Philippians 2:12-18 - Gospel Ministry Is Sustained by God's Sovereignty

Dismiss the children if you haven’t already

GREETINGS

Good afternoon! As we continue in our worship through the preaching of God’s Word, please grab your Bibles...

…we are in The Letter of Philippians chapter 2, verses 12-18—Philippians 2:12-18.

As you make your way there, let me just say that we are glad that you are here. If you are visiting or are new to the church, we encourage you to observe, watch, and listen. If you have any questions about the church, about the Bible, about the gospel—feel free to pull me or one of the elders aside after church to talk about any of those things.

We’re in Philippians 2:12-18.

Philippians 2:12–13 ESV

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

The title of our sermon this afternoon is “Gospel Ministry Is Sustained by God’s Sovereignty”

PRAY

Introduction

In 1999, the movie “The Sixth Sense” came out. It is known for how frequently people re-watched the movie to appreciate its iconic twist and hidden details. It’s about a troubled boy who believes he can see and talk to dead people, seeking peace before moving on. An equally troubled child psychologist, played by Bruce Willis, tries to help the boy despite his own marital struggles.

The movie has many twists, but the biggest happens at the end. If you haven’t seen it, the psychologist has a shocking revelation. After 26 years, I shouldn’t have to worry about spoiling the movie for you, but don’t worry, I won’t spoil it. With the big news coming at the very end of the movie, the viewer must come to terms with the fact that everything they’ve watched prior is not what they thought. The crucial information that came out at the end changed everything they thought they knew about each scene. 

In no way do I believe that the movie “The Sixth Sense” is how real life works, but the point is this: if you want to understand the movie properly, you had to watch it again. Why? Because you need to see the movie with this critical piece of information in order to understand it right.

That’s what verse 13 is for us in this text. Everything flows out of verse 13 … God working in you to will and to work for His good pleasure. Without this critical piece of information you could not possibly understand what this text is saying. It speaks of a sovereign God who delights to sanctify you, sustain you and satisfy you to the ultimate end of His own glory.

He so works in you to want to serve God and then to actually serve God … to will and to work for His good pleasure.

He works in you meaning that from the inside out He is changing you so that your desire is to actually live for God. Because He does this work in you, which by the way is in the present tense, something ongoing in our lives, we can understand then that you are not yet what you should be. Even though in Christ you have a full salvation, because when you believe in Jesus you have His righteousness, you are not yet what you should be during your time here on earth. Christians are not perfect, but God in His sovereignty delights to work in you to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Furthermore His work in you means that you are no longer who you once were. God is working in you. You have desires now you never had before to love and serve God and the people He places in your life, and even for those people you never even met kind of like how the Philippians supported Paul to do missions work to people they never met. Before you met Christ, you were nothing like that, but because now you’re in Christ, God is changing you … doing a work in you … you are no longer who you once were.

With this critical piece of information our text makes way more sense. When you look at verse 12 where it says “work out your own salvation”, you might think that your salvation depends on you unless you connect it to this understanding that God is at work in you. Or verse 14, “do all things without grumbling or disputing” … how can you possibly do all things in that way unless you connect it to verse 13, that God is at work in you. And then this thing in verse 18, “you should be glad and rejoice with me” after Paul talks about sacrificing of yourself in verse 17. Again, that doesn’t make sense unless you are referencing a sovereign God who delights to work in you a desire to serve God and then to actually serve God.

I’m stealing my own thunder and spoiling the sermon for you at the beginning because I don’t want you to get the critical piece of information at the end like the Sixth Sense so that you have to re-listen to the sermon to get it. I want you to get it now. So because the emphasis is on what God is doing in and through you, the way you unpack this is to not make what you do the basis of this sermon, but by what God is doing in and through you.

What I mean by that is I’m not going to have a sermon with point 1 as “you need to obey God” verse 12, point 2 “you need to stop grumbling” verse 14” and point 3 “you need to be joyful” verse 18. Those things are there, but according to verse 13 it starts with God and so you must unpack this text with God who is at work in you instead of just merely drawing out the work that you do.

