Your Response Matters to God

Phil. 2:12–13

Theme: To become like Christ requires the work of God deep within.

Introduction:

The spiritual life is a journey, and you can always see farther down the road spiritually than you currently are. For that reason, our lives are often haunted by discontentment at best, and deep frustration at worst. In the better moments of our spiritual pilgrimage, we are pleased with the spiritual progress God has granted, enriched by the communion of the Lord and the fellowship of other believers. Yet even in these good moments, we know that there is more—we hunger and thirst for righteousness. We sense the character gulf between us and the Lord Jesus is still sizable. As a result, we Christians are unsettled and drawn inescapably beyond the ground on which we stand, toward chock-full communion with Christ. A number of realizations helps us in our journey; one is the work of God deep within the hearts and minds of His people to conform us to the image of Jesus Christ.

Message:

To become like Christ requires the combination of the work of God, the Word of God, prayer, personal commitment, other believers, and time and trials. Yes, the Work of God within is one of seven key ingredients required for us to develop a mature Christian character and know a life marked by victory instead of defeat. If we make these a part of our daily experience and recognize how God uses each of them, then we will indeed grow in the Lord. Today let us focus on the Work of God deep within the believer and a congregation for positive change.

I.    Respond Faithfully to The Work of God Within (Phil. 2:12-13).

Phil 2:12-13,Wherefore, my beloved, as ye 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. 13, For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

A.   Continue to Walk in Obedience before the Lord and unto the Lord (vs. 12).

                                        1.     Certainly, we should obey God through the influence of spiritual leaders.

i.       Just as the Lord Jesus Christ obeyed the Father and carried out His plan even to death on the cross (v. 8).

ii.     These Philippian Christians needed to obey, to follow Paul’s instruction which was drawn from Christ’s selfless example. (Walvoord, J.)

iii.   Obedience is compliance with an order, request, or law or submission to another’s authority.

iv.   Obedience is more than mere compliance, which is behavior influenced by peers, and from conformity, which is behavior intended to match that of the majority. No, the Lord wants your heart.

                                        2.     Surely, we should continue in obedience when spiritual leaders are not around; Paul understood he could potentially die soon.

i.       Hebrews 13:7, Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. ⁸ Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. ^[1]

ii.     Hebrews 13: 17, Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.^[2]

                                        3.     Consistent obedience to the Lord is a mark of real maturity and worth thriving for; obedience should certainly be towards the Lord’s authority.

                                        4.     Next, our work should be as to Christ. These words show that there should be no real distinction between the secular and the sacred. All that we do should be for Him—with a view to pleasing and honoring Him and to attracting others to Him. The most menial and commonplace tasks in life are ennobled and dignified when they are done for the glory of God. Even washing dishes! That is why some Christian housewives have this motto over their kitchen sink: “Divine service held here three times daily.”^[3]

                                        5.     Ephesians 6:5-8, Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; ⁶ Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; ⁷ With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: ⁸ Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. ^[4]

                                        6.     Colossians 3:22-24, Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: ²³ And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; ²⁴ Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.^[5]

B.   Work out your Sanctification with Holy Reverence for God (vs. 12).

                                        1.     God commands us to “work it out!”

i.       “Work out” means to apply salvation, not to earn it.

ii.     A servant’s heart must be developed through devotion, education, and application.

iii.   Developing selfless attitudes and humility in service requires significant spiritual power and commitment from us. 1 Timothy 4:15-16, Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. ¹⁶ Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.^[6]

iv.   “Work out your own salvation” implies taking personal ownership and responsibility to realize godly change by the grace of God. This is not encouraging independence from God, but cooperation and living in concert with him. Note the example of the Apostle Peter in Acts 10.

                                        2.     God did not say “work for your salvation!”

i.       Titus, 3:5, For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. ⁴ But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, ⁵ Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; ⁶ Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; ⁷ That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.^[7]

ii.     “Salvation” here in Phil. 2:12, is a general reference to growth in grace or sanctification

iii.   Salvation is not by works for justification or sanctification; it is by grace and through faith motivated by love.

iv.   Salvation means the solution of the problem that was vexing the Philippians, that is, their contentions. They had been plagued with squabbles and strife. The apostle has given them the remedy. Now they are to apply the remedy by having the mind of Christ. Thus, they would work out their own salvation, or the solution of their difficulty. (MacDonald, W.)

