Be Your Best

Philippians  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented
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Be Your Best!

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Text: Philippians 2:12-24
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Introduction: One of history’s greatest musical conductors was Arturo Toscanini. Born in Parma, Italy, in 1867, Toscanini died in his sleep in New York City in 1957. For years he conducted the National Broadcasting Company’s Symphony Orchestra in New York City’s Carnegie Hall. The last time he conducted there he was 87 years old.
Those who played for Toscanini say he was a terrible taskmaster in rehearsals. Often those rehearsals were battlegrounds between the maestro and his orchestra. He could be ruthless in the verbal tortures he heaped upon some unfortunate musician, but at the same time he could be as gentle as a grandfather.
Once in a rehearsal a member of the orchestra was performing poorly in a solo passage. The white-maned Toscanini rapped his baton for silence. Placing one hand on his hip, he touched the end of his nose with the baton. The orchestra knew from experience that a terrible storm was about to break upon the poor soloist.
An ominous silence filled the room as Toscanini called the player by name. Looking kindly at the trembling musician for a few minutes, Toscanini then asked pleasantly, “Tell me, please, when were you born?”
When the question was answered, the maestro then asked, “And in what month?” When he learned the month of the man’s birth, all wondered what was coming next.
“And on what day of the month were you born?” Toscanini queried.
Now completely unnerved by Toscanini’s gentle inquisition, the poor musician answered, “I think it was a Tuesday, Maestro.”
Suddenly all of Toscanini’s fury was unleashed, and he shouted at the quivering musician, “That was a black day for music!” He then raised his baton in the air, struck the downbeat, and the orchestra began to play as though nothing had happened.
In a moment they arrived at the dreaded solo passage where the small mistake had infuriated Toscanini, but this time the soloist played his part without a bobble.
Stopping the orchestra, the maestro looked at the white-faced soloist and said: “So! So!” With his hand he threw a kiss to the musician and said, “So you are not stupid. You can play well. Now I am happy. You are happy. Beethoven is happy!”
On another occasion Toscanini was rehearsing his orchestra, and he wanted the piece of music played perfectly. But it was obvious that the orchestra was not giving its best. Laying down his baton, Toscanini said quietly: “Gentlemen, God has told me how he wants this piece of music played and you are hindering God.”
The Apostle Paul had sensed a divisive spirit within the Philippian church. He even named two women who were not getting along, Euodia and Syntyche (4:2). Their quarrel was affecting the church. Paul was not happy with them. They were not happy with each other. And Jesus was unhappy with their divisive spirit. And it’s as if Paul was saying to them, “Look God has told us how the church is to be unified and you are not doing a very good job at it.
Throughout the NT God calls His church to be unified, healthy, loving and Christlike. When God’s church isn’t acting like God’s church should act, we are not happy and God the Maestro of the Church isn’t happy.
God desires for us to Be our Best...
I. In Obedience (2:12, 13)

12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

We should not miss the significance of this plea of Paul to the Philippians to be obedient which comes right on the heals of the greatest example of obedience just illustrated in the Hymn to Christ. He is, of course our model for obedience.
One of the greatest Scripture passages that shed light on the example of Jesus’ obedience and commitment to the work He came to do is Hebrews 12:1-3:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.* Because of the joy* awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people;* then you won’t become weary and give up.

Paul urged the Philippians to “keep their eyes focused on Christ, the Servant.” He was obedient. We are not called to be successful…we are called to be faithful! Our faithfulness will be seen in the life that we live…the works that we do. There is a definite connection between our obedience and our salvation.
Their consistent obedience is evidence of their salvation in Christ. But that is not to say that their works gain or earn their salvation. This passage is a great illustration of a partnership in the matter of salvation. Even C. S. Lewis observed how these verses tie together “human effort” and “divine empowering.” In other words, salvation consists of two parts. God offers and provides. Man accepts and expresses his new nature by his life of obedience and good works. Other Scriptures are clear on this same matter:
Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
James 2:18 “But someone may well say, ‘You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.’”
These words warn us against a view that says “salvation” comes solely by human effort. But they also warn against a view that suggests divine grace is so overwhelming that humans need not exert their greatest effort in God’s service. Glorious grace does not excuse us from work. If work could earn our salvation, then the in-working of God would not be needed. If grace alone were enough, there would be no call for human effort or obedience.
Our salvation is a partnership: God has done His part in providing His Son and offering us salvation by His grace. We do our part by accepting His Son and living out in obedience the life He has called us to.

