× Notes Bible Add Sermon Notes This note will be displayed at bottom of your sermon note when you save to pdf or email them Interact Jesus Church Citizens: A Study on Philippians (Part 9) August 9, 2020 View All Past Notes View This Note w/o Blanks Share Citizens: A Study on Philippians (Part 9) August 9, 2020 Give Online: Tithes & Offerings Citizens: A Letter to the Philippians (Part 9) Today we are gonna pick back up in Phil 2:12 Phil 2:12-13 When u pick up the Bible – Read Phil. 2:12-13 REMEMBER: You are stepping into a flow of thought And don’t forget what Paul just said in verse 11 That jaw-dropping… epic… bombshell of a statement from Paul… “King Jesus is Yahweh” or “Messiah Jesus is creator of universe” Now if ur in Philippi – Someone reading this letter out loud And u hear this line… Jesus is Lord – your mouth is on floor Trying to understand how powerful God… Servant man Then the next line (THEREFORE) – HOSTEY It’s a different Gk Word from the other “therefore” in Philippians It means… (of what) As the result that “Jesus Christ is Lord” Here is what should happen in our lives… And Paul gives a command – Something to do Phil 2:12 Understand Paul sets up the command saying 2 things First – Paul starts off with “My dear friends” Usually Paul calls the church “Adelphos” or “brother/sister” But here Paul calls them his “Agopetos” or “loved friend” It’s where we get the word AGAPE (love) Paul saying “I love you as a my very own family”… But also “I like you… like close friends that enjoy each other” B/C there is this deep bond b/w Paul and the Philippians Even though they are physically 1000 miles away This bond is stronger than distance… (reminds me of us I pray) Phil 1:8 (Remember the beginning of letter Paul says) If you remember… Affection is Splag-non in the Greek Means intestines… Paul says “I love you with my splagnon” I love you deep in my gut… I feel love for you Phil 4:1 (At the end of the letter Paul closes with…) Paul is in this deep/authentic love relationship w/ this community And I get that because it’s the same way I feel about you I love you because you’re my family AND I like you because you’re my friends We get to grow in Jesus together But the question is: Why does Paul feel this love for the Philippians B/C he never talks this way to the other churches (Agapetos) Only other church he uses this name for is Thessalonians 14 letters and only 2 are called his Agapetos So why this distinction… well Paul goes on as he sets up the command Phil 2:12 So Paul switches metaphors from Brothers/Sisters to Parent/Child Says when I was with you… u were young in ur faith – obeyed NOW I’ve been gone … 1000 miles… ur grown up – still obeying Which is what every parent dreams of for their child They grow up 2 obey when ur no longer there to enforce rules Prov 22:6 Goal of parents is to set the trajectory for our kids Here is the God of all creation Here is why you should love/trust him Here are the commands to obey for your own good And you hope/pray on that day when you release that child Boy – 18 / Girl – 40 Hope they stay on the road when u aren’t there to enforce it STORY Now the Philippians are not like I was – Word for that “” Immaturity is when you don’t know how to handle freedom Paul says “you guys are not like that” When I was there you obeyed… Now I’m gone and u still obey! And I love that about you… it makes me so proud I’m like a father seeing his kids set up to succeed in life Then he goes on to say… Phil 2:13 1st Paul says CONTINUE… or “don’t stop working out salvation” B/C Paul knows we get worn down making the right decision Doing the right thing… it goes against the grain And it can be tiring to continually stand up for what’s right Paul says to push through and don’t stand by idle B/C being idle can be so dangerous Why – because its hard to get back going again Paul says to keep your momentum… focus… rhythm Then goes on… “to work out salvation with fear and trembling” Remember – He just said “As you have always obeyed… continue” And if you were there listening to this all read out loud You would anticipate that follow up with “Continue to obey” You’ve obeyed… now continue ur salvation w/ obedience But Paul doesn’t say that – Mixes things up & replaces “Obey” With phrase “work out salvation with fear & trembling” Now whatever it means… it’s a substitute for “obey” “WORK OUT” translated to go at it with energy/drive/intensity Go after what… YOUR SALVATION (what does that mean) And this makes a lot of Christians uncomfortable B/C we think: Is Paul saying Salvation comes by works?!?! Reason is b/c to many – Salvation is flat/one dimensional word It means… getting out of hell and into heaven when u die And there is truth in that… But to Paul Salvation is a not a It’s not just about you… its about all of creation Not just future: Paul uses salvation past/present/future tense Paul: You WERE SAVED (moment u passed to life) Paul: You WILL BE SAVED (the day of the Lord – most used) Paul: You ARE BEING SAVED (still a work in progress Were saved/will be saved/being saved… Like marriage I was married > Am married > will be married There was a moment Oct. 1 2005 – I was married… I said “I DO” And by the grace of God Michelle said the same thing And I will spend rest of my life living up to that truth But I’m already married… I’m not earning that But I’m living up 2 that… every day an opportunity to grow Sometimes with Fear & Trembling Same way… you’re already saved Now u have opportunity 2 live out what’s already true Then comes the last two words… “with fear and trembling” This is one of those lines (if anything like me) that you skip over I don’t really want to know what that means I just hope it doesn’t mean what it sounds like it means But this idea is all over OT: Speaks of encountering God’s presence Think of Isaiah getting a vision of God in the temple Is 6:5 Rev 1:17 Jesus puts hand on John’s shoulder – says do not be afraid (why) Because John was scared to death… And I really think we’ve