinely ordained source of spiritual power (Acts 1:14; 4:23–31; 12:5, 12), and the Word of God and prayer go together (Acts 6:4).
Unless Christians takes time for prayer, God cannot work in them and through them.
In the Bible and in church history, the people God used were people who prayed.
Tool Three: Suffering.
God’s third “tool” is suffering. What?! Pastor Keith, I thought you’d say it was my blessing, or my ministry, or my gifts, or my personal awesomeness!
The Spirit of God works in a special way in the lives of those who suffer for the glory of Christ.
1 Peter 4:12–19: Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”. 19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
Please bear in mind the fiery ordeal is not general suffering, although God gives grace for that too. The fiery ordeal happens when we stand up for the gospel of Jesus Christ, for truth in a truthless society, and sadly most Christians I meet in Europe spend their lives trying to avoid that! Why? They feel they have too much to lose.
Paul himself had experienced God’s power in that Philippian jail when he was beaten and chained in the inner prison, for he was able to sing and praise God in spite of his suffering (Acts 16:19–33).
His “fiery ordeal” also enabled him to forgive the jailer. It was not the earthquake that brought conviction to the jailer; the earthquake almost led him to suicide! It was Paul’s encouraging word, “Don’t do it! We are all here!”.
This kind of love broke the man’s heart, and he fell before Paul asking how to be saved.
The Word of God, prayer, and suffering are the three tools that God uses in our lives. Just as electricity must run through a conductor, so the Holy Spirit must work through the means God has provided.
There Is a Promise to Believe (2:16–18)
16 …as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labour in vain. 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.
What is this promise?
That joy comes from sacrificial living. The world’s philosophy is that joy comes from striving and fighting: fight everybody to get what you want, and you will get it and be happy.
The example of Jesus is proof enough that the world’s philosophy is wrong. He never used a sword or any other weapon, yet He won the greatest battle in history—the battle against sin, death and hell.
We must dare to believe His promise:
Luke 14:11; For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
There is a twofold joy that comes to the person who possesses and practices sacrificial living:
- a joy in eternity (Phil. 2:16 - boast on the day of Christ)
- and a joy here and now (Phil. 2:17–18 - I am glad and rejoice with you).
In two verses that discuss sacrifice, Paul used the words joy and rejoice—and repeats them! Most people would associate sorrow with suffering, but Paul saw suffering and sacrifice as doorways to a deeper joy in Christ.
In Philippians 2:17, Paul was comparing his experience of sacrifice to that of the priest pouring out the drink offering (Num. 15:1–10).
He could lose his life. But this did not rob Paul of his joy. His death would be a willing sacrifice, a priestly ministry, on behalf of Christ and His church, and this would give him joy.
“Sacrifice and service” are marks of the attitude of Jesus (Philippians. 2:7–8, 21–22, 30). The Christian experiences joy in the midst of suffering.
Wrapping this up:
It takes faith to live sacrificially. We must believe that God’s promises are true and that they are going to work in our lives just as they worked in Paul’s life.
God works in us through the Word, prayer, and suffering, and we work it out in daily living and service.
God fulfils His purposes in us as we receive and believe His Word. Life is not a series of disappointing “ups and downs.” Rather, it is a sequence of delightful “ins and outs.” The result is JOY!
Comments
Post a Comment