Living in a Perverse World
(Philippians 2:12-16)
Part 5
It’ll have an atomic meltdown described by Peter as the elements melding with
fervent heat the elements would be the atoms. There will be an uncreation in which
everything goes out of existence.
In its place will be new heaven and the new earth according to Isaiah Chapters 65 and 66 revelation.
For now the Kingdom of God is a spiritual reality separate from
beyond above all other earthly power. All other earthly authority.
All other earthly rule because of that. We draw nothing from earthly forces or powers to advance
the Kingdom of Heaven. His Kingdom cannot be harmed and it cannot
be halted. It cannot be hindered by any earthly power.
No laws can be made by any government
or any ruler to advance His Kingdom. To secure his kingdom
no penal sanctions can stop His Kingdom.
No temporal force can halt His Kingdom.
No one can get in his way.
Now there’s more about his kingdom in john 18:37
Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then?
Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this
end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world,
that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one
that is of the truth heareth my voice.
Pilate says are you a King? Jesus answered you say correctly
that I am a King for this I have been born and for this I came
into the world to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.
What distinguishes people in the Kingdom? They believe what they believe is the Truth.
So you have the satan who’s the father of lies. The whole world lies in the lap of the evil one.
The whole world is basically built on lies. It’s a house of cards built on lies.
Don’t be surprised when you see those lies starting to collapse.
They maintain their power by murder and lying. The Lord’s people are the people of the Truth.
His people will rise up with David and say oh how I love your law.
All who love the Truth are in his kingdom.
So we start from the foundation of the Truth to be identified as members of His Kingdom.
We’re not of the world. We’re in the world Jesus prayed in John 17. Father I don’t want you to take them
out of it but I want you to protect them in the world. Protect them from the evil
one.
So how are we to live in the world?
Well let’s go back to Philippians. Just to mention some things that you can examine on your own
there are many instructions here.
Philippians 2
1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 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.
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.
That are direct one appears in verse Chapter 2:5
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.
That although he existed in the form of God.
He did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped
but emptied himself taking the form of a slave and being made in the likes of man.
He being found in appearance as a man he humbled himself.
We are the children of God. We are lights in the world.
How are we to live?
We are live with an attitude of humility like Our Savior.
Selfless humility should mark us.
James said humble yourself in the presence of God and he will exalt you.
You don’t want to take the fact that you’re a child of God. Or a light in the world
and you’re so distinct that you belong to him eternally that’s something to be proud of.
You humble yourself. Why? Because then you’re prepared to suffer.
if you think too highly of yourself. You’re going to assume that somehow suffering is
something you don’t deserve. But we are called to suffer as Jesus suffered.
He died as our atonement obviously. But First Peter says he died as our example because when he
suffered. When he was revealed. He did not revile again but compended himself to a faithful creator.
So humble yourself. Get ready to suffer take suffering the way the Lord
took suffering. Think like the Apostle Paul who said that I may know him
the power of his resurrection. The fellowship of his sufferings.
There’s another imperative here in this text and that is in Philippians 2:12.
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.
What does work out your salvation with fear and trembling mean?
It means to obey just as you have obeyed. Keep obeying. Work out your salvation doesn’t mean you earn
your salvation. It means the salvation that you have needs to show up on the outside.
Obedience must be demonstrably. A servant. A slave of righteousness.
There’s so many imperatives here.
But I want you to go down to verse 14.
Do all things without grumbling or disputing.
You know what is the best thing we can possibly communicate to the world as we live in these horrible times.
That we don’t complain but humble yourself and live a holy life.
Don’t complain do all things without grumbling or disputing.
Grumblings is an onomatopoeia word that is its definition is like it sound.
Remember: It’s an expression of discontent and expression of dissatisfaction.
It basically means to mutter in a low voice. Verbal rebellion. Constantly complaining.
Look you can’t go around saying all that is true about you.
That you’re a part of the eternal invisible kingdom. You belong to God as his beloved children forever.
You are headed for heaven. You can’t say that and expect anyone to
believe it. If you just complain all the time because what you’re saying is I believe
in God but I don’t believe God’s got control of this mess we’re in.
