WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:01.439 Thank you, praise team. 00:00:02.399 --> 00:00:03.040 Amen. 00:00:03.759 --> 00:00:06.799 We're going to dismiss the kids, the kids' connection here at this time. 00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:15.439 Wanted to say thank you so much, my brother Pastor Mark, who preached in my place while I was gone and did a great job. 00:00:15.519 --> 00:00:18.000 I heard he brought the fear of God in all of you last week. 00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:18.879 So that is great. 00:00:19.039 --> 00:00:20.399 Thanks for doing it, Pastor Mark. 00:00:20.480 --> 00:00:23.600 And thanks for letting our family get away and take a vacation up north. 00:00:23.679 --> 00:00:28.160 It was a great time exploring up north and trying all these different things. 00:00:28.239 --> 00:00:34.880 We saw waterfalls, a lot of biking on islands and waterfalls and all kinds of trails for mountain biking. 00:00:34.960 --> 00:00:36.159 And it was a great time. 00:00:36.320 --> 00:00:39.119 And uh we definitely tried our fair share of pasties. 00:00:39.359 --> 00:00:44.399 And I have to say, Phil and Roxanne, they still got the best pasti in Michigan, in our opinion. 00:00:44.560 --> 00:00:46.320 So praise God for those pasties. 00:00:46.560 --> 00:00:46.960 Yes. 00:00:47.280 --> 00:00:47.920 Amen. 00:00:48.240 --> 00:00:51.600 Well, hey, we're continuing the series in the book of Philippians. 00:00:51.679 --> 00:00:55.439 If you have your Bibles, we're going to be in Philippians chapter 2. 00:00:55.600 --> 00:01:01.039 And before we get started, I want us to pray that today's title, today's message is Shining Lights. 00:01:01.200 --> 00:01:04.959 Father, we thank you that you sent your one only Son. 00:01:05.599 --> 00:01:06.159 We thank you. 00:01:06.319 --> 00:01:10.159 You gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit for those who receive Him as Lord and Savior. 00:01:10.319 --> 00:01:14.319 And Father, I pray today that we would be shining lights. 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:22.480 Every aspect of our lives and every situation you put us through, may we look at those as opportunities to shine our lights for you. 00:01:22.719 --> 00:01:27.599 Holy Spirit, we invite you to move through this space and convict us of sin and draw us near to you. 00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:31.680 And Father, I pray that you would be glorified in what we say today. 00:01:31.840 --> 00:01:34.560 And may your word speak to us and help us change. 00:01:34.719 --> 00:01:36.239 And all God's people said. 00:01:36.879 --> 00:01:37.519 Amen. 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:42.239 So looking at growing up, I had six sisters and one brother. 00:01:42.400 --> 00:01:44.159 So we are definitely outnumbered. 00:01:44.400 --> 00:01:51.040 And being a middle child, I always thought it was my life mission to help my siblings overcome their fears. 00:01:51.280 --> 00:01:58.000 So my brother had come to me who was younger than me, and he said, Matt, I want you to know my biggest fear is darkness. 00:01:58.319 --> 00:01:59.840 I was like, oh, interesting. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:04.799 And I knew we had this interesting Michigan basement, like many of you are familiar with. 00:02:04.879 --> 00:02:09.439 And so I thought to myself, I'm going to help this one overcome his fear. 00:02:09.599 --> 00:02:16.080 And so he followed me downstairs, and we went down to our Michigan basement, and he said, Why is there chair ropes here? 00:02:16.240 --> 00:02:18.159 Because I'm going to tie you up, young brother. 00:02:18.240 --> 00:02:18.960 I'm going to tie you up. 00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:20.719 So I tied him up on that chair. 00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:25.039 I ran up the stairs, turned the light off, and I left him down in the basement. 00:02:26.879 --> 00:02:29.680 And I come back in the look of fear on his face. 00:02:29.840 --> 00:02:32.719 He no longer feared the dark, he feared me. 00:02:34.560 --> 00:02:38.800 You don't overcome darkness by simply learning to become comfortable with it. 00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:42.879 You overcome the darkness by turning on the lights. 00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:47.120 And I wonder if sometimes Christians make the same mistake. 00:02:47.280 --> 00:02:52.560 We live in a world that Paul describes as a crooked and twisted generation. 00:02:53.039 --> 00:03:00.800 And temptation can be slowly adjusting our eyes to the darkness, and we start thinking a little bit of darkness is normal. 00:03:01.199 --> 00:03:03.520 Our eyes start to get accustomed to it. 00:03:03.599 --> 00:03:04.719 They accommodate to it. 00:03:04.800 --> 00:03:06.879 We get used to seeing darkness. 00:03:06.960 --> 00:03:11.840 And eventually things that once bothered us, they don't bother us anymore. 00:03:12.080 --> 00:03:15.919 But Paul doesn't tell Christians to get comfortable in darkness. 00:03:16.159 --> 00:03:20.960 He says, Amone you, you shall shine like lights in this world. 00:03:21.199 --> 00:03:26.400 The answer to darkness isn't more darkness, the answer is light. 