Give me a "C"
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Why do lights go dim?
Why do lights go dim?
In this world there are things that want to turn your light down (dim your lights). In the midst of this crooked and perverse generation we need to be watchful that our lights do not grow dim.
(expand on each of these below)
Current lights today can be dimmed by hand
We can be dimmed by being distracted, detoured, discouraged, dismayed or Satan can even try to dismantle us so our light does not shine bright.
Current lights today can burn out
A light bulb can burn out and has to be replaced.
A Christian can burn out too can’t they? Not that they have to be replaced but they would have to be renewed and recharged.
(ask the question) How can a Christian burn out?
Current lights today can be unplugged from power source
let dust build up on your bible and you are unplugged from the power source
What other ways can we be unplugged from the power source?
Lights, lamps may run out of oil, or need wick trimmed to burn bright.
An oil lamp, I’m sure most of you have one, two or maybe more in your home, I know we do. Oil lamps need oil, they need to be refilled and the wicks need to be trimmed so as to be able to shine bright.
In our let your light shine so that together we can be a city set on a hill we have looked at our focal passage several times to get some direction and some hope, so tonight is no different.
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.
We have had some direction in working out our own salvation (sounds like some wick trimming to me)
How to work out our salvation with fear and trembling; finding a good balance and understanding of the fear of the Lord.
We have seen hope for the God that works in you. The power at work so we can shine bright.
This evening we are going to look at what can make our lamps (we are going to consider them oil lamps for this evening) grow dim, and how to avoid it as well as looking on what we should do.
Murmuring (grumbling)
Complaining (disputing)
And the other side of it, with trimmed wicks, displaying
Paul issues our verse as a warning. Remember everything in the bible has meaning, and all words are there for a reason, so the warning is not without basis, but with a purpose, a reason. Let’s look at the reasoning behind the warning and what we should be doing when contrasted against what we should not be doing, if that makes any sense.
No Grumbling (murmuring)
No Grumbling (murmuring)
To grumble is to complain or protest about something in a bad-tempered but typically muted way. Come on now, if we are honest we can do that can’t we? The Bible tells us not to do that (Php2:14).
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing;
In other versions it says murmuring, murmuring is a subdued or private expression of discontent or dissatisfaction (bible example: 1Cor10:10-11)
10 Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
These things were written for our instruction, why? So we do not do them.
Other biblical examples of grumblers, murmurers (Jude3-4, 16-19)
3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. 4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
16 These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage. 17 But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Ungodly people who turn the grace of God into licentiousness and even deny Jesus Christ. These are grumblers, complainers who do not want to accept the truth. Not only that, they want to lead others away from the truth!
18 that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” 19 These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.
Grumbling can put your soul, or even the souls of others at risk.
Think about that for a minute, if you are sold out for something, if you are all in for something, do you complain or proclaim about it?
As a Christian who is to work out their salvation with fear and trembling are we grumbling, complaining, murmuring about things or are we in awe of God and what He has done, what He is doing and what He has promised to do?
So what should we replace grumbling, murmuring with? How can we let our light shine a little brighter? - by replacing murmuring, complaining with thanksgiving!
Replace murmuring, grumbling, complaining with the truth (Eph1:3; Mt6:31-33; Heb13:5-6)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
What is the truth here? - we have every spiritual blessing in heavenly places!
We also have the assurance from the words of Christ that our needs will be met.
31 “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
What things will be added? - worry replaced by trust, we know we will have our needs met! We also know that we have all blessings in Christ Jesus today just as much as the day we first believed!
I have to bring in another passage too
5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” 6 so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”
He knows what we need and he will meet our need
Our part, is to be content with what we have!
Remember God’s truth for we know He works out all things for His good pleasure (Php2:13)
13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Biblical solutions to murmuring, complaining (Col1:12, Col2:6-7; Col3:15, 17 and how about Col4:2)
Be thankful for inheritance (Col1:12)
12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.
Abound in thanksgiving (Col2:6-7)
6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.
