Transcription
What a blessing the book of Philippians is as we've studied it. As our lessons go on, we'll add more from the book of Colossians. But these two books provide practical lessons for Christian living. Lessons for people living on the verge of eternity. So, let's pray as we jump into lesson number five. Thank you for joining us on this Sabbath school lesson, shining as lights in the night. Let's pray.
Father in heaven, enable us to shine with the love of Jesus to people around us. May we shine as lights of your glory and your grace and your goodness. We pray in Jesus name. Amen.
Do you remember what it says in the book of Isaiah? It says, "Darkness shall cover the earth and gross darkness the people, but arise and shine, for your light is come." If there ever was a time that darkness covered the earth, it certainly is today. You look out over the world, a world that is consumed in materialism, secularism, godlessness. A world that is consumed with amusement and pleasure. A world that is destroying itself through environmental hazards, with polluting our waterways and our airways and human beings that are destroying themselves through alcohol, tobacco, the drug culture. We look out over our world and it's a world that has distorted human values between male and female. It's distorted sexuality where often individuals become sex objects. It's a world filled with immorality. Somebody said ours is a world that is a sex jaded, morally twisted, thrilled seeking generation.
But God says to you and to me that you shine as lights in the world. In Philippians chapter 2 verse 14 and 15 we read do all things without complaining and disputing that you may become blameless and harmless children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom you shine as lights in the world. So the it may be a perverse generation, maybe a crooked generation, but we shine as lights in the world.
Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 5:14. He said, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set upon a hill cannot be hid." Jesus said, "You're the light of the world." Then he went on to say that um I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life. As we follow Jesus, the light of his love, the light of his grace, the light of his truth becomes the light of our life. And because he lights up our life, puts a sparkle in our eyes, a smile on our face, a joy in our souls, because Jesus does that, we then can be lights in the world.
We jump into Sunday's lesson. We work out what God works in. What's that all about? Paul has talked about Jesus as the perfect example. Then he talks about us working out what Christ works in. Now make no mistake about it. We are saved by grace through faith, not of ourselves. Make no mistake, no mistake about it. Our works cannot achieve righteousness. Make no mistake about it. What we do does not earn our salvation. But yet when we come to Jesus, he says John 14:15, "If you love me, keep my commandments." And uh in Romans chapter 1, it talks about the grace that leads us to obedience. And here in Philippians 2, we read in verse 12 and 13. Now, often I've heard people read verse 12 and they haven't added verse 13 and that has added to confusion. But verse 12, verse 13, therefore, my beloved, as you've always obeyed, not as in my presence only, Paul's speaking, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
What does it mean to work out your own salvation? What does it mean fear and trembling? Fear and trembling have to do with the reverence we place before God. That we reverence God. We take God's word seriously. It says, "Work out your own salvation." How can you do that? Am I working to save myself? Certainly not. Verse 13, for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for his good pleasure. So I can only work out what God works in. What does it mean when it says for it's God who works in you both to will that is God gives you the desire. God places within your heart the will, the desire to make changes in your life to by his grace overcome something that has troubled you, some temptation you've fallen on and to do his good pleasure. So what does that mean? It means God changes our actions. So God places the desire in our heart to serve him through his Holy Spirit. God empowers us to serve him through his Holy Spirit. And so we work out only what God puts in. If God doesn't put in our hearts that desire, we can't work it out. If God doesn't give us the strength to make the choice, we can't make the choice.
Under Sunday's lesson, it says in these two verses, Paul does not present a different gospel from what he outlines in Romans. and in other epistles. We can be sure his message here agrees with the gospel of justification by faith which he also preached in Philippi and other places. But it's also important now don't don't miss this. I think it's significant. But it's also important to consider all the Bible says on a given topic essentially on the topic of salvation that can be so easily misunderstood. So the Bible says in Romans and we'll look at a couple passages in Romans. The Bible says all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. So every one of us are sinners. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. So we are justified by faith by grace through faith and Christ death on the cross atones for our sins. Then in Romans 5:8 it says while we were yet sinners Christ died for the ungodly.
In Ephesians 2:8-10 we have this beautiful balance between faith and works. Ephesians 2 verse 8 to10. For by grace you have been saved through faith, not of yourselves. It's the gift of God. So can I do anything to earn my salvation? Absolutely not. Salvation is the gift of God. But he goes on, not of works, lest any man should boast. So if salvation were by works, we could boast. That would be pride. That's the same sin that led us back that led Lucifer to be cast out of heaven. Verse 10, for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. So when we are saved by grace through faith, we then through the power of the spirit have changed lives and we recognize that we were created for good works. So we do not serve God with our to present our works to him as a sacrifice to earn our salvation. We do good works not in order to be saved but because we are saved. Apple trees don't produce apples to make them apple trees. Apple trees produce apples because they are apple trees. Our good works reflect what we are in Christ. And uh we work out according to Philippians chapter 2 what Jesus has worked in.