Obedience is evidence of faith in God. Paul appeals to the entire community to continue to obey, which means adopting the attitude of Christ in their relationships with one another.

work out Emphasizes that obedience is intentional and purposeful. Paul’s point is that salvation, once received, must be put into practice through obedience.

Let’s move on to notice that our obedience should be carried out with the right attitude...
II. In Attitude (2:14-16)

14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 16 Hold firmly to the word of life;

Expressions of discontentment and arguing lead to a spirit of division within a community of believers. Paul commands the Philippians to abandon such things so as to promote unity.

One’s attitude is largely a matter of perspective…as in the case of the “two men who look out through the same bars; one sees the mud and the other sees the stars.”
Illus. It’s like the man who was told by his physician that he only had six months to live. “Doc,” he said, “is there something I can do?” “Yes,” replied the doctor. “First, give all your possessions to the poor. Next, move to a cold-water shack in the backwoods. And then marry a woman with nine children.” “Will this give me more time?” “No---but it’s be the longest six months of your life!”
Verse 14 is another indication that all was not well within the Philippian family. The grammar here suggests that “complaining and arguing” are, in fact, going on and they are to stop doing it. Paul knows and you and I know that when there is “complaining and arguing” within the barracks of God’s Army that it takes its toll on morale. Our enemy enjoys it when we don’t get along with each other.
Illus. A conscientious wife tried hard to please her critical husband, but failed regularly. He was the most cantankerous at breakfast. If she prepared scrambled eggs, he wanted poached; if poached eggs, he wanted scrambled. One morning the wife poached one egg and scrambled the other and placed the plate before him. Anxiously she awaited what surely this time would be his unqualified approval. He peered down at the plate and snorted, “Can’t you do anything right, woman? You’ve scrambled the wrong egg!”
By the time we get to chapter 4 Paul even singles out two women who are not getting along. He names them in 4:2 and urges them to live in harmony in the Lord.
Let’s not miss the larger picture. Paul mentions the problems in the Philippian church in the context of the example and attitude of Christ. He has called upon them to “have the mind of Christ” which we have learned is one of humility and service rather than arrogance and power plays.
The two words Paul makes use of here are very interesting sounding words. Complaining is the word gongusmos and comes from the word gonguzo. That doesn’t sound pretty, does it? This was the same attitude that the rebellious Israelites had in the wilderness when they “murmured or grumbled” against Moses. Neither were they to be arguing or disputing which is the word, dialogismos, which sounds a little like a digestion problem. Paul’s counsel is that these attitudes must be curbed.
Someone has observed that the Lord created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. On the eighth day, he started to answer complaints. Evidently there were some unhappy complainers in the Philippian congregation.
Paul says that our attitude should be as children of God...in a crooked and depraved generation. A similar idea is what we know about Noah in the OT. The world of Noah’s day was wicked and making God heart sick as the wickedness of man so much so that a flood was coming to wipe the earth clean of its evil…but Noah. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. In other words Noah stood out. He was different.
Paul calls upon the Philippians to stand out…to be different. He calls them to shine like stars in the universe! Sounds like what Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do me light a lamp, and put it under a peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
He also calls upon us to hold out the word of life. This phrase can actually be translated two ways. It can mean to “hold out” our “hold forth” which would emphasize our mission…our outreach. But it can also be translated “hold onto.” This would emphasize our being steadfast and faithful as we live lives that are worthy of the Gospel.
Which leads us to our final point...
III. In Commitment (2:17-30)
Illus. An irate parent phoned her little boy’s Sunday School teacher. “Is it true that you told all the kids in your class that they were crazy?” she demanded. “No, I didn’t,” the teacher replied, “but I did tell them that they should all be committed.”
Illus. Robert Moorehead understood commitment when he said, “My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in a maze of mediocrity. I won’t give up, shut up, let up, or slow up till I’ve preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for Christ!”
It was an emphatic assessment of Wayne Smith: “A team cannot rise higher than the quality of its players. A church cannot rise higher than the quality and commitment of those who make the decisions.”

