Shine Like Stars

Phil 2:12-18

You would think a bunch of hard-driving hockey players wouldn't have to fear someone as nonthreatening as a Christian. But that wasn't the case with the National Hockey League's team, the Washington Capitals, a few years ago when they acquired Jean Pronovost. "Keep an eye on the new guy," the players were warned. Two teammates who watched Pronovost closely were Mike Gartner and Ryan Walter. As they observed his life, they saw something they liked--his Christian testimony. Soon Mike and Ryan were attending Bible studies with Jean. And in time both players turned their lives over to Jesus.

Jean did what we should all do. He lived his faith openly. Because of that decision, he stuck out like a sore thumb in a culture that isn’t very religious. Do we shine like stars? John reminds us that if we are living our salvation, that is exactly what will happen.

PRAYER

I. Work Out Your Salvation

A. What does that mean?

1. As we read our text, we get stumped with the phrase John uses. How do we work out our salvation?

2. Isn’t it impossible to earn our Salvation by works?

3. Understanding the Greek

a) A better translation of this would be “work to full completion, your salvation”

b) In Paul’s time as in our “work” also had the connotation of getting everything of value out.

c) An example would be to work a mine or work a field.

4. So as we look at work today, we are going to learn how we can get the most out of our salvation and mature in our faith.

B. Fear and Trembling

1. I remember very clearly a warm summer day when I was about 7 years old. A friend and I had smashed out all the windows of Mrs. McLaughlin’s garage next door. The police had come by asking about a gang that might be in the area. When my mother found out it was me, there didn’t seem like any salvation was available. My life was about to end. However, I survived the spanking and the worst punishment was then pronounced. I had to go and confess to Mrs. McLaughlin. As I approached her door, I approached in fear and trembling.

2. When we read this text we mistakenly think that is what Paul is saying about salvation.

3. We get the false impression that we have to constantly be in fear and worried if we are saved or not.

4. That’s not what Paul is saying at all.

5. He is talking about that we gain the most of our salvation by approaching God with a holy fear or reverence that trembles at the very thought of sinning against him.

C. God works in you for his own good purposes

1. God doesn’t just sit back and make us muddle through our faith. He actively helps us to grow.

2. Part of that is the fact that he is working in us.

3. Someone once said, “God is more concerned with the workman rather than the work. If the workman is what he ought to be, the work will be what it ought to be.”

4. God works in us to be the Christian we ought to be.

5. If we obey God because the power that is working within us, the things we can do for God will be mighty indeed.

6. More importantly, they will be for God’s will and purposes.

II. How To Work

A. Without complaining or arguing

1. I love Paul’s words here. I believe he had to be very familiar with children.

a) I can’t tell you how many times my children have obeyed me, but with a running commentary of how unfair I am being and they are so badly treated. “Why do I have to do it?” “I always have to do this.”

b) Every parent here can visualize that very same scene in their own families.

2. Paul say we are to do the work of God WITHOUT complaining or arguing.

3. There are very good reasons to do God’s will without complaining or arguing.

a) We are to become blameless and pure.

b) We are children of God without fault in a dark world

4. Imagine the effect our witness has on our non-Christian friends when we say we are Christians but are always grudgingly following God.

a) “Become a Christian and be miserable like me!”

b) Is that the message we want to leave?

c) Absolutely not, we are expected to be like stars shining in the dark.

B. Shining like stars

1. As kids we sang, “this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.”

2. as adults we seem more willing to hide it rather than let it shine.

3. We need to be living billboards for God.

4. We need to be lights in a dark world.

5. President Bush made famous “a thousand points of light.” in a speech in the late 80’s. He was trying to get across the message that if each of us does even small good things, that we can be a great nation of light when taken as a whole.

6. He got the idea from this passage.

7. If all of us as Christians lived as God wants us to, imagine the light we could shed on a dark nation.

8. How? by holding out the word of life.

III. Results of Work

A. Boasting

1. WE can boast in the day of Christ

2. We obviously can never do enough in our lives, but can be proud of what we have done for the glory of God.

3. Just as Paul took pride in the accomplishment of Christians he had work with in Philipi, so can we take pride as we look at those we have influence for Christ.

4. We have every right to be proud of that fact

B. Worth it

1. Paul says that he can boast that he did not run or labor for nothing.

2. His sacrifices and even coming sacrifices were worth it because those he loved and even those he hardly knew were growing in their faith, and he had been blessed by God to play a part in it.

3. I look at many of you, and I know the sacrifices I have made in ministry have been worth it as I see people grow in their faith to be great men and women of God.

4. It’s cool to think that I have had a part in your becoming what you are spiritually.