Holding Fast to Christ
Philippians: To Live is Christ • Sermon • Submitted
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INTRO:
GAME TIE IN
Why was it difficult to grab the bouncy balls in the bucket of ice
body loses temperature
muscles don’t function as well
feeling starts to leave
hard to differentiate between ice and bouncy balls
No different than our Christian walk
as we follow Christ we are obedient to what He says
Called to share the Gospel with those around us
Know that we face difficulties in doing this
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.
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,
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.
Philippians 2:12-
You Shine as Lights
You Shine as Lights
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,
vs. 14-15
Bible tells us we live in a difficult world:
that we are aliens here
the world will be against us
The world refuses to know God
21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Knowing this, we must remember why we are here as Christians
To show others who Jesus is - to shine as lights
We are called to plunge our feet to seek the lost
Challenges With the Plunge
Challenges With the Plunge
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.
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,
God’s people need to be a people of Character and integrity
Doesn’t mean we are sinless
Acknowledge our short comings
Desire to strive away from sinful thoughts and behaviors and pursue Christ
START TODAY living for Christ your past is a testament of what He brought you through…Use your stories to show His greatness and mercy
8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),
10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
Ephesians 5:8-
Place Christ at the forefront of your life and you’re untouchable
Embrace who you were, walk in a new life in Christ and know a joy and freedom that can’t be described
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-
some of you feel dirty and that God can’t use you
that you’re broken and God only uses pretty people
God uses broken people to show His greatness
STOP comparing your life to others, compare to Jesus and you will see we all fall short, none are worthy and all are in need of the grace of the cross of Christ
Now:
Trust in Him
Live a life of integrity rooted in Him
Know that hardships are going to face us, and plunge in
Paul called for a unity among the Philippian church
Taking the plunge is full of difficulties but we always come back to the source of life
Holding onto the Word of Life
Holding onto the Word of Life
No one could leave there feet in ice cold water indefinitely and continue to collect the bouncy balls
We all need to pull out and allow the blood and warmth to flow to our feet
Same thing applies with our Christian life
we need to get out of the world and recharge - Church, Christian friends, Devotionals, etc.
Get life flowing back into us through Christ
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.
Hold fast to the word of life
What is the word of life?
JESUS
Everything comes back to Jesus
If we are not rooted in Christ we fade into the patterns of this world
our worth
Your
our joy
our hope
all placed in the way this world says
You want to fulfill your purpose - Through Jesus
You want to face the challenges of this world - Through Jesus
You want to overcome your past - Through Jesus
Play Bigger Than I Thought
Will you just trust Him today?
In vs. 12 Paul tells the Philippian church to work out their own salvation in fear and trembling, what is he meaning by this? What does this mean for your personal walk? Are there any scriptures to back this up?
,
Character is measured by how a person acts when no one is watching. Paul speaks about a Christian’s character in vs. 12 and 15 why is this important in a Christian’s life? How does Jesus challenge or change this in your life?
Many times we feel that we are too broken or dirty or inadequate to be used by Christ, what does the Gospel reveal to us about this? How do we overcome these negative views of ourselves? (Holding fast to the word of life)