Question
SHINING LIKE STARS
Philippians 2:12-30
Key Verse 2:14-16
1. Read v. 12a. Paul calls the saints at the church of Philippi, "my dear 'friends'". Why did Paul call them my dear "friends" (Jn 15:14,15; Phi 1:5;4:10)?
2. Read vs. 12b-13. Why is it that one must work out salvation "with 'fear' and 'trembling'" (13; Deu 6:15; Jos 3:10; Mt 28:20)? What does "work out your salvation" practically mean? How can we fulfill this purpose?
3. Read vs. 14-15a. In what respect is it unbecoming of "children" of God to do everything complaining and arguing? How can we be become "blameless", "pure", and children of God "without fault" in a crooked and depraved generation (Gen 6:9; 17:1; Rm 1:17)? What does this passage tell us about the kind of standard God has for his children (1Pe 1:16; Mt 5:48)?
4. Read vs. 15b-17. What does this passage teach us about: 1) the purpose of salvation (Gn 12:4; Jn 21:15); 2) the way to fulfill the purpose of saving each individual (16); 3) the sacrifice that is required of a shepherd (17); and 4) the reward for such a life of sacrifice?
5. Skim through 19-30. What does this passage (particularly vs. 19 and 26-28) tell us about the relationship between shepherd and sheep even as they physically live apart? What can we learn from the example of the relationship between Paul and his flock at the church of Philippi?
6. Read vs. 19-24. The Apostle Paul is known as one of the great "apostles". Yet, what does Paul say about a servant of God like Timothy? What does the Bible say about a man like him (Lk 22:27)? What can we learn from Timothy?
7. Read vs. 25-30. Put yourself in the position of Epaphroditus on a mission journey from Philippi to Rome of Paul's day. In what respect was it not an easy task? What do expressions like "my brother", "fellow worker", "fellow soldier", "almost died for the work of Christ", or "risking his life" show us about Epaphrodidus? What can we learn from him?
Manuscript
Message
SHINING AS STARS
Philippians 2:12-30
Key Verse 2:14-15
“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.”
In today’s passage we can learn how to conduct ourselves in this crooked and depraved generation.
I. Dear Friends (12-18)
First, continue to work out your salvation (12a)
Look at v. 12. "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling." In the book of Philippians the word "friends" is repeated twice (2:12; 4:1). Here in v. 12, Paul calls the brothers and sisters in the Lord at the church of Philippi "dear friends." Then in 4:1, he says, "[m]y brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!" When Paul used the word "friend," he did not use it lightly; he did not casually say to strangers, "hey, amigo!" or "hi, buddy." Rather he used “friend” to mean what it actually means: in the Bible, a friend is one who knows the Lord and obeys the Lord. Abraham knew the Lord and he also obeyed the Lord, so he was called God's friend (James 2:23). Likewise, when Jesus came he said to his disciples, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (Jn 15:13-15).
Indeed, knowing the Lord in person, loving him as our dear Lord and Savior, and obeying his command, especially the command to love one another, is what elevates man to an exalted level, so exalted as to be called "God's friend." In the past Paul was disobedient to the Lord. But by God's grace the Lord God not only saved him from the power of sin and death but also established him as an apostle of Jesus Christ. The same thing happened to the brothers and sisters at the church of Philippi. In their past ignorance, they rebelled against the Lord; they lived as God's enemies. But in his mercy God sent Paul as their shepherd. Through Paul they repented of their rebellious ways of life. They then lived as God's friends.
Now Paul was in Rome, a city far away from Philippi. Nowadays we have all sorts of ways to communicate with one another. We have world mail, phones, cell phones, emails, etc. and so forth. But in Paul's day it was not easy for someone in Rome to communicate with others in Philippi. When a shepherd is away, sheep tend to kick back and relax. They lower their “spiritual guards,” so to speak. For example, they are tempted to skip daily bread. Instead of holding regular worship services – on Sundays and Wednesdays – they feel like staying at home and watching TV.
What then will happen to them? The answer is clear: they will only grow worse and, eventually, they will become God's enemies as opposed to God’s friends. The Apostle Paul knew this very well. So what did he do? He wrote a long letter. In his epistle, he says in v. 12, "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling."
Here the word "continue" is very important. What does "continue" mean? Continue means continue. Obedience is never a one time transaction. Obedience is what we need to be doing as long as we are still breathing. Speaking of this truth, the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:31, "I die every day--I mean that, brothers!" Similarly, Jesus said to his followers, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."