In the ancient world, a drink could be poured out as an offering to a god (e.g., Gen 35:14; Hos 9:4). In the present verse (and in 2 Tim 4:6) Paul uses this imagery to describe his sufferings for the Philippians—including his present imprisonment—as an offering to God. He might be referring figuratively to the possibility of his death (compare Phil 1:20–24).

Paul is offering himself as an example to the Philippians of commitment to the cause of Christ. Mark Twain wrote, “Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.” In this epistle Paul has presented them the great example of Christ. We are called to “be like Christ”...”to walk even as He walked”…”to love as He loved”...”to forgive others as Christ has forgiven us.”
And in this passage, Paul offers himself as an example of one who is following Christ. “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.” In another place Paul wrote, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.” Who’s life are you emulating? Who is emulating your life?
Before he’s finished with this chapter he also offers the examples of Timothy and Epaphroditus. Both of these godly men were known by the Philippian church. Paul holds them up as illustrations of the kind of commitment each of us needs to have.
First he mentions Timothy in verses 19-24.

Paul Commends Timothy

19 If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. 20 I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. 21 All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. 22 But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. 23 I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. 24 And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon.

While in prison in Rome Paul was concerned about the church in Philippi. He was concerned about their spiritual welfare. He wanted to send someone in his place to convey his concern to the church. At this time there were likely hundreds of Christians in Rome (Paul even greeted 26 of them by name in the last chapter of his letter to the church in Rome. But there was not one of them available to make the trip to Philippi except one, Timothy. That’s why he said in verse 21, “For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.” Timothy had a servant’s heart. He had the mind of Christ.
Notice 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” 2:21, “For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.” In a sense, each of us is living out one of those verses. Timothy demonstrated his commitment.
Next we learn of Epaphroditus (vs. 25-30).

Paul Commends Epaphroditus

25 Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. 26 I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. 27 And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another.

28 So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you. 29 Welcome him in the Lord’s love* and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. 30 For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.

Notice how Paul describes his commitment: “my brother, my companion in labor, my fellow soldier.” Epaphroditus had risked his life to bring help to Paul. Now, he’s ready to go back with Timothy to the church family that he loves. He was a man of unquestioned commitment to Christ.
Conclusion: How will it be with you? When we come to the end of our journey will we be able to hear the Master say, “Well done, Thou good and faithful servant”?
Edgar A. Guest wrote:  I’d like to think when life is done
That I filled a needed post,
That here and there I’d paid my fare
With more than idle talk and boast;
That I had taken gifts divine,
The breath of life and manhood fine,
And tried to use them now and then In service for my fellow men.
I’d hate to think when life is through
That I had lived my round of years
A useless kind,that leaves behind
No record in this vale of tears;
That I had wasted all my days
By treading only selfish ways,
And that this world would be the same
If it had never known my name.”
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I don’t know of a time in my lifetime when there was more urgency for the church to truly be the church and to be obedient to our calling and to have the attitude of Christ and to be fully commited to the task before us than right now. This is not the time to jump ship or throw in the towel. This is the time to be true to the commitment that we began our walk with, Obedience. Christ Attitude, and Commitment are what is needed for the church to have the impact on our world that brings honor and glory to our Lord.
Illus. Steve Brown relates the story of a soldier in World War I who was so distraught with the war that he deserted. He tried to find his way to the coast so he could catch a boat and make his way back incognito to his homeland in England.
In the darkness of the night he stumbled on a road sign. It was so pitch black and he was so lost. He had no idea where he was or what the sign said. He decided to climb the pole. When he got to the crossbeam, he held on to read the sign. Taking out a match, he lit it, and looked directly into the face of Jesus Christ. He had climbed an outdoor crucifix!
Stunned by what he saw, he realized the shame of his life. He was looking into the face of the One who had endured it all and had never turned back. The next morning the soldier was back in the trenches.
Be Obedient. Be Like Christ. Be Committed!
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