Philippians 2: Shine Like Stars

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves

in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ (Philippians 1:27a NIV).

What is the Gospel of Christ? Testimonies described the power of the gospel. What is this gospel?

Sin –

God created people to love God as #1 and treat others as yourself. The trouble: I don’t do it naturally; judge your success for yourself. God in his holiness and justice can’t ignore disobedience. Sin leads to death. I can’t change by willpower. Overcoming sin takes a miracle!

Salvation –

God sent Jesus to rescue humankind and the rest of the world. Jesus “in very nature God” but

he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness (Philippians 2:7 NIV).

Then Jesus conquered sin and death:

being found in appearance as a man,

[Jesus] humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Philippians 2:8 (NIV)

Service –

Because Jesus rescued us from sin, because Jesus has conquered sin and death, you’re invited to put your faith in him. Trust that Jesus’ death atones for the wrong you have done. He washes you clean from sin, guilt, and shame. He gives you a new start: he makes you a child of God. Then he pours out the Spirit of Jesus on all believers so that we can “conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.”

What does that look like?

Imitate Jesus. Paul and Timothy describe imitating Jesus: vs. 3.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3–4 (NIV)

This gets at your motives.

You know how kids brag about their dads?

“My dad is stronger than your dad!”

“O yeah? My dad is bigger: his sandals are size 15!”

When Jesus was a kid, he could win the bragging contest. “You think that’s big? My Father created the sun, moon, and all the stars and holds the whole world in the palm of his hand!”

But Jesus didn’t brag like that. He didn’t use equality with God to his own advantage. He humbled himself. He put others first.

 What does it look like to put others ahead of yourself?

It doesn’t mean you sing badly on purpose so others don’t feel embarrassed about singing off key.

It means you value those who can’t sing well but are great at a/v tech or other stuff.  It means putting other people’s needs ahead of your own.

I need to be clear here: nobody should abuse you or treat you like a doormat. You are a child of God! And self-care is important, for the same reason: You are a child of God!

But the assurance of God’s fatherly love for you and Jesus’ self-giving sacrifice to rescue you from sin and death, gives you vast resources, allowing you to give generously and serve others – even at great cost to yourself.

It’s what moms, dads, and other caregivers do – giving up sleep to care for infants and other needy people – spending themselves and their love lavishly. If you’re following Jesus’ example, you give generously to everyone you encounter.

But there’s the other part.

Because of Jesus victory over sin and death, “God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name above every name.” It’s one of the reasons we gather for worship – singing, testimonies, sermons – are all part of glorifying Jesus for his victory over sin and death.

What we have in worship services is a taste of the celebration already being planned. It’s the celebration in which

at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:10–11 (NIV)

That day is coming! It’s closer now than when Paul and Timothy wrote these words.

Worshipping Jesus and glorifying our heavenly Father is our goal. When we imitate Jesus’ attitude, his generosity, and his obedience, we reflect something of his glory. That little bit of Jesus’ glory in you allows you to shine like stars in your community and in our culture. Paul and Timothy describe it this way:

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky Philippians 2:14–15 (IV)

We’re not just talking about the bright stars you see amid all the city lights in southern Ontario.

Paul is talking starlight in a dark sky. Stars that are so bright, they take your breath away. Stars like the Abraham, the father of all believers, saw in the OT book of Genesis, ch. 15, when God led him outside to look at the stars and said:

“Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Genesis 15:5 (NIV)

God is talking about us. It’s our job to “Shine like stars!”