                                        3.     Godward respect and reverence are the real sources of obedience and not horror or fright. This is the sense of “fear and trembling.” Beloved, it is an incredible honor for us to experience the direct involvement of Almighty God in our development and maturity.

i.       Have proper respect in response to God’s work and blessings in your experience!

ii.     Hebrews 12:28-29, Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: ²⁹ For our God is a consuming fire.^[8]

iii.   Isiah 66:1-2, Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: Where is the house that ye build unto me?  And where is the place of my rest? ² For all those things hath mine hand made, And all those things have been, saith the Lord: But to this man will I look, Even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, And trembleth at my word.^[9]

C.   Know that God is at Work in you Creating Godly Desires (vs. 13).

                                        1.     We must “work out” what God is “working in” each of us. Once again we see a marvelous merging of the divine and human activity. In one sense, we are called on to work out our salvation. In another sense, it is only God who can enable us to do it. We must do our part, and God will do His.

                                        2.     God initiates the work deep within our hearts; He is the deeper incentive and motivation to live a Christ-like life.

i.       The desire, motivation and will to do right come from him

ii.     The energy and power to execute is also supplied by the Lord to the obedient saint.

                                        3.     God is at work in us presently “both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” He is creating desires and fueling spiritual ambitions! He gives inner promptings to guide His people into his plans.

                                        4.     Someone has said, “God does the work of God, and man does the work of man. Man cannot do the work of God, and God will not do the work of man.” (M. Anders??)

D.   Fulfill your Responsibility to be Faithful and Please the Lord (vs. 13).

                                        1.     We do God’s will for his “good pleasure” and delight as our first priority

                                        2.     If that is the case, we must be clear about what is the work of God and what is our responsibility. We have a great genius for turning the two around. We prefer to try to do the work of God and neglect the work of man. It doesn’t work.

                                        3.     We must look to God to initiate the work in our hearts, and we must respond with faithful obedience.

E.   Be Sensitive to God’s Guidance, Promptings and the Spirit’s Voice Within.

                                        1.     Ignore the advice of the Devil to rebel or live for self and your own pleasure. Remember how Jesus rebuke Peter for listening to the Devil (Matt. 16:21-28).

                                        2.     Ignore the advice of our godless society telling us to live for our own satisfaction and our own glory or advancement.

                                        3.     Listen to the Spirit who encourages us to follow the selfless, sacrificial, and service model of Jesus Christ to God’s glory (Phil. 2:1-11).

 

Conclusion:

Today we focused on the Work of God deep within the believer and a congregation for positive change. To become like Christ requires the work of God deep within. What is God doing in your heart today? What motives and desires is He installing in your sensibilities? What character qualities is He building in you? How are you responding to Him? Are you obedient? It matters to God how we respond.

The Christian life is one of continual transformation, from the revolutionary change of our conversion to the daily renewal of our hearts and minds as we learn to live like Christ. We live in hopeful expectation of ultimate transformation, as well, when we shall be made perfect.

But until that time, we must live in this imperfect world. Although we can look forward to our future perfection, it can be discouraging to have to deal with the flaws within us and others. Just keep responding obediently to the work of God deep within. 

---

^[1] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Heb 13:6–8). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[2] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Heb 13:17). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[3] MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1950). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

^[4] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Eph 6:5–8). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[5] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Col 3:22–24). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[6] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., 1 Ti 4:15–16). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[7] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Tt 3:3–7). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[8] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Heb 12:28–29). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[9] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Is 66). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Spiritual Growth Is A Journey

Rom. 12:1–2

Theme: To become like Christ requires the combination of personal commitment, the work of God, and the Word of God..

Introduction:

We all want to be more than we are, but we aren’t sure how. Remember the spiritual life is a journey, and you can always see farther down the road spiritually than you currently are. For that reason, the Christian life is often haunted by dissatisfaction at best, and deep travail at worst. In the better moments of our spiritual pilgrimage, we are gratified with the spiritual growth God has granted, enriched by the communion of the Lord and the fellowship of other saints. Yet even in these good moments, we know that there is more. As Christians we are unsettled and drawn inescapably beyond the ground on which we stand, toward the warmer climate of fuller fellowship with Christ (Anders).