00:03:26.719 --> 00:03:29.840 And Jesus has placed you exactly where you are. 00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:38.639 Not to blend in, not to just look like nothing in the darkness, but to shine in every aspect of your life, to shine out for Him. 00:03:38.800 --> 00:03:43.599 And darker the environment becomes, the more noticeable the light becomes. 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:47.039 And so if you're taking notes, we're going to be looking at Philippians chapter 2. 00:03:47.120 --> 00:03:48.560 We're continuing that series. 00:03:48.719 --> 00:03:50.879 And the first point is this: live it up. 00:03:51.039 --> 00:03:52.000 Live it out. 00:03:52.319 --> 00:03:53.840 Live it out. 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:56.159 In Philippians 2 and verse 12. 00:03:56.400 --> 00:04:12.240 Therefore, my beloved, as you've always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence, but much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 00:04:12.639 --> 00:04:15.439 So Paul begins with this important word. 00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:18.639 He says, Therefore, that connects directly what we saw. 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:22.639 Before Pastor Mark spoke, we we talked about what Jesus chose to do. 00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:35.600 The way up was the way down, and we saw how Jesus went further and further down as he served, as he became obedient to the Father, as he became obedient even to the point of death and death on a cross. 00:04:35.839 --> 00:04:44.720 And so Paul says, because this is who Jesus is, because this is what Jesus has done, now live like someone who belongs to him. 00:04:45.199 --> 00:04:48.000 Paul says, work out your salvation. 00:04:48.399 --> 00:04:49.519 Work out your salvation. 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:52.959 Notice he doesn't say, he doesn't work for your salvation. 00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:55.600 He says, work out your salvation. 00:04:55.759 --> 00:04:57.120 There's this huge difference. 00:04:57.279 --> 00:04:59.439 We're not saved because we work. 00:04:59.839 --> 00:05:03.120 We are saved because Jesus did the work for us. 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:04.560 Praise God this morning. 00:05:04.720 --> 00:05:09.759 Ephesians 2, verses 8 through 9 says, For by grace you have been saved through faith. 00:05:09.839 --> 00:05:16.399 And it's not of your own doing, it is a gift of God, not a result of work, so that no one may boast. 00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:19.120 So it's saying salvation, it's this gift. 00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:26.800 You can't earn it, you can't achieve it, and you cannot have your way in just doing good things to get to heaven. 00:05:26.959 --> 00:05:30.240 Jesus did for us what we could never do ourselves. 00:05:30.399 --> 00:05:34.160 I love what Martin Luther said about this back in the Reformation days. 00:05:34.240 --> 00:05:38.800 He says, faith is a work of God in us, which changes us. 00:05:38.959 --> 00:05:41.040 That's exactly what Paul's talking about. 00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:43.600 God saved us by grace. 00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:46.079 His grace doesn't leave us unchanged. 00:05:46.160 --> 00:05:53.600 So when Paul says work out your salvation, he's saying, let what God has done in you begin to show through you. 00:05:54.240 --> 00:05:57.920 Let what God has done in you begin to show through you. 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:02.079 And so Jesus has forgiven you, therefore you forgive other people. 00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:06.319 Jesus was gracious with you, therefore you're gracious to other people. 00:06:06.560 --> 00:06:09.680 Jesus loved you first, and therefore you can now love others. 00:06:09.839 --> 00:06:15.920 Jesus chose humility, and we now choose to serve just as he did in serving others. 00:06:16.240 --> 00:06:25.839 Martin Luther also said this genuine faith cannot be separated from works any more than a burning and shining from a fire. 00:06:26.160 --> 00:06:27.759 They go hand in hand. 00:06:28.160 --> 00:06:31.519 And eventually you see light, you're gonna see the fire. 00:06:31.680 --> 00:06:33.680 And Jesus is really changing our hearts. 00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:37.839 Eventually, you should begin to see something different in our lives. 00:06:38.079 --> 00:06:40.720 Not perfection, but growth. 00:06:41.040 --> 00:06:43.680 Salvation should become this thing that is visible. 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:50.000 And notice something else that Paul says, not only in my presence, but much more in my absence. 00:06:50.240 --> 00:06:52.720 Paul says, You obeyed when I was there. 00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:58.560 Now keep obeying when I'm gone, because anybody can behave differently when somebody is watching. 00:06:58.800 --> 00:07:04.399 It's pretty funny when you're on the road and you're driving and you see a police officer on the road. 00:07:04.560 --> 00:07:06.160 You know exactly where I'm going. 