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Well, you can turn with me in 
your Bibles to Philippians chapter 2. Philippians 2, as we work our 
way through Paul's epistle to the church in Philippi, our focus 
tonight will be verses 14 to 18. Last time we see the apostle 
gave a general exhortation in verses 12 and 13, and then he 
gives some concrete application of that in verses 14 to 18. So 
I'll read the section beginning in verse 12 and concluding in 
verse 18. Therefore, my beloved, as you 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. For it is God 
who works in you both to will and to do for his good pleasure. 
Do all things without complaining and disputing. that you may become 
blameless and harmless, children of God, without fault, in the 
midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine 
as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that 
I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or 
labored in vain. Yes, and if I am being poured 
out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your 
faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same reason, 
you also be glad and rejoice with me. Amen. Well, let us pray. Our Father, we thank you for 
this time together. We thank you for the written 
word of the living and true God, We know it's God-breathed, we 
know it is given by You for our good and for our instruction. 
And we pray that that would occur tonight, that the Spirit would 
guide us and lead us as we consider this passage. Very, very specific 
passage in terms of our conduct, in terms of our heart attitudes. 
Give us grace in the presence and the power of the Spirit. 
that we may comply with such instructions that we find here. 
Do forgive us for all of our sins. Cleanse us from all unrighteousness 
and grant us that power wherein we may resist temptation and 
sin and we may conduct ourselves as individuals and as a church 
in a way that brings glory and honor and praise unto you, our 
great God. And we ask through Jesus Christ, 
our Lord. Amen. Well, as we come to this 
section, as I mentioned, verses 12 and 13 are general, work out 
your own salvation with fear and trembling. God is at work 
in us both to will and to do for his good pleasure. And then 
he connects that general statement with specific application. Interestingly, 
don't complain and don't dispute. If I was one of those clever 
preachers that used clever titles, I would title this sermon, Stop 
Whining and Always Be Shining. Because that's the point of the 
very passage itself. Now, I'm not a clever preacher, 
and I'm not a clever title maker, so please don't ever attach that 
to this particular sermon. The believer in a sinful generation. How does the believer conduct 
himself? I think it moves from him and 
himself, him towards his fellows in church, and then him in the 
world that he finds himself in. So I want to look first at the 
condemnation of grumbling in verses 14 to 16, and then secondly, 
the commendation of joy in verses 17 and 18. So note first, do 
all things without complaining and disputing. And then he goes on to say that 
you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without 
fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among 
whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word 
of life. So notice, in terms of scope, 
do all things, obviously all good things. You're not supposed 
to sin, you're not supposed to engage in wickedness, but whatever 
it is that you do, you're to do it in such a way as you are 
compliant with the prohibition here, compliant with the exhortation 
here, to do it without complaining and disputing. So in terms of 
complaining and disputing, the idea is simple, outwardly by 
the tongue or inwardly by the heart. In fact, this word translated 
complaining is oftentimes translated grumbling. Jesus found this in 
the Pharisees and the scribes very often, they would grumble 
about him, Luke 15 one. All the sinners and the tax collectors 
drew near to Jesus to hear Him, and then it says the scribes 
and the Pharisees, they grumbled, and they said, this man receives 
sinners and eats with them. So the apostle says we're to 
do all things without that attitude of complaint, without that attitude 
of grumbling. and without that attitude of 
an argumentative or disputing spirit. He's not condemning legitimate 
theological debate. He's not condemning questioning 
one another in such a way as to achieve a good end. He is 
condemning that attitude wherein we're always argumentative, we're 
always exalting ourselves, we're always making problems or being 
sowers of discord. And it's very difficult, especially 
in light of what he says in verse 15, to not see the Old Testament 
as backdrop to this particular passage. Notice when he says, 
children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and 
perverse generation. That language, crooked and perverse 
generation, comes from Deuteronomy 32, verse five, and then again, 
Deuteronomy 32, verse 20. There, God, through Moses, is 
upbraiding the children of Israel for their sinfulness. They had 
been given that covenant status as God's people, and yet they 
did not live consistently with that. So God, the Lord, through 
Moses, describes them as a perverse generation. So in a table turning 
here, the apostle says the Philippians are to live in Philippi in that 
crooked and perverse generation in a manner that's consistent 
with that religion that was commended to the old covenant Israelites. 
