It's About Time

Philippians 1:3–6 NASB95

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

[NO SCRIPTURE READER]

INTRO: I cannot believe it’s been a year since our last Homecoming Sunday! Do you ever get the feeling that time is moving faster than ever before?

Perhaps it’s all the high-speed technology we have: we have fast cars, fast internet, fast food… the only thing that seems to be slow are those folks on the bicycles on Crab Creek Rd. when you get behind them. I think that this fast-paced world has distracted many folks from the important things of life. We get so busy doing all the ‘stuff’ that we have no time or energy to accomplish that which is truly worthwhile.

In fact, I was reading a book the other week where the author spoke of how, especially in America, so many are slaves to what he called the “tyranny of the urgent” or the “tyranny of busyness”. The point he was making is that we can get so caught up in the hustle and bustle that we stop living meaningful lives and instead are riding the waves of what’s next until one day, all is done. One day, we will look back and, for many, our legacy will only be one of busyness.

That’s why it’s good and necessary for us to take a day each week and rest, meditate on God and His Word, and choose not to participate in the buzzing about of the world. If God is God, then He decides what is worth our time and attention. Unfortunately, that act of taking a Sabbath has been lost by most of us. I’m guilty - we tend to wear busyness like a badge of honor.

So today, on the 185th anniversary of LRBC, I want us to take time to talk about time. This is not really a message on taking a Sabbath, although I’m convinced we ought to take a close look at that in the future. Yet, in a similar way, we are going to look at a pattern of life that helps us remain faithful in the midst of the busyness of our modern era.

We’ll do that by examining a few short verses in Paul’s letter to the Philippian church. Now, Paul wrote this letter from prison and his perspective shows that he has eternity in view for himself as well as the church. That’s important - if we could just grasp the value of time and what we are doing with it, perhaps we could be more joyful and encouraged instead of being a society plagued by depression and anxiety.

So, let’s jump into our message. I’ve titled the sermon “It’s About Time”. You’ll find a sermon guide in your bulletin, which I pray will be helpful for you both as we learn and as you reflect later.

The first step in this pattern is to:

Celebrate the Past (6a)

(READ)

“HE who began”

Paul is reminding this church of the work that was begun in them. If you think back to the book of Acts, you might remember that on Paul’s 2nd missionary journey, God forbade them to preach in Asia, but instead commissioned them to go to Macedonia and it was there that Paul went into the city of Philippi.

There was no synagogue or church in Philippi, but Paul shared the Gospel; first with Lydia who was trusted in Christ and became a faithful follower and then was imprisoned after casting a demon from a slave girl. And in that prison, as Paul and his companions sang songs, God sent an earthquake which led to the jailer being converted! God began a good work in Philippi!

This church was started because people who were dead in their trespasses were introduced to the God who conquered death and the grave, and they were transformed into a new creation!

When Paul wrote this letter, he was looking to encourage this group of believers and spur them on in the faith. I am sure that in the first century church, folks got distracted by the things happening around them. Perhaps they saw the wickedness around them and became discouraged. Maybe they looked at their own lives and how they stumbled and it all seemed so bleak.

So, Paul reminds them that God has begun a good work in them!

We are prone to similar distractions - We are over-stimulated by the noise and the chaos which leads us more and more into a state of paralysis. How easy it is to spot all the things that are going wrong or that are difficult! But here is what I want us to do: I want us to celebrate the past!

God has begun new works in the lives of people all around us!

Did you hear about the folks who got baptized this last year? Have you seen the names of those who have joined the fellowship of LRBC this past year? Have you noticed that this past year, God has been doing a work - calling men into ministry, healing the sick, comforting the mourning, sanctifying the saints! Some of you can think back further- God has begun a good work at LRBC!

IF God began a good work in you, then folks you need to celebrate it! Praise God! I was lost, but God found me! HE began a good work in me! Now look back- (4-5)

Paul told the Philippians that he thanks God for them for their participation in the Gospel from the beginning til now. For 185 years, the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been proclaimed in this valley! And in this very day, we hold to the Holy Word of God unashamedly! Hey, we can shout with Paul,

Romans 1:16 NASB95

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

What a blessing to see the steadfast hand of God at work! And folks, if God began a good work we ought to celebrate it!

Celebrate the Past. But next, we also need to

Assess the Present (6b)

(READ 6b) “will perfect it”

This point is almost inferred. The present is always between what was and what will be. If God began something and it is not yet complete, that means there is a middle area that we call the present.

Now, let me just lay it out for you. If God began something in you, you can be sure that He is still at work in you. In other words, when you surrendered to Christ, you were made holy, that is you were grafted into God’s family. But even though we are called holy, we are at war with the flesh and this world. You were justified, but now you are being sanctified.