Then there are other moments in our Christian experience when we rush out into the darkness and weep bitterly because of some failure. We wonder how the Lord Jesus can forgive us so great a sin, or a sin committed so often. Though this struggle is all too familiar, it does help to know that growth is an extensive process!

Message:

There are three key ingredients required for someone to develop a mature Christian character and know a life marked by victory instead of defeat. If we make these a part of our daily experience and recognize how God uses each of them, then we will indeed grow in the Lord.

I.      Make a Conscious Choice to Change (Rom. 12:1-2)—You Must Decide to Live God’s Will. Romans 12:1–2, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, [complete] will of God.  The verse answers the question, “What does God want?” Another way of asking it is, “What is God’s will?”

A.     God wants you.  “Present,” “conformed,” “transformed,” and “prove” are the key concepts in this passage. The first three are commands and the last states the overall objective. That is we must present ourselves to live for Christ, and refuse to conform to worldliness by transformed thinking.  Why?  That we may prove God’s will is the most complete and best way for us to live. But, how do we do this?

B.     Give Him your Body.  Paul urged us as believers to “present” our bodies (see Rom 6:13) as living sacrifices (1Cor. 6:19-20; Phil. 1:20-21; 2Cor. 4:10-11). 

                                                1.      1 Cor. 6:19-20, What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20, For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

                                                2.      Phil 1:20-21, According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 21, For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

                                                3.      2 Cor. 4:10-11, Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11, For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

                                                4.      The day I was married to my wife Patrice I presented and yielded myself to her and I refused all others.  Every day since then has been an effort to prove that life with here is the best life for me.

                                                5.      We are to offer or “yield” (Rom. 6:13, 16, 19) our bodies—the totality of our life, personality, and activities, which is expressed through the vehicle of our body. 

                                                6.      This is our “reasonable service,” which refers to any ministry performed for God, such as the ones mentioned in the following verses (Rom. 12:3-12).  Christians are believer-priests, identified with the great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ (Heb 7:23-28; 1 Peter 2:5, 9; Rev 1:6). A believer’s offering of his total life as a sacrifice to God is therefore sacred service.

C.     Give Him your Mind.  Paul then stated the general implications of a believer’s offering his life to God as a sacrifice. Such an offering represents a complete change in lifestyle, involving both a negative and a positive aspect.

                                                1.      First the negative, Paul commanded, “be not conform” or no longer live according to the worldly lifestyle or the pattern of this present age. Don’t allow a godless society pressure you to be just like the average individual who ignores God.

                                                2.      Then positively Paul commanded, “But be ye transformed,” we are to keep on progressing through spiritual changes from the inside out. The key to this change is the “mind”—“by the renewing of your mind.” The mind is the control center of our attitudes, thoughts, feelings, and actions (see Eph 4:22-23). As our mind keeps on being made new by the spiritual input of God’s Word, prayer, and Christian fellowship, our lifestyle continues to be transformed.

                                                3.      Scuba divers and gymnasts know that where their head goes, the rest of their body will eventually follow.

D.    Give Him your Will.  As a Christian is transformed in his mind and is made more like Christ, he comes to approve of and desire God’s will, not his own will for his life. Then he discovers that God’s will is good for him, and that it pleases God, and is complete in every way. It is all he needs. But only by being renewed spiritually can a believer ascertain, do, and enjoy the will of God.  

E.     Become a Living Sacrifice. But, What Is Sacrificial Living? It means breaking the world’s mold; going against the flow of society. Yet God does not hesitate to confront us with the choice. The option is not whether we will conform; rather, the choice is to whom will we conform? Will our lives follow the pattern of this world or God’s pattern? The following are components of God’s pattern:

                                                1.      Offer our bodies—Delivering both the inner and outer self into God’s control.

                                                2.      Be nonconformists—Consciously resisting the suggestions, values, and pressures of the world around us.

                                                3.      Renew our minds—Constantly asking God to teach us to think as he thinks.

                                                4.      Estimate ourselves honestly—Having neither false humility nor inappropriate pride in our serving relationships with others.