00:07:06.319 --> 00:07:27.439 All of a sudden you find yourself, your posture in your seat has gotten better, and driving one hand, now you're driving with two hands, and you're driving down the road, your blinkers on three miles before you even take a turn, and you're going exactly the speed limit, you're doing exactly everything you could do because you know the police officer is watching you, you become one of the safest drivers in Michigan. 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:33.120 It's true, because somebody is watching, and Paul says, don't let your faith look like that. 00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:37.839 Don't be that person on Sunday and be something different on Monday. 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:42.319 He says, the real question is, who am I when only God is watching? 00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:43.279 What are you doing? 00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:45.519 And that's where faith becomes real. 00:07:45.759 --> 00:07:48.480 Young people in the room, that's when faith becomes your own. 00:07:48.639 --> 00:07:51.360 What do you do when nobody else is watching but God? 00:07:51.600 --> 00:07:54.160 Is your faith truly your own? 00:07:54.480 --> 00:07:59.519 Then Paul says, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:02.879 That doesn't mean that we're terrified that God might throw you away. 00:08:02.959 --> 00:08:06.000 It means that God works a work in your life seriously. 00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:08.399 When God convicts you, you don't ignore him. 00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:09.519 You respond to him. 00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:12.560 When God corrects you, you listen to God. 00:08:12.720 --> 00:08:15.120 When God tells you to forgive, you forgive. 00:08:15.360 --> 00:08:19.680 When God exposes something, you don't just keep saying, Well, that's just the way that I am. 00:08:20.079 --> 00:08:23.920 Because God is in the business of changing who we are. 00:08:24.079 --> 00:08:29.120 And verse 13 gives us the encouragement, for it is God who works in you. 00:08:29.600 --> 00:08:32.480 This is not try harder, become a better Christian. 00:08:32.639 --> 00:08:36.240 Paul says God Himself is the one that is working in you. 00:08:36.559 --> 00:08:40.159 God changes your desires, he changes priorities. 00:08:40.320 --> 00:08:44.399 And Paul says he works both to will and to work. 00:08:44.799 --> 00:08:50.159 In other words, God changes the want to and gives us the power to. 00:08:58.480 --> 00:09:02.480 Maybe you're feeling convicted about the way you've been speaking. 00:09:02.799 --> 00:09:06.559 And maybe you become hungry for God's word all of a sudden. 00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:13.200 Maybe you're noticing people you could actually serve because God changes the want to and gives us the power to do. 00:09:14.320 --> 00:09:20.960 So here's the question: What is God working in me that I need to start living out? 00:09:21.519 --> 00:09:23.039 I have to live out my faith. 00:09:23.200 --> 00:09:26.639 What is God working in me that I need to start living out? 00:09:26.799 --> 00:09:31.519 What are we ignoring Him with that the Spirit's trying to tell us to do? 00:09:31.679 --> 00:09:34.720 Maybe it's our temper, maybe it's the words that we say. 00:09:34.960 --> 00:09:37.279 Don't leave saying, I just need to be a better Christian. 00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:38.159 It's too vague. 00:09:38.320 --> 00:09:44.240 Ask God, Lord, what is one thing that you're changing in me you want me to obey you this week with? 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:47.360 Because he wants you to do something. 00:09:47.440 --> 00:09:54.320 Because Christianity isn't me trying harder for God, it's God working in me as I surrender more of myself to him. 00:09:54.799 --> 00:09:57.679 We work out because God is working in. 00:09:58.480 --> 00:10:03.519 And when God is doing in us, starts showing through us, people notice. 00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:05.600 And that's where Paul goes next. 00:10:05.759 --> 00:10:07.120 He says we need to live it out. 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:09.440 Number two, we need to stand out. 00:10:09.679 --> 00:10:12.240 We need to live it out, and we need to stand out. 00:10:12.399 --> 00:10:16.799 We're not to blend in, we are to stand out in Philippians 2 and verse 14. 00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:36.559 It says, Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud, I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 00:10:37.200 --> 00:10:39.519 So Paul has just told us he live it out. 00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:42.000 And now he's telling us you gotta stand out. 00:10:42.159 --> 00:10:42.720 Stand out. 00:10:42.799 --> 00:10:49.759 Not because we're trying to draw attention to ourselves, not because Christians are supposed to walk around and say, hey, look at me, I'm better than everybody else. 00:10:49.919 --> 00:10:51.360 That's not what he's saying. 