Second, God works in you (12b-13)
Let us read v. 12 again but this time together with v. 13. "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." One thing that comes to our attention is the expression - "not only in my presence but how much more in my absence." This sounds strange. While Paul was with them, they always obeyed the Lord. Now Paul was away from them. So with all other conditions being equal, they should have been able to obey the Lord as much as they had in the past. But Paul says, "how much more in my absence!" In other words, Paul expected them to obey the Lord much more than before. How come?
We find the answer to this question in John 14:12 where Jesus said to his disciples: "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." The expression "because I am going to the Father" talks about the coming of the Holy Spirit. So even though human shepherds like Paul would be away, Paul knew that the Holy Spirit, who is far greater than any human shepherd, would certainly enable each of his sheep to do far greater things than the things they would do while they were with their human shepherds. For the exact same reason, Paul says in vs. 12-13, "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose."
Now, two points deserve our special attention again:
(1) We need to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.
Here the phrase, "with fear and trembling" tells us that we cannot live our lives at random. In a way, our life's journey in the Lord is like a man flying from Chicago to Los Angeles. Yesterday, I attended a wedding in Chicago. Then I flew back from Chicago to Los Angeles. To be very frank with you, each time I fly, an ominous thought arises in the back in my mind: "What if this airplane goes down?" You know, if you are seated inside of an airplane, it is impossible for you to shake this kind of thought because, in the first place, before the airplane even takes off of the runway, by law, its crew members always remind you of the safety measures you need to take “just in case.” Of course these are called "safety" measures. But are they really going to protect your life? Are they going to "save" you? Suppose the airplane crashes into the Pacific Ocean and starts to sink. Will you have time to put on your orange life preserver? Even if you put it on, will you be able to make it out onto the surface? Still, will you be able to remain afloat until rescue comes? And if you manage all these things, then for how long can you survive like this? After all, what can you do, since you are merely a "passenger"? You are not the pilot! So what I do is tune out whatever they’re saying and do my own thing.
But the problem with life is different. Genesis 1:26-28 and Genesis 2:7 indicate that the Lord God in fact designed us to operate as the pilots of our own lives. Indeed, God has put each of us in the cockpit! Upon taking off, each one of us, as a pilot of “Life Airlines,” is supposed to figure out the flight path to the destination. And we are supposed to read the manual on how to operate the airplane similarly named “Life.”
This analogy helps us to understand why Paul says, "Dear friends ... continue to work out your salvation with 'fear and trembling'"! The passengers of an airplane can sit back and relax. They can read a novel or flip through a magazine. They even can fall asleep. But not so the pilot! What will happen to the airplane if the pilot falls asleep? What if the pilot is on drugs? The point here is that, as far as the running of our lives, we are not the passenger but the pilot! This is a very important point for us to remember. Many people say, "Hey, this is my life. Don't ask me to do this or to do that." That’s right. Your life is your life, just as my life is my life. And no one but you can and in fact should live your life. In the first place, it is not even the way God designed life to function. But we must remember this: our life, as big and as beautiful as it is, can go wrong in a million different ways. Yet it is still you yourself who should pick which way or ways to go. And once your life goes wrong, it will go wrong all the way. And as your life goes down, it will go down to the bottomless pit! The Bible calls this state “hell” (Lk 16:23), and if you continue to go down this path, then it will lead into the "fiery lake of burning sulfur," as in Revelation 21:8 the Apostle John says, "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." Precisely for this reason the Apostle Paul says, "[C]ontinue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling."
(2) We must remember that it is God who works in us to will and act according to his good purpose.
But thanks be to the Lord God: he has provided us with a wonderful way to successfully navigate our life's journey until we finally reach our desired haven safe and sound. Look at v. 13 again. "For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Do you remember the picture of the boy steering the wheel of a boat with Jesus standing over him, showing him the way? When we compare this picture with what Paul says in v. 13, the picture might be a bit misleading. In the picture, we see Jesus standing over (“outside”) of the boy. But Paul says in v. 13, God is working "in" you! Wow! God works in each of us. Plus he goes one step further, "God works in us to will and act according to his good purpose!" By this Paul means that God works in us so that we would will and act according to his good purpose!
When we stop and think about how this can work in the every day events of our lives, we can then understand why Paul says what he says in many places of his epistles: for example, in Phil. 1:21, Paul says, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Then in Galatians 2:20 he says, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." At the discipleship conference, one brother cried out to God, "Change me or kill me!" The Lord God heard his cry and gave him Galatians 2:20.
