May 19, 2024

“OVERJOYED”

“THE JOY OF RESPONSIBILITY”

PHILIPPIANS 2:12-18

“Few things are harder to put up with, than the annoyance of a good example” said Mark Twain. 

Admiration for a great person can inspire us, but it cannot enable us. It takes more than an example on the outside; it takes the power on the inside, which we get from God.

How in the world are we expected to follow Paul’s exhortation “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” (2:5)?

Ephesians 6:10 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”

Philippians 2:13 “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

It is not imitation, but by incarnation:

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

The Christian life is not a series of ups and downs. It is rather a process of “ins and outs.” God works in, and we work out. We cultivate the submissive mind by responding to the divine provisions God makes available to us:

1.   There Is A Purpose To Achieve- Philippians 2:12,14-16

“Therefore” vs.12- or for this reason, Paul links this verse with his previous description of Christ’s preeminent example of selfless humility. 

Philippians 2:12 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;”

“Work out your own salvation” vs.12

Romans 8:29 “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

So to work out our salvation not in the sense of earning it, but expressing the reality of our salvation through our practical obedience and selfless humility.

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.”

We are to follow only what we see of Christ in our lives:

1 Corinthians 11:1 “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.”

Philippians 2:14-15

The working God does it affects our attitude (vs.14), and our actions (vs.15). We are to do everything without complaining and disputing.

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Jesus wants us to be lights in the world. Not only did He say it, but He lived it. And He wants to continue to shine forth through us.. 

Philippians 2:16 “holding fast the word of life,…”

2.   There Is A Power To Receive- Philippians 2:13

Philippians 2:13 “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

God must work in us before He can work through us.

God is more interested in the workmen than the work. If the workmen is what he ought to be, the work will be what it ought to be.

Philippians 1:27 “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”

When you surrender to the power of God within you, then obedience becomes a delight and not a battle.

John 14:16-17

Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

The power is here, but how do you use it? What tools does God use, by His Holy Spirit, to work in our lives?

*The Word Of God

1 Thessalonians 2:13 “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.”

*Prayer

Ephesians 2:20 “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”

The Holy Spirit is closely related to the practice of prayer in our lives. The book of Acts makes it clear that prayer is a divinely ordained source of spiritual power:

Acts 1:14 “These all continued with one accord in prayer [e]and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”

Acts 12:5 “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.” 

The Word of God and prayer go together. Unless the Christian takes time for prayer, God cannot work in him and through him. 

*Suffering

The Spirit of God works in a special way in the lives of those who suffer for the glory of Christ.

1 Peter 4:12-16

The Word of God, prayer, and suffering are the three tools that God uses in our lives.

3.  There Is A Promise To Believe- Philippians 2:16-18

What is this promise? That joy comes from submission.

Philippians 2:16-18 “holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. 17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.”

Jesus defeated hatred by manifesting love, He overcame lies with truth. Because He surrendered He became victorious!

 Luke 14:11 “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

There is a two-fold joy that comes to the person who possesses and practices the submissive mind:

A joy hereafter- vs.16 “… that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.”

And a joy here and now- vs.17-18 “Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.”

But this joy is also a present reality, and it comes through sacrifice and service.

Two things to remember as you seek to work out God’s inner work by the power of the Holy Spirit:

• One- Control Self’s Urges To Take Credit. Make it your goal to exalt Christ not self, in everything. 
• Two- Conquer Self’s Tendency To Take Charge. Self doesn’t like to sit in the backseat or take the passenger side. Self wants complete control, don’t give in.