Philippians 2:12-18
Along rocky coastlines, lighthouses stand through
storms, darkness, and crashing waves. They don’t
make noise. They don’t complain about the
weather. They simply do what they were built to
do.
Night after night, their light cuts through the
darkness and guides people safely home.
Christians were meant to live like that!
Not hidden. Not blending into the darkness. Not
constantly grumbling about the conditions around
us.
But standing firm, shining brightly, and pointing
people toward something greater than ourselves.
The world doesn’t need more people complaining
about the darkness. It needs more people willing to
be a light.
This morning, we’re going to see God’s call for
believers to live in a way that reflects Christ and
impacts everyone around them.
Philippians 2:12-18
Paul gives the Philippians three calls to action.
The first is:
A Call to Obedience
In verse 12, Paul addresses the church as his beloved.
Remember back in chapter 1 he addressed the letter to
all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi.
This letter is to believers.
Paul is not calling the church to be obedient to him, but
to Christ. He’s not speaking in legal terms, but relational
terms.
Paul reminds the church that they know Christ and they
should be following His example of humility and
obedience.
Paul brings up a good point.
He says it’s one thing to obey when you leader is there
But it’s a whole different thing to obey when your leader
is not there.
We should all remember that we should work as if
working for the Lord.
Our character is who we are when no one is looking.
Paul also tells the church to work out their own salvation
with fear and trembling.
What does it mean to work out your own salvation?
First, we must understand that:
we don’t work to EARN our salvation and
we don’t work to KEEP our salvation.
Christ has provided our salvation by His completed work
on the cross at Calvary.
We have been saved by grace through faith, not by works
so that none can boast.
Second, we must understand that:
without God working in us, there is no work that can
come out of us.
God, in His sovereignty, works in us.
He works in us to give us the will to work for Him.
He works in us so that we work for Him.
Again, we must remember that the works that Paul is
writing about here are works because of our salvation.
We serve Him and put the needs of others above our own
because we are so grateful for Him saving us.
Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Paul says that believers were created in Christ Jesus for
good works and that God prepared us for the good work.
But the only way we can do the work that God calls us to
do is by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
God puts the Holy Spirit in us,
We must allow the Holy Spirit to come out of us
We can’t work out our salvation if He hasn’t first worked
in us!!
The Greek word for work is energon which is where our
English word energy comes from.
Think of it this way.
God energizes the work we do for His glory.
Paul’s second call to action to the Philippians is:
A Call to Purity
Philippians 2:14-16
In these verses Paul explains how he wants believers to
act around unbelievers.
He calls them to purity in their words.
He tells them not to complain.
It’s easy to find things to complain about.
Paul realizes that the world complains, Jesus never did.
We should have purity in our words.
This is one of those times when I’m preaching to you, but
I’m really preaching to myself.
When we live a life free of complaining it doesn’t mean
we don’t have anything to complain about, it means we
trust that God will work things out and complaining
doesn’t accomplish anything anyway.
Paul also calls them to purity in their actions.
He tells them to be blameless and innocent and
encourages them to shine as lights in the world.
Jesus told His disciples something similar in
Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city
set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp
and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives
light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light
shine before others, so that they may see your good
works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Paul wants the Philippians to shine as lights in the world.
It’s a great analogy because if we are truly living as
Christ commands us to live, we will stand out like a light
in the darkness.
People will take notice of us not complaining and us living
set apart or holy.
When we live like that God gets the glory.
Paul encourages the Philippians to hold fast to the word
of life.
The word of life refers to the Bible.
We must not just bring our Bible to church, we must
read, study, meditate and memorize it.
And we must allow it to change us.
Not only that, we must put the word into practice in our
lives.
It’s not enough for us to read and study His word.
We must remember what it says and obey it.
Paul’s final call to action to the Philippians is:
A Call to Joy
Philippians 2:17-18
Paul wants to be proud of the Philippians.
His point is that if they hold fast to the word and live a
life that honors Christ, he will have cause to be proud of
them.
That will give him assurance that his labor in the Lord
was not in vain.
Next, Paul mentions being poured out as a drink offering.
Paul has never run from adversity, in fact he almost
always embraces it.
After a priest offered a sacrifice, , later he would pour out
a libation to complement the sacrifice.
Paul refers to then when he mentions being poured out
as a drink offering.
He understands that his sacrifice complements the
sacrifice of the Philippians.
He wants the Philippians to know that he will rejoice in
his suffering and encourages them to rejoice with him in
their sacrificial offering of their faith.
It is a sacrifice to live a life of holiness in this world.
APPLICATION
Our application is not in any way meant to be
burdensome.
It should be freeing because the Holy Spirit can help with
each one.
Strive for Obedience
Will Rogers said “Live in such a way that you would not
be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip.”
How does God want you to obey Him this morning?
Seek to live in Purity
Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your words and your actions
every day as you begin your day.
Search for Joy
When Christ is Lord of our life, it’s easy to find joy in
every situation.
Ask God to help you have joy that is contagious.
So that others will see your good works and honor our
Father in heaven.