How then can we actually live life in such a way that we would will and act according to God's good purpose? The Apostle Paul answers this question in Romans 8. So I would encourage everyone to read Romans 8:1-39.
Third, so you too should be glad and rejoice with me (14-18)
In vs. 14-18 the Apostle Paul issues a few more instructions on how to live life here on earth, because life in the Lord is not as simple as it seems. Here are 2 points for us to consider:
(1) Do everything without complaining or arguing (14).
Although we are supposed to will and act in accordance with God's good purpose, it is easy to fail to grasp God's so-called “good” purpose, so we end up complaining and arguing. This is primarily because of our sinful nature and lack of faith in God’s goodness.
The tricky thing is that, although Paul describes God's purpose as "good," on many occasions what is good comes out of what is seemingly bad or even terrible. We find plenty of examples in the Bible. For example, when the Lord God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, the Lord God had a good purpose for them, that is, to establish them as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. To fulfill this purpose, the Lord God led them into and then through a desert. There the Lord God came up with a special food called “manna.” This food was designed to serve God’s purpose very well, that is, to train them into a holy nation. First of all, even if you consume manna, while it fully satisfies all of your bodily needs, you do not need to go to the bathroom as quickly and often as you normally would. But the Israelites did not understand the goodness of this purpose. So they complained to Moses. They argued with Moses day in and day out.
Another example was the Lord's call for the Israelites to take possession of the Promised Land by fighting and winning victories in fierce battle after battle against people as strong as Mike Tyson. The ultimate purpose was to train them to be true, brave, and bold rulers and conquerors. But they did not understand the Lord's purpose. So they complained to Moses. They argued with Moses. What then happened to them? Of all who came out of Egypt only two made it into the Promised Land.
In the immediate case, the Lord loved the Apostle Paul. So what did the Lord do for Paul? He put him in "chains." In what? Yes. In chains! Yet Paul did not complain. He did not argue with the Lord. Rather he thanked God all the more. Why? Because he understood that the chains were part of the Lord's wonderful design to advance the gospel farther than anyone could have possibly imagined.
When I think about myself, I am tempted to complain and argue. For example, on my return trip to Los Angeles from Chicago, I had to wait for three and a half hours before I could even board the airplane! Actually, my original plan was to attend the wedding Friday evening, participate at the senior staff meeting immediately after the wedding, lasting until around midnight, and then come back home early Saturday morning. Thus my return flight was scheduled to depart at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday morning. But suddenly Dr. Mark Yoon called me saying, "We have decided to postpone the meeting to start Saturday morning rather than late Friday evening." Later I learned that this was because Mother Barry needed to meet with some chapter directors in the Chicago area to discuss the upcoming Summer Bible Conference. So quite reluctantly I changed my return flight schedule till 5:40 p.m. on Saturday. So after the meeting was finally finished, and as I waited at the airport to board the plane, I felt like complaining. I even wanted to argue with Mother Barry saying, "Why do you treat me like this?" But during all of this, I reluctantly opened the Bible and began to meditate on today’s passage. Then I recognized that it was a wonderful time for me to meditate on God's word! Had it not been for this delay, I could have been running around Downey doing everything except for meditating on the word of God.
Then by the time my flight reached LAX, I felt like complaining to God for another reason. See, I needed to visit a restroom before landing. While washing up, I took a good look at myself in the mirror. And I did not like the way I looked. So I complained, "God, why did you create me like this? Why am I not as handsome as Charlton Heston?" But I knew that I could not do anything to improve my looks. And I certainly do not want cosmetic surgery. So I went back to the waiting area and sat down again. Then, after a while, as I meditated on this passage, I learned that God had a good purpose even in creating me as "plain" as I am: he wanted to keep me humble rather than proud. Thank God.
(2) Hold out the word of life (15-16a).
Look at vs. 15-16, "So that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing." Haven't I mentioned on many occasions that the Apostle Paul writes such long sentences that they often make us confused? But even in studying God's word expressed in such long sentences like this, we should not complain. Rather as we meditate on the meanings couched herein, we can find good nutrition for our soul.
With this in mind let us look at vs. 15-16 again. Here we see the grammatical structure of the sentence framed in this manner: "So that...as...in order that." In other words, the phrase "so that" is linked up with “as [you hold out the word of life].” So we learn that it is when we hold out the word of life that we can attain to God's perfection and thus shine like stars in a dark sky.
