Working Out of Us Complaining (Philippians 2:14–18)

Philippians 2:14-18

GBCCR 6/8/24

Introduction

What is america’s favorite past time?

Baseball is not america’s favorite sport anymore

Pew Research Center rleased in favored football at 53%. Baseball, falling out of the top spot, was next, at 27%. Following were basketball (8%), soccer (3%), auto racing (3%), hockey (1%) and everything else (2%).

But perhaps shockingly the article I saw had this image of Taylor swift and her football playing brining me to america’s true pastime

We love to complain, it is our favorite hobby, our shared experience, the thing we root for most

And when people do not get what they want, when they want it, how they want it, ….people complain.

Believers are not protected from this temptation, we so easily can fall into complaining when things don’t go our way.

Just think about it…Adam complained first…It was the woman you gave

Moses complained,

the believers james wrote to complained, it a common issue.

But have you ever noticed how quickly complaining can destroy a group?

it is powerful weapon in the hands of Satan that spreads and destroys like cancer

And it’s hard to fight becomes it comes from within

But think on the power of a gracious person

The sick person trusting god

The kid who doesn’t like what they are asked to do, but trusts their parents and obeys

The humble and wise elderly person who hears the folly of the youth and simply says, they’ll learn like we did

These people show us Jesus Christ and what we are to be like

Review

Remember where we’ve been because we’re coming to an end of a section that started with 1:27, conduct yourselves worthy of the gospel

Paul listed two opponents they had to face in their effort to live this life

Those outside the church who would make them suffer

Those inside the church who they would fight against.

Paul’s solution was to consider others more important than yourself by looking at the example of Christ

And because of that example you are called to work hard to grow in your sanctification

But as we saw in the last passage that is only done because God is already working in you.

Trans: some of you like to have practical examples, what does it look like to work out your salvation, what is expected of me… today, it’s very clear

3 audiences worth stopping your griping

Do not complain for the sake of pagans (14-15)

Avoid complaining so they know our love

Expla

He begins with Only command that the reader is to do everything you do Without grumbling or complaining.

Grumbling = talking behind or quiet whispers

The one way to make sure everyone knows something is whisper it just loud enough for a few people to hear

This is the complaints we make often to each other like the pharisees did of Jesus for accepting sinners

Luke 15:1–2- Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

But there is a difference between having a complaint and complaining

And in acts 6 we read

Acts 6:1–2- Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.

The key difference that the lament psalms and these Greek jews had is that they took their problem to someone who could address it

Grumbling is just enjoying being upset or refusing anything rather than getting 100% your way right way

Similarly, disputing = debating, arguing over

There are types of argument that can be good as we bring forth a subject and say, “what does Jesus say about this issue.”

2 Corinthians 10:5- We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

But this is a type of endless discussion that is just an endless argument

Proverbs 26:4- Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him.

And thankfully in Christ we have much freedom to have differences, but God does not allow any freedom to come in the way of hurting our church family

This is coming right after the section on considering others more important than yourself, and the books ends in ch 4:2 for Euodia and Syntyche to live in harmony.

Why do you think Paul is commanding this here?

Because they are grumbling and complaining and need to stop.

Ills- We are to avoid complaining because we are one body

Galatians 5:15- But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

There is a interesting problem that happens in the human body sometimes called auto-immune disease.

The immune system makes a mistake and attaches to something within your own body and then begins to tell white blood cells that it is a foreign invader.

Your body begins to attack itself then and cause damage

& complaining against someone else in the body of Christ does the same thing. It attacks from within when there is already plenty of attacks from without

And just as no one wants a blood donation from an autoimmune, no one believes the life changing power of the gospel from a church that eats itself alive

App

Thus complaining is the church eating itself

Do not hear me say there is nothing worth complaining about… there clearly is

But scripture commands us to bear with each other

Colossians 3:13- bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you…

We must judge with God’s standard, not ours

There might be areas of concern… and please bring those up, in love to help… talk to your pastors! We need to hear.

Children… you can bring up concerns to your parents…

But if your concern keeps you from obeying your parents it is a sinful complaint

Trans: Paul doesn’t want the church following the world in complaining, he instead

Avoid capitulation so they know we are different (15a)

Explanation

Blameless being without any outward problem or critique…

This is teflon… nothing sticks to uyou

Innocent referring to what is within the heart,

there being nothing that others can attack

Paul wants us to be without the sin that comes from complaining due to self focus

& isn’t it so easy to excuse complaining as allright because we were really hurt? Or they just don’t understand us?

Or the worse of all they changed what we’ve always done!

Yes, I do it too…But Paul calls these type of statements and even inward emotions as sin.