                                                5.      Utilize our gifts—Identifying those gifts to be used in helping others; finding a purpose, a place, and a position to serve other believers. –The Life Application Commentary Series 

II.  Respond Faithfully to The Work of God Within (Phil. 2:12-13).

Phil 2:12-13,Wherefore, my beloved, as ye 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. 13, For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

A.     Know that God is at Work.

                                                1.      God is working in us “both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”  He creates desires and empowers spirit ambitions!  He gives inner promptings to guide His people.

                                                2.      Someone has said, “God does the work of God, and man does the work of man. Man cannot do the work of God, and God will not do the work of man.”

B.     Fulfill Your Responsibility. If that is the case, we must be clear about what is the work of God and what is our responsibility. We must look to God to initiate the work in our hearts, and we must respond with faithful obedience.

C.     Be Sensitive to God’s Word and His Still Small Voice Within.

III.          Get into the Word of God Consistently (Heb. 4:12).

A.     Transformation Cannot Be Complete Without The Word Of God. Without the Bible, we don’t know what we should do, and the Holy Spirit does not have His key tool in our lives. The book of Hebrews says: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) 

                                                1.      That is God’s Word is jam-packed with living penetrating power: it is sharper than the sharpest sword; the Bible cuts swiftly and probes deeply into our innermost thoughts, motives and desires; it literally exposes us for what we really are.

                                                2.      The inner life of a Christian is often a strange mixture of motivations both genuinely spiritual and completely human. It takes a supernaturally discerning agent such as the Word of God to sort these out and to expose what is of the flesh. The readers might think that they were contemplating certain steps out of purely spiritual motivations when, as God’s Word could show them, they were acting unfaithfully as did Israel of old. –Walvoord, John F. : The Bible Knowledge Commentary

B.     The Scriptures Have Inherent Power As They Are Used By The Holy Spirit In Our Lives. The apostle Paul wrote: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished [comprehensively equipped] unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16–17).

                                                1.      In addition to being God’s love letter and self-disclosure of Himself, the Bible clearly spells out His plan for our redemption and restored fellowship. It is also our final authority for all matters of faith, morality, and practice. Through the inspired Word, God the Holy Spirit illuminates and guides believers in our Christian walk and also prepares us for our future heavenly destination.

                                                2.      It was George Mueller who said: “The vigor of our spiritual life will be in exact proportion to the place held by the Word in our life and thoughts.” Determine to give the Bible a greater place in your life.

                                                3.      David wrote in the Psalms, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9).  “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11). “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).   He also wrote, in Psalm 19, that the word of God was more valuable than gold, and sweeter than honey, “More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. ¹¹ Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward” (Psalm 19:10-11).

                                                4.      Without the Scriptures, no one has a hope of always making wise decisions, of consistently discerning the will of God, of knowing how to sustain relationships, of having a morally tuned conscience, of knowing right from wrong in the small as well as great areas of life, of knowing God’s will and worshiping Him in spirit and in truth, or of being equipped to live and minister in this world. In addition to the work of God, it takes the word of God to become spiritually mature.—Max Anders

                                                5.      Our finite minds will never be able to comprehend all of the teaching of Scripture, but the essential truths related to our redemption and Christ-like living cannot be misunderstood. It was Abraham Lincoln who once observed: “Read the Bible for whatever reason you can accept and take the rest on faith, and you will live and die a better man.” –Osbeck, Kenneth W.: Amazing Grace

Conclusion:

The truth is we have undergone a miraculous transformation through the new birth! When we accepted the Lord as our Savior, something wonderful happened. A reorientation of our inner being took place. As any growth process, our change is often imperceptible to us. Yet over time, as we spiritually mature, we will come to exhibit more and more of Christ's holy character.  

Anyway we have been changed for the better! The Christian life is one of continual transformation, from the revolutionary change of our conversion to the daily renewal of our hearts and minds as we learn to live like Christ. We live in hopeful expectation of ultimate transformation, as well, when we shall be made perfect.