Gospel ministry is sustained by God’s sovereignty, which we see by His work in you, the church, His gospel ministry workers who are partnering together for the glory of God. He does a work in and through you to spread the gospel all around you.

In verse 12 we see that…

God Will Sanctify You

Philippians 2:12–13 ESV

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

It is important to note that Paul does not say “work for your own salvation” as if you can earn salvation somehow. Ephesians 2:8-10 says,

Ephesians 2:8–10 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

You cannot earn your salvation. It is a gift, it is not something you achieve. Faith is a connector to this gift; apart from faith you don’t have salvation. You need to believe in Jesus Christ in order to be saved. Through faith in Jesus Christ we are justified (Romans 5:1) … we are made right with God. We have no part in that except to have faith. We do not earn it, he earns it. By faith we are simply recipients.

Show verse 12 again on the screen

Back in Philippians 2, he doesn’t say “work for” (that’s earning for yourself, that’s justifying yourself) he says “work out your own salvation” meaning they already have it.

So, if this is not earning my salvation or not me justifying myself, what is this then? This is “sanctification”. This is living a life of obedience unto God … that’s why obedience should happen regardless of whether or not Paul is present. They’re already saved, and in being saved, verse 13, God is at work in them to will and to work for His good pleasure.

God has saved them apart from works, but then God goes beyond that and does a work in them to do good works. And because it’s God who works in you “to will and to work”, who gets the credit when you do work? When you do obey? When you do serve? When you lead someone to Christ? When you preach a good sermon? Or when you, husband, actually loved your wife as Christ loved the church? And when you, wife, submit to your husband as the church does to Christ? Who gets the credit when you, mom and dad, raise your children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord?

As I shared in our last time in Philippians, the church at Philippi has a problem with unity. “Complete my joy” Paul says in 2:2 “by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.” He says that to them because they were struggling with that. How do you think they are going to actually get unity in their church? “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” So who gets the credit when unity actually takes place in the church? When Paul’s joy is made complete because the church is in full accord and of one mind, who gets the credit? God does!

But you see, that’s the sanctification. He leads us to grow and become more like Christ. In the context, I believe that working out your salvation is exactly that, being more like Christ, because in verses 5-8 of chapter 2 we are to be like Christ in His humility. And the work that God does in us fashions us to be more and more like Christ.

The “fear and trembling” part is language that Paul has used elsewhere to indicate the proper posture one should have towards a person of authority. The Corinthian church was described this way when they received Titus, one of Paul’s disciples, to themselves…

2 Corinthians 7:15 ESV

15 And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling.

This language was also used of slaves towards their earthly masters…

Ephesians 6:5 ESV

5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,

Back in our text it’s not Titus or someone like Titus and it’s not an earthly master or some boss or executive … it’s God. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, FOR God is at work in you.

The fear and trembling is to respect God’s work in you properly when you live for God by being like Christ in His humility.

Show verse 12 again on the screen

Before we move on from this point, let me point out one more thing. The “you” here is plural. You all work out your salvation with fear and trembling. As Tony Merida points out, “we should not merely highlight the personal dimension of salvation; we should also see the corporate dimension.”

There is a church-wide implication that we must not miss here. We get sanctified together. We will live for God together. And as we’ll see in verse 14, we will “shine as lights in the world” together. Which is why at the end of this we will have joy together.

Furthermore in verse 14 we see that…

God Will Sustain You

Philippians 2:14–15 ESV

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

Philippians 2:16 ESV

16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

Paul refers to “the day of Christ” there in verse 16 which means that the sanctification that happens in this life will, by God’s grace, result in you not only being with Paul in the end, but also with Christ. You will be with Him. We call that “perseverance”, here I am simply calling it “sustain” … He sustains you. He holds you up in this life and you will make it to the day of Christ.

Show verse 14 again

Back in verse 14 it says to do all things without grumbling or disputing.

Grumbling - complaining or discontent

The classic example of this is Israel in the desert. In Numbers 14, they had just received word from the spies of Canaan and were intimidated by the large Nephilim people. Here’s their response in verse 2…

Numbers 14:2 ESV

2 And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!

In their grumbling they were hard towards God.

