Ordinary Obedience

Introduction

Work out your salvation

The beginning of this text is really giving us an outline of what you need to live out your faith in Christ for the rest of your life. Faith is a life long decision that continually changes you from the inside out. When Paul says to work out your salvation…what does he mean? does he mean that we “Work FOR our own salvation”? No, you can’t earn salvation (Ephesians 2:8-10). But when God saves you, it’s the beginning of a lifelong journey of changing. Looking more like Christ every day as God teaches you, molds you, convicts you, grows you, stretches you. This is what the Bible would call “sanctification”. Many times we hear these big words and we either feel like they make us feel smart or they intimidate us because we just don’t understand what they mean. But right now Paul teaches us what it means to go through the process of sanctification.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Paul begins by encouraging and applauding the Philippians for obeying Jesus. It’s interesting that Paul begins with encouragement before he commands anything of the Philippians. How many of you guys have been encouraged in some way today? Guys it’s crucial that we take the time to encourage those that we are doing life with. But that’s the requirement…you have to be doing life with people in close proximity with others in order to see the growth and progression in others’ faith. Here’s the deal guys…Satan is great at condemning us in our flesh and we are our biggest critics…you know your deepest struggles. You know your biggest doubts. You know your most embarrassing failures. You relive them in your mind sometimes and you heap shame and guilt on yourselves that doesn’t need to be there. But you know what can break through that in an instant? A soothing word from a friend that just says “ Hey ______, I just want you to know that you have been one of the most welcoming people and that has encouraged me. Thank you for being a light to my life.” Or “Hey ________, I just want to say that from 6 months ago to now I have seen you grow so much in ________ area of your life and faith and it has made me want to keep going in the faith. Thanks for being an example to me.”

The reality is that we don’t do this enough, and so many of us sitting in this room that are following Jesus and feel discouraged or like you’re exhausted and you don’t see the point anymore because you have blinded yourself to the slow growth that you have experienced because nobody has told you. And it just takes a moment of sincere encouragement from a friend to break through that wall of shame that you have built that is building up a heart that is growing cold to faith. So, I want to urge each of you, leaders included…DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF AN ENCOURAGING WORD. IT COULD BE THE BREAK THROUGH FOR SOMEONES FAITH THAT IS STRUGGLING.

We aren’t what we ought to be or what we will be one day, but by God’s grace, we are not what we used to be!

EXHORTATION

This is just a fancy word for a command. Paul encourages the Philippians, but he doesn’t say “welp, God saved you, now all you’ve gotta do is coast! Put it on cruise control!” Guys, growing in faith and maturing in your relationship with God takes time! It is as Eugene Peterson would say “Long obedience in the same direction”.

What does it mean to “work out your salvation” though? Working out your salvation simply means to follow the example of Christ. In the passage right before this one if we back up a few verses, Jesus has given us the pattern for obedience. He has shown us what humble, others-focused, God-glorifying obedience looks like. That’s the life that we are called to live.

Ex. How many of you guys love short-cuts? (Give an example of a short cut)

I’m sorry guys, but there is no shortcuts to growing in faith with Jesus. This is a challenge! We live in a fast-paced, microwave culture but becoming mature in your faith in Christ is a slow process. I’ll compare it to this: We all love REACH WKND and Summer Camp right? Why? Because we love the spiritual “gasoline” that a weekend or week of getting out of our normal busy life and spending time in community and the Word of God and worship does for our souls. It ignites the flame in our heart for Jesus that has slowly been choked out by our busy lives and our choices to place other things before God progressively throughout the rest of the year. But here is the difficult fact…It’s easy to show a spark of enthusiasm at an event; it’s another thing to live faithfully and consistently when no one is watching and when no one cares. I pray that God rekindles in us a passion for ORDINARY OBEDIENCE, day to day, following Jesus.

“Fear and trembling”-does this mean that we are purely doing things for God because we are afraid of Him? No! It has to do with awe and reverence. It has to do with living in humility before God and in submission to His will. (Give an example of Awe and Wonder). In the presence of our great and awesome God, let us work out our salvation.

COMFORT

Paul gives us this comforting reality: We aren’t called to obey in our own power. Instead, he says, “For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose.” Here’s the comforting truth that we have to cling to: God doesn’t leave us alone. God is at work in you, and He is accomplishing His good purposes in and through you.

Shine in the Dark

So, practically what does this look like to “work out your salvation”? While it means living like Jesus, Paul also describes the ATTITUDE we should have as one who obeys Christ and pursues a holy life. He says this “Do everything” without complaint.

AVOID GRUMBLING AND ARGUING

Why would Paul mention this temptation to grumble? One reason is obvious: Christian perseverance is difficult. Pursuing holiness, giving generously, practicing hospitality, sharing the gospel, etc. is not easy. Complaining is a temptation for anyone in a local church because people often can’t live up to the expectations of others. All of you have expectations of how others should act towards you…but people are going to let you down. The reality is within a room this size, there are probably multiple people that have hurt you or failed you in some way. One of those people is me for some of you! But what will you do when someone disappoints you or hurts you? The question isn’t “will you be tempted to complain” it’s when you are tempted to complain, what will you do? How can you maintain a joyful attitude and forgiving heart in the face of these problems? The gospel tells us that we are far better off than we deserve. When we lose sight of the gospel, we will go down the dark hole of unforgiveness, harboring bitterness, and ultimately isolation from others and leaving the church.

SO WHY?

We should avoid grumbling because it’s offensive to God. This should be reason enough for us not to do it, but Paul goes a step further to tell us why. Because those who don’t know Jesus are watching. If our conversations are filled with negative murmuring, we slowly or rapidly lose our distinctiveness, which means we lose our effectiveness. Others are listening to you. Others are watching you. The question is, what are they seeing, and what are they hearing? I hear a lot of complaining about how terrible this world is all the time: you can complain about it (it does grieve my heart) but look at it this way. (Turn the lights down) Paul’s words say to shine bright. But shining as stars only happens on the backdrop of darkness. God has placed us here in this time for a reason. Yes, things are dark and twisted around us. But what an opportunity as Christians to look radically different in the midst of the darkness. In our culture it’s becoming more and more difficult to be a cameleon Christian. Which I think is a good thing. (Explain what it’s producing in their generation).

Land the Plane

Rejoice!