Dedicated To The Men of God
Who Preach the Word of God As It Is To Men As They Are
"Preach The Word"
"THE LIVING OF THE PHILIPPIAN
CHURCH"
TEXT: PHILIPPIANS 2:12-18
These verse deal with how the Philippian believers were to live. It speaks directly about their lifestyle.
I. SHOWING CHRIST
(vs.12-14) "Work out your own salvation..." We are not to live someone elses life; we are to live our own life! This phrase does not mean that we can save ourselves. Two reasons are clearly seen:
1. Paul is writing to believers, people who have already been saved.
2. Salvation is not a work of man for God, but a work of God for man, a work accomplished at the Cross.
A. The Process of Showing Christ: The word process means a series of continuous actions that bring about a particular result We do not just show Christ or become Christlike. It is a process of working out our salvation. The phrase "work out" means to carry to out to the goal, or to carry to its ultimate or final conclusion. As a student works out a math problem, we are to bring our salvation to its ultimate conclusion: being like Christ As a miner works out the silver or gold buried deep in the mine, so we are to work thru all the difficulties of life to bring our life like Christ! As a farmer works out his fields to bring abou the goal of a bountiful harvest, so we are to labour faithfully t become like Christ!
We are to work out our own salvation "with fear and trembling." This is not a fear that we will lose our salvation or a trembling terror of a tyrant master. It means a distrust of self. It is a fear results in the tenderness of conscience; a watchfulness against temptation; a taking heed lest we fall; it is understanding the deceitfulness of the heart; it is the caution which turns from whatever would dishonor, offend, or grieve God our Father, the Saviour, and the Holy Spirit.
B. The Power for Showing Christ: "For it is God which worketh in you..." The word "worketh" means energy or energize.
(cf. Gal.2:8) "For He that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles. (cf. Ep.3:20) "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us..." (cf. Rom.15:13) "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." (cf. Acts
1:8) "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you."
"...to will..." God the Holy Ghost works in us the desire to accomplish those things which are well-pleasing to God.
C. The Persistency of Showing Christ: "As ye have always obeyed..." Showing Christ is something which is not dependent upon others. If others are around then we give it all we got, but whe alone we are entirely something different.
D. The Products of Showing Christ: "Do all things without murmurings or disputings."
II. SHINING CHRIST (vs.15)
A. Our Position: "...lights..." Luminaries, such as stars in the heavenlies. Our citizenship is in heaven.
B. Our Place: "...in the world..."
C. Our Proclamation: "That ye may be...the sons of God..."
III. SHARING CHRIST (vs.16-18) "Holding forth the word of truth..."
Sermon From Steve Dagenhart- Pastor Calvary Baptist Church- Taylorsville, NC--USA