The expression "hold out" has two meanings: "hold" and "out." "Hold" means "to retain." We need to retain the word of life in our hearts. The world is still crooked and depraved. Notice the order, crooked first and then depraved second. And the world is growing worse and worse like this with each passing day, in increasing measure. In this crooked and depraved generation, how can we keep ourselves pure and blameless? How can we live our lives in a manner worthy of the title “children of God without fault”? It is only when we retain the word of life in our hearts. Then the word of life in us not only purifies but also strengthens us. Then we will be empowered to get the word out to many by teaching the Bible. With the word of God, we can correct, rebuke, and encourage others. Our sheep may or may not accept God's word. But without a doubt we will always benefit by the word of life in spite of what our sheep do or do not do. Thus God fills us with the glory of his life!
And then what Paul says in vs. 16-18 will come true. Let us read vs. 16-18. "As you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me." As we live as shepherds and shepherdesses, the Lord God will enable us to bear the kind of fruit he has in mind. Then, when Jesus comes again, Jesus will reward each of us, all in accordance with what we have done while in the body (2Co 5:10).
II. Timothy and Epaphroditus (19-28)
Vs. 19-28 are quite obvious in meaning. But just for the sake of clarification, we would like to briefly think about this passage in two ways:
First, Timothy (19-24)
In vs. 19-24, the Apostle Paul speaks well of Timothy. What is the point of his compliments? Let us read vs. 20-24. Here, we learn that because Timothy loved Jesus, he could look to the interests of others, particularly the interest of the Apostle Paul. His example is especially heart-moving because, in a generation where respect for the elderly (especially spiritual parents), had largely been lost, Timothy demonstrated his deep and loving respect for his spiritual father, the Apostle Paul. Actually, by God's providence, this coming Tuesday I would like to encourage everyone to go and visit a special "Korean/U.S. Family Festival" at 7:00 p.m. which will be held at the Ebel Theater in the mid-Wilshire area. Admittance is free of charge. And there, we will see what it is for children to show a deep, abiding, and loving respect for parents.
Second, Epaphroditus (25-28)
In vs. 25-28, Paul speaks well of another person, Epaphroditus. He was from the church of Philippi. Apparently, he worked as a courier on behalf of the brothers and sisters at the church of Philippi, carrying the offerings from them to Paul in Rome. What kind of person was he? Paul characterizes him with four different titles: “brother,” “fellow worker,” “fellow soldier,” and “messenger.” Yet more than these titles, Paul speaks so highly of Epaphroditus because he "risked" his life for Jesus. In this way, Epaphroditus set a living example of a star that shines in a dark sky. At first glance, the analogy of living as stars shining in a dark sky seems glamorous. But in essence, it involves a life that is willing to risk itself for Jesus and for fellow soldiers like Paul. There are a few stars here in our own ministry. And I thank God for each one of them.
One word: shining like stars.
Manuscript
Biblenote
Shining like stars
Philippians 2:12-30
Key Verse 2:14-16
Do everything without complaining or arguing, So that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
This passage offers us the image of a good shepherd who tends the flock of God just as Jesus tended the flock of God (like the twelve disciples of Jesus). We also can see a beautiful love relationship between shepherd and sheep.
1. Read v. 12a. Paul calls the saints at the church of Philippi, "my dear 'friends'". Why did Paul call them my dear "friends" (Jn 15:14, 15; Phi 1:5; 4:10)?
** He speaks of them that way because indeed they offered friendship to Paul, for a friend in need is friend indeed. Put yourself in a position of Paul locked up in a prison. He was a senior citizen with no wife, no children, not knowing when he was to be released. How lonely must he have been? Yet, it was these members of the church at Philippi whose practical loving concern was shown to Paul! What a warm, tearful expression of love must it have been to Paul?! The world is cold and lonely. Every one is busy with his or her own thing. No one truly looks out for the interests of others. Paul, however, poured out his life for the sheep, only to end up in a lonely place. Yet the Lord did not leave him helpless. Yet the help did not come out of nowhere. It came from what Paul fully sacrificed and prayed for, namely, the flock of God he fished and served even risking his life. Acts 16.
2. Read vs. 12b-13. Why is it that one must work out salvation "with 'fear' and 'trembling'" (13; Deu 6:15; Jos 3:10; Mt 28:20)? What does "work out your salvation" practically mean? How can we fulfill this purpose?
** It is because God is among us working for our salvation. He wills and acts in and through us. So we must work out our salvation with reverent fear and trembling.
Paul picked up this idea from Exodus where we see the Lord God journeying from Exodus to the Promised Land, leading them to the Promised Land as the good shepherd for them. But, see how ignorant the Israelites were. They only saw Moses and sand or rocks on the road. Even if the Lord God made himself visible with the pillar of fire at night and pillar of cloud during the day, still they did not acknowledge the presence of the Lord among them. And is this only an isolated case applicable to the Israelites of Moses' day alone, and not to us in our own generation?
