Philippians 2:14-18
Introduction: Heinrich Olbers was an excellent nineteenth century German astronomer who posed a easy query of all: Why is the sky darkish at evening? He made many important astronomical discoveries, however he’s greatest identified for proposing this perplexing query, referred to as Olbers’ Paradox: If the universe is full of stars, why is the sky darkish at evening?
Right here was Olbers’ reasoning: If the universe is infinitely previous and comprises an infinite variety of stars, then each doable line of sight ought to finish with a star. Think about being in a forest, seeing a tree in every single place you look. If the universe is full of stars, then the entire nighttime sky must be full of gentle. The nighttime sky, illumined by billions of stars, must be brighter than the daytime sky, which is barely illumined by one star—the solar, although the solar is way nearer.
Why then is the nighttime sky black?
Olbers had no reply. It was Olbers’ Paradox!
Even immediately, the reply will not be straightforward to clarify. One motive has to do with the truth that our universe will not be infinite as the sooner astronomists believed. It was created in a second of time up to now, so the sunshine from a lot of these stars hasn’t but reached the earth.
However right here is another excuse that comes from the thoughts and coronary heart of God. I imagine He put the burning stars right into a darkish sky to show us one thing about our personal lives and concerning the mission He has for us. He desires us to burn holes within the darkness. The Lord compares us to stars within the nighttime sky. That brings us to our passage for immediately—Philippians 2:14-18.
Scripture:
14 Do every thing with out grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you could be develop into innocent and pure, “youngsters of God with out fault in a warped and crooked era.” Then you’ll shine amongst them like stars within the sky 16 as you maintain firmly to the phrase of life. After which I will boast on the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor in useless. 17 However even when I’m being poured out like a drink providing on the sacrifice and repair coming out of your religion, I’m glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So that you too must be glad and rejoice with me.
Background: There’s one thing extraordinary about this passage. Dr. Gordon Price mentioned, “[This paragraph of Scripture has a] putting characteristic: the sudden and profuse inflow of echoes from the Previous Testomony, which is kind of not like the rest within the Pauline corpus. So distinctive is that this that one scarcely is aware of what to make of it.”
Nearly each phrase of this passage comes virtually instantly from the Previous Testomony. It traces the story of the Previous Testomony Israelites.
I’ll present you the way this works out.
1. Do Every little thing With out Grumbling or Arguing
First, the apostle tells us to do every thing with out grumbling or complaining. Right here Paul is harkening again to the Israelites who got here out of Egypt. Their complete perspective was stuffed with grumbling, mummering, arguing, and complaining.
Exodus 15 information that exuberance that swept over the Israelites after God had delivered them by means of the Purple Sea and destroyed their enemies. They have been now totally liberated and free. They sang with nice pleasure and euphoria. However within the very subsequent paragraph, they realized they have been now in a desert with no drinkable water. “So the folks grumbled towards Moses, crying, ‘What are we to drink?’”
The subsequent chapter begins: The entire Israelite neighborhood set out from Elim and got here to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they’d come out of Egypt. 2 Within the desert the entire neighborhood grumbled towards Moses and Aaron. 3 The Israelites mentioned to them, “If solely we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat round pots of meat and ate all of the meals we needed, however you might have introduced us out into this desert to starve this whole meeting to dying” (Exodus 16:1-3).
There are a lot of different passages like this (Numbers 11:1; Numbers 14:26-27; Psalm 106:24-27). Although God delivered the Israelites from Egypt with mighty plagues and the miracle of the Purple Sea; and although He had given them a pacesetter like Moses to information them; and although He was dwelling amongst them as a pillar of fireside by evening and a pillar of cloud by day; and although He had given them extra guarantees than they might keep in mind—but they have been sad, ill-spirited, fearful, and muttering amongst themselves.
The apostle Paul mentioned: “Don’t be like them!”
Orison Swett Marden wrote in considered one of his books about what he referred to as “the sin of drained nerves.”
He mentioned, “Small [people] who fret and stew and permit themselves to be irritated and hampered by petty issues, present by these earmarks that they don’t seem to be large enough to command the state of affairs, that they don’t seem to be ready to deal with circumstances and protect concord. Their irritable methods point out they’re out of concord with their surroundings, that they maintain the fallacious attitudes in the direction of it, and therefore they can’t be masters of the state of affairs, however are its victims.”
He wrote, “All people we meet is helped or hindered by what we radiate. It makes all of the distinction on the planet whether or not we go about with a smiling face or carrying a frown. A smile within the coronary heart not solely adjustments the expression nevertheless it adjustments the entire nature which, as we all know, takes on the colour of our moods.”
Marden mentioned, “Nobody can actually be joyful or profitable except he’s grasp of his moods.”