00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:55.440 We stand out because Jesus begins changing our life. 00:10:55.679 --> 00:10:55.840 D. 00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:56.080 L. 00:10:56.159 --> 00:10:59.840 Moody says, we are told to let our light shine. 00:11:00.559 --> 00:11:04.799 And if it does, we won't need to tell anybody it does. 00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:06.799 Simple but true. 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:15.519 You know, when we were up north, we saw all kinds of lighthouses, and I didn't see any of them having a cannon next to them, shooting out cannons, saying, Look at me, I'm shining a light. 00:11:15.679 --> 00:11:21.360 They simply stand there and they shine a light to help sailors avoid danger. 00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:24.960 And Paul starts with something incredible here in verse 14. 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:29.279 He says, do all things without grumbling or disputing. 00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:31.600 Anyone want to skip that section? 00:11:32.159 --> 00:11:34.480 Because Paul doesn't say do some things. 00:11:34.799 --> 00:11:36.799 He says, do all things. 00:11:37.039 --> 00:11:39.039 And we really get at complaining. 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:40.720 We complain about the weather. 00:11:40.960 --> 00:11:41.919 Oh, it's too cold. 00:11:42.080 --> 00:11:43.039 Oh, it's too hot. 00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:44.639 Oh, I wish it wasn't raining. 00:11:44.799 --> 00:11:46.000 I wish it was raining. 00:11:46.159 --> 00:11:53.840 We come in, we uh complain about our jobs, traffic, oh, I wish I had a parking spot in Pentwater, but there's no more parking spots, right? 00:11:54.320 --> 00:12:02.879 Politic, politics, uh, politics, prices on different things in the grocery store, restaurants, schedules, the list goes on and on. 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:05.279 Families, church, music. 00:12:06.080 --> 00:12:08.639 Oh, the temperature in the sanctuary. 00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:10.080 It's too cold. 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:11.279 Oh, it's too hot. 00:12:11.440 --> 00:12:14.559 And somehow it's always the pastor's responsibility for both, right? 00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:15.919 It's just how it goes. 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:20.399 But Paul says, do all things without grumbling or disputing. 00:12:20.559 --> 00:12:23.600 Why does Paul care so much about complaining? 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:29.120 Because complaining isn't just an attitude problem, it becomes a witness problem. 00:12:29.840 --> 00:12:33.519 And I think in our culture, it's one of the most accepted things. 00:12:33.679 --> 00:12:36.799 We hear complaining on the news, we hear complaining all around us. 00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:43.600 And so, as Christians, oftentimes we can catch ourselves falling in that camp and we're blending in instead of shining out. 00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:46.799 What would happen if instead of complaining, we showed gratitude? 00:12:46.960 --> 00:12:51.279 I tell you right now, that's very different than what everyone else does in our culture. 00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:52.720 We would shine. 00:12:52.879 --> 00:12:58.639 Our witness isn't only what we say about Jesus, our witness is what people see Jesus doing in us. 00:12:58.799 --> 00:13:00.639 Are we grateful people? 00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:03.919 Are we the first one to go to doom and gloom? 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:09.360 And Paul says we're living in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation. 00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:10.960 You know, I think that's interesting. 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:13.039 Paul wrote these words 2,000 years ago. 00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:16.879 Apparently, they thought what they were going through was messed up. 00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:19.440 We look at our world and we think, wow, is this messed up? 00:13:19.519 --> 00:13:24.000 And they looked at the same thing and thought, crooked and twisted generation. 00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:29.840 Crooked gives us this picture of something that's bent, something that's moved from what was straight. 00:13:29.919 --> 00:13:32.799 I mean, you think about a builder putting a wall up. 00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:35.360 How does he know that that wall is straight? 00:13:35.679 --> 00:13:38.080 He needs some sort of standard to measure it against. 00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:42.720 I mean, I don't see any builders out there sitting back and saying, hey, Bill, yeah, you think that's straight? 00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:43.919 Yeah, straight enough. 