Reaching Forward With Light

Text: Philippians 2:12-18

Introduction

I love walking outside of a morning just as the sun is rising and feeling it’s warmth. However, as I think about heading out for the day in the sunshine, the reality is this, it is really more like heading out in the darkness of midnight. Every day, you and I head out into a world of darkness!

You and I are called to be lights in a dark world.

Spiritual darkness will continue to roam this world until Jesus makes all things right and new.

Until then, we must “reach forward” with the light of gospel that dwells and empowers us from within.

Paul is reflecting back on Jesus’ sacrifice and future exaltation from every creature.

Paul knows well that if each person does not humble themselves and trust Jesus Christ as Savior and follow Him as Lord during this time of grace, there is coming a day when He will exercise his sovereign power to bring them to their knees and the truth off their tongue about who He is.

Thesis: Your priority should be gospel light. Live each day believing that God has promised to work out that light as you yield to His Spirit. You have no excuse (other than fear itself; not excuse) to shine bright right where you are!

1) God Has Freed You To Shine Brightly

A. God has placed you in His light

a) They were continually operating in the power of their salvation

They not only were obeying God’s Word while Paul was with them, be even in his absence.

Illustration: Typically what happens when the teacher walks out of the room?

There was never a time where they had turned away from the Lord — Could Paul write that about you?

Consistency is truly the challenge you and I face every day.

How many times you let something replace your private time with God?

How many times you minimized your conviction to accommodate a “friend?”

How many times you have reduced the local church as a place i go to be religious, instead of a people God has given me to help me finish the Christian life strong?

B. God has given you a working salvation

a) “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”

A command to perform or to achieve that which they had been called to do. It is a continuous action. It means Christian are continually serving and working out our own salvation.

We are looking at the divine roll and the human roll in sanctification. Look back to 1:6.

“…fear and trembling.” Psalm 111:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.”

Illustration: A skilled surgeon operates with steady hands, but also with appropriate fear—knowing that one wrong move could harm the patient. Christians should approach their walk with God with similar reverence—confident in His grace, but respectful of His holiness.

What it does NOT teach — Salvation is earned by your works.

Not “work for” but “work out.” You can’t work out what you don’t have.

It means to flesh out what you have.

When you got saved, the Holy Spirit came in to live within you. God is calling you to work what you have been given.

Some would blame others for their lack of holiness — John Goetsch said “A poor workman always finds fault with his tools.”

Illustration: Have you every purchased a product or software for a specific thing, yet, it can do far much more than that? Sometimes Christians treat their salvation like that. Following a moment of repentance and faith in Jesus, believers sometimes fail to dive deeper into the power of grace they have been given through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Your salvation should never be something you can but to the back of your mind or become bored with!

I would ask you to validate your salvation first.

I would challenge you to actually prioritize the things of God in your life and see if you are just amazed at what God’s grace can do.

b) This is not accomplished in your own strength!

(v13) The gospel has freed you to serve God and live for Him through His own strength.

This should be done through humility and a holy reverence because God is the One who has given us the “will” and the “ability” to live for Him.

1 Corinthians 12:6 “6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.”

1 Corinthians 15:10 “10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

2 Corinthians 3:5 “5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;”

C. God has removed you from spiritual darkness (v14-15)

Any soul that has been moved into God’s light and therefore away from the bondage of sin and freed to live holy, will face temptations to lead you back to former sin of your weaker nature.

a) Notice Paul encouraging them to embrace the negative progress of shining brightly:

“murmurings” — grumbling (murmuring) n. — a complaint uttered in a low and indistinct tone.

1 Peter 4:9 “9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.”

“disputings” — debate n. — a discussion in which reasons are advanced for and against some proposition or proposal.

Romans 14:1 “1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.”

b) Paul describes the “positive” impact of prioritizing the “negative” progress of shining brightly.

“blameless” — Living your life without guilt

“harmless” — This speaks to being “filled” with the Spirit.