I do know this isn’t straightforward. I’ve been handled badly earlier than and felt a number of damage and ache. Sooner or later I studied this passage and it spoke to my coronary heart; however then that very evening I had a dream the place I instructed somebody off who had damage me. The subsequent morning, I performed my favourite hymns playlist. The primary tune that got here up was based mostly on this broader passage in Philippians 2: “Might the thoughts of Christ, my Savior, dwell in me from day after day; by His energy and love controlling all I do and say.”
I mentioned, “Lord, this fact is current in my consciousness however evidently not but in my subconsciousness.” So I got here again to this passage and studied it some extra. Right here’s what I noticed. I can not develop spiritually with out protecting a constructive perspective about life. The unfolding logic of this verse tells us this plainly. We can not develop spiritually except we maintain a biblically constructive view of life.
2. That You Might Be Innocent and Pure, Kids of God with out Fault
Have a look at the passage once more: 14 Do every thing with out grumbling or arguing, 15 in order that chances are you’ll develop into innocent and pure….
Discover the ‘in order that.’
After we come to Jesus Christ and obtain Him as Savior, we’re clothed with the blamelessness and purity of Christ in God’s sight, however we nonetheless have to develop into our clothes. Once I was going into adolescence, I went by means of a development spurt. My mom purchased garments for me that have been one or two sizes too giant. My garments have been all too massive; then virtually in a single day they match completely; then they started getting too tight.
We’re clothed with the righteousness of Christ, however we’ve got to develop into it, and our development is hindered by an sad and unfavorable perspective. I’m not simply cheerful, nice, and constructive by nature—simply the other. I’ve to let the Holy Spirit domesticate the thoughts of Christ in me.
And right here, once more, we return to the Israelites. In Deuteronomy 18, Moses instructed the Israelites to be innocent—and within the very subsequent verse he predicted the approaching of a Messiah, who could be a prophet and who would converse to them phrases that may assist them develop and to be distinct from the opposite nations.
Deuteronomy 18:13-15 says, “You have to be innocent earlier than the Lord your God. The nations you’ll dispossess take heed to those that apply sorcery or divination. However as for you, the Lord your God has not permitted you to take action. The Lord your God will elevate up for you a prophet like me from amongst you. It’s essential to take heed to Him.”
Within the early days of pictures, a moderately bitter and unsightly lady went to have her image made. The photographer caught his head out from below the fabric and mentioned, “Brighten up your eyes somewhat.” She tried, however with out a lot success.
“Chill out and let your face get right into a cheerful temper.”
“Look right here,” mentioned the girl. “Should you assume an previous lady can brighten up and an previous face can soften up, you don’t know something about dwelling.”
“Oh sure, I do,” mentioned the photographer. “You need to work on it from the within. It comes from the within out. Now, attempt to get into an excellent temper and be cheerful and smile and let it present in your face.”
Simply as she did so, he snapped the image.
Later when the image arrived, her associates gathered round and mentioned, “Oh, Catherine, you look so younger and cheerful!”
That night she appeared within the mirror and mentioned, “If I might try this for the photographer,” she mentioned, “I can do it once more.” Each morning and each night, she stood in entrance of the mirror and reminded herself of what the photographer had mentioned.
On this means, she grew to become a youthful, brighter, happier particular person.
Now we have a divine photographer who has come out from below the darkish shroud of dying and with a voice of resurrection energy says to us: Rejoice within the Lord… that is the day I’ve made; rejoice and be glad in it… be of excellent cheer; I’ve overcome the world. Don’t concern. Be of excellent cheer.
We shake off our damage emotions and our satisfaction and our negativity, and take heed to His Phrase. Our perspective improves—and we develop into the righteousness of Christ.
Now, the place does this occur?
3. In a Warped and Crooked Era
The passage goes on to say: 14 Do every thing with out grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you could be develop into innocent and pure, “youngsters of God with out fault in a warped and crooked era.”
Once more, it is a direct citation from the Previous Testomony. Deuteronomy 32 says: “They’re corrupt and never His youngsters; to their disgrace they’re a warped and crooked era.”
Jesus used related phrases in Matthew 12:39, when He referred to as the folks of His day “a depraved and adulterous era.”
Just lately, I learn a narrative in Christianity Immediately about how Andrew Thorburn, the chief government of Essendon Soccer Membership in Australia, was pushed out of his job. He was pressured to resign as a result of he’s a member of a conservative Melbourne church—a church that teaches biblical fact about gender, marriage, and sexuality. The membership mentioned his beliefs didn’t align “with our values as a protected, inclusive, various, and welcoming membership.” Thorburn mentioned plainly, “My private Christian religion will not be tolerated or permitted within the public sq..”
In America, we’ve now sunk to a brand new low. One commentator with Inside Sources put it this manner: “It’s unclear why public training has develop into obsessive about our kids’s gender identities, even at obscenely younger ages…. What’s the finish sport right here?”