Illus

The marvelous writer Jerry bridges points out why complaining is bad

Sadly, we Christians often get caught up in this ungodly habit in our society. But when we complain about the weather, we are actually complaining against God who sent us our weather. We are, in fact, sinning against God (Numbers 11:1). 

App:

Instead Christian, your holiness shows you are blameless, that you are different than the world.

Do you know it’s easy to become like the world while you complain how ridiculous the world is?

You watch fox news or listen to some podcast or see a headline and forget, they’re trying to get you puspet

Is this world against God… yes, but is God using this world to work out your salvation, to show you’re different

A lack of complaining makes you look different.

Trans: and just like this is not only about you, it is also not just about the church.

Aspire to be like Christ’s so they know it is about Him (15b)

Expla

Before we talk about who you are witness to, we need to talk about who you are a witness of.

Such a wonderful phrase, to be called children of God.

This is true because without Christ we are all enemies of God,

We are trying to make ourselves or other bits of creation God (ala Romans 1)

thus are deserving of wrath.

But we have the great doctrine of adoption.

“Romans 8:15- For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

With your initial justification you are given your father’s name as your own and all the privileges of being in the family are yours.

And you represent your father where you go.

Above reproach=

unblemished, or absence of defects that were not allowed in the sacrificial animals.

those rules were given to remind the Israelites that only their best would do for God, that God had a high standard and their sin was very costly.

we should be motivated to look more like Jesus

Illus- We are children of God, learning his ways

One of my best friend’s parents adopted when we were in jr high. She came from eastern Europe and slowly had to adjust when she was in this new land.

But being part of the family, she was never treated like anything else, and when I saw her again recently how she much she looks like her mother. Being around this woman and learning from her has created a girl who you would never guess was adopted.

App

So, when others look at your life, what do they think of your father?

Pastor John MacArthur has said “You are the only Bible some unbelievers will ever read, and your life is under scrutiny every day.

Do they see an accurate picture of your God?”

Growing in your contentment is worth the effort because people will view God they way they view us.

Trans: The last way your life impacts unbelievers is all about the difference

Apprehend the world’s crooked so you shine

Expla

Generation refers to the populace in board terms…all the people alive at the current time, and then their children.

Paul knew Philppi well

This was the city where, in Acts 16, a riot started because he cast a demon out of a slave girl.

when her owners saw they couldn’t make money from her telling fortunes anymore, they had the guys arrested.

and instead of a proper trial, the crowd beat them and they were still thrown in prision.

Then they tried to cover up the crime of beating a Roman citizen and Paul wouldn’t just leave quietly

All for preaching the gospel to this girl…

Paul knew that these people who called Cesar Lord were not making life easy for the believers

Illus- We need to know the world is crooked

Sometimes we think that the world is not so bad, we really enjoy it, or its not quite as bad as it could be.

And that is true, but that is because God is still preserving this world through the work of believers.

Like after the sunsets,

it is still pretty light even though there is no direct light,

but that is because as the light hits the atmosphere its bends and heads towards the earth, bringing the twilight you see.

So Christians are the atmosphere which brings preservation and tastiness to this world.

App starts with

Believe- we really can say this world is a problem, it is corrupt and it is not wrongfully judgmental to say so…

but we’re not trying to go back to the days of the 50s, but back to Christ.

Secondly,

notice that he doesn’t command you to be light, he says you are a light.

Grammar moment: This is a dependent verb on the first command to be all things without grumbling.

If you are different… if you strive to be holy, we stand out

But… what is fascinating is that this phrase seems to be borrowed from Deut 32:5 as Moses spoke to Israel.

They have acted corruptly toward Him, They are not His children, because of their defect; But are a perverse and crooked generation.” (Deuteronomy 32:5)

*Israel was called to act as a light to all nations, to show them how great Yahweh was and then the nations would come to them to learn of him.

-But Israel continued to be disobedient and broke that relationship.

And Paul tells us that this is supposed to be a warning to us

We cannot let previous years and a history of faithfulness remove be our defense.

No matter how long you have been faithful, do not forget

Remember your generation is twisted, so you need to show them the straight line, you need to be different

Trans: Paul then takes our focus back inward to the church

Do not complain for the sake of pastors (16-17)

Explanation

Paul tells them how they are to avoid complaining, and grumbling and be that light in the world

By holding fast to the word

And we know the word of life is the bible

The same way we rely upon it to not grumble is why Paul calls it the sword of the spirit… it attacks all the temptation in our lives

Ephesians 6:17- And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

This is the thing that builds up our pastors or spiritual mentors best.. when we stick to the word and not them

The roman Catholic church makes argument that the church was before the Bible, and that the same body that gave the truth at the first can make additions to that truth, we say that the unwritten word was before the church and made the church possible

But it was the word of God that created christians

1 Peter 1:23- for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

When the Romanist asks: “Where was your church before Luther?” the Protestant may reply: “Where yours is not now—in the word of God

Lady Jane Grey, the 9 day queen of England,three days before her execution, February 12, 1554, said: “I ground my faith on God’s word, and not upon the church; for, if the church be a good church, the faith of the church must be tried by God’s word, and not God’s word by the church, nor yet my faith.”

