I can relate to people who are handy-men. And I fully understand the motivations that drive a handyman
• Certainly there is the motivation to save money. Why pay someone when you can do the job yourself?
• Then there is also the satisfaction which comes when you step back from your project and say, “Look at what I did”.
Personally I think they are great motivations. But being a handyman does put you into dangerous territory sometimes.
One danger is completely underestimating the time it takes for project. I know a man who promised his wife it would only take 4 years to build their own home. They were still living in the shed 10 years later.
Another danger is over-estimating one’s ability to do the work. I mean, how hard can it be, we have seen heaps of people on the renovation shows on TV so there is no reason why we can’t do the same ... is there?
Then there is the fact that you are fitting these projects around work, and family time, and church commitments. So you keep pushing yourself to finish the job at night or a few hours over the weekend, only to find that you are beyond exhaustion and that the project has just become a thorn in your flesh.
And what is the result?
• A whole bunch of half finished projects which sit for years waiting to be done.
• Or the end result looks so bad that not even your mother will tell you that you have done a good job.
• Eventually, for a significant number of handymen, they finally get in a professional. Which kind of defeats the original purpose of saving money and having the satisfaction of doing it yourself.
This is not always the final outcome. But it happens regularly enough for us to be able to put a stereo-type on your typical home handyman. This stereo-type also helps us understand the real contrast between a typical handyman and God.
You see, God is not a handyman.
Let’s turn to Philippians 1:1-11 where we can read about this fact
(Read Passage)
Did you see the part which tells us that God isn’t a handyman? It’s in verse 6.
Be confident of this:- He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
God is not your average handyman. Every project He sets His mind to is brought to completion.
Now, for something to be brought to completion there needs to be a starting point. Paul hints at this starting point in the very first verse when he says:-
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons.
At some point in history the church at Philippi did not exist. At some point each member of that church were not saints. At some point there was a start to the journey for every person. It happened in the days of Paul ... and it is happening just as much today. Jesus is turning people into saints.
Now when we first hear the word ‘saint’ we often call to mind a really holy person. Currently the Catholic Church in Australia is going through the process of making Mary McKillop a saint.
• She has done some incredible acts of sacrificial service.
• She is someone who people look up to and respect.
• Like many saints she will probably end up having a church named after her.
That is what many people think about when they hear the word ‘saint’. It’s not necessarily wrong; it’s just that the Bible’s definition of how one becomes a saint is quite different.
The word “saint” in the Bible literally means, the ones who have been made holy
The primary issue here is not the great things you have done, but the fact that you have been set apart. To help us understand what I mean let’s talk about a building which is most described in the Old Testament … it was known as the tabernacle or temple.
The tabernacle was first built when the Israelites were wondering in the desert away from Egypt and on their way to the Promised Land. It was built by master craftsmen. Later, when the Israelites were settled in the Promised Land, the Tabernacle was packed away and the Temple was built. They were both places of worship; God’s seat on earth. This was a special place. Therefore all the items in the tabernacle and temple had to be holy.
Now the thing about these holy items is that, before they were used in the place of worship, they were just ordinary. Take the pottery as an example. All the pottery would be at the pottery shop.
• They would all be the same. The same size. The same shape. The same material.
• They would all have flaws. Some stood a little crocked. Some would have marks. Some would not be perfectly round.
Then the priest would come and choose an item ... one out of all the others. Suddenly, for no other reason than it has been chosen, the pot is now holy.
The holiness, or saint-ness, of the item is based on the fact that it was set apart, not because of the actual use which they had. Now let’s apply that concept to people.
From the outside we are pretty much the same. Sure there are differences in skin colour, eye colour, character etc; but all of us are in the image of God. All of us were designed to be in relationship with God; a God who does not want us to perish.
We also have flaws, in fact it is a very significant flaw called sin.
… sin which prevents us from having a relationship with God.
… sin which blinds us to the fact that we are in rebellion to God and on a path of eternal separation from Him.
Sin which makes us unacceptable.
And that is the case until someone come along and makes a choice. A choice which takes you from among those who are all the same as you … people who are sinful image bearers … and then sets you apart and makes you holy.
Paul tells us who that “someone” is in verse 1 … this letter is written, ‘to all the saints in Christ Jesus.’ If we are going to be people who see the good work of God brought to completion in our lives, we first need to recognise the unique work of Jesus.