lost something of “Fear & Trembling” Over 100x in OT it talks about the “Fear of the Lord” There are 36 commands to “Fear God” And we feel like fear is a bad thing… but it isn’t always bad The issue isn’t fear – Its that we fear the wrong things We fear money… unemployment… sickness… death God says “Fear me” and you’ll have nothing else to fear And people try to explain “Fear God” away with reverence/respect Funny though… it says FEAR There are words in Heb/Gk that mean reverence/respect That is not one of them And don’t think of this idea of cowering in the corner scared When I think of fear – Like being on edge of Grand Canyon The majesty… intensity… consequence… overwhelming Yet being there – No where else u rather be (amazing) And that’s the creation… imagine standing b4 the creator Its awe & inspired… yet with fear and trembling Still have fear & love at same time… dad and the paddle So lets clarify something here – b/c this is a lot Paul says “ your salvation” not “ your salvation” Not saying you earn ur salvation… Paul writes 2 Xians (holy people) BUT he doesn’t say to WORK IT OUT… And work means to: Labor – Carry out – Get to work We live in a hyper sensitive time towards “Good works” Backlash to the Catholic doctrines b4 the reformation So there is mass paranoia over ideas of works v grace Problem is – Biblical Fathers weren’t paranoid Think of the famous verse on GRACE in Ephesians’’ Eph 2:8-10 DO NOT disconnect the 2nd part of that paragraph from the 1st Yes you are saved by grace…absolutely… not by works BUT you are saved FOR good works And the moment we believe the 1st w/o the 2nd You are out of balance in your theology of salvation/grace Because WORKS is what we are called to Think of another time Jesus is talking to the Rick Young Ruler Guy asks Jesus… what do I need to DO to be saved What we think Jesus should say Hey man… you don’t need to do anything I’m about to go to the cross… you’ll have grace… Is that what Jesus says??? First thing he says is… Luke 18:19 Luke 18:21 No.. he says go sell all you have I’d say this falls under working out salvation (just quoting Jesus) To Jesus & all those he taught – Good works are… We r created to DO GOOD WORKS (Why)… created by God Moment ur saved by God – Become part of the mission of God You are called… remember the job of a citizen of Philippi!!! How are we doing that? Yes you are saved BY grace – FOR good works Yes ur adopted thru nothing on your own – and have job Lets go on… b/c now in the how of these “Works” Phil 2:13 In you in the Greek is Enerjon (Where we get word… energy) Paul believes there is a divine energy at work in you Remember the start of the letter “He who began a good work” Paul brings us back to creation – began… it is good… Holy Spirit And all you have to do is plug in to that power source And if this sounds super NEW AGE – Remember truth is twisted And if you plug in… there is power What Paul is not saying in work out salvation w/ fear & trembling Not saying… make it happen… suck it up… up to u… What Paul is saying… you are a tool in the hands of the creator And there is a power deep inside of you All you have to do… make sure you are connected Then all you have to do is tap into that power This is exactly what Paul is saying – The Holy Spirit lives inside of you All you have to do is allow the Spirit to move in your life He is the power source behind any success God calls you to He is the Enerjon… the energy source – And you are not!!! So stop trying to make it happen without the Spirit Phil. 2:13 This is a piece of theology that we do not talk about enough It’s the idea of when u are saved… your will changes It’s called regeneration Says when saved… at that moment you are filled w/ Spirit of God And you are regenerated – God puts a new heart into you Ezekiel – Takes out heat of stone… in And God regenerates your heart Now ur DEEPEST desire is to obey… strongest desire might not be Example: When you are dating… With them and there is temptation In that moment – Strongest desire is not for purity But your deepest desire – It is for purity for ur relationship That u trust in what God says is best… and walk that out And the deepest desire comes from the Spirit (Ener – Jon) At work in you to will and to act That not only does God give you the power if saved to will But he also gives you the power to (act) follow thru Power that raised Jesus from the dead… it’s in YOU Wraps up with what Paul closes with In order to fulfill his good purposes Can translate “In order to fill his good purpose/ur good pleasure Lots of argument on how to translate that… so which is it The answer is YES – Both/And – Why pick a side?! Understand God’s good plan/Your good pleasure – 1 in the same And God is after obedience b/c it is your good pleasure God wants u 2 be joyful… b/c it’s what’s best 4 you/body/future Gods commandments are not (like speed limits) There is a job determining speed limits… 35 or 40??? God’s commands not like that at all… Sex b4 or after marriage Think of how u think of speed limits… what’s the big deal God’s commands are a big deal Jesus said that “My teachings are the road to LIFE” Obedience isn’t just a road… it’s a road to LIFE Disobediences isn’t just a detour… that lead to disaster I love how Paul answers the WHY questions (never just says DO IT) Paul lays out reasons… actually Paul gives us 4 reasons why Why – Jesus obeyed… Jesus only asks what he will do Why – Jesus is Yahweh… made the universe Why – The Holy Spirit is at work inside of you – empowering Why – God’s purpose = Your pleasure – One in the same That is more than enough reason to obey Give Online: Tithes & Offerings Save PDF Locally Click to save a copy of the filled-in notes to a PDF file on your device Generate File Click to View PDF Save PDF to Google Drive (Android & PC Only) Click to save a copy of the filled-in notes to a PDF file on your Google Drive account Save File Send to Email Enter your email address below to receive a copy of your filled in notes Send