Sac Shine like a star

Introduction: Stars

Daniel 12:1–3 At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.

I read this passage of scripture as a benediction at not all but at a number of funerals.

It is a challenge that judgment day is coming.

It is a challenge to make sure your name is written in the book.

It is a challenge about the eternal nature of the soul.

It is an encouragement to those who are left behind. It speaks to the glory that the redeemed will have shining as stars with Jesus in heavens forever.

If your name is written in the book you don’t have to wait to start shining. I keep adding to the blessings that Christ gave the church. Jesus gave us in His grace the ability to start shining. So I start and ask are you shining. Today’s message is about Christian humility Are you humbling shining like a star of the night sky. I love to sit by a camp fire and look at the stars. I am trying to learn different constellations, no I am not getting into astrology. I am trying to let the heavens declare the glory of God.

God created the stars for a purpose.

Genesis 1:14–19 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. So the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

1 Stars tell time.

2 Stars give light to the earth.

3 Stars do a smaller version of the job of the sun.

we are to do a smaller version of the ruler of the day the son of God.

4 Stars drive out the darkness.

Today there are a lot of stars in hollywood on TV or in sports. They are and I am not talking about all of them. PRIDEFUL, It is all about them they are not humble. They are all about me me me, they have all the glitz and glam and they are here today and forgotten tomorrow. The stars of the night sky are different. Thousands of years they have been ruling the night sky humbly making mankind in awe of them. When your favorite sports star is all but forgotten their light will still be shining bright. God wants you to shine like a star in the night sky, humbly doing the job you were created for. The stars are bigger more brillant and will last a lot longer than the fleeting pride of life

1 Humility of Paul (2:12-18)

Obey God, you are saved!

Philippians 2:12 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;

Because Christ was humble we have the resposinsibilty to obey.

We can never earn our salvation.

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.

You are saved, act saved! God created you for a purpose.

Ephesians 2:8–10 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

The usual word for work in the new testament is ERGON which includes labor like you go to every day to earn a living, In Philippians 2 the word katergazomai is to complete produce or create the intended purpose.

You were meant to look like Christ. To be the Ekoni of Christ. That is where we get the idea of the image that you find on a coin. Just like stars are little suns at night time that are all over the night sky. In heaven there is no night because Christ is the light. Jesus said as long as I am in the world I am the light of the world, While the sun dips over the horizon it is the stars that give light in the darkness. We are to the stars working to completion the person that God wanted us to be Christians the word literally needs little Christ.

GRACE - God working in you!

Grace is that God has changed us and is conveying us to the kingdom of his light. We are to act as Christ ambassador in this world. Grace is God’s riches at Christ’s expense if you are to be the humble light of the world you have to let Christ work in you. It’s not about you it’s about him.

Be humble, don’t complain, don’t argue.

Philippians 2:14 Do all things without complaining and disputing,

It doesn’t say most things it doesn’t say most of the time it says all the time. Christians shouldn’t wine. I know it is hard to be an American and not complain but try it. Do you ever see the stars complaining or fighting, no they just go out there and shine like God intended them to. Every night they go out there and shine until the SON comes back. PUN INTENDED!

Be humble and blameless in a wicked world.

Philippians 2:15 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,

Remember Genesis 1 and what God created stars to do. They were to be there to declare time and seasons. We are living in a wicked day. Lets just face it Paul was living in a wicked time. 50 years ago was a wicked time today is a wicked time. It may look different but we all live in a perverse generation. We are to be different and acknowledge the wicked. We are to be blameless. Without sin.

We need to be blameless too many pastors and high profile Christians have messed it up, so we have to be blameless sometimes that can be very difficult to do. People look at you with a fine tooth comb

Stars don’t sin, they are blameless

Do your job, let your light shine.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Hold Fast to the Gospel.

Philippians 2:16 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.

Paul wanted to know that he was doing some good in this world. He would be a success, if people clinged to the words of life. I see the words of life as the gospel message and the word of life.