And then Paul in 1 Corinthians 10, you can look back there for 
a moment. because we're gonna go back to the old covenant to 
see what he is fleshing out in our text. Notice in 1 Corinthians 
10, 10, nor complain, well, verse nine, nor let us tempt Christ 
as some of them also tempted and were destroyed by serpents, 
nor complain as some of them also complained and were destroyed 
by the destroyer. Now, all these things happened 
to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition 
upon whom the ends of the ages have come. So now go all the 
way back to the book of Numbers. The book of Numbers. We see many 
instances of complaint. We see many instances of disputing. We see that argumentative attitude. 
We see that lack of embracing the very providence of God Most 
High. So in Numbers chapter 11, it starts off in verse one with 
an indication of their complaint. Now, when the people complained, 
it displeased the Lord, for the Lord heard it and his anger was 
aroused. So the fire of the Lord burned 
among them and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp. 
Then the people cried out to Moses, and when Moses prayed 
to the Lord, the fire was quenched. So he called the name of the 
place Tabra because the fire of the Lord had burned among 
them. Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to 
intense craving. So the children of Israel also 
wept again and said, who will give us meat to eat? So they're 
complaining about the lack of meat. And this complaint is completely 
unwarranted because they had just started out on their journey. 
They couldn't have been that hungry. As well, they had manna. In fact, if you look to verses 
7 to 9, this isn't a menu. This isn't a description of the 
wonders of manna. It is rather the rationale as 
to why what they were doing was absolutely wicked. You could 
use manna for a whole host of applications. You weren't going 
to starve to death. You may not get that blessing 
of meat, but you're not going to go hungry. And again, God 
promised to deliver you to a land that flows with milk and honey. 
He didn't say that the pathway there would flow with milk and 
honey either. You're gonna have to realize 
that in the wilderness with this many people, you're not gonna 
get the sumptuous fare that you always long for. And so they 
complain, they whine, they grumble, they disputed with Moses. Notice 
in chapter 12 of the book of Numbers, verse 2, so they said, 
this is the brother and the sister of Moses, Miriam and Aaron. So 
they said, has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has 
he not spoken through us also? And the Lord heard it. So they're 
grumbling, they're complaining, they're disputing, they want 
something, they're not content with God's providence. Look over 
at numbers 13 and 14, basically a reconnaissance mission. The 
12 spies are sent to spy out the land, to bring back a report, 
to bring back useful data and good intel so that they could 
launch this incursion into the promised land. come back, 10 
spies whine, grumble, and complain, and the two spies say, let us 
go up at once. Now notice who the congregation 
listens to in Numbers 14, one. So all the congregation lifted 
up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night, and 
all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron. And 
the whole congregation said to them, if only we had died in 
the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness. 
What whiners? What complainers? What disputers? They're not being content with 
the providence of God. So when Paul writes what he writes 
to the Philippians, I would suggest his invocation of that description 
of this wilderness and second generation from Deuteronomy suggests 
that we ought to reflect on what's happening in the book of Numbers. 
Notice in Numbers 14, 26, And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, 
saying, How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who 
complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which 
the children of Israel make against Me. And then notice in chapter 
16, this rebellion against Moses and Aaron. You've got Korah. 
Korah's not content with his particular task as being a Levite. No, he wants to be the high priest. 
He wants to go into the holy of holies. And Moses understands 
the nature of his challenge. And Moses brings this out in 
verse 11 and number 16. Therefore, you and all your company 
are gathered together against the Lord. And what is Aaron that 
you complain against him? So when Paul says, do all things 
without complaining and disputing, there's a large history in our 
history of whiners and complainers and those who engage in dispute. 
Notice as well, Dathan and Abiram in chapter 12, verse 12 in chapter 
16. And Moses sent to call Dathan 
and Abiram, the sons of Eliab. But they said, we will not come 
up. Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of 
a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness, 
that you should keep acting like a prince over us? What are they 
doing? They're complaining about Moses. They're disputing with 
Moses. They're argumentative with Moses. 
