Phil 2:14-16

Philippians 2:14–16 NASB95

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.

This morning I wanted to bring an encouraging word from the Letter to the Philippians. As a brief background this is one of Paul’s prison epistles, that is, Paul is writing this while in a Roman prison cell.

Interestingly the Letter to the Philippians is noted because of its emphasis on Joy and in light of the circumstances it would seem counter intuitive. Yet here Paul has given us something we can chew on this morning regarding our own situations in this life.

In our text today, Paul is warning us to not do anything that would tarnish God’s work in us and who we are in Him.

He begins with,

Philippians 2:14 NASB95

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing;

When he write “do all things...” that mean everything. He says do all things without, or apart from, or separate from, what? Grumbling and disputing.

Grumbling is sometimes translated as murmuring. It is that complaining undertone. The Greek word here is were we get our English word “gong.” The sound reverberates long after the gong is struck.

The is a story from the book of Numbers regarding the children of Israel complaining and God’s feelings about it.

Numbers 11:1–10 NASB95

1 Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the Lord; and when the Lord heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. 2 The people therefore cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the Lord and the fire died out. 3 So the name of that place was called Taberah, because the fire of the Lord burned among them. 4 The rabble who were among them had greedy desires; and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, “Who will give us meat to eat? 5 “We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, 6 but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna.” 7 Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like that of bdellium. 8 The people would go about and gather it and grind it between two millstones or beat it in the mortar, and boil it in the pot and make cakes with it; and its taste was as the taste of cakes baked with oil. 9 When the dew fell on the camp at night, the manna would fall with it. 10 Now Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, each man at the doorway of his tent; and the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly, and Moses was displeased.

The second word is disputing, again this has an interesting Greek root word dialogismos where we get our English word dialogue. It means the thinking of a man deliberating with himself, as in doubting the Word of God thinking He knows better.

Paul is admonishing us as Pastors and leaders because of who we are called to be in this time and place. Paul desired that nothing would tarnish the Name of Christ nor the calling of God on each of our lives.

When we are separate from murmuring and complaining we can then be as in v15,

Philippians 2:15 NASB95

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,

He uses three words, blameless (free from fault), Innocent (meaning - unmixed, or pure as in metal), and above reproach (without spot).

It is interesting to me ho far watching what you say and watching your inner-dialogue will take you.

Solomon wrote, “that it is the little foxes that spoil the vine.

Paul also adds to this thought in,

2 Corinthians 10:5 NASB95

5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

So what’s that point, the point is because of who we are and are supposed to be in Christ notice the second half of verse 15;

Philippians 2:15 NASB95

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,

Paul is saying what was true two thousand years ago and is still true today. That is that we live right in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation.

Crooked is the Greek skolios. Where we get scoliosis. Perverse carries the idea of distorted.

So all said this is a very dark and distorted reality of what once was in the Garden of Eden.

So here’s the point, we are the ones who are meant to shine as lights in our time and place. The word “lights” is

is literally a luminary, a star, akin to the moon or sun. In ancient times sea mariners would look to the heavens for direction. The position of the stars was fixed and dependable and so Paul’s admonishment is don’t allow anything to block the light Gods is brings through you.

Murmuring and complaining are sure ways to limit our effectiveness and the brightness of our light.

Jesus said;

Matthew 5:14–16 NASB95

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.