ILL: You remember that song we used to sing as kids? “He’s still working on me...”

Well, if God has promised to continue working in us, then that means we have a hope and cause to persevere. We have a reason to get out of bed and pursue the Kingdom of Christ. We have a confidence that God can do abundantly greater things in us and through us.

The Philippians needed to be able to move their eyes beyond the negative that they saw. God was still working in Philippi! and He’s still working at LRBC!

Here’s what we need to do: We need to evaluate where we are: Are we growing? Are we bearing fruit?

Now you understand how this works- if I plant an apple tree, I may not see fruit for a couple years, but I’ll see growth. And the fruit that comes will be small and sparse. But, as the tree grows, the fruit will be bigger and more plentiful. The same is true of us.

Jesus said in John 15, that if we abide in Him and He in us, we will bear much fruit. Therefore, IF He began a good work in you, you should be able to assess your life and see fruit- love, joy, peace,patience, kindness, gentleness, and self control.

So here’s what I want us to do: I want us to assess the present, but not just yourself. I want you to look at one another. What fruit can you see? Are you more like Jesus today than this time last year?

I can look out here today and praise the Lord because I see how God is maturing some of you. I can see the fruit, Josh! I can see how God is maturing you, Lee! I’m telling you that God is still working! Ashley,

If there’s no fruit, that’s a different conversation. If there’s no growth, then perhaps you and I need to talk.

But folks, we don’t just sit around and assume that if God saved me, then one day it will all be ok so just keep on living life unchanged.

NO! If God began something in you, He’s still working on you!

I remember my Hermeneutics professor at FBBI would say, “God’s still working on me… At my age, I’m still looking for the point where he puts down the chisel and picks up the sandpaper.”

My point is that you will be able to tell! So, let me ask this:

What fruit is visible from LRBC? What good work is God in the midst of? Can you see it?

Celebrate the past. Assess the present. Lastly, this pattern points us to

Anticipate the Future (6c)

(READ all v. 6)

Let me just emphasize a couple things here:

It’s HIS work. Apart from Christ, we can do nothing. But Christ in me, means that not only am I growing now, but that there will be a day when His work in me will be completed. How do I know that?

He is faithful. God does not do things half-way. Not only will it be complete, but

His completed work will be perfect. One day, those who Christ has begun a good work in, will stand perfected before the throne of God. We will be complete- free from sin and its woes, perfectly reflecting the glory of our Lord! Perfectly living in harmony with Christ and His people!

Folks, I believe that God has indeed begun a good work here. I believe that we can see God bringing people to join and to visit. We can see God beginning to change hearts and to break down strongholds of sin in people’s lives. We can see that God has begun to open doors of opportunity so that we can reach others and grow .

Now, if He’s begun that work, He will complete it. But listen, that does not mean that we are to sit idly by. God causes the seed to grow, but the farmer is called to plant it!

Some of you need to hear this word of encouragement this morning: Keep walking in faithfulness. God has begun a good work in you, and He will complete it! You may not be where you want to be- you’re still wrestling with sin and temptation, you’re still struggling to love your neighbor, you have days when worshiping God is not easy.... Stay the course and look to the future!!

As a church body- maybe we have frustrations or gripes. We aren’t as unified as we should be, we aren’t as focused as we could be, or we aren’t as organized as we want to be, Folks do not lose heart!

Galatians 6:9–10 NASB95

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

Look here, - if Jesus tarries in His return and LRBC has the opportunity to shine the light of the Gospel for another 100 years; If God sees fit to bring people here in the future, we must ensure that we are engaging them, discipling them! That we have a place for them to learn, grow, and serve. If God has brought unbelievers into our community, then we must GO and show them the love of Christ!

And friends, I am CONFIDENT that HE will see it through. But we must be faithful. We must look ahead to that picture-where the children are matured in Christ and called to serve Him on the mission field, in the ministry, in their homes, and in their workplaces! We must look ahead to see how God has determined to use this body to meet the hurting and to bring them hope. We must look ahead to the future and trust that GOD WILL FINISH WHAT HE STARTED.

This church was founded to be Gospel light… and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it!

BUT, If we do not faithfully anticipate the future, I fear our lampstand will be removed from us. We must not look to the future with fear nor with dread, but rather with confident dependence on the ONE who has called us!

Today I am asking you to recommit to the good work that God has called us to. The work of making disciples and reaching the lost. Will you make that commitment?

[PRAY]

Discuss: What good work has God begun in you?

Discuss: What good work has God begun in LRBC?

Discuss: How has God made better the work He began in you?