They're basically saying, who made you boss? Well, God did. In fact, that's what they go 
on to say in verse 14. Moreover, you have not brought 
us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us an inheritance 
of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of 
men? We will not come up. So basically they are upbraiding 
Moses because he's acting like a prince among them. So if you 
go back then to Philippians chapter 2, when Paul says what Paul says, 
Paul has a reason for saying what Paul says. Grace taught 
our heart to fear, but it doesn't always teach us, or it does, 
but we don't always listen, to not be complaining and whining 
and disputers. Aquinas says, for no one can 
exist without sin, but he can without grumbling, hence he urges 
them to do this. So do all things without complaining 
and disputing. And he's going to explain that 
and flesh it out. But before we move on, let's 
just consider when we're doing what Paul condemns here, when 
we're engaging in complaining and disputing, guess what we're 
not doing? We're not doing what we're supposed 
to be doing. Look over at Philippians chapter 
four and verse four. We are to be joyful. Verse four, 
rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say rejoice. Hard 
to be rejoicing in the Lord while we're whining and complaining 
and disputing and arguing. Hard to rejoice in the Lord when 
our mindset with reference to God's holy providence is that 
I've been dealt a bad hand. Because in essence, isn't that 
it? Whenever we complain, we're basically 
complaining against God and against the circumstances that he has 
placed us in. As well, the believer is to be 
thankful. Notice in Philippians 4, 6, be anxious for nothing, 
but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. It's hard to be thankful when 
we're complaining, when we're whining, and when we're disputing. 
The believer is to be prayerful. That same text, Philippians 4, 
6, be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication. Holy complaints to God about 
the wretchedness on the earth and vindication of his bride, 
that's an okay complaint. But when we're complaining about 
God, or we're complaining about men, and we're not prayerful, 
we are sinning against the Lord. And then turn back to Ephesians 
chapter 5. Ephesians chapter 5. The worshiper, rather the 
believer, is to be worshipful. Notice in Ephesians 5, 17, therefore 
do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 
Do not be drunk with wine in which is dissipation, but be 
filled with the spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and 
hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart 
to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father 
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another 
in the fear of God. So when we're complaining and 
whining and disputing and arguing, we're not doing that. We're not 
making melody in our hearts to the Lord. We're not teaching 
and admonishing one another. We're not being faithful to our 
calling as the blood-bought children of the living God. The believer 
is to be a faithful child of God. Notice in verse 15, that 
you may become blameless and harmless children of God without 
fault. This children of God without 
fault is connected in large part, at least in our text, to this 
prohibition against complaining and disputing and arguing. What's 
the implication? The children of the king don't 
whine. The children of the king don't 
grumble. The children of the king don't 
dispute. The children of the king function 
in a manner that is consistent with their family orientation. The believer is to be a faithful 
subject of God's providence. Now brethren, I'm not here as 
the guru that has mastered this. Believe you me, I need this sermon 
preached to me probably a lot more than all of you need it 
preached to you. But this is what it is. We are 
to do all things without complaining and disputing. And as I said, 
if we think about God's providence, the essence of all whining, of 
all complaint is to conclude or to at least suspect that we've 
been dealt a bad hand. We have a right to complain because 
we're not getting everything we think we should. We have a 
right to complain because I've got this guy for a husband or 
I've got this girl for a wife. It's right for me to complain. 
No, it isn't. God's providence is his government 
of all his creatures and all their actions. He's not dealt 
us a bad hand in life. There are challenges, there are 
obstacles, there are hurdles, there are trials, there are afflictions, 
there are hardships. Those things are to further conform 
us onto the image of his beloved son. God is purposeful in that. Christ was an obedient son who 
learned obedience through suffering, according to Hebrews 5.8. So 
the essence of all whining and complaining is a symptom of our 
feeling that we've been dealt a bad hand in our life. And this 
living in light of our feelings too. That only ever evokes complaint 
and wanting. Do you ever feel as good as you 
think you should? Do you ever feel as good as you 
want? No! Don't live by feelings. Feelings 
is a bad guide in life. Let's be stoic. Let's be spartan. I'm not talking about the actual 
philosophy, abandon Jesus and be a... I don't mean that. I 
mean, we're too easily governed by our feelings and our emotions. Yuck! It's a big problem in our 
generation. Principle, obedience, submission 
to God's providence, understanding He governs all His creatures 
and all their actions, and that whatever my God ordains is right. 