** It practically means "obedience" to every word of God which gives life to us (Deu 8:3).
** We can fulfill this command by trusting in the Lord who wills and acts in and through us. This is not possible for us to fulfill. It is possible only by God's power. So by all means learn to work out salvation with fear and trembling.
3. Read vs. vs. 14-15a. In what respect is it unbecoming of "children" of God to do everything complaining and arguing? How can we be become "blameless", "pure", and children of God "without fault" in a crooked and depraved generation (Gen 6:9; 17:1; Rm 1:17)? What does this passage tell us about the kind of standard God has for his children (1Pe 1:16; Mt 5:48)?
** Unlike slaves who are steeped in slave mentality, enslaved to the power of sin and death, God's children are set free from the power of sin and death. They no longer live before men, but before God. Since God is among them, God can help them overcome slave mentality. After all, the net effect of salvation that comes from the Father is to help them function well in their entire person which consists of will, intellect, and emotion. Slaves however do not know how to will, think, and feel independently, depending on God alone. So when things go well they claim credit, but when things go bad they complain. But God's children are different. They know how to be responsible for their own decisions. They also know how privileged it is for a man to live as a child of God.
** Again we cannot become perfect like this on our own. We can be like this only because of Him working for, in and through us.
** He wants us to be as perfect as He is. After all, restoring the full image of God is the immediate (not ultimate) purpose of His salvation.
4. Read vs. 15b-17. What does this passage teach us about: 1) the purpose of salvation (Gn 12:4; Jn 21:15); 2) the way to fulfill the purpose of saving each individual (16); 3) the sacrifice that is required of a shepherd (17); and 4) the reward for such a life of sacrifice?
** Ultimate purpose of salvation is to use each person to save all, just as God called Abraham to be a source of blessing for all peoples on earth. For this reason we say God's purpose of salvation is universal.
** It is for a believer to: 1) shine like stars in the dark universe (meaning he must function as light and salt of this earth); and 2) hold out the word of light positively, by teaching the word of God in season and out of season.
** The two words: “drink offering” tells us the kind of sacrifice required of a shepherd. Drink offering consists of liquid being poured out. Like water, once this drink offering is poured out, it is gone, indicating total sacrifice.
The additional pair of words, "sacrifice" and "service" indicates that a shepherd must give himself to the flock of God in such a way that God's flock would learn how to serve and sacrifice for others as well.
** The reward is absolute joy just to talk about the essence of it. The time of reward will be at the time of Jesus' second coming as Paul mentioned in 2Co 5:10. Read also Matthew 25:21.
5. Skim through 19-30. What does this passage (particularly vs. 19 and 26-28) tell us about the relationship between shepherd and sheep even as they physically live apart? What can we learn from the example of the relationship between Paul and his flock at the church of Philippi?
** There is a bond which is invisible but inseparable, the bond bonded with the love of Jesus.
** We learn the importance of personal shepherding based on Jesus' command in John 10:10,11, for this is the way for God to bring all to the family of God bonded with the love of God which is eternal.
6. Read vs. 19-24. The Apostle Paul is known as one of the great "apostles". Yet, what does Paul say about a servant of God like Timothy? What does the Bible say about a man like him (Lk 22:27)? What can we learn from Timothy?
** He speaks highly of him saying, I have no one else like him.
** Greater than the one who gets served.
** We need to learn to respect our human shepherds as well, so instead of becoming a burden to our shepherds, we would be a source of joy for them. Read Heb. 13:17.
7. Read vs. 25-30. Put yourself in the position of Epaphroditus on a mission journey from Philippi to Rome of Paul's day. In what respect was it not an easy task? What do expressions like "my brother", "fellow worker", "fellow soldier", "almost died for the work of Christ", or "risking his life" show us about Epaphroditus? What can we learn from him?
** It must have been a very difficult task for in those days they did not have means of fast transportation like airplanes. Plus it must have taken a long time to travel, so you need to sacrifice your everything like career, ties with family members, etc. and so forth.
** He understood the nature of task as spiritual. He saw the purpose behind his physical activities like traveling carrying monetary offerings, that is, the work of Christ, the need for the gospel to advance in and through Paul. He recognized the importance of one person Apostle Paul, for in Paul's day, he was literally the most important VIP of all vips!
** We need to pray for our spiritual leaders like Mother Barry.
The end.