They continued: “The obsessive push for gender concept and sexuality will not be solely restricted to youngsters in faculties. Slightly, sexuality and gender identification advocacy is spreading its tentacles to toddlers watching Disney movies. Disney has introduced its intention to drop gendered greetings and ‘add queerness’ in every single place doable to its productions.”
I learn parts of 1 elementary textbook on sexuality, and I felt sick to my abdomen. All I can say is that you probably have youngsters at school, it’s worthwhile to know precisely what’s of their textbooks.
We’re youngsters of God in a warped and depraved age. However the Lord has us right here for a objective. Let’s proceed studying:
4. Amongst Whom You Shine as Stars within the Sky, Holding Forth the Phrase of Life
14 Do every thing with out grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you could be develop into innocent and pure, “youngsters of God with out fault in a warped and crooked era.” Then you’ll shine amongst them like stars within the sky….
In Deuteronomy 10:22, Moses mentioned, “Your fathers went right down to Egypt with seventy individuals, and now the Lord your God has made you as the celebrities of heaven in multitude.” And in Daniel 12, The Lord promised that those that have been smart unto everlasting life would shine like stars within the universe (Daniel 12:3).
The phrase “holding quick to the Phrase of life” might simply as nicely be translated “holding forth the Phrase of life,” which inserts the context right here.
Just lately I attended a banquet with a member of the Gideons Worldwide. He lives in California and instructed me he steadily goes to UCLA/Berkeley to present college students Bibles. He actually holds forth the Phrase of Life. One scholar not too long ago got here up him in a belligerent method and mentioned, “Don’t you might have something higher to do together with your time?”
My good friend mentioned, “I can not consider one single factor that may be a greater use of my time than giving free copies of the Bible to school college students.”
The younger man cursed him and walked away. However—there have been different college students who gladly obtained the Scripture.
Scott Drew, males’s basketball coach at Baylor, mentioned, “…once I get to these gates [of Heaven], God’s not going to say, ‘What was your file? What number of gamers did you assist get within the execs? What number of championships did you win?’”
He mentioned that his higher objective is seeing “gamers who settle for Christ, gamers who possibly prayed for the primary time with the group, gamers who get baptized, gamers who come again and get Bible research and go to church…. Generally these victories are usually not written and talked about within the newspapers or TV, however…these are those that actually matter.”
God put the burning stars right into a darkish sky to show us one thing about our personal lives and concerning the mission He has for us.
It’s holding forth the Phrase of Life.
5. Then I Will Know I Did Not Labor in Useless
The passage ends on a Pauline word. After which I will boast on the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor in useless. 17 However even when I’m being poured out like a drink providing on the sacrifice and repair coming out of your religion, I’m glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So that you too must be glad and rejoice with me.
This portion can be full of the Previous Testomony. For instance, Isaiah 65:23 guarantees that we’ll not labor in useless. And Paul used the identical phrase in 1 Corinthians 15:58, considered one of my favourite Bible guarantees: Due to this fact, my pricey brothers and sisters, stand agency. Let nothing transfer you. All the time give yourselves totally to the work of the Lord, as a result of you realize that your labor within the Lord will not be in useless.
We don’t notice how God has and is utilizing us, and He’ll proceed to take action. Earlier this 12 months a pair–Jeff and Heather Brigstock–invited me to a e-book signing at their espresso store. It’s referred to as South Water Manor in Gallatin, Tennessee, a couple of half hour from my home. It’s residence to a number of retailers, an exquisite restaurant and occasional store, and an occasion venue. They instructed me how impactful my ministry had been to them on this enterprise endeavor.
I had no thought what they meant. However then Jeff jogged my memory of a time some years earlier than once I had been on a talking engagement in Eire. His dad and mom had sat at my desk on the banquet and had instructed me they’d a son in Nashville who was very discouraged. He thought God not needed to make use of him. Apparently I gave the couple my cellular phone quantity, telling them to have their son name me after I returned residence.
I forgot all about it, however someday a number of months later Jeff referred to as me. He was within the throes of discouragement and we met for espresso.
I’ve little or no recollection of the assembly, however Jeff instructed me that our dialog that day modified his life, his route, his notion about himself and ministry, and ultimately led to him and Heather opening the South Water Manor in Gallatin, which is a beehive of ministry to that neighborhood.
What inspired me a lot is the thought that over time the Lord has used me in important ways in which I can’t even keep in mind. The identical is true for you in case you’re in His will. We’re doing extra good than we all know, and our labor within the Lord will not be in useless.
So that is Paul’s message to the Philippians and the Lord’s message to us. Let’s take it to coronary heart and burn holes within the darkness.
Do every thing with out grumbling or arguing, so that you could be develop into innocent and pure, “youngsters of God with out fault in a warped and crooked era.” Then you’ll shine amongst them like stars within the sky as you maintain forth phrase of life, figuring out that our work within the Lord isn’t in useless.