That's the attitude that sustained the faithful throughout the history 
of the church. That's the attitude that sustains 
the faithful when they are subject to frowning providence. That's 
the attitude and the mindset that helps us to persevere and 
to obey the apostle in Philippians 2.14, to do all things without 
complaining and disputing. Now, in terms of the direction, 
complaining toward God, His Word and His providence, but complaining 
toward others, their words and their conduct. We're not supposed 
to do that. We're supposed to be gracious. 
We're supposed to be peaceful. We're supposed to be long-suffering. 
We're supposed to be gentle. We're supposed to be governed 
by the fruits of the Spirit. The fruits of the Spirit are 
not complaining and disputing and whining. Now, the prohibition 
is clear and simple. Verse 14. The purpose comes in 
verses 15 to 16a. So first, the purpose for the 
prohibition. Secondly, the validation of their 
identity. Thirdly, their function toward 
the world. And fourthly, the confirmation of Paul's ministry. 
Note first the purpose for the prohibition. So after saying 
what he says in verse 14, do all things without complaining 
and disputing that, this is the purpose, that you may become 
blameless and harmless. This is God's purpose in election 
and predestination. He chose us in Him before the 
foundation of the world that we should be without blame. In love He predestinated us unto 
adoption as sons. Paul is speaking here in terms 
of sanctification. He's not saying that if you stop 
complaining and stop disputing, you're gonna earn your salvation. 
No, you're gonna magnify or manifest or validate that you are God's 
children. The purpose of God in election, 
Ephesians 1, 4, and the purpose of God in sanctification. Remember, 
work out your own salvation with fear and trembling for it is 
God who works in you both to will and to do for his good pleasure. So verse 15, that you may become 
blameless and harmless. In other words, towards God and 
towards men. That's a good sort of pursuit 
there. Blameless and harmless, faithful 
in terms of God's word, in terms of spirit-wrought sanctification. 
What is our goal? It's to be like the Lord Jesus 
Christ. Again, not so that we will be saved, but because we've 
been saved, we've been justified freely by God's grace, we work 
out the salvation that God has given us, and we pursue that 
blamelessness, and that harmlessness, and one of the means by which 
we do that is by shutting our mouths and checking our hearts 
against complaining and disputing. Notice that he doesn't say, I 
want you to be able to jump over tall buildings in a single leap, 
and then you'll be blameless and harmless. I want you to be 
able to split the atom, and then you'll be blameless and harmless. 
I want you to read every volume of every sermon that Spurgeon 
ever preached, and then you'll be blameless and harmless. No! Stop complaining. Stop grumbling. Stop whining. Stop arguing. Stop exalting yourself around 
your fellows. Don't be like that numbers generation. They had food, they just wanted 
different food. And the nature of their complaint 
was, we want to go back to Egypt. We got three hots and a cot when 
we were there. We weren't eating all that manna 
there. We were living large. Yeah, but 
you were slaves. You were subjects. You were beaten. You were abused. You were used. Yeah, but we ate good. It's a 
horrifying expression of godlessness on the part of that generation. 
It really is disgusting. They would rather be bound men 
with leeks and garlic than free men in the wilderness serving 
God, going to a land flowing with milk and honey. So, the 
purpose for the prohibition is that you may become blameless 
and harmless. Now, notice, secondly, the validation of their identity. 
Children of God, without fault, in the midst of a crooked and 
perverse generation. Children of God, without fault, 
in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. Again, Paul 
has certain themes and emphases that you see emerge over and 
over again. Ephesians 1.4, He chose us in 
Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be 
holy and without blame, in love, having predestinated us unto 
adoption as sons. So he combines those themes here 
with reference to sanctification, and that by not complaining and 
not disputing, you maybe become blameless and harmless and evidence 
or validate your identity as the blood-bought children of 
God. You're not the blood-bought children of God because you do 
these things. You're the blood-bought children 
of God because you're the blood-bought children of God. You've been 
the recipients of every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places 
in Christ Jesus. You've been justified freely 
by God's grace. Now live in light of that reality 
and demonstrate your affinity with the Father. You can turn 
now to Deuteronomy 32, because that's what he's invoking. Children 
of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. 
