The Book Philippians (2:12-30)

What is up Vertical. Week 3 of the Book of Philippians. We continue moving through this letter. I want to remind you of a few things:

Paul is probably in a Roma prison awaiting his death

So far, Paul has encouraged the Philippians to commit to Christ despite the circumstances because of the joy that is attached to being a Christ follower.

Then He reminded then of Christ’s example that even being God himself, he emptied himself to the point of dying on our cross for us. No greater picture of God’s love than his death for us.

But today, we are going to talk about working out...

Anyone has a gym membership? Anyone loves to workout? Anyone doesn’t?

Out of curiosity I looked at the most expensive Gym Memberships. Here are just a few:

Athletes’ Performance- Up to $30,000 / $2500 month-ish

Houstonian Club- cost: $24,000 initiation / $365 monthly

Zenergy Health Club & Spa- $15,000 initiation / $135 monthly

Bosse Sports and Health Club- $4,000 initiation/ $389 monthly

What good is a gym membership that is not used?

You see, having a gym membership does not automatically gives the fitness level you desire. The gym has every machine you need, it has people that can guide you and some even offer classes that can help you achieve an effective workout. I will use this analogy of working out to refer to our spiritual health to0.

Here is my main point for today:

Main Point: You need to effectively work out, what God has worked in you.

There are 4 things you need to effectively work out what God has worked in you. Here is principle #1

Principle # 1- For an effective workout you need discipline.

Phil 2:12 “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,”

Paul is clearly letting the Philippian church that there is a responsibility to work out our salvation.

There is an aspect of discipline- to stay with the process. To commit to the process.

Let’s be clear, Paul us not saying to “work for salvation” since in Eph. 2 he writes:

Eph 2:8-9 “8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast.”

There is nothing you add or bring to your salvation. The payment for your sin and the covering of the eternal consequence was paid for by Christ at the cross.

Yet Paul says “work out.” What does that mean?

“Emphasizes that obedience is intentional and purposeful. Paul’s point is that salvation, once received, must be put into practice through obedience John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Php 2:12.”

And fear and trembling refers to an attitude of respect. Having the proper view of God will always lead us to surrender in awe and fear.

Is 6:4-5 “4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.””

Gun Safety Rules:

Always Keep Firearm Pointed in a Safe direction

Treat All Guns as Though They are Loaded

Keep Your Finger Off the Trigger until You are Ready to Shoot

Always Be Sure of Your Target and What’s Beyond It

You see, when you handle a firearm, you should have a measure of fear and respect for what it can do. That’s what Paul is referring to.

There is a fear & trembling that comes with being a Christian. A reverence to want to honor Christ but it is an attitude that understand that you cannot do it alone, which lead us to principle #2

Principle # 2- For an effective workout you need purpose.

Phil 2:13 “13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

Do not miss the two words and who is responsible.

God is the one that gives us purpose and a will to do that.

There is a tension in Scripture because it tells us that God will work the will but it also tells us that we need to cooperate in God’s operation.

Eph 2:10 “10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

We are do good works. We have a purpose that is attached to our lives in Christ.

Don’t miss it thought. God has already prepared the way, we need to work out our purpose.

Be willing to do what God has called you.

As I was preparing for this, Ps 37 came to the surface. It says

Psalm 37:4 “4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

It was revelation for me because often I think that if I find delight in God, he will give me what I want but actually what it means is that when we delight in God, what we want will change. God will give us the desires and those will align with Him.

Therefore, you will not be missing anything but gaining exactly what you are looking for… purpose.

Paul continues to say that

Principle # 3- For an effective workout you need a pre-workout.

Phil 2:14-16 “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.”

“Pre-Workouts are meant to give you energy for when you exercise.”

But just like you can take a pre-workout, you can also eat/drink something that will hinder your workout.

Paul give us 2 pre-workouts:

Stop Complaining & Arguing

Be Content &

Hold Firmly to the Word

The opposite of those two will take away your energy. If you are constantly complaining and arguing (drama) it will preach to the world. If you are not rooted in the word of God, you will easily loose your energy.

I do not mean just to read your Bible but throughly understand what you are reading.

Reading to your Bible is good but not magical. Do you realize that there are hundreds of people that have read the Bible from cover to cover and never exegete what comes from Scriptures?

It is easy to read our thought and desires into the Bible and create an image of God we want to embrace or reject, but it takes discipline to read the Bible for what it says and learn the character of God.

And last but not least...

Principle # 4- For an effective workout you need to become a good spotter.

Phil 2:17-22 “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. 19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.”

Paul continues to say that we are to serve.

He found great joy in being poured out as a sacrifice. Giving everything for other people to know Christ.

Then he names Timothy and Epaphroditus, who both had served Paul and the church of Philippi.

What would it looked like, if we were all ready and willing to spot another person. If we say part of our workout to use our gifts, talents, time and resources for the kingdom of God.

Main Point: To effectively work out your salvation, you need commitment, purpose, praise and a servant’s heart.

Let me finish with this though.

I am not telling you to go and do better. I am telling you to go and cooperate with the Spirit of God.

Phil 2:13 “13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” It is not our ability but our willingness. availability

Peter puts it this way:

2 Peter 1:3–9 NLT

3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. 5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. 8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.

Let’s pray.

Do you like to workout? Why or why not?

What are the biggest challenges to being disciplined in things like school, sports, learning a skill, your spiritual walk?

Why do we often equate Christianity with a list of rules?

Read 2 Peter 1:3-9. What does this passage say and how can you apply it this week?