Matthew 10:16 “16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”

“without rebuke” — Free from moral defects

2 Peter 3:14 “14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”

2) God Has Equipped You To Shine Brightly

A. God has put people in your life

“Not as in my presence only” (look in Acts for Paul’s investment at Philippi)

Paul is sending Timothy

Paul is sending Epaphroditus

What kind of people does God bring into your life?…..

a) Someone who is insightful. (v20)

“Naturally” = “Someone who will genuinely, sensorially and faithfully care for you.”

Paul was not looking for someone who is fictitiously filling a role; an online preacher, a wedding chapel preacher — He wanted someone who cared like he did.

I believe that every position of leadership should be an extension of the Pastor’s heart for the church.

b) Someone who is loyal. (v21)

Timothy was loyal to Jesus Christ.

It is sad when christian families are more loyal to their hobbies, sports, etc. and blame family or kids. My friend, we are called to be faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ!!!

Sometimes you will see this mentality deep into the local church.

Remember what he said about Demas. 2Tim. 4:10 “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world…”

Someone who is loyal in the Biblical way is not someone who is lazy, someone who complains or whines about the load they carry.

B. God has placed His words in your life

a) (v16) “Hold forth the world of life”

“Holding forth” — to stick to firmly

Paul is saying, “If you are going to have any stickability to shine your light brightly for Jesus, you have to allow God’s word to stick in your heart.

Why do you think so many people live a lukewarm life? Why do you think pastor fall into destructive sin to where they have to step away from the pastoral ministry? Why do you think your marriage is struggling? Why do you think you continue to pursue your current addictions?

God’s Word prioritized and applied to your life will never fail to serge the feeling of joy in your heart and transformation in your life.

Illustration: Compare salvation to a gym membership. Many people pay for a gym membership but never use the equipment. Similarly, Christians have been given incredible spiritual resources through salvation, but many never "work out" what they've been given. The membership doesn't make you fit—you have to actually use the equipment.

Paul said, “that I may rejoice”… “that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.”

It is God’s Word that describes and armour of grace for your life:

Ephesians 6:13 “13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

Illustration: A flashlight is useless without fresh batteries. God's Word is like fresh batteries for your spiritual light. Regular Bible reading, memorization, and meditation keep your light shining bright. When you neglect God's Word, your light dims.

3) God Has Purposed You To Shine Brightly

At first, it seems odd that Paul would use words like “joy” and “rejoice” when talking about being a sacrifice (poured out).

a) God’s purpose for your light is centered on God’s heartbeat for humanity

“offered” — to sacrifice oneself

Paul was saying that if his body being poured out upon the altar would be pleasing unto the Lord, then he counted that joyous.

Paul had this perspective because he kept the gospel in the forefront on his mind!

1 Thessalonians 2:8 “8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.”

Charles Spurgeon said “Do not desire to be the principal man in the church. Be lowly. Be humble. The best man in the church is the man who is willing to be a doormat for all to wipe their boots on, the brother who does not mind what happens to him at all, so long as God is glorified.”

It is a tragedy when preachers/teachers minister through the years grows bitter.

Listen, no-one here has ever had a gun to their head and told them they had to be a teacher, bus driver, choir singer. You have done it because the Holy Spirit has led you to do it.

Paul was saying that he was glad to be spent.

Quote — David Livingston (great missionary to Africa / buried in Westminster Abby said, “If a commission by an earthly king is considered an honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly king be considered a sacrifice?” My friends, ministry is not about the perks. It is about the fact that people need the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Illustration: A candle serves its purpose only by being consumed. As it burns, it gives light and warmth to others, but the candle itself gets smaller. Paul saw his life this way—being "spent" for others was not a tragedy but his purpose.

Conclusion

Believer — A lighthouse doesn't ring a bell or fire a cannon to get attention—it just shines. It doesn't compete with other lights; it simply does what it was designed to do. In the darkest storms, when it's needed most, it shines brightest. Christians are called to be lighthouses in their communities.

In a relay race, the baton must be successfully passed from one runner to the next. Paul invested in Timothy and Epaphroditus, passing the "baton" of faith. Challenge listeners: "Who are you investing in? Who are you passing the baton to?"

Unbeliever — Jesus is the Light that can remove every ounce of sinful darkness in you. Turn from your unbelief and confess from your heart that right here and now, you place your trusting faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and will follow Him as Lord!