That was specifically the calling upon Old Covenant Israel. They 
were to function in that capacity, but they had become the crooked 
and perverse generation. Look at Deuteronomy 4. Deuteronomy 
4, verse 5, Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments, just 
as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should act according 
to them in the land which you go to possess. Therefore be careful 
to observe them, for this is your wisdom and your understanding 
in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes 
and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. 
They were to mediate the blessings of Yahweh to the nations around 
them. They were a kingdom of priests. They were supposed to 
function in a way that was appropriate to their covenant identity as 
the children of God. Now turn over to Deuteronomy 
32. Deuteronomy chapter 32. We've got the creation of Israel, 
verses 1 to 14, but notice specifically that along the way they had fallen. Along the way, they had misstepped. So 32.5, they have corrupted 
themselves. They are not his children because 
of their blemish, a perverse and crooked generation. Do you 
thus deal with the Lord, O foolish and unwise people? Is he not 
your father who bought you? Has he not made you and established 
you? Notice in verse 20, and he said, 
I will hide my face from them. I will see what their end will 
be, for they are a perverse generation, children in whom is no faith. 
And that perverseness, and that unbelief, and that grumbling, 
and that whining, and that complaining, and that disputing is the ground 
from which idolatry grows, and it thrives, and it flourishes 
in a godless and wicked sort of a way. He upbraids them for 
that idolatry. Notice in verse 16, they provoked 
him to jealousy with foreign gods. With abominations, they 
provoked him to anger. They sacrificed to demons, not 
to God. To gods they did not know, to 
new gods, new arrivals that your fathers did not fear. of the 
rock who begot you, you are unmindful and have forgotten the God who 
fathered you." So Paul, using that background, no doubt including 
the whining and the grumbling of the wilderness generation 
and the second generation, they weren't immune from it, they 
weren't, you know, perfectly holy and without blame. Paul 
is saying to the Philippians in Philippi that when you do 
this, you are validating the reality that you are children 
of God, without fault, in the midst of a crooked and perverse 
generation. And then he highlights third, 
their function toward the world. So, in yourself, don't complain, 
don't whine, don't dispute. In yourself, pursue those things 
that are endeared here or commended here, blamelessness and harmlessness. Toward those in your church, 
don't be that guy. Nobody can stand because he's 
always blathering on about him and how great and wonderful he 
is and his arguments are better than any. Don't be that guy. 
And then toward the society that you're in, notice what he doesn't 
say. Withdraw yourself. He doesn't mandate monkery. He 
doesn't mandate withdrawal. He doesn't mandate go hide in 
a cave so those filthy people in Philippian culture don't, 
you know, get you all nasty. No, he doesn't do that. The church 
isn't a retreating body. The church isn't a holing up 
body. The church is supposed to be 
shining as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. The church is supposed to hold 
fast. There's two ways to translate. 
The New King James has hold fast. I prefer hold forth. Both meanings 
are fine. We hold it fast, and then we 
hold it forth to the dying world around us. So notice, after having 
said, children of God, without fault, in the midst of a crooked 
and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the 
world, holding fast the word of life. Now this emphasis on 
Christians as light bearers begins, not begins, but it's certainly 
one of the places is in Matthew chapter 5. Matthew chapter 5, specifically 
at verse 14, you are the light of the world. A city that is 
set on a hill cannot be hidden, nor do they light a lamp and 
put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light 
to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before 
men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father 
in heaven. See, withdrawalism or separationism I'm not saying, 
you know, go out and smoke crack with them because you want to 
win them to Jesus. That's not what I'm saying. You know, shoot 
up and you'll win them to Jesus when you're in your, you know, 
bent there. That's not what I'm saying. This idea of withdrawal, 
it's not biblical. It just isn't. Keeping oneself 
unspotted from the world is. Don't sin while you're in there. But to go live in, there might 
be other reasons to live in the woods. I'm not anti-living in 
the woods. That's okay. But if it's because 
I'm a Christian and I can't be around disgusting people like 
that, you're not thinking biblically. You're not thinking biblically. 
Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good 
works and give glory to God. So Paul says, shine as lights 
in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, individual 
believers. But then how is the church identified according to 
Revelation 1, verse 20? It's a lampstand. It's a lampstand. So in the midst 
of a decadent or degenerate generation, perverse and crooked generation, 
you have nevertheless, in the midst of it, these churches that 
function like lampstands. These churches that shine as 
lights. These churches that hold fast 
and hold forth the word of truth. You see, brethren, within the 
culture, the church is to shine. Within the culture, the church 
is to expose. Within the culture, the church 
is to hold fast the word of truth. Notice in Ephesians chapter 5, 
we see another sort of a light-bearing reference. You got walk in love 
in Ephesians 5.1, walk in light, Ephesians 5.8, and walk in wisdom 
in Ephesians 5.15. Paul is very interested in how 
we walk, our conduct. So notice in 5.8, for you were 
once darkness, but now you are light in the world. Walk as children 
of light. For the fruit of the light or fruit of the spirit 
is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth, finding out what is 
acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the 
unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it 
is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by 
them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest 
by the light. For whatever makes manifest is 
light. Therefore, he says, awake you who sleep, arise from the 
dead, and Christ will give you light. So back to our text, children 
of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation 
among whom you shine as lights in the world. The believer and 
the church must shine as lights in the world. But the believer 
and church must hold forth the word of truth, preaching the 
gospel. Remember this morning in John 18, the Lord Jesus before 
Pontius Pilate, what's the instrument, what's the power behind the kingdom 
of Jesus? It's truth. Propagate the truth. Everyone 
who is of the truth hears my voice. It's all about the truth 
and advancement of Christ's cause. And so the apostle says to that 
church in Philippi, which is, you know, within the Roman Empire, 
pagan city, you know, godlessness abounded, wretchedness abounded. 
What are they supposed to do? Go find another city? No. You 
shine as lights in the midst of that crooked and perverse 
generation. And you hold forth that word of truth. You preach 
the gospel. The lampstand functions the way it's supposed to in the 
context of Philippi. You preach truth. You maintain 
truth. You walk in truth. You shine 
the light of truth upon a perverse and crooked generation. It's 
very simple. When you stop and think about 
God's purpose for the church in the world, we really make 
it a lot more difficult. We really make it a lot more 
difficult than it needs to be. Show up. Sing, pray, read, preach, 
love each other. Don't complain, don't whine, 
don't dispute. Go home, raise your kids, work 
your jobs. It's not rocket science, brethren. 
We're always looking for that angle. We're always looking for 
that means. Well, God's means are very simple. Show up, do what you're supposed 
to do. Go home, do what you're supposed 
to do there. Fathers, bring up your children. 
Mothers, bring up your children. Husbands and wives, love each 
other. You really have to work to make the New Testament's application 
of Christianity to home and society hard. Because it just isn't. You shine as lights in the midst 
of a crooked and perverse generation, and you hold forth that word 
of truth. That's your calling in this present 
evil age. And then notice the confirmation 
of Paul's ministry. They're supposed to think about 
Paul. Yeah, that's what he says. Notice in verse 16, holding fast 
the word of life so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ 
that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. That's a pretty 
powerful motivator that the apostle puts on them. He's saying, brethren, 
my joy in Christian ministry is in large part tied up in how 
you conduct yourselves. If you're whining, if you're 
grumbling, if you're complaining, if you're disputing, if you're 
not blameless, if you're not harmless, if you're not acting 
like children of God, if you're not shining as lights in a crooked 
and perverse generation, you're not holding forth the word of 
truth. I'm not gonna have that joy on the day of Christ that 
I should have, because you should really do what I'm saying. Notice 
in 2 Corinthians 1.14, Paul had no problem. I don't want to say 
binding the consciences because I don't think that's what he's 
doing. I think he's just speaking out of a pastoral heart of love 
and the connection that he maintains with the people to whom he ministers. 
I'm sorry, 2 Corinthians 1, 14. We'll pick up at verse 12. For 
our boasting is this, the testimony of our conscience that we conducted 
ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with 
fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God and more abundantly towards 
you. For we are not writing any other 
things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you 
will understand even to the end, as also you have understood us 
in part, that we are your boast as you also are ours in the day 
of the Lord Jesus. Wow! There is this affinity between 
him and the Corinthians. But notice 1 Thessalonians as 
well. 1 Thessalonians chapter 2. specifically at verse 17. But we, brethren, having been 
taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, 
endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. 