Let the word of God be the fuel that causes you to shine.

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Shine Bright is kind of this nice thing to say. You picture someone walking around with a bright smile on their face. You want to know what true peace is, it is that you know Jesus. It is that you are going to heaven. Keep your eyes UP! It will make sense to you.

2 Humility of Timothy (2:19-24)

Timothy genuinely cared about the Philippians.

Philippians 2:19–20 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.

Paul and Timothy both had genuine concern for the people in philippi. Humble Christians have genuine convern for each other. The pastor can’t do it alone. We all need you. I am so happy with the lot of people who are doing the work of the gospel. Whether it is those going for visits writing cards making phone calls working in jr church and kids club. Prayer warriors helper hospitality at church those taking care of the building do you have humble genuine care for others.

Timothy was humble, not self serving.

Philippians 2:21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.

Stars don’t say look at me! Some people religiously do things so that they can say, look at what I have done. Have a genuine heart for the people of the church.

I have heard people judge others in the church. Oh they didn’t put anything in the plate, they didn’t bring anything to the dinner. They didn’t help at this event. You don’t know what they have done, what they do. It’s about HIM not them

Timothy had proven character of humility.

Philippians 2:22–24 But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.

Stars have consistently been shining for thousands of years. There is no doubt that Timothy star was shining. He had proven it, but Paul was being selfish and requested that Timothy stay with him a little selfishly. Sometimes you have to be served as well as serve. I know prayer warriors who say I don’t want to be a bother. They pray for everyone but are reluctantly to be prayed for. Remember Paul needed the help of Timothy in Prison. Sometimes I have to remind people that it is there time to be prayed for or served.

3 Humility of Epaphroditus (2:25-30)

It is Epaphroditus turn to serve.

Philippians 2:25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need;

He couldn’t send Timothy so send Epaphroditus. It was someone else turn. I believe that we should be willing to serve as long as possible, but I also believe in people taking turns. We all think it would be good to have a carousel of youth workers and deacons but that isn’t often the case, but sometimes it is time for someone else to serve and for them to step up to the plate and do there part.

Epaphroditus was homesick.

Philippians 2:26–28 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.

Are you homesick for His country?

Hebrews 11:8–11 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.

There is a song I Love, HOMESICK! - Mercy Me

You're in a better place I've heard a thousand times And at least a thousand times I've rejoiced for you

But the reason why I'm broken The reason why I cry Is how long must I wait to be with you

Help me Lord cause I don't understand your ways The reason why I wonder if I'll ever know But, even if you showed me The hurt would be the same Cause I'm still here so far away from home

In Christ, there are no goodbyes And in Christ, there is no end So I'll hold onto Jesus With all that I have To see you again

I close my eyes and I see your face

If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place Lord, won't you give me strength To make it through somehow I've never been more homesick than now

You are the light of the world.

Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ‘

At the end of your life I want to read Daniel 12 at your funeral. For the reasons I gave today. Actually I don’t want to do any of your funerals If I had my druthers we would all go in the rapture today or I would go home first but remember to live is Christ and to die is gain. I’m homesick BUT Let’s let our LIGHT START SHINING TODAY. You don’t have to wait for eternity.

Shine Like God’s star!

Job 38:31–33 Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the belt of Orion? Can you bring out Mazzaroth in its season? Or can you guide the Great Bear with its cubs? Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth?

Most people know where Orion is. They can pricture Orion’s belt, Can you notice where Pleiadies is?

Use this as a witnessing tool for your grandchildren. Take them outside on the night sky. Quote for them the heaven’s declare the glory of God. Point up in the sky and show them Orion and Taurus. It is way better than playing a video game. Show them Orion and Pliedies and share with them the gospel refer back to Daniel chapter 12 and how there is a very real God who created all this. Tell them about the coming after life and that anyone whose name is found written in the book will be with God in the resurrection and that their light can shine like the stars of the sky forever and ever. Point right there the great hunter and taurus the bull and use it for a gospel message to tell them about Jesus.