00:13:44.080 --> 00:13:47.440 Except for the houses here in Pentwater, they're all kind of leaning a little bit, you know? 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:49.279 I'm sure that's how they their standard is. 00:13:49.440 --> 00:13:49.759 Is that good? 00:13:49.840 --> 00:13:50.720 Yeah, it's good enough. 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:53.200 Yep, next generation will deal with that one. 00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:53.919 You know? 00:13:54.080 --> 00:13:55.200 But they don't do that. 00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:57.919 There's a standard, there's a plumb line. 00:13:58.080 --> 00:14:01.679 They see what's straight, they determine whether the wall is crooked. 00:14:01.840 --> 00:14:04.879 And culture, I'll tell you this morning, is not the standard. 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:07.279 My feelings is not the standard. 00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:10.399 Popular opinion is not the standard. 00:14:10.559 --> 00:14:13.840 Neither is social media or what everybody else is doing. 00:14:14.159 --> 00:14:15.840 God's word is the standard. 00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:20.799 And that's why Paul says in verse 16, holding fast to the word of life. 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:22.559 Culture changes. 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:26.960 Opinions, they change, values, they change, but God's word remains. 00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:33.200 And when the world around us becomes increasingly confused, which you've seen, you know what I'm talking about. 00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:38.000 The answer is not for Christians to become increasingly confused, too. 00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:40.720 We hold fast to the word of life. 00:14:40.799 --> 00:14:43.519 And here's where the picture of light becomes so powerful. 00:14:43.679 --> 00:14:47.039 Paul says, Among you, you shall shine as lights. 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:48.879 Shine as lights in the world. 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:51.440 You think about what light does. 00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:54.399 Light stands out different from its surroundings. 00:14:54.480 --> 00:15:00.879 A flashlight is not as noticeable in the afternoon, but when all the lights are gone, wow, you can see that flashlight. 00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:03.440 You can see it shining through the darkness. 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:08.080 And the darker the environment, the more noticeable the light becomes. 00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:13.600 Maybe we're we're spending too much time discouraged by how dark the world is. 00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:16.879 And maybe we need to recognize that this is our moment to shine. 00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:19.919 Because the darker the world is, the more we get to shine. 00:15:20.080 --> 00:15:21.840 And the more we get to stand out. 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:25.200 When everybody else is angry, we could be gracious. 00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:29.200 When everybody else gossips, we can speak life into other people. 00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:33.200 When everybody complains, we could be a church who gives thanks. 00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:35.840 That's what it means to stand out. 00:15:36.320 --> 00:15:42.080 You know, you don't have to walk in the workplace tomorrow with this giant Bible and say, hey, look at me, I'm shining my light. 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:43.759 That's not what it's about. 00:15:44.159 --> 00:15:45.840 You just gotta live different. 00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:46.879 Live differently. 00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:50.000 Don't retaliate when someone wrongs you. 00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:53.440 Have joy when circumstances aren't ideal in your life. 00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:57.840 Be the person who brings peace into a room instead of more chaos. 00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:00.320 People will notice. 00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:04.480 That's what Jesus said in Matthew 5, 16 in the same way. 00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:07.120 Let your light shine before others. 00:16:07.440 --> 00:16:12.159 So they may see your good works and give glory to God who is in heaven. 00:16:12.559 --> 00:16:15.039 They'll see your good works, they'll give glory to God. 00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:15.759 That's important. 00:16:15.919 --> 00:16:18.480 We're not trying to make people impressed with us. 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:20.799 We want people to see Jesus through us. 00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:30.480 And maybe one of the biggest dangers for Christians is that we can become known more about what we're against than what we actually hope in and profess. 