Therefore, we wanted to come to you, even I, Paul, time and 
again, but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope or joy or 
crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence 
of our Lord Jesus Christ that is coming? For you are our glory 
and joy. And then in our epistle, look 
from Philippians 2, right over to Philippians 4 and verse 1. Therefore, my beloved and longed 
for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. So the admonitions, the exhortations 
he gives them in verses 14 and 15, all the way into verse 16a, 
he has a purpose clause in 16b, so that I may rejoice in the 
day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. 
He speaks of vanity in terms of gospel missions in Galatians 
4.11. He speaks of vanity in terms of gospel mission in 1 
Thessalonians 3. And what he means by that is 
if the people to whom he ministers don't receive the truth. If the 
people to whom he ministers don't receive the truth, then what 
good is it? Vanity, right? If Spurgeon himself 
fell out of heaven and he occupied a pulpit and he preached the 
Spurgeonic sermons that he's famous for, but nobody listened, 
it's that old, the tree falls in the forest, and nobody's around 
to hear it, does it make a sound? Brethren, if nobody receives 
the word and doesn't act upon it, then it's in vain. And Paul 
doesn't want that. Paul ties up his joy on the day 
of Christ, which is judgment day, to the Philippians' growth 
and grace, to their progress in the things of God most high. 
And notice the language that he uses, so that I may rejoice 
in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in 
vain. He has no problem referring to 
the apostolic ministry as labor. It's not digging ditches. He 
is making tents to supplement and to help along, but it's labor. It's mind labor. It's mental 
labor. And the Philippians' concern with Paul's joy and well-being 
is assumed by Paul. It's really kind of neat. You 
guys should just be vested in my joy on the day of Christ that 
I haven't labored in vain among you. Paul speaks to this in 1 
Thessalonians 5. You can turn there. 1 Thessalonians 
5, verse 12. And we urge you, brethren, to 
recognize those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord 
and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in love for 
their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves. 
That be at peace among yourselves, it's not just kind of dangling. 
It's not a staccato sort of exhortation. It's not a separate thing. This 
be at peace among yourselves is in large part affected by 
how the people and the pastors get along together. If there 
is breach, if there is disrepair, if there is problems, then there's 
not gonna be peace among yourselves. Notice in Hebrews chapter 13, 
Hebrews 13 7, remember those who rule over you, who have spoken 
the Word of God to you. We know they're ecclesiastical 
leaders and not civil authorities because they're over you in the 
Lord, they speak the Word of God to you. Remember those who 
rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose 
faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. And 
then verse 17, Obey those who rule over you and be submissive, 
for they watch out for your souls. Again, ecclesiastical officers, 
not civil. You don't want the civil officers 
or civil state looking out for your souls. In fact, you want 
just the opposite. So obey those who rule over you 
and be submissive for they watch out for your souls as those who 
must give account. Let them do so with joy and not 
with grief for that would be unprofitable for you. So back 
to our text, the apostle has no problem saying, that I may 
rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or 
labored in vain." In other words, if they are a bunch of whiners, 
if they are a bunch of complainers, if they are not living consistently 
as the children of God, if they're not shining as lights, if they're 
not holding forth the word of truth, then Paul's ministry among 
them was in vain. And then that brings us, finally, 
notice the commendation of joy. Verses 17 and 18. We won't spend 
a long time here, but simply to point out the possibility 
of Paul's death. Now, he's referenced his death 
on a couple of occasions, and it seems to be the case that 
he thinks he's going to make it. He thinks he's going to live. 
He's got a confidence in that. He uses this language though, 
in verse 17, yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering 
on the sacrifice and service of your faith. Again, Old Testament 
background, when you presented an offering to the Lord, you 
put a drink offering on it to sort of complete it and offer 
it up to the Lord. 2 Timothy 4, 6, he uses the same metaphor 
where he says, for I am already being poured out as a drink offering 
and the time of my departure is at hand. Now in 2 Timothy 
4, he's going to die. and he knows it. Here he doesn't 
know he's going to die. In fact, he thinks he's going 
to live. But who knows what's going to happen with the civil 
state? Who knows what's going to happen in terms of direction 
in the empire? So there is that possibility 
that he may be martyred with that. The confidence that he 
would live is in 125 and into 224. The potential that he could 
die is here and in 121 to 24. Again, he thinks he's going to 
live. He's confident that he's going to live, but he could die. 
