Yearly at Christmas on TV is , "It’s A Wonderful Life", staring Jimmy Stewart. George Bailey has big dreams of going to college and being a world traveler. Instead, he winds up having to take over his father’s building and loan, which is more like a charity than a business. George becomes so disappointed in what he has become that one day he decides to take his own life. He says, "I wish I’d never been born". At that moment his guardian angel Clarence intervenes and shows him what life would have been like had he never been born. His home town "Bedford Falls" would have become "Pottersville" named after the greedy old banker. His old boss the druggist would have turned into the town drunk because George wouldn’t have been there to stop him from making a fatal error in a prescription. Angel shows him how many lives he touched with his life. All of us want to know that our lives have counted, that we have made a difference in the lives of others.
Matthew 5:14-16: "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
Philippians 2:15 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. The word "light" is descriptive of stars shining in the night sky. We that are heavenly sons are to be heavenly stars.
"And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever" (Dan.12:3).
Years ago the mayor of Toronto launched a campaign called, "Light the Night." The ideal was for residents to leave their lights burning over-night in order to discourage crime. Every believer is to be involved in God’s "Light the Night" campaign.
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; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
At the gym there are weight machines – Cardio machines / Pool / Jacuzzi
A) Everything you need to be healthy under one roof
Does no good for you to sit at home dreaming about and talking to your muscles
Nor to drive up in your car sit in the parking lot & look at the Building
Doesn’t do you any good to go inside & walk around looking at the equipment – watching others work out The equipment is intended to be used
Bible is like the Gym – In it is everything you need to get healthy Spiritually
Promises to stand on – Promises are like Pictures at the Gym { Buff guy)
You too can be like – him – if you work hard enough & long enough –
The Word of God gives us a Picture of Jesus & the Promises assure us that one day we are for sure/ going to look like Him
In this book there ARE Doctrines : Divine truths – teach you about God –what He is like / about Yourself / that teach you how to live /
1) Doctrine is like the Instructors at the Gym – teach you about the Body and how to use the equipment, how everything works together
2) There are Exhortations – Challenges encouragements to go for it in the Lord – Specific instructions: Love your wife / Be Holy
a) Like the aerobic machines or Classes – Push it
3) Psalms – Jacuzzi – Warms & Massages your heart
Paul saying take everything that has been supplied to you & work it out
The word work = to carry out to the goal
A)It speaks of effort & Diligence / and focus – Picture of Olympic runner/swimmer going all the way to the finish line
1. SHINE BY A DISTINCT WALK! 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing;
There is to be a distinct walk on the part of those who are Christians. A walk and lifestyle that is so distinct from the worlds darkness that it like a star shining in the midnight sky. Possible to live in such a way that instead of exerting light, we extinguish the light.
Mohandas Ghandi, the famed leader of the Indian Independence Movement. The independence movement began with a handful of people and he led it into a mass movement of millions. He once made the statement: "I would be a Christian if it were not for other Christians."
Robert Ingersoll, an infidel notorious for his attacks on the Bible, had a godly aunt. He once sent her a copy of one of his books against the Bible. In the flyleaf he wrote the words: "If all Christians had lived like Aunt Sarah perhaps this books would never have been written."
A certain disreputable citizen met his demise. In conducting his funeral the preacher, carried away with his own oratory, waxed eloquent in eulogizing the deceased. He went on and on. The widow, knowing the deceased better than the preacher did, whispered to her son sitting beside her, "Step up there and see if that is your Pappy in that coffin."
We read in verse 14, "Do all things without murmurings and disputings."
Without (choris) is from a root word which means the space lying between two places or limits. The picture I get from this word is for us to put some space between the things we do and our grumbling -- ’’stay away from’’ it.
The word "murmurings" was used to describe the cooing of doves. The word came to mean "grumbling, complaining, muttering." It describes someone that is never satisfied and is always complaining about things. It is a bad attitude to expresses itself in constant grumbling. Heard Unheard.
Someone has said that the Lord created the world in 6 days and rested on the 7th day. On the 8th day He started taking complaints. Complaints about programs, issues, pastors, staff, office things, services, music, other church members…..etc
A person who is always grumbling and complaining is hurtful to the cause of Christ and the name of Christ. Like the match starting destructive fire. Complete opposite to attitude of Christ.