00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:36.399 I mean, there's things we should stand up against, there's things we should defend, we should hold. 00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:44.000 But Paul says, while we're holding fast the truth, we should also be shining, shining our light, standing out. 00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:47.200 You know, we're a coast town, we're right on Lake Michigan. 00:16:47.440 --> 00:16:55.919 And I know that I've talked to other churches on the coast of Lake Michigan, and I've seen in this lighthouse, I'm sure you guys can tell me what coast this is. 00:16:56.559 --> 00:16:58.000 Grand Haven, right? 00:16:58.399 --> 00:17:00.720 And I know you know where I'm going with this. 00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:05.279 A family of six, ages five to fifteen. 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:07.759 Tragic event. 00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:14.880 Where the father takes his kids and his spouse's life and takes his own and tries to burn the house to cover it all up. 00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:19.759 And you look at this family from the outside looking at you think everything's just fine. 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:22.160 Everything's going great for this family. 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:24.880 They look like they got it all of their lives put together. 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:26.880 They live in a great subdivision. 00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:29.440 Nothing bad's gonna happen to this family. 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:32.160 But darkness creeped in. 00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:45.119 And there's times where I've watched a story, just troubled by this horrific story, and thinking, what would have happened if the neighbors in that subdivision who knew Jesus decided to shine their light? 00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:46.400 What would have happened? 00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:52.960 How could that story have been different if they weren't so scared and standing out in front of other people in the culture and said, you know what? 00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:58.720 We're gonna shine bright, we're gonna live it out, and we're gonna stand out, we're gonna shine the light of Jesus. 00:17:58.880 --> 00:18:01.759 How different could that story have looked? 00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:04.720 They point people to Jesus. 00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:15.759 Where am I just starting to blend in because it's more convenient to blend in? 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:19.359 Where have I gotten guilty and shining out my light? 00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:22.240 That's a harder question when what's wrong with the world? 00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:24.160 Because we're really good at answering that one. 00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:26.079 But Paul turns the spotlight towards us. 00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:29.359 Where have I started uh blending in? 00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:32.319 Maybe it's our attitude. 00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:37.440 I think complaining is one of the most accepted sins in the church and in this world. 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:39.519 I complain right along with the other people. 00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:43.599 Oh, yeah, I'll complain with you about politics, I'll complain with you about the weather. 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:45.759 It's an accepted sin in our culture. 00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:48.640 And what would it look like if we chose gratitude? 00:18:48.880 --> 00:18:51.440 How different would it look in those situations? 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:54.559 Everybody gossips, so I'm just gonna join right in. 00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:55.519 I'm gonna blend. 00:18:55.599 --> 00:18:56.799 I'm gonna blend right in. 00:18:56.880 --> 00:19:01.599 How different would it look if instead of we gossiped, we spoke kindly of others? 00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:03.039 What would it look like? 00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:07.039 Where has God placed you in your life to shine? 00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:10.640 God's placed us in all different situations. 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:13.519 Where does God placed you today to shine? 00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:16.559 Maybe it's that one difficult person. 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:23.599 Instead of praying, God get me out of here, maybe it's praying, Jesus, shine through me here right now. 00:19:23.839 --> 00:19:25.920 Shine through me into this situation. 