Who needs a God like that. Our God has complete control.
I think one of the definitive things you can say to people is.
It is exactly the world the way the bible describes it under
judgment. Don’t complain over what has happened in the Sovereign Purpose of God.
Don’t complain over your place in it. Paul says I’ve learned in whatever state I am in to be what?
Be contend and don’t dispute or don’t argue with God over his purposes,
You know the happiest place to be is in the will of God.
In the plan of God and that’s where we live and move.
The favorite place in the world is to be in the midst of a very difficult dilemma that I can’t control.
I feel safest there I feel most secure there because in the things that I can control
I may be asserting my own will over the will of God.
I’m uncomfortable with that I would rather be in a situation that has no
obvious exit. I say okay Lord I’m going to be joyful. I’m going to let you show me what
your providence is.
Planning you know people said well you had courage. When you kept your church open, no
look. I’m old I’ve seen the Providence of God my whole life.
I’ve seen the hand of God the invisible hand of Divine Providence
is the most amazing thing. I’ll take that every day of my life over an occasional
miracle.
It’s one thing for God to stop everything and do something that’s against nature and supernatural,
It’s far more complicated for God to allow all the natural events, people and
decisions and actions to be woven together to precisely accomplish his
perfect will every day of my life. Every single day of my life I am
surprised at divine providence. I love it when I don’t know the way out.
I don’t know the answer. I have no fear because my faith has grown by the faithfulness of God
to extract me from every imaginable dilemma.
So rather than grumble or dispute. I would take you down to verse 18
I urge you rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me. Paul says look at me.
I’m being poured out as a drink offering. I’m in jail for the sacrifice and service of your
faith. I rejoice and share my joy with you all. If I’m in jail and I’m joyful
and I’m right where God wants me. Then wherever you are you need to have
that same joy.
The World needs to see us as joyful.
Israel was according to Deuteronomy 32. Israel was a crooked and perverse
nation moses knew it. They sinned against God by complaining to Moses.
They complained to Aaron. They complained to Miriam. They complained. The Israelites complained,
You get into the Book of Numbers.
You would think they might have learned something.
They’re complaining through the whole Book of Numbers.
Stop complaining and stop disputing with God.
He is for us. He is in us. He is with us.
We don’t win here but we win in the end. Amen Amen
Hear the words of David in Psalm 37.
Maybe this is a this is a good parting word.
Psalm 37:1-12
(A Psalm of David.) Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way,
because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place,
and it shall not be.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
Let’s start in verse 1 and take it to 11 verses.
Do not fret because of evildoers do not be envious toward wrongdoers
for they will wither quickly like the grass and fade like the green herb.
Trust in the Lord and do good and dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself
in the Lord and he’ll give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord. Trust also in him and he will do it.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light. Your judgment is the noonday rest in the Lord.
Wait patiently for him do not fret because of him who prospers in his way because of the man who
carries out wicked schemes.
Cease from anger. Forsake wrath. Do not fret it leads only to evil doing for evildoers will be cut
off but those who wait for the Lord.
They will inherit the land yet a little while.
The wicked man will be no more. You will look carefully for his place.
He will not be there but the humble will inherit the land and
will delight themselves in abundant prosperity. I could sum that up by saying don’t
watch fox news. When you get to worrying about things. Read psalm 37 amen,
Let’s pray that we draw such strength and encouragement. Father from your word so exhilarating.
To know the truth. To be the people of the truth not by any merit of our own
or any will of our own. We were born again not of the will of men
but from your Sovereign Will. May we live in joy.
May we live in contentment.
May we live with love. May the Church of Jesus Christ be so marked by love and so marked by
joy and peace, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness,and self-control all the fruit of the spirit.
That there is no human explanation for us and may the Church in its joy, its tranquility, its love, and its peace
and it’s truth be that shining light on the Hill.
“Only one life to live and soon is past
Only what’s done for Christ will last!”
Hoping to make the time I have left count for the glory of God.
Living in a Perverse World (Philippians 2:12-16) Part 5