1 Thess 5:18 ‘In everything give murmuring for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.’ PS 50:23 ‘Whosever offers complaints glorifies Me’.?
The word "disputings" speaks of someone who is "doubtful, argumentative, debating." We get our word "dialogue" from this word. It is someone who is always debating and arguing about things.
It was murmuring and disputing that kept the children of Israel in trouble for 40 years! When the Lord speaks, He wants us to obey His voice, without trying to change His mind or trying to find a way out of doing His will.
Nobody likes to be around people who are always grumbling and arguing. This world is not attracted to such a person. Our behavior can be hurtful. There are a lot of people going to hell because of people who are going to heaven.
If we complained less, and praised more, we should be happier, and God would be more glorified. SPURGEON
In the book “Springs In The Valley, the writer tells of a man who found a barn which contained the seeds that Satan sows into the human heart. He found that the seeds of complaining were quite numerous, and he learned that these seeds could be made to grow most anywhere.....but when Satan was questioned he reluctantly admitted that there was one place where he could never get them to thrive. And
where is that asked the man ? Sadly Satan replied, In the heart of a grateful man.
2. SHINE IN THE DARK! 15 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, We are to "shine as lights in the world." The world in which we live. The picture is of believers being stars that shine. Lit. Luminaries Suggests that the world is in darkness. Even plants grow toward the sun!
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Eph.6:12).
"To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me" (Acts 26:18).
Even sadder is that this world loves the darkness: "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19).
The Bible speaks of this world as a "crooked and perverse generation."
1. The word "crooked" describes something that is bent. We get our word Scoliosis which speaks of the curvature of the spine from this word. It speaks of the activities of the world which are not straight.
This world does not think straight, act straight, or go straight. World is characterized by a lifestyle that is crooked and in contrast to that which is straight.
Since 1960, in the United States there has been: 560% increase in violent crime More than a 400% increase in illegitimate births A quadrupling in divorce A tripling of the percentage of children living in a single parent home More than a 200% increase in teenage suicide A drop of 75 points in the average SAT score of High School students.
Even though the United States has only 6% of the worlds population, we have 80% of the divorces. We lead the world in rape, murder, and violent crime. More than 80% of whiskey consumed in the world is consumed by Americans.
Everyday: 2,795 teenagers get pregnant. 1,106 teenage girls have an abortion. 600 teens attempt suicide. Every 26 seconds a teen runs away from home and every 13 seconds someone contacts AIDS.
To have a high standard of morals is considered old fashioned and out of date.
This world is "crooked." It walks a crooked path instead of a straight path and loves to have it so.
The world is also "perverse." The word speaks of that which is "perverted, distorted, twisted, warped." Whereas "crooked" speaks of the worlds activities, the word "perverse" speaks of the worlds attitudes.
Our society can get more upset about the destruction of a Spotted Owl and the cutting of a tree than it does about a long list of things terribly offensive to the heart of God. A warped and distorted sense of morals and values.
George Barna "Baby Busters" refers to generation born between 1965 and 1983. Estimates is around 67.9 million, 27.3% of the population. Found that 37% of Baby Busters strongly agree that abortion is right, while only 24% strongly believe abortion is wrong.
When we look at what God said in His Word about ________ and consider what most in the world think about the matter it is obvious that the values of this world are distorted….homosexuality …same sex marriage. It is obvious that this world has a perverted and distorted sense of morals.
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."
Whereas there is a walk that turns people off, there is a walk that turns people on. The Bible tells us that we are to be blameless and harmless.
The word "blameless" does not speak of perfection or sinless. The word speaks of being faultless. It describes a person that is free from defects but idead is to be free of justifiable criticism.
The word "harmless" speaks of that which is pure. The word means "unmixed." It was used to speak of metal without alloy. It describes someone who is on inside what they are profess to be on the outside.We are to live "without rebuke." To live in such a way that our behavior is above criticism.
When Benjamin Franklin decided to interest the people of Philadelphia in street lighting, he hung a beautiful lantern on the end of a long bracket attached to the front of his house,".
