Sermon Tone Analysis

Why do lights go dim?

Why do lights, lamps, go dim?

Now a light bulb can go out when it burns out, so we need to be careful of that, don’t burn out.

Light bulbs will go out if there is no power.

So stay plugged into the power that works in you.

But when you think of a lamp, an oil lamp why do they grow dim?

Is it the oil is running low?

Is it that the wick is not trimmed?

- - - - in this series let your light shine we he have looked at this passage from Php2:12-16 and gotten some direction and some hope.

Direction in working out our own salvation

Direction in working out our own salvation

How to work it out with fear and trembling

Hope we have seen that it is God who works in you.

What a great assurance we have in that.

Today we are going to look at what can make our lamps, our lights grow dim and how to avoid it and in its place what we should display to others.

we will look at

Murmuring (grumbling)

Complaining

and finish with displaying

Paul issues this as a warning, and warning are not given for no reason but with reason.

So let’s see the reasoning behind this today and what we should be doing when contrasted against what we should not be doing.

I. Murmuring (grumbling)

Focus today is on (Php2:14) and we start with looking at murmuring, not murmuring, but looking at murmuring.

Some versions say grumbling, others complaining while others say murmuring.

So what is murmuring?

a subdued or private expression of discontent or dissatisfaction

Israel was good at murmuring, many died because of it (1Cor10:10-11)

These things were written for our instruction so we don’t do these things!

So how about more examples of grumblers, murmurers (Jude3-4, 16-19)

Jude3:4

Ungodly people who turn the grace of God into licentiousness and deny Jesus Christ! - those are grumblers, complainers who do not want to accept the truth and want to lead others away from the truth.

Jude18-

Now Jude went on to describe more in the passage about the grumblers.

Grumbling can put your soul or the souls of others at risk.

Think about this, if you are sold out for something, do you complain about it or proclaim and compliment it?

As a Christian who is to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling are we grumbling, complaining, murmuring about it or are we in awe of God and what He has done for us through the Christ.

How can we let our light shine if we grumble, complain or murmur?

Replace murmuring, complaining, grumbling with thanksgiving.

Remember the definition of murmuring, part of it discontent or dissatisfaction.

As a Christian who has every spiritual blessing (Eph1:3)

Has the assurance that God will meet all of our needs (Mt6:31-33; Heb13:5-6)

and then there is this passage in Hebrews

He knows what we need and will meet the need

Our part is to be content and have faith

Remember God works in us to will and to do for His good pleasure (Php2:13)

We should be filled with thanksgiving and known for that not for murmuring, or complaining.

Look at some solutions (Col1:12, 2:6-7, 3:15, 17, 4:2)

Be thankful for what we have in Christ, our inheritance

That should make us abound in thanksgiving

Col

The attitude of gratitude!

Have thanksgiving for the peace of God having rule in our hearts

And turn our thanks to thanksgiving to the Father through the SOn

Be thankful, be prayerful

When we have an attitude of gratitude an attitude of thanksgiving then we can let our light shine in a wicked and perverse world, in a wicked and perverse generation we can do it without murmuring, grumbling and complaining!

How do people see us, do we constantly grumble, complain, murmur about the economy, our government, out healthcare or some other social injustice.

Or do we shine the light of Christ in lieu of any circumstances and we look for the hope, we look for the good!

Whew, that is a lot just on murmuring, complaining and grumbling, but that is only 1/2 of the scripture isn’t it?

II.

Disputing

Simply put disputing means, arguing or disputing

It is not discussing differences

It is divisive wrangling condemned in (1Tim6:3-5; 2Tim2:14-16; Tit3:9)

Advocates different doctrine, has morbid interest in controversial questions that bring about envy, strife, abusive language and constant friction.

We need to not wrangle about words, but be diligent to present ourselves as approved to God as workman.

Tit

Avoid the foolish unprofitable and worthless things that cause division by disputing, arguing and wrangling.

These things can lead to devouring (Gal5:15)

It is ok to be different, be different in how we handle our differences

You can be different and not divisive in how you handle your differences

Be different but strive to have the mind of Christ, develop that (Php2:2)

Mentioned thanksgiving before now joy comes into the mix and that always comes with love.

May our love be intent on one purpose the purpose of Christ that works in us both will and to do.

So until we are perfected and we have the mind of Christ and we have disputes, we can let our light shine in how we deal with them, without grumbling, complaining, murmuring, we can do it with the proper attitude (2Tim2:23-26)

of Christ and we have disputes, we can let our light shine in how we deal with them, without grumbling, complaining, murmuring, we can do it with the proper attitude (2Tim2:23-26)

Be not foolish, be not quarrelsome

Be kind, teachable, patient

Use gentleness in correction, and help by leading to repentance

We have the attitude and God has giving us the qualities, we just need to apply them (Col3:12-13)

Put it on!

Heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience bearing with one another, forgiving one another.

With the right attitude, and the God given qualities and our willingness we can forego disputing by at times not exercising our liberties (1Cor8:13)

Let our light shine when we deal with disputes in a positive manner.

We can impact the world for Jesus when we do!

So next time you have a dispute, be different in how you deal with it!

What we display matters; here are some things to consider and we will move on.

What do we display?

How can we display the light of Christ in us?

Why should we display the light of Christ in us?

III.

What do we display?

Don’t display grumbling, display thanksgiving

Don’t display disputing, display grace and understanding

Put on Christ (Rom13:11-14)

We put on Christ when we are baptized (Gal3:27)

We need to put on the new man (Eph4:24)

We do that when we do not grumble, complain, murmur or dispute and we are content when we accept what God has for us.

Mentioned what do we display, what should we display but now why should we display is whats left.

Let your light shine!

(Mt5:14, 16)