Philippians 2:12-18

Philippians 2:12-18

By Samuel Sorenson

10/27/2024

Introduction

Getting Attention:

If you were to look at where your life was 9 months ago? Would you be satisfied with the results? The growing pains of learning a new skill set, learning how to problem solve in a new way, learning how to deal with that person who rubs you the wrong way. The growing pains we go through help shape us into the people Christ wants us to be. Now the situations we find ourselves in, the job we end up taking, the place we end up living, and the people we come into contact with, all say something about the work that the Lord is doing in us and through us? Would you say that you are in a better spot now than you were 9 months ago? Are you excited about your future prospects? Are you bitter because things have not turned out the way you thought they would? Are you just going along to get along? When you see something that violates your conscience, or seeing someone mistreated, how are you reacting? I would argue that God does not want us to be passive Christians in this growing process. God is doing a work in us, but He also wants us to be involved in the process.

Securing Interest:

The most challenging thing we as Christian’s face is how we respond to the conflicts and challenges that come our way. God puts us into these situations to test our character, our resolve, our grit, and to see if we will be faithful to Him? So let me challenge you today Christian to look at your present situation as a growing experience. How many of us have had our character examined by our boss? Our boss may say something like, I see this as a great area of opportunity for you to grow in? Or to put it less tactfully either you decide to step up your game and get the results we are looking for or start looking for another job? How many of us wonder do we have what it takes to fulfill the work and call that Lord has for us? Today’s passage is a challenging passage because it has to do with the inner workings of our spiritual walk with the Lord. It has to do with the idea of working out our salvation with fear and trembling.

Contextualization:

Last time we met I shared 2 requirements for developing a Christlike humility in Philippians 2:5-11. Number one Being in relationship with Christ requires humility and number two having the same Mind as Christ requires us to serve with a spirit of Humility.

Today we are transitioning to Philippians 2:12-18.

Flesh and Blood Statement:

In every believers life there are times when we are put on display to show the people around us just what kind of character we have. In looking at the life of David we see that before he became the king of Israel he tried to do everything right, from his conduct with his brothers, his behavior in being a lowly shepherd, his conduct towards king Saul. How was he rewarded for trying to do everything in good faith? He was hated and despised by the very king he swore to protect and did protect. He was hunted sought out to be killed by king Saul. How did David respond to king Saul? King Saul was seeking David with three thousand choice men. Let us look at the scripture that describes this response after David had the opportunity to kill Saul, 1 Samuel 24 1:21, “ David also arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed down. 9 And David said to Saul: “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm’? 10 Look, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11 Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it. 12 Let the Lord judge between you and me, and let the Lord avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you. 13 As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand shall not be against you. 14 After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea? 15 Therefore let the Lord be judge, and judge between you and me, and see and plead my case, and deliver me out of your hand.”16 So it was, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17 Then he said to David: “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil. 18 And you have shown this day how you have dealt well with me; for when the Lord delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. 19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him get away safely? Therefore may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. 20 And now I know indeed that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.

David did not return evil with evil but recognized that God had appointed King Saul as king over Israel. Because he obeyed the Lord and waited on the Lord he was blessed by the Lord. Our response should be the same as David’s when dealing with our enemies even if they are brother’s or sisters in Christ, we should pray to God about the man or woman who has evil intentions for us and seek the Lord’s counsel on how to properly respond.

Let us look today at the text:

Philippians 2:12-18

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. 17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.[1]

Purpose statement: My purpose in speaking to you today is for you to be committed to the work and calling God has for you during your short time here on earth and so you can say as Paul pointed out that you have not labored in vain.

Body

Today I want to share with you two Calls that God puts on the lives of every believer.

I. God calls His children to work out their salvation with fear and trembling.

So, what does Paul mean by working out their salvation with fear and trembling? Paul was preaching to The Philippians what salvation looked like in their lives. How to gain intimacy with God, how to die to self, and how to renew their mind.[2]

The Philippians were to be sober. The precise words are “fear and trembling.” These words reminded them of their relationship to God and that they were to conduct their lives with a seriousness and reverence toward their creator. After all, he made them.[3]

Two factors indicate that Paul meant God initiated their interest in him. First, the context was one of salvation. Paul referred to salvation as a past event Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.” He also described salvation as a future consummation in Rom 13:11, “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.”

Now it is God doing the work, but there is an active part we have in our salvation too. Personal salvation brings with it responsibilities which Paul related to Christians’ obedience. The responsibility was to live in accord with their salvation, letting the implications of their relationship with Christ transform their social relationships. Paul really meant, in the first place, that they were to act like Christians.[4]

Look with me again at Philippians 1:6 “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.” This is a wonderful promise that we can rest in when life is not going our way. When we have been rejected or hurt. Or we feel inadequate.