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:31.599 We don't shine by telling people we're different, we shine by actually living differently. 00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:33.200 So we gotta live it out. 00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:35.039 We gotta stand out. 00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:40.079 So the apostle Paul's showing us in number three, and lastly, we gotta pour it out. 00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:43.359 Live it out, stand out, pour it out. 00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:47.680 Continuing the passage in Philippians 17, uh 2, verse 17. 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:55.599 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:59.599 Likewise, you also be glad and rejoice with me. 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:01.359 The book of joy. 00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:03.039 Joy in the journey. 00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:04.720 Right there, two verses. 00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:06.559 You see, rejoice, rejoice. 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:09.279 Paul ends his section with this powerful picture. 00:20:09.359 --> 00:20:11.839 He says, Even if I am to be poured out. 00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:19.920 That phrase comes with this Old Testament sacrificial system, a drink offering that was poured out before God as an act of worship. 00:20:20.160 --> 00:20:25.359 And Paul looks at his own life and says, That's how I want to live. 00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:28.559 Poured out for Jesus. 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:32.160 Paul isn't asking, How much can I get out of life? 00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:35.680 He's asking, how much of my life can I give to Jesus? 00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:38.960 How much of my life can I continually pour back out to him? 00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:42.640 And that's the completely opposite of our culture. 00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:44.079 Protect yourself. 00:20:44.319 --> 00:20:46.720 Get insurance for this and this and this and that. 00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:52.880 Protect everything that you have, all your possessions, preserve yourself, build your life, protect your comfort. 00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:53.839 And C.S. 00:20:53.920 --> 00:20:58.880 Lewis wrote this: nothing that you have not given away will ever truly be yours. 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:03.839 Nothing that you have never not given away will truly be yours. 00:21:04.160 --> 00:21:07.599 I can't tell you how many families I've seen where their stuff owns them. 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:14.079 All the mechanics of things that need to be poured into this because it just is on it's overwhelming. 00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:15.680 We have to give it away. 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:26.559 Instead of holding on, like the world says, Lewis also said in his book, Mere Christianity, give up yourself and you will find your real self, lose your life, and you will save it. 00:21:26.880 --> 00:21:30.960 It's exactly the words of Jesus in Matthew 16, 25. 00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:34.319 For whoever will save his life will lose it. 00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:38.720 But whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:44.160 The Christian life isn't about preserving lives, it's about giving them to Jesus. 00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:48.640 And notice Paul's attitude isn't saying I'm being poured out and I'm miserable. 00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:51.279 He says, I'm glad and I rejoice. 00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:53.599 I rejoice as I'm being poured out. 00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:55.200 I'm glad about this. 00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:57.440 That's Philippians. 00:21:57.680 --> 00:21:58.640 Joy in the journey. 00:21:58.799 --> 00:22:03.119 This man, when he decides, To live it out, stand out, and pour it out. 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:04.720 There was joy in the journey. 00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:07.119 We need to make his life about himself. 00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:11.440 He followed the example of Jesus and how he humbled himself earlier in the passage. 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:16.000 He followed his example and he was a shining light as Christ was. 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:17.759 He had joy. 00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:21.599 He was able to rejoice in the journey. 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:24.960 He had chains, he had opposition. 