[Here’s the unrecorded message]
Philippians 1:27-28
(KJV) Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
(NIV) 27Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel 28without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God.
Proposition:
.. Conducting our lives worthy of the gospel of Christ.
INTRODUCTION:
.. I have heard many stories of people who have had a bad experience with Christianity
.. I mentioned this to the youth on Friday that there are many people who like Jesus but do not like “Christians” or those who call themselves “Christ-followers” (we’ve heard this many times, even Pastor mentioned this to us before)
// CHRISTIANITY CONVO IN THE CAR
.. I had an intense conversation with one of my friends from college about this the other day
.. Before that trip, I had asked in our family prayer at night that God would give me the opportunity to share the Word in any way to my college friends.
.. On the way home, driving back from Santa Barbara, I felt that the whole day, I didn’t get much religious talking done. We were just catching up with each other’s stories since we haven’t really seen each other in so long, so I felt a prompt in my heart to get started on the conversation while I was in the car.
.. One of my friends is a Buddhist, but as she says, she’s not the devoted kind – but only affiliates with Buddhism with her culture.
.. My “pick-up line” was, “So, do you go to the temple?”
.. From that point on, it started a whole big conversation, debate/argument about Christianity. We’ve had many arguments before so I was used to her way of getting into things and I also wanted to test where she is now in her spirituality.
.. So from Oxnard all the way back here in the valley, I have explained to her the difference between real Christianity and those who just claimed to be Christians but aren’t living the way they should as the Bible says.
.. The reason why it took so long is because there were many tangents that she would get into and I’d have to deal with those things with her in order to get her to understand things logically.
.. Bottom line, I saw an ongoing need that the world has with regards to their view of Christianity – and that is CONSISTENCY with our profession and our actions.
.. Similarly, Apostle Paul saw that there is also a need of this consistency in the people of Philippi.
.. Read Philippians 1:27-28
.. If you keep going, v. 30 – The people were going through some persecutions that Paul also had experienced
.. so encouraged them in their consistency of their Christian walk.
// In context:
.. Paul was writing this epistle to the church in Philippi – a partner in the spreading of the gospel (Phil. 1:5), going through persecutions through oppositions of the Gospel of Christ (v. 30)
.. This church is pretty much what we call a stable church – they were on the right track – Philippians 2:12 “as you have always obeyed…”
.. Yet, we see that because of the persecutions they were going through as a church, Paul had to continually encourage them to keep going in their faith.
.. These 2 verses tell us a lot of valuable things that we need to hear as believers.
.. Some of us are may be just like the Philippians, on-fire, on-track, doing okay, etc.
.. And some may have already been slipping away from that little by little because of the situations we face in life – hardships in life.
.. But regardless where we stand in our spiritual walk, these verses either reminds us or pushes us back up to what is really important:
.. Let’s break down the verses to get a simpler understanding of this:
Paul's reminder
.. Whatever happens - no matter what situation
.. The Philippians were in some sort of struggle – as Paul said, the same struggles that they’ve seen him go through
.. Paul was saying – no matter what happens – regardless of what’s going on around you
.. then he goes on saying… (below)
.. Conduct yourself - act like
..ILLUSTRATION: Conducting a choir or orchestra requires willful knowledge and proactive decisions on what to do in a specific song/piece so you can make the group sound good and be worthy of that piece being performed.
.. Paul said to “conduct ourselves” simply meaning, to willfully and proactively decide to act as one…. (below)
.. worthy of the gospel of Christ - BECOMETH of the gospel
.. that our lives would show that when we say we are believers, we live it out - we act as one worthy of what we have received as a gift from God
.. God has already given us a master guide of WHAT TO DO in order to be acting worthy of the gospel
.. What does it mean when it says “worthy of the gospel of Christ?”
.. to begin with, we were never worthy of it
.. it was only through Jesus that we have received the gift of salvation
.. when we willfully decided to make Christ our Lord and Savior, we have received that gift
.. after that, only through the grace of God through Jesus Christ that we have been “worthy” of this salvation
.. now, if we do have this salvation and we don’t act as one worthy of it – we don’t match with what we say we are
.. the ability to act “worthy” of the gospel of Christ is supposed to be an act of gratitude of what Christ has done on our behalf.
.. therefore, to strive to be worthy of the gospel means to LIVE OUT OUR LIVES in gratitude THAT MATCHES THE AWESOME MESSAGE OF THE SALVATION OF CHRIST – the Gospel!
“Jesus’ teaching about this truth—that entering the kingdom of God and entering eternal life are both present experience and future hope—does not express itself in presumption and carelessness. It does not produce the attitude that says, “I’m already saved; it does not matter how I live. I do not need to be vigilant. I do not need to strive to enter through the narrow door.” That is not the way a person talks who has entered eternal life and has been grasped by the power of God’s kingdom. Instead this truth expresses itself in joyful striving.” (John Piper – What Jesus Demands from the World)
.. A believer is one who ACTS WORTHY of the GOSPEL
.. ILLUSTRATION: “Act your age, not your shoe size”
We act worthy and matching up with our age.
Ephesians 5:8 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light…”
.. Similar encouragement Paul had to the people in Ephesus about living in the light.
.. It’s like saying, we used to be in the dark but now that we are in the light – salvation – let’s live like one who is in the light.
.. Match it up!
Paul's assurance
.. I will know - without having to see it
.. For Paul, just to know that they are acting worthily – becometh – of the gospel of Christ, that gives him assurance
.. Conducting in a manner worthy of the gospel is a responsibility every believer has
.. To worthily (axios, in Greek) act like citizens of the Kingdom and the Gospel of Christ is basically an outward display of our gratitude of the gospel of Christ.
.. Here are few benefits based on these 2 great verses of what it would be when we live BECOMETH
BECOMETH (in a manner worthy of) THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST:
.. shows that we are standing firm (v. 27b)
.. shows that we, as a church, are united as one in contending (defending and fighting for) the gospel (v. 27b)
.. shows courage and boldness to silence our adversaries (our oppositions in acting in a manner worthy of) – (v. 28)
.. Our worship team verse is: “We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry.” (2 Cor. 6:3)
.. When we are living out what we ought, it silences our oppositions or those who go against what we are doing for Christ
.. exposes their awaiting destruction (v. 28b)
.. exposes the proof of our salvation
.. you want others to see the proof that you are saved?
.. live in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ
“And do not [for a moment] be frightened or intimidated in anything by your opponents and adversaries, for such [constancy and fearlessness] will be a clear sign (proof and seal) to them of [their impending] destruction, but [a sure token and evidence] of your deliverance and salvation, and that from God.” (v. 28 in AMP)
// APPS:
“It is a shame to religion when the professors of it are off and on, unfixed in their minds, and unstable as water; for they will never excel. Those who would strive for the faith of the gospel must stand firm to it.” (Matthew Henry)
.. There are many situations in life that may cause us to be a certain way
.. Paul said, “WHATEVER HAPPENS” – no matter what, “CONDUCT YOURSELVES IN A MANNER WORTHY”
.. There’s a need for consistency of what we say we are
.. We need to stand firm to it
.. The call to a Christian life is big; it is impossible. We have the world watching our every action.
.. We are either THE REASON WHY THEY WANT TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN or THE REASON WHY THEY DON’T
.. It’s our choice.
.. PRAY (Altar Call – Kuya Willy)
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