Let Christ’s peace rule (Col3:15)
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Do all things with thanksgiving (Col3:17)
whatever you do, do it in the name of Jesus! So don’t murmur or complain, do it for the glory of God!
Have an attitude of thanksgiving (Col4:2)
Be devoted, be alert, be thankful, that is the attitude to have, an attitude of gratitude!
When we have an attitude of gratitude, an attitude of thanksgiving, when we let our light shine in the midst of a wicked and perverse generation we do it without murmuring, grumbling and complaining, we do it for the glory of God because we know He has all things worked out, so why complain!
How do people see us, do we constantly grumble, complain, murmur about our economy, our government, our healthcare system or some other social injustice? Or do we shine the light of Christ in lieu of any circumstances as we look for our hope, Jesus Christ, to shine in us and through us.
Believe it or not, we have only gotten through one part of the verse we are focusing on today so in case you forgot the verse here it is again.
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing;
No disputing
No disputing
Disputing means argue about (something); discuss heatedly. So not just disagree, but to argue, not just to argue but to do it heatedly. so can you see why Paul issues this warning?
Disputing is not discussing our differences, it is arguing about them
It is divisive wrangling that is condemned in (1Tim6:3-5, 2Time2:14-16 and Tit3:9)
3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,
5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.
Divisive wrangling are those who advocate different doctrine, have morbid interest in controversial questions that bring about envy, strife, abusive language and constant friction.
Then look at what more instructions are given.
14 Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
16 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness,
We need not wrangle about words, but be diligent to present ourselves as approved to God as workmen.
Add to that
9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.
Avoid foolish, unprofitable and worthless things that cause division by disputing, arguing and wrangling. For, these things can lead to something worse. Here is one not on your outline, but worthy of putting in here now.
15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
It is OK to be different, be different in how we handle our differences.
You can be different and not divisive in how you handle your differences
You can be different by striving to have the mind of Christ, so develop that (see Php2:2)
2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
From dealing with “C” complain or compliment I mentioned with thanksgiving before now we see joy come into the picture. Joy always comes with love. May our love be intent on one purpose, the purpose of Christ that works in us both to will and to do.
So, until we are perfected and have the mind of Christ, and there are disputes. Be one who let’s his light shine through the disputes in how we deal with the disputes, by not grumbling, complaining, or murmuring.
Let you light shine with the proper attitude (2Tim2:23-26)
23 But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. 24 The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,
25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
Don’t be foolish, Don’t be quarrelsome
Be kind, teachable and patient
Use gentleness in correction and help by leading to repentance
Attitude impacts output, let these qualities be developed in you (Col3:12-13)
12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
Put on compassion, put on kindness, put on humility, put on gentleness and patience
Do that all the while bearing with and forgiving one another!
Attitude impacts output, output is displayed in how we let our light shine (1Cor8:13)
13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.
Let our light shine when we deal with disputes, deal with them in a positive manner. We can impact the world for Jesus when we do that. Be different in how you deal with disputes.
What we display matters; here are some things to consider as we prepare to move on.
What do we display?
How can we display the light of Christ in us?
Why should we display the light of Christ?
What do we display?
What do we display?
May we consider what we display. For what we display matters for oftentimes that is what is inside our heart is what is going to be displayed.
Don’t display grumbling; display thanksgiving
Don’t display disputing; display grace and understanding
Be equipped to display Christ (Rom13:11-14; Gal3:27; Eph4:24)
11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. 12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
May we put on the Lord Jesus Christ making no provision for the flesh!
We put on Christ when we are baptized.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
When we put on Christ we then put on the new man
24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
We do that when we do not grumble, complain, murmur or dispute and we learn to be content when we accept what God has for us.
Fully equipped? Then let your light shine (Mt5:14-16)
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.
(encouragement slide- Let your light shine)
Let your light shine before men so that they may see your good works, not works that grumble, complain, murmur or dispute. Let us be people of light!
Let us be people of light that shine bright for Christ who works in us so that we can work out our salvation with fear and trembling. May we be a light shining people who develop and display Christ like character.
invitation (encouragement slide) prayer (exit slides)