00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:27.440 But he could say, I rejoice. 00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:32.079 Because Paul's joy wasn't found in protecting his comfort. 00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:37.119 His joy was found in knowing his life was being used for something eternal. 00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:39.279 That's a huge shift. 00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:41.359 How can I make my life easier? 00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:42.319 He said, No. 00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:45.599 How can my life count for Jesus? 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:48.079 Jesus, he gave himself for us. 00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:50.640 And Paul says, then I want to give myself to him. 00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:53.279 I want to follow his example. 00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:58.160 We don't pour ourselves out so Jesus will love us. 00:22:58.319 --> 00:23:05.039 We pour ourselves out because Jesus already loved us enough to pour himself out for us. 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:07.440 And you think of a candle. 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:09.359 You see a candle burning in a room. 00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:13.359 You think about a candle fulfills a purpose of giving itself away. 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:19.279 It's flaming so it can bring light to a room and it constantly burns and burns. 00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:23.519 And you get to see how the candle is getting smaller and smaller and smaller. 00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:25.279 It gives its life away. 00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:27.599 But the room gets brighter and brighter. 00:23:27.680 --> 00:23:30.880 And that's a powerful picture of life given to Jesus. 00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:33.839 You can spend your entire life protecting yourself. 00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:37.279 Or you can spend your life making an eternal difference. 00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:46.480 And here's the tension: the world says success in full life is a life where you accumulate more, but Jesus keeps on turning everything upside down. 00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:52.000 Jesus says greatness is found in serving and giving and surrender. 00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:59.119 And Paul says, if my life gets poured out in the process of helping others follow Jesus, I rejoice. 00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:01.279 It's incredible. 00:24:01.920 --> 00:24:03.599 It's pouring out a self. 00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:14.559 It doesn't always mean doing something dramatic, going overseas, becoming a missionary to the unreached people group or becoming a martyr for the gospel, or if you're a preacher preaching to thousands, it doesn't mean that. 00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:17.440 Maybe it's just listening to someone when you're tired. 00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:24.480 Maybe it means it looks like caring for an aging parent or showing up to someone who's actually hurting. 00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:27.200 Or maybe it's teaching in kids' church. 00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:29.519 That future generation is so important. 00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:31.039 It's so important. 00:24:31.599 --> 00:24:37.839 But there's times where you're not on the stage, you're not seen, and you're constantly pouring in that next generation to encourage them. 00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:43.359 Maybe it's making a meal for someone or picking up your phone and having a conversation, pouring it out. 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:45.279 It doesn't have to look like something dramatic. 00:24:45.359 --> 00:24:47.200 It can be the simple thing. 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:51.599 So here's the question: what am I pouring my life into right now? 00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:54.160 What is my life consumed with? 00:24:54.319 --> 00:24:55.279 What am I pouring out? 00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:58.720 Because whether we realize it or not, we're all pouring something. 00:24:58.880 --> 00:25:00.160 We're pouring out something. 00:25:00.400 --> 00:25:01.839 What is it pouring out? 00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:06.480 Every day, our time, our energy, our attention, they're going somewhere. 00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:07.759 Where is it going? 00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:10.720 What am I pouring into? 00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:12.880 Paul gave that out. 00:25:13.279 --> 00:25:13.920