And he asks them to do it for his sake

his statement here that “I will have reason to glory,” is not a prideful self focused statement, but it care for those he loves and he knows they love him.

Paul’s continues that his desire is that he will see when Christ returns he did not run in vain or toil in vain.

This connects with Paul’s command to work out our salvation. It shows he too has worked hard in his life.

Paul’s comment in v17 of being poured at as a drink offering returns to the humble view because the drink offering was only given on top of other sacrifices. (ie: Numbers 15:10)

It was meaningless for Paul to sacrifice his life if their lives were not lived as sacrifice

DA Carson writes, “

Paul says, in effect, “If I suffer, or even lose my life, in a sacrifice poured out on top of your principled self-denial, I am delighted. What I do not want is to die a martyr’s death without any corresponding fruit in your life

And he ran so that others would know and love God.

Application

How do I hold fast to this bible?

The issue is how we use it to address the very things we want to complain about.

Jesus followed his father.. and when he was hungry

he had every right to complain because the spirit led him there,

Satan tempted him to go against God’s plan

What did Jesus say in response?

Luke 4:4- And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE.’ ”

So, be like Jesus, and bring the word of the bible out to address these complaints like Jesus did

This example of sacrifice is not just for pastors

God calls every Christian to be a living sacrifice

Romans 12:1- Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

I get it, when you are told you can have a life of no suffering or get a great opportunity to minister to others, most of us will choose the no suffering, right?

But Paul rejoices in this life because he knows what will matter the rest of life

Some of you are not married… others have you have spouses die on you or your marriage ended in sad failure… it is easy to think that marriage would solve everything, but you know it wouldn’t…

A lack of a family is a sacrifice

you instead have a pouring out to be a blessing to others

We need to look at are sacrifice being worth it for the Lord

Trans: and lastly, doing the work of salvation is best for you

Do not complain for the sake of yourselves (18)

Explanation

Paul commands us to rejoice in holy sacrifice here.

Urge is too low of a word, He is commanding gladness and rejoicing

But Paul is not just giving a command, he has been giving the means

Likewise refers to joy like he has

And what is paul joyful about? pouring himself out as a sacrifice!

pouring himself out as a sacrifice!

Joy even in this Roman confinement

Paul so loved Jesus, that he was happy when He was praised, no matter Paul’s situation.

Living or dying, being praised or maligned

As Long as Jesus was served

This is where we get the theme of joy

But, notice the joy isn’t alone… the joy is with others

As Christians sacrifice ourselves for each other, we must rejoice as we see more of God

Do not complain for the sake of your own joy

Joyful sacrifice for others brings joy for yourself to cshare

Brothers and sisters, we must beware the serpents hiss telling us to not be content, that we should not be joyful

He lies that you are not getting the respect you deserve

You are not getting the happiness you deserve

You get are not whatever…

And these steal you joy, instead

Instead, remember the truth, as Counselor Stuart Scott says

We are most satisfied when Christ is most glorified

That satisfaction brings us joy to share with others

Application

So, Fight to follow the command of Joy

May I recommend one simple practical thing to do so?

As you look around this church, do not just let your eyes see the things to complain about as happens naturally

Instead, force yourself to look for the attributes of God in everyone.

How are people patient, kind, good, loving, sacrificial?

How are people reflecting the God we love?

Because where you see God’s likeness, you see God being glorified & you will rejoice

Therefore

Since we have seen (Cohesion)-

So we are called not only to early steps of faith and obedience but to an entire life of working out our salvation.

This will be characterized by

self-denying contentment that refuses to complain

a conscious effort to please mature Christian leaders, and

a cheerful sacrifice that endorses the work that more mature Christian leaders have poured into our lives.

We know we must (Resolution)-

Think of the God’s image of the church as a body once more

It may be easy for a blood vessel to think, my strength isn’t that big of a deal, I’m just one part of the body

And yet, a clot forming in the blood vessel on the arm can cause problems for the brain

And so, each member of God’s body, each of one in this church is essentially important

Christian, your spiritual growth can either help or block out the growth of others