When we do that Monday's lesson, we become light in a dark world. We witness in the darkness of this world. Philippians chapter 2 verse 15 and 16 put it this way. that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom you shineless lights in the world. Now, how do you do that? Holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I've not run in vain or labored in vain. So Paul says this. He says, "If you want to be lights in a dark world, hold fast, hold fast the word of light." The note here says this, "The blacker the sky, the more clearly the stars stand out." It's the same with our witness. The greater the moral darkness around us, the starker the contrast between the lives of God's true followers and that of worldlings. How important it is then not to let the artificial lights of worldly ideas, pressures, and practices cause our witness to fade into the background.
Now, in Philippians 2, it uses some interesting words. It talks about the fact that we are faultless without a reproach. We're faultless. What does that mean? that uh it simply means that we have unmixed pure faith in Jesus. It means that we have an undivided heart. It means that we long with all of our lives to serve him. What does it mean too when it says thath here in Philippians 2 that um we are blameless, harmless without fault. What does it mean blameless and harmless? Blameless and harmless are two words that indicate the purity of our thought patterns. Now, that doesn't mean we never have any selfish thoughts that come into our mind. Doesn't mean we have never any impure thoughts that come into our mind. Billy Graham once said this, "You can't stop the birds from flying over your head, but you can stop them from nesting in your hair." In other words, as Paul says in 2 Corinthians chap 10 verse 5 and onward, he says, "Bring every thought into captivity to Christ." So as a thought comes into our mind, we say, "Jesus, if this thought is not of your will, I want to renounce that thought." So there are going to be times that thoughts are stimulated by certain visual images. They're going to be thoughts that are stimulated by certain music that we hear, certain things if you're watching TV that come on the television screen. Now, obviously, you're going to want to turn your eyes from that vanity as much as possible. But we can't limit ourselves in this world from every visual or audio stimuli. But what we can do is renounce those thoughts in the name of Jesus and recognize that in the power of Jesus name those thoughts can be renounced so that we can have the mind of Christ. We can have this mind that as Paul says here in Philippians chapter 2 that is blameless and harmless without fault so that we can shine as lights.
What does he say here? holding fast the word of life. See, that is what enables us to stand firm. If we can hold fast the word of life, fill your mind with the word of God. Jesus says in John 6 verse 63, he says, "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are what? Life." Holding fast the word of life. In James chapter 1 there verses 23 and onward it says that you are built up you are nurtured by the engrafted word of God. So the word of God becomes part of your thinking process. The word of God becomes part of your mental framework. The word of God rebuilds brain cells and we become a living sacrifice to God.
This is what Paul says in Philippians chapter 2:1 17. Philippians 2:17, he goes on to say here that um yes and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I'm glad and rejoice with you all. He talks about poured out as a drink offering. Um in 2 Timothy chapter 4 verse 6 we find the same expression being poured out as a drink offering. Uh in Romans 12 verse 1 and 2 you recall again how the apostle Paul speaks about it. We want to think very deeply about this idea of being poured out. Romans 12 verse 1 and 2. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice. Paul talks about being poured out as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by what? The renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is good and acceptable and the perfect will of God.
This idea of being poured out was present both in paganism and Christianity. Uh in paganism often after a meal a cup of wine would be poured out as a service to the gods as thank you to the gods. Also in Christianity uh you can read through the bible a number of times about this pouring out. Um Paul talks about being poured out as a drink offering. Our author of our lesson Dr. Clinton Wallen says this imagery I'm reading Tuesday's lesson is based on the ancient practice of libations that means offerings which involve pouring out a liquid such as oil, wine or water as an offering to God. Uh we find this in Genesis we find it in Exodus. We find it in 2 Samuel. The apparent waste of a valuable liquid in an act of devotion may remind us of what Mary's act where she poured out this precious perfume on the feet of Christ. So what Paul said is just as we pour out a sacrifice to God, I am pouring out my life in sacrifice for God's people.
You know, we all pour out our lives for something. Some people are pouring out their lives for pleasure. Their their minds are saturated with the intent to have the next party, to go to the next game, to be filled with the next amusement. The their minds are filled with the desire. They're pouring out their lives for pleasure. Some people are pouring out their lives for money. They work tirelessly, endless hours a day for money. Other people are pouring out their lives for prestige, for power, for honor. We all pour out our lives for something. And here Paul says,"I am pouring out my life in self-sacrificial love to the Lord Jesus Christ." Incidentally, when you pour out your life for Jesus, he gives you much more in return. You know, in John 10:10, it says this, "The thief comes not but for to steal, to kill, and destroy, but I've come that they might have life and they might have it more abundantly." That's what Christ's goal is for us. We pour out our lives in self-sacrificial service and we receive from him joy and peace and rejoicing and happiness and something much more.