"He kept the glass brightly polished and carefully lit the wick each evening at the approach of dusk. Anyone walking on the dark street could see this light from a long way off and came under its warm glow." What was the result?
"It wasn’t long before Franklin’s neighbors began placing lamps outside their homes," "Soon the entire city realized the value of street lighting and followed his example with enthusiasm."
We are to be lighthouses, warning men of the dangers of sin and pointing them to the safe harbor of salvation. We are to be light reflectors, always reflecting the light of Jesus to those in darkness. (Moon). We are light the way for others, just as the way was lit for us! (Remember, you may be the only Bible some folks ever read!) The bottom line is this: people should be able to look at your life and mine, and even of they disagree with us, they should not be able to point any areas of hypocrisy in our lives!
A distinct style of life in contrast to the world’s style of living. A life different, devout, and distinct. Shines like a star in comparison. What would night be like without the moon and the stars? What is our world starting to look like with Christians retreating?
Mark Twain Memorial in Hartford, Ct., one finds these words written on white paper neatly framed: "Always do right. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest. Truly yours, Mark Twain, New York, Feb.16, 1901."
A life that will astonish a darkened world. A life that is "without rebuke," "
3. SHINE THE WORD! 16 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.
The words "holding fast" were used by the Greeks to speak of offering wine to a god. They mean, "to present." We are to present the Word of Life to this dark world. Stars provide amazing direction to those who study them.
This world thinks they are really living. Think that pleasure, possession, popularity, and promotion is what life is all about. The Bible not only tells you where you can find life, but it can also give you life. The Bible is a book that is alive. It can give you life.
We are to shine and share with this world the light this dark world needs. We are the lantern that bears the Light. We are to present it and offer it to this world in darkness that this world may be brought into the light.
Peter said, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praised of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."
It was Paul’s desire that he be able to rejoice on that day. He knew that if he lived, "holding fast the word of life" he would be able to rejoice when he met the Lord.
The word "vain" was used by a weaver to speak of a piece of cloth that was not fit for sale. It would not bring a price. How tragic to be a Christian yet live life on earth doing nothing and then standing before the Lord having nothing.
How tragic to live life and live it in vain. Many have died with regret and many will meet the Lord with regret. That was a dread of Paul. He did not want to live in vain and meet the Lord empty handed.
On the ceiling of the Palace of Versailles is a painting of Hercules. It took the artist 2 1/2 years of continuous labor to complete the painting. When he received no pay for it, he committed suicide in the room underneath the painting. Life for him seemed without purpose in the absence of a commensurate reward.
17 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. 18 You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.
Paul now speaks of the believers at Philippi and what they would mean to him when he met the Lord. He is writing from prison and knows that any day he could be carried to be executed. The word that he used to describe his death (offered) was a word used in connection to the offering of a sacrifice. Wine was poured over sacrifice as offering of life. He viewed such a death as an offering unto God.
2 Timothy 4:6, "For I am ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand."
Paul looked the giving of his life as an act of worship. It was an offering to the God who saved him and whom he loved. He did not run from such a death but rejoiced in such a death.
He not only viewed his death as an offering to God but also as an offering for the Philippians. Paul said that if he died it would be with joy and there would be no regrets. His life was bearing fruit in the Philippian believers.
He spoke of their "sacrifice." The word is the same that he used in Romans 12:1 when he told the believers in Rome to present their bodies a living sacrifice.
Then he spoke of their "service." The word means, "ministry." They were living in the will of God and doing the work of God.
Paul could die without any regrets because he knew the he would live on in the lives of the Philippians believers. He had led them to Christ and helped them grow as Christians. They were monuments to his life and ministry.
When we meet Christ,We should want to meet Him with a life that is honorable to Him and leave behind lives that are honoring Him.
Can you point to someone that is going to heaven because of you? Someone that is in church and living for God because of your life? What could be greater than knowing that because of your life, you will leave behind fruit.
1 Thessalonians 2:19, "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming."
We are going to meet Him one day. If we have invested our lives in God’s work and have invested our lives in others, it will be a delightful way to meet Him. It would be a delightful way to meet Him at any time and in anyway
