Gods Work in us!
Let your light shine series • Sermon • Submitted
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· 15 viewsGods power the Holy Spirit at work in us
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Refining the light
Refining the light
To be a shining light, a light set on a hill, can be a daunting task. But we are told we “are” a light, and if Jesus said it, that settles it, we are. But do we believe it? Do we walk in it? Do we embrace it and walk in the power of it? (Mt4:14-16)
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
We live in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. Our passage for this series gives us both direction and hope (Php2:12-16)
12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,
16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.
Previously we have discussed
Work out your salvation (Php2:12) - get plank out!
Work out with fear and trembling (Php2:12) -healthy balance of fear of the Lord.
If you notice (v.13) it says “For it is God who works in you” - Today we are going to look at that work, how, why, what it is. God did not leave us alone and tell us to be light. He is with us and works in us.
He is working in you, and will continue to work in you (Php1:6)
6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Not only works in you, but will strengthen you to be light (Php4:13)
13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
So in our lesson today, we are looking at the power of God working us, the source of the power working in us and the purpose of the power working in us.
I. Source of the Power
I. Source of the Power
Power is not something mysterious, not hidden, Paul wanted us to know the source of the power (Eph1:15-23)
15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Wanted us to know the exceeding greatness of the power in the believer (v.19)
That power that raised Him from the dead (v.20)
That power that seated Him on the throne (v.20)
The power that is at work in us is the same power that raised Christ from the dead! That power raised us too
Resurrection power at work in us. (Eph2:1-6)
We were dead in our trespasses, but God made us alive in Christ and raised us up to sit in the heavenlies together with Him.
That power that raised Jesus, raises you is the power necessary for forgiveness of sins and brings the dead sinner back to life by regeneration and washing. (Tit3:5)
5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
Divine power needed, divine power delivered so we can accomplish what the Lord wants us to be and to do. Be a shining light!
If you need further description of the power, Paul further addresses this in (Eph3:14-21)
The source and the purpose are found (Eph3:16)
The exaltation or doxology look at the description there (Eph3:20)
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
Exceedingly abundantly above (or in some versions more) - that is the power at work in us!
Excee
Now we do have some responsibility, we need to understand the purpose of the power and the accessing the power.
II. Purpose of the Power
II. Purpose of the Power
Source of the power (Eph3:16)
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
Jesus promised the power (Jn7:37-39)
37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ ”
37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ ” 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Referred to by Paul (Rom8:9-11; 1Cor3:16, 6:19)
Promised by Peter (Act2:38-39)
Referred to by Paul (1Cor3:16, 6:19)
This power is God’s instrument at work in us (Eph2:22)
22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
Let’s not argue about how the Spirit works in us, but agree the Spirit does work in us, as noted in (Eph3:16)
Now I really had not gotten to much to the purpose
Purpose of the power - to strengthen (Eph3:16)
So more on the purpose now.
To work out our own salvation (Php2:12-13)
Put to death deeds of the body (flesh) (Rom8:12-13)
To glorify God in the body (1Cor6:19-20)
Death to deeds of the body (Rom8:12-13)
12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
To glory God in the body (1Cor6:19-20)
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
1Cor
we are working at refining our lights so we can shine for Jesus, The Holy Spirit does what is necessary in us so we can let our light shine.
This power in you, received when you were baptized, it there to be used for God’s purpose and God’s glory but you have to do it. Understanding the source of the power and the purpose of the power should be a motivating factor to access the power.
III. Accessing the power
III. Accessing the power
Eph3:16-21 is a prayer, so to access it, ask for it in prayer
Those who wait upon the Lord will receive strength (Isa40:28-31) - waiting in prayer is part of it.
Look at what Isaiah had to say (Isa40:28-31)
Want strength, ask for it, want
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. 29 He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power.
30 Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, 31 Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.
So you want to access the power that is purposed and provided, prayer is a powerful tool to do it, now could that with the Word.
Access the power through the Word of God (Eph6:10-13)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
We need the truth (v.14); the gospel (v.15) and faith (v.16) but I should give you the passage
Putting on the full armor
14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Eph6:16
All of this is coupled together with the Word of God, as described as a sword
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
So to be a light, a shining light we need to use the sword to reach others so they can be born again (1Pt1:23; Jam1:21)
23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.
That is able to save souls (Jam1:21)
21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
One commentator said this:
“Allow the word of God to be an avenue through which God strengthens us in the inner man, and to work in us, both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
The proof is in the pudding, when we put the power that is available in us to work for God to will and to do. Our passage in (Php2:12-13) speaks of that doesn’t it?
12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
We need to decide to allow the power to work in us and through us.
It is by grace through faith in which we are saved, and it is by faith that we believe that God has given us the power to work in us, and it is by faith that we will act on that power!
III. Food for thought
III. Food for thought
Are we being a shining light? If not maybe we have not allowed the power to work in us and through us?
Are we struggling with with to believe in the power of the Spirit that is available to us?
Join in prayer and in the word and access the power to do what God wants and to be what God called you. -Shining lights
And it is all for Gods good pleasure (Php2:13)
(insert slide: Be light) = lead to invitation