Disputing - this is arguing and having conflict in the community, which is their struggle because they have yet to realize unity

I think in the context they need to hear this because perseverance is hard. How can you possibly do all things until the end of your days in a world like we live in and not ever grumble or dispute? The answer of course goes back to verse 13 … through God working in you to will and to work for His good pleasure. But if you’ve been a Christian here long enough, you know how hard that is even with sanctification.

God has called you church to do things that will stretch you beyond imagination. For example…

You have been called to forgive 70 times 7. In a sense you have been called to forgive the unforgivable.

You have been called to be a cheerful giver, but what if you’re broke? Give what you can. It doesn’t have to be money. And on top of that be cheerful.

You have been called to share the gospel. Oh, but I’m not a good speaker. Or I don’t know that many people. Or I’m too scared to do that. But here’s the thing, you’re supposed to do that. You’re supposed to go and make disciples, so share the gospel.

I could go on and on and on. All things means all things. Do all things without grumbling or disputing. But let’s be real here … at some point someone or something will tempt us to grumble or dispute.

Listen to God’s Word here. The reason why in verse 15 we need to deal with this is because we need to shine as lights in the world. Again this is not individual “you”, but a corporate “you” … you all. It includes you, but also the body of Christ around you. The grumbling, the disputing, dims the light. Our gospel effectiveness weakens as a church when we grumble and argue.

But how can you maintain the right attitude when faced with these things? What does God have for us? Verse 16 … hold fast to the word of life. You’re going to have to preach the gospel to yourself. Rehearse the salvation and saving grace of God in your mind and in your heart. Remember that you were lost in your sins. How unworthy you were and yet how God in love saved you despite that. God the Father loves you in the sending of His Son. God the Son loves you in dying for you. God the Spirit loves you in making you born again. God loves you. Hold fast to the Word of life.

And also remember the day of Christ. He is coming back for you. He told the disciples in John 14:2–3 “2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” You’re going to be with Him. Preach that to yourself. Remind yourself of that especially when it gets tough in this life. Hold fast to the Word of Life!

John Newton is credited with a story about a man who was going to New York to take possession of a large estate, and his [carriage] breaks down a mile before he got to the city, which obliged him to walk the rest of the way; what a fool we should think him, if we saw him ringing his hands, and blubbering out all the remaining mile, “My [carriage] is broken! My [carriage] is broken!”

He’s on his way to possess a large estate a mile away and all he can do is complain about a carriage! How silly! How foolish! He is allowing a very small trouble overshadow a far greater joy.

Christian, did you know that you only have a mile left to go? It doesn’t seem like it.

James 4:14 puts it this way,

James 4:14 ESV

14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

Life is short. You only have a mile left to go. You will see Christ soon. He has a room for you and you will be there soon. How silly then it would be of us to grumble or dispute to allow that small carriage to overshadow the exceedingly greater joy of being with God forever in heaven.

Lastly in verses 17-18 we see that…

God Will Satisfy You

Philippians 2:17–18 ESV

17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

Despite his situation, Paul says I have joy. He says I’m not letting the carriage that broke down ruin it for me. I know I’m in prison, but I’m going to be glad and I’m going to be happy.

You know what that means?

It means that even though life is hard, he’s preaching the gospel to himself; he’s holding fast to word of life.

It means that even from prison he’s not grumbling or complaining; he’s shining as a light in the world.

It means that even if no one’s around he’s going to obey God; he’s working out his salvation with fear and trembling becoming like Christ in His humility.

This is satisfying for us, His people, because finally … finally in Christ we can please God. Before we knew Christ in Ephesians 2:1 it says that “you were dead in your trespasses and sins.” It goes on to say in verse 3 “you were by nature children of wrath.” Verse 5 goes on to say that God “made us alive together with Christ.” You have to connect that to Philippians 2:13 … God works in you now, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Finally … finally in Christ we can please God. It is in pleasing Him that Paul has joy. He belongs to Him. He will be with Him.

Who gets the credit for that joy? God does!

Conclusion

COMMUNION - 5 Minutes

Right now we will enter into a time of Communion. If you are a baptized believer in good standing with your church, we invite you to please join us as we partake of the bread and juice.

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