It is the work of the only One who can save.
There is only One person in the world who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin. A unique person who has been given to us as a gift from God.
It is the work of the only One who can deal with sin.
Before Jesus comes into our lives we are separated from God, in complete rebellion to Him. Jesus steps in and makes peace ... making you and me One with God. By dying on the cross Jesus pays the price.
It is the work of the only One who can bring us into a relationship with God. Jesus has paid the price because He wants to offer us a gift. The gift of eternal life which is freely given, but which cost Jesus everything to secure. But through this gift the guilty given hope and transformation is possible.
And that is what makes us saints or, more precisely, that is what makes us “the ones who have been made holy”. Our holiness is not primarily based on our great acts of sacrifice and service. Our holiness is based on the fact that we have been set apart by Jesus.
That is why God’s work makes such a significant difference to our lives. God is not a handyman.
Be confident of this:- He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 1:6)
In Jesus Christ we are given the ability to start on the journey. In Jesus Christ we are given the means to be faithful as we travel that journey. In Jesus Christ we are given the tools we need when we fail in that journey. Everything we need for a relationship with God that will last for eternity is given to us in Jesus Christ.
Knowing all these things raises a really important question.
Are there any types of people who cannot be brought to completion by God?
We could ask this question another way.
What sort of people can become saints?
At a recent camp we ran there were young people whose parents were in jail, and who were in foster care, and who had been expelled, and who were angry at life and everyone who came across their path. Through the message of the Gospel these young people came to faith ... they were set apart by Jesus.
Each one of us has known people who have made poor and ungodly choices. Drugs, alcohol, abuse, violent, corruption. It has all been a part of their life. Yet, by grace, Jesus came into the lives of these people and suddenly they are saints.
In the world around us you meet many nice people. They are successful and upstanding citizens in the community and they are highly respected. But for many of these people there comes a realisation that life is more than success. It happened because Jesus came into their lives and made them realise that they needed to be set apart.
Who can be a saint? Anybody … from any background … in any circumstance. In all of life, as we focus on Jesus, we will be given all the strength … and help … and hope … we need to get through life. This is where the journey that leads to completion begins. Which is in incredible message of hope and encouragement. Yet it doesn’t stop there. This journey of completion comes with an added bonus.
You see the Christian life isn’t just about us sitting around waiting for heaven to arrive. The Christian life is also about knowing that God will give us a life which is complete and full of significance right now.
This life will call us to have a partnership in the Gospel.
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
(Philippians 1:3-5)
The message that we have been talking about today is a great message. It gives us identity. It gives us purpose. It carries us when we have no hope. It transforms us when we have no future. It literally makes the difference between eternal life and eternal death. As those who have been set apart we need to continue in partnership so that other may know that God will complete what He starts.
A life with God will also call us to abound more in love.
This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
(Philippians 1:9)
Do you remember when you were dating? Some people you connect with seem OK at the beginning, but the more you got to know them the harder they were to accept and get along with. If love does not kick in at that point, well the relationship will come to an end. As God works in us He helps us to do that with the people around us, He makes our love abound, so that we will not give up on them but help them get to know Jesus more.
Knowing that our lives will have significance also enables us to discerning what is best.
So that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,
(Philippians 1:10)
I always find it amazing what will happen when you give children money. So often they will use the money to buy stuff with is useless – they just don’t know what to do with their wealth. When God is working in our lives he helps us know. The right path. The right choices. The right answers. As we walk with Him daily we will see our spiritual lives mature and grow.
Closely connect with this will be us having a life which is filled with the fruit of righteousness.
Filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
(Philippians 1:11)
God’s work in you will have an effect on others. They will see the change. They will notice the difference in your attitude and actions. They will realise that your reactions in certain situation are different. And they will ask, “What is going on?” God will use your life to make people have questions, so that you can give the praise to God and tell them why you have changed. Your life will have a significant impact on others.
God is not your average handyman.
• He never underestimates all that is needed to help people change.
• He has the ability to make a real difference in our lives.
• He never gets tired or has to fit us in around other more important jobs.
• And He will always finish what He starts.
That’s the type of message which is able to make a real difference in anyone’s life isn’t it.
• Our lives.
• The lives of people we love.
• The lives of people in this community.
In each one God is willing to give a life which has the guarantee of being brought to completion … and the bonus of being filled with significance.