There is a tension between verses 12 and 13 where we see the word’s work out your own salvation, and in 13 where it says For it is God who works in you both to will and do for His good pleasure. On the one hand there is a responsibility on our part, but then on the other hand God is doing the work in us for His pleasure. This reminds me of a healthy marriage, when one person falls down the other person lifts the other up and helps when they cannot help themselves. God is helping us achieve His purposes when we fall down.

That’s why I love the saying, “it is important to know that God loves you and has a plan and a purpose for your life.”

Now let’s look at the second point

2. God calls His children to be a light in a perverse and crooked generation.

What is Paul saying here? Let’s look again at the text, vs. 14-16, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.”

Paul saw the world as a depraved and a perverse place, and Christians were to be a light in dark places. A way to be a light is to stop complaining. How can the gospel be spread if we as Christians are continually complaining like the rest of the world? Imagine if Jesus complained about emptying Himself of His place of honor that He had before He became incarnate? I could just see Him saying why are you people so hardheaded, Peter why are you so impulsive and stubborn. If Christ would have acted that way the gospel and His mission never would have worked.

Paul could have also been referring to two ladies in the church in Philippi. In Philippians 4:2, “I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord.” The source of the conflict is not stated but in the following verse it is mentioned that a true companion is needed to help with the conflict.

Have you ever seen someone serving in the church or at their home and they wipe the table and then act as if it is the biggest deal to perform such a simple task. Would you want to interact with that person? I am preaching to myself more than to just you. But I know I have complained many times when I should not have and it has turned people off. It has caused me to pause and really examine my reaction when I see others acting this way, because I have also acted this way. When Paul says to do all things without complaining or murmuring it shows that we are blameless and harmless children of God in crooked and perverse generation. This is a display of children of God being what God has called them to be. These two calls that God has put on our lives 1) To work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. And 2) The call to be a light in a dark and perverse generation, are beneficial both for our own salvation, and well-being, and also for the people we influence. You never know who is watching you. Who could be that next person to say yes to Jesus?

Conclusion:

My purpose was for you to be committed to the work and calling God has for you during your short time here on earth and so you can say as Paul pointed out that you have not labored in vain. There were 2 calls I wanted you to see 1) God calls His children to work out their salvation with fear and trembling and 2) God calls His children to be a light in a perverse and crooked generation.

When we look at God growing us up what comes to mind?

I want you to see 2 benefits of how God grows us up. Number 1 the end result is we get to be used of God to impact other peoples lives, in seeing people saved, in helping them achieve their calling. Number 2 we get to see the Lord’s work in our own lives. We can look back on a life well lived. One that is not in vain. Just look at the life of Joseph, he went from being a prisoner to the second most powerful person in Egypt. He was reunited with his family and reconciled with his brothers.

Calvin rightly states, “That salvation is taken to mean the entire course or our calling, and that this term includes all things by which God accomplishes that perfection, to which He has determined us by His free election.”

John Murray quotes, “God’s working in us is not suspended because we work, nor our working suspended because God works. Neither is the relation strictly one of cooperation as if God did his part and we did ours so that that conjunction or coordination of both produced the required result. God works and we also work. But the relation is because God works we work. All working out of salvation on our part is the effect of God’s working in us. We have here not only the explanation of all acceptable activity on our part but we also have the incentive to our willing and working. The more persistently active we are in working, the more persuaded we may be that all the energizing grace and power is of God.

One of the greatest challenges in life is figuring out how to operate in a world that is evil. Where often times people do not mean what they say and say what they mean. I want you to know that God’s promises can be trusted. Hebrews 6:9-12, speaks of God’s promises, “But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. 10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and [a]labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become [b]sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

God’s Infallible Purpose in Christ

Hebrews 6:13-15 speaks of God’s faithfulness to His promises.

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16 For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. 17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the [c]immutability of His counsel, [d]confirmed it by an oath, 18 that by two [e]immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we [f]might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.

Is it true of you that you doubt God’s love for you? Do you struggle with seeing your own value? Today I want you to know God does love you and does have a purpose for your life if you will believe in Him. Believe Philippians 1:6, “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.”

Gospel presentation:

Today if you don’t know what the calling on your life is or what the purpose in your life is, I would urge you to seek the Lord on your knees. Ask Him Lord is there some hidden sin that I need to be made aware of that is keeping me from seeing what it is you have for me? Or if you do not know the Lord, the scripture in Romans 10:9 states, “ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Grace and peace to you all.

[1] The New King James Version (Php 2:17–18). (1982). Thomas Nelson. [2]Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon(Vol. 32, p. 109). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. [3]Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon(Vol. 32, p. 110). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. [4]Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon(Vol. 32, p. 110). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.