He gets a bad guy in his sort of chain. He's in prison. They 
call him out and they say, let's go ahead and take his hat off. 
So there is the possibility. There's a fellow suffering with 
the people of God in Philippi already. In 1.5, they're partners 
in the gospel. 1.29 and 30, they are fellow 
sufferers in the gospel. So Paul is essentially saying 
we could all be fellow martyrs in the gospel. So if I am being 
poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service 
of your faith, I am glad and rejoiced with you all. In other 
words, if this is my end, if this is how I am going to go, 
if I am going to be subject to martyrdom at the hands of the 
Roman state at this particular time, I'm ready. He's encouraged 
by the Philippians. He loves the Philippians. Now 
he's exhorting them on specific things, which I don't think necessarily 
implies that they had a problem with those things, but they probably 
had a problem with those things. Who of us doesn't need the exhortation 
to not complain or whine? If you raise your hand, then 
you've got some chutzpah. We all need it all the time. 
And so when he exhorts things to people, that doesn't necessarily 
mean they're just a mess, but do they need it? Yeah, they need 
it. Everybody needs it. So he loves 
these people. And he says, if I'm being poured 
out as a drink offering, then I'm happy. I'm ready. I'm ready 
to go. I can pillow my head in martyrdom 
right now with the relationship we sustained together, Philippians 
and Paul, and peace out. So notice, then, the reciprocation 
of his joy in verse 18. For the same reason, you also 
be glad and rejoice with me. for the same reason you also 
be glad and rejoice with me." In other words, he had a good 
relationship with the church in Philippi. He speaks very glowingly 
of them. He commends them. In 2 Corinthians 
chapter 8, they didn't have much, but when there was a need, they 
dug deep and they gave what they had. The church in Philippi was 
a good church. They had problems. Every church 
has problems, to be sure, but it was a good church. So in conclusion, 
the connection, the general exhortation in verses 12 and 13, and the 
specific application in verses 14 to 16, not whining, not disputing, 
blamelessness, harmlessness, children of God shining as lights, 
holding forth that word of truth. And in this context, them being 
concerned for the apostle that he is not ministering in vain. And then the nature of the children 
of God in himself, blamelessness, harmlessness, not because of 
himself, It is because of the blameless and harmless Son of 
God that He has eternal life. It is because of what Christ 
has accomplished that we have the forgiveness of sins and a 
righteousness that is imputed to us and received by faith alone. But in terms of the sanctification 
by the Spirit according to God's Word, blamelessness and harmlessness 
is what we should be about. We should have that compliance 
with the revealed will, the law of God most high, toward those 
in his church. He's not always butting heads 
with that. He's not complaining. He's not whining. He's not always 
upbraiding them. He's not the guy that just can't, 
it's difficult to be around. And then in terms of the world 
around him, shine his lights, hold forth the word of truth. 
Now, the shining of lights doesn't mean you stand out on the street 
corner and say, hey, pagan city, I'm out here to shine. No, just 
be faithful. Be a good husband. Be a good 
father. Be the guy at work that doesn't 
complain. The guy at work that actually 
shows up. The guy at work that actually 
works. Be that guy, and you'll shine 
as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. You 
just teach these young men and women to show up on time, they're 
going to surpass any other employee that they're going to meet in 
this present evil age. I mean, the thought of having 
to be somewhere at 8 o'clock, oh, that's oppressive. Raise 
your children to show up and to be faithful and to live in 
light of God's revealed will. So shine as lights and hold forth 
that word of truth. And may God bless, strengthen, 
and encourage us as individual light bearers and as a lamp stand 
in the city of Chilliwack that certainly needs at least one 
place that is going to shine as lights and hold forth the 
word. Now, thankfully, we're not the only place. There's other 
good churches and we pray for them. May God bless them as well. So let us pray. Our Father in 
heaven, we thank you for your word. We thank you for the clarity 
of the apostles' admonitions and exhortations. Pray that you 
would give us ears to hear and hearts to receive these things, 
to guard our minds, to guard our hearts, to guard our tongues 
against the sorts of things that are condemned in our passage 
and help us to faithfully shine and help us to hold forth that 
word of truth. And we ask this in the name of 
the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.