In Wednesday and Thursday's lesson, Paul talks about two different characters, characters really that are worth emulating. Timothy in Wednesday's lesson and Ephroditis in Thursday's lesson. Let's look first at Timothy. What can we learn about Timothy? Philippians chapter 2 verse 19-23 tells us something about Timothy. Timothy was a young protetéé of Paul and Timothy came from a very godly home. His grandmother was Lois. His mother was Ununice. Paul mentions them in his epistle to Timothy. His letter to him and they were godly. They passed on to the Apostle Paul the faith and passed on a love for the word of God. And but we're looking at Philippians chapter 2 verse 19 to 23. Incidentally, I pray God that if you're a grandma, you'll be like a Ununice, like a Lois. I pray God if you're a grandma, you'll be like a Lois. I pray God if you're a mama, you'll be like a Ununice, passing on to your children the heritage of the word of God. leading them to be faithful to God.
But what was this uh Timothy like? Philippians chapter 2. We're looking here verse 19 to 23. Let's see if we can discover some qualities. But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly. Paul had confidence that he could send Timothy that Timothy wouldn't shrink at the journey that he would go and explain to the Philippians what Paul was going through. Then he says, "That I also may be encouraged when I know your state, for I have no one like-minded who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own way, not the things of which are Jesus Christ, but you know his Timothy's proven character that as a son with his father, he served with me in the gospel. Therefore, I hope to send him at once to you." And verse 24, he says he wants to come as well. Timothy's proven character. Paul had confidence in Timothy. They had weathered many a storm together. They had been on the seas with the waves roaring and the wind blowing and the lightning flashing and the thunder crashing. They had been together through many a battle. They had weathered many a storm. Timothy had seen Paul beaten, knew about his imprisonment, and was with him in prison. Timothy had experienced all this. But Timothy did not flinch. When the trials came, Timothy stood by. You know, there are a lot of people when trials come, they drop out of the church. They abandon their faith. This was not Timothy. He had a proven character. There's something about weathering trials. There's something about standing for Christ when things are not going well that develop your character. This was Timothy.
What about Ephraditis? You know, we read about Timothy a number of places in the Bible. We read about Timothy, for example, in Philippians. We read about him in first Corinthians. And we read about him, of course, in 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy. Ephroditis is quite different. We don't read about him. We there's no book of Aphroditis in the Bible. His name is interesting, too. Ephroditis. What comes to your mind? Aphrodite. Who is Aphrodite? A pagan goddess. So evidently, as much as we can tell, Aphroditis is born in a family of pagan idolattors, pagan worshippers, and Aphroditis doesn't uh know God. But possibly hearing the preaching of Paul, he comes to Christ and his life is totally transformed by the grace of God. And Aphroditis stands next to Paul worshiping the true God, saved by grace, charmed by love, redeemed by the power of the cross. And Paul has a lot of confidence in him. Look at Philippians 22:es 25-30. It says, "Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Ephroditis, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier." So Aphroditis, he's my brother. He he's a he's a fellow worker. He labors by my side. His testimony is powerful in converting pagans to Christianity. And then he says he's my fellow soldier. Like Timothy, he's got a proven character. He doesn't drop out when the going gets tough. And then he he he talks about Ephroditis. Aphroditis much has must certainly must have some financial u integrity because the offering that is going to be given to the apostle Paul ultimately is given to Aphroditis to bring back to Paul after Paul's been in Philippi. So Ephroditis has some financial uh honesty, integrity. Paul sees that and uh also we read about Aphroditis here. It says for indeed he was sick among you almost to death. Verse 27 but God has mercy on him not only on him but on also lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Then he talks about Ephroditis and he says because for the work of Christ he came close to death not regarding his life despite what was lacking in your service toward me. He becomes close to what? Death. So here is a man in Aphroditis that gives his all. Lives a self-sacrificial life.
What takeaway do we get from our lesson today? The takeaway that we get from our lesson is this. Unity comes as we humble our hearts to follow Jesus. But God calls us to go beyond the petty challenges, the petty difficulties that sometimes come up in church life or even our families. God calls us to go beyond that. God calls us in trial to trust him and to develop proven characters. But God calls us like Paul did, like Timothy did, like Ephroditis did to pour out our lives in self-sacrificial service to the master so that one day we can see him face to face. Unity comes largely as we focus on the mission of Christ. And the mission of Christ soulwinning witnessing so absorbs us that the petty things that trouble others do not trouble us because we're all consumed with pouring out our life for Jesus our Lord.
Let's pray. Father in heaven, we thank you with all of our hearts that we can pour out our lives for Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Every day, may we be men and women of proven character. Men and women who live lives selflessly, compassionately poured out for others to see them won for your kingdom in Christ's name. Amen.