Let Your Light Shine | Philippians 2:13-18
1. Live a life of worship to Jesus Christ. Serve Him by Serving Each Other.
Jesus Christ is God. We are called to worship Him. We are called to be like Him. Paul is urging this church to humble themselves like Christ humbled Himself.
“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
--Philippians 2:12-13
Paul loves this church. Christ loves this church calling them “My beloved…” he is reminding them of God’s love for them and that God oversees their church—He is the head of their church, not them, not their pastor, not their elders or deacons. Jesus is working through His church. When the church obeys it’s creator, their master, it brings good pleasure to God.
“…for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
--Philippians 2:13
“I will ask the Father and He will give you another helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because he abides with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you.”
--John 14:16-18
Worship to God is using your God-given gifts and abilities to glorify Him. Serving each other with your gifts pleases God.
“So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.’”
--John 13:12-16
Christ loves His church. He loves the world so much that He has given us life to save the world from their sin.
“The love of God for the world takes public form in Jesus Christ. In him the glory of God blazes forth into the world. Risen from the dead, he is the proof of the truth and goodness of God.”
--Clark Pinnock
“Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will proves yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach…”
--Philippians 2:14-15a
γογγυσμός gongysmós, a murmur, murmuring, muttering a secret debate, a secret displeasure not openly avowed
- Let Your Light Shine in The Darkness of the World.
“So that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.”
--Philippians 2:15-16
What is the Day of Christ?
“’Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.’ It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he *said to me, ‘Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ And he *said to me, ‘These are true words of God.’ Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he *said to me, ‘Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.’”
--Revelation 19:7-10
Weddings are amazing. They are important. They celebrate a covenant, a sacred union between a man and a woman. Two people that are proclaiming their live for one another and become a union for life together, two people becoming one flesh. Jesus continually uses this comparison to a wedding throughout scripture to show how much He loves His church.
The Wedding Feast:
-The bridegroom would go to his father’s house to prepare the house for the wedding feast/ wedding evening. He would make sure everything was in order and the place was ready/ prepared so the bride could live with him in his father’s house.
-The couple would be separated and as the 7 day celebration was getting ready to begin there would a processional. The bridegroom would bring his party and would arrive at the bride’s house and the announcement was celebrated with a trumpet (a shofar) a ram’s horn. In the evening the bridegroom would escort he bride back to his father’s house.
-The bridesmaids or those who are assisting the bride and, in her party, would take torches, tall, skinny rods with cloth dipped in oil on the tops of them. They would light these torches along the way so their light would light the way back to the father’s house. They would typically have to bring extra oil in preparation so the light would not be extinguished—this light would shine in the darkness showing them the way to their new future of being together in holy marriage.
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.
--Matthew 25:1-13
Matthew 25, Jesus tells three parables, telling His people what the second coming of Christ will be like. Who is going to get judged and who is going to make it into heaven. There were Ten Virgins and only five were prepared for the bridegroom! A). They didn’t bring extra oil. B). They fell asleep C). When the bridegroom arrived they were not ready; the oil couldn’t be shared.
Matthew 25:31-46. We are not saved by our works, but God will know who is saved based on those who obey His commands, for those who humble themselves and serve others, who think of others before thinking of themselves. What kind of fruit are we producing in our lives? Jesus will judge that fruit; he will judge our deeds. Those who are thrown into the fire are indifferent to the issues in the world; to helping those in need. This indifference to worship Christ and serve others is what seals their eternal judgement.
“We cannot afford to be indifferent towards Jesus and His return.
- We can’t afford to be indifferent towards the Holy Spirit who makes us ready for the return of Jesus.
- We can’t afford to be indifferent towards the resources that God gives us.
- We can’t afford to be indifferent towards the needy people all around us.
- We can’t afford to be indifferent towards lost humanity that will stand in judgment.”
--Enduring Word Commentary
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
--Matthew 5:14-16
Jesus sees His people as the light of the world. Christ’s light shines through those who follow Him. Let your light shine. Do not cover it. Do not tremble in the darkness—light up the darkness. The marriage supper is coming soon. The Bridegroom is on His way, His name is Jesus Christ, we must be prepared. Keep the lamp lit.
“But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.”
--Philippians 2:17-18
“The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for my name’s sake, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love…I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place unless you repent.”
--Revelation 2:1-5
“He calls each and every star by name. It’s not likely that he’s forgotten yours.”
--Louie Giglio
For example, the survey shows that many evangelicals hold theologically erroneous beliefs about the nature of God and the sinfulness of man—two critically important areas of doctrine that lay the foundation for all other theological beliefs.
Specifically, 64% of evangelicals believe that “Everyone is born innocent in the eyes of God,” and 53% affirm that “Everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature.”
Further, almost half of evangelicals (47%) affirm that “God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.” Despite the fact that identifying as evangelical included affirming that “The Bible is the highest authority for what I believe,” many evangelicals embrace unbiblical beliefs regarding the worship that God accepts. The Bible consistently teaches that true worship must be directed to the one true God as He has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ, and that false worship is unacceptable to Him (John 4:24; 1 John 2:23).
It is clear many American Christians attend church, worship nights and bible studies but they don’t know God. God knows your name; but do you know Him?