Obedience on Display

Good morning (Intro,Bibles Out Phil. 2:12-18)

Jump right in today…first few weeks of series looking directly at Paul…starting last week we are shifting gears as Paul is beginning to give commands to the church to live out their faith

Therefore or wherefore…means “so then”…means we need to look back in the text

Philippians 1:27 “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ…(this is the key verse for all of ch 2)

How to live a life worthy of the Gospel…

(LAST WEEK) To live in unity and service, and Paul told us last week that the way we do this is to humble ourselves as Jesus did…remember he came as a servant

Philippians 2:8 “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Last week, Pastor Brock talked about how Christ-like humility is the mortar that holds together a life in unity and service

Now as we transition to verses 12-18…Paul is directing us back again to verse 8, because he has more instruction on how to live a life worthy of the Gospel…

look at the second half of verse 8 (obedient)

SO today the Lord is going to instruct us on the importance of obedience in our lives as we strive to live worthy of the Gospel…

Obedience to God’s word is all over the bible…God’s desire for us as man to be obedient is repeated through the text…

1 Samuel 15:22 “And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice…”

John 14:15 ““If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

LISTEN UP…THIS IS IMPORTANT!!! THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS DESIRES THIS!!!

In the text today the Lord is going to show us 4 types of obedience…

SO READ WITH ME (Read v12-18)

Christ Fearing Obedience (v12)

We are going to spend a bulk of our time here today…

You have always obeyed…(Philippians doing well)

SO NOW (wether I am with you or not continue to obey!!!

“work out” your salvation= translated from the greek means “to work to bring to completion”

So Paul is talking about sanctification here…NOT salvation

Ephesians 2:8–10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

He is repeating the same thing he said in 1:27 (live a life worthy of the gospel)

And he says to do this in “fear and trembling”…what does this mean?

John MacArthur quote:

Philippians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Understand the Consequences of Sin

This is not a fear of being doomed to eternal torment, nor a hopeless dread of judgment that leads to despair. It is rather a reverential fear, a holy concern to give God the honor He deserves and avoid the chastening of His displeasure. Such fear protects against temptation and sin and gives motivation for obedient, righteous living

Growing up I loved my father and I know He loves me…

But I had a healthy fear of him…

Fear of being disciplined by him…

Also, and equally important, a fear to bring shame to him or disappoint him…

When I did anything in the back of my mind “will this make dad proud”

A fear to let him down…

In fact I wanted people to know his character as a man and a father through my actions…

Thats the same fear and trembling the bible is speaking about here…

The Lord is going to discipline us…and it doesn't feel good.

In fact author of hebrews has to encourage those going through the Lords discipline!!!

Hebrews 12:5–7 “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?”

Its a good thing when we are disciplined, but if we can avoid it all the better!!!

This is what our life should be like…obedience in fear and trembling

For reverence of Jesus …for who He is!!!

(Who created all things, who was beaten and bled for us, how died for us, who will return to us in all his glory…the apostle John talks about how he waked and talked with Jesus and reclined on him as a friend (Trotter “John heard the heartbeat of God!”, then in REV 1, when John sees Jesus in His glory he falls down in fear!)

Living a life worthy of the gospel in obedience should be lived in fear and trembling of the Lord

Are you living in fear and trembling of God??

Recognize that this isn't solely reliant on our work and our abilities…The Holy Spirit does a major work in us to Sanctify us in obedience

Christ Aided Obedience (v13)

Get our eyes on the Who, what, where , and why?

Who- God

What- Works

Where- In You

Why- for His will and His pleasure

While you are working “out” —Christ is working “in”

Sanctification is impossible without the HS working in you…

Obedience to the Lord is impossible without the HS working in you!!!

Thats why salvation comes before sanctification!!!

Before you recieved the HS you were slaves to sin…NOW we are slaves to righteousness!!!

God is dwelling inside of you, working in you to:

Lead you, convict you, witness for you, bear fruit and all for God’s will to be carried out to the glory and good pleasure of the Lord!

First obedience was a Christ-fearing Obedience…that was heavy!

BUT before going on any further God shows us that we are not alone but He is doing the sanctifying work in us!!!

God’s glory is the reason for everything you are working out and everything He is working in you!!!

Thats why Paul talks next about a…

Christ Glorifying Obedience (v14-16)

“Do all things” Key words

-WITHOUT grumbling or disputing

Don’t be complainers

If you are truly walking with God…it is hard (if your not living hard you need to take a look at yourself)

God calls you to:

Discipling, serving, tithing , loving the body, witness to sinners, bearing one another’s burdens…all of these are messy and hard…

This requires you to die to yourself…(last week, put yourself last and others first)

WHO ARE WE TO COMPLAIN!?!?! Jesus humbled himself and was obedient to this same calling all the way to the cross!!!

We are supposed to live out our lives as a “light to the world”

A complainer isn't a light…at best its a dim bulb…or a flickering one…with flashes of brightness

God calls for us to be blameless and innocent, CHILDREN OF GOD!

When the world looks at us they should see a people of hope, ones standing out in truth!

NOT COMPLAINERS AND DISPUTERS!!!

Holding fast to the word of life!!!

When you live obedient to Gods word, hold fast to it…GOD IS GLORIFIED!!!!

Do you stand out as a light in the world??? (do people around you know that you are a child of God?)

Do your actions bring light to the world, do they glorify Jesus???

Or are you grumbling?? Are you disputing?

If you are…here is how you change that today…

-Hold fast to the word of life and be obedient to it

If you are going to be what God wants you to be…a light the glorifies Jesus…it comes through doing as God commands you to do…

Now hear me…this is HARD man…

Lots of people say “they follow Jesus” This is what it looks like!

This is not an easy road…but whats at the end of the road is greater than ANYTHING the World has to offer!!!

The Lords day! An eternity as the bride of Christ…a treasure put up in heaven that is undefiled and unchanging!!!

BUT the road is hard for a Christ follower…Paul continues on talking about how hard it can get..

Christ Like Obedience (17-18)

“Even if”

-I am killed for your faith (for the spreading of the gospel)

Paul letting us know, that he will remain obedient even if it cost him his life.

Just as Jesus was obedient unto death.

BOLD STATEMENT…

Would you die for obedience???

LOOK AT PAULS FINAL WORDS!!! (JOY)

Then he tells the church to do the same!!!

BIG IDEA: Our obedience leads to our joy and God’s Glory!

APPLICATION: OPEN UP YOUR BIBLE…READ GODS WORD…AND DO WHAT IS SAYS…

IF YOUR NOT DOING THAT…YOU ARE NOT FOLLOWING CHRIST…

WALK LIKE JESUS!!!!

WHO HUMBLED HIMSELF, AND BECAME OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH, EVEN DEATH ON A CROSS (THE MOST HUMILIATING AND PAINFUL WAY TO BE EXECUTED)

WHEN YOU LIVE IN OBEDIENCE TO GODS WORD…YOU ARE LIVING A LIFE WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL!

PRAY