God Is So Good
Answering the question, "What does the Bible say about encouragement?".
George Wright
Dec 29, 2019 41m
In this sermon Pastor George Wright examines the question, "What does the Bible say about encouragement?". We can find encouragement to grow in faith throughout scripture. This is important when you are struggling with faith, but just as important when you are growing in faith in Jesus Christ. Video recorded at Columbia, South Carolina.
TranscriptionmessageRegarding Grammar:
This is a transcription of the sermon. People speak differently than they write, and there are common colloquialisms in this transcript that sound good when spoken, and look like bad grammar when written.
This is a transcription of the sermon. People speak differently than they write, and there are common colloquialisms in this transcript that sound good when spoken, and look like bad grammar when written.
George Wright: 00:00 I'm going to ask you to grab a Bible and turn to Philippians 2, Philippians chapter 2, in the New Testament. And we're going to walk through four verses of scripture here this morning that really are intended to be a perspective check. These verses in Philippians 2 invite us to ask some questions as it relates to our life and our faith, that then help us realign and refocus on what matters the most. It's in Philippians chapter 2 beginning in verse 1 all the way through verse 4, I like to invite you to stand with me as I read from God's word this morning to get this sermon started. If you are new to Shandon today, we're so thankful that you're here. And we want you to know the reason we stand for the reading of God's word at the beginning of a message, is so that we all can be reminded when we gather together as a people of God, the Word of God is our foundation, it is our authority, it's what we're built upon. And the Word of God reveals to us what God says is right and good and true. This is what we need to hear.
George Wright: 01:16 This is the word of the Lord, through the apostle Paul, divinely inspired by the Spirit of God to write this letter to the church in Philippi. And then for God to include it in his word, that you and I might see what God has for us to see. It says this, "So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." This is the word of the Lord.
George Wright: 02:21 Would you pray with me as we consider God's word together here this morning? Heavenly Father, as we stand now before you, and as we now turn our attention to what you say, and as we think about a year coming to an end, a new year that is before us, and a new decade that is beginning. It is my prayer, Lord God, in the power of your Spirit, that you would open our hearts to receive what you desire for us to receive this day. It is my prayer, Lord God, that you would have your way among us, that you would bring the words that you give us to life off the page in our hearts, that we might live according to what you say. And it is my prayer, Lord God, that we would see on this final Sunday the year with greater clarity, who you are, and what you have done for us. We thank you for this opportunity to hear from you. It's in Christ' name I pray. Amen. You may be seated. Thank you for standing
George Wright: 04:04 In Philippians chapter 2 the apostle Paul, as he writes to the church at Philippi, is inviting the church to refocus their attention on the good news of what God has done. Why is this important for this specific church? Well, the church of Philippi was a very healthy church, all things considered. The church at Philippi was strong in standing on the Word of God, sound doctrine was the foundation for this church. The church in Philippi had strong leadership, they were focused on what God said they should be focused on. But the church at Philippi had begun to lose their focus on the Word of God completely, in the sense that outside voices and outside influence had begun to distract and divide some of the church. So Paul, in his love for this church, in his desire to see this church thrive and flourish and be used by God, writes this letter from a prison cell himself. And says, church, let me remind you of how great our God is. Let me remind you that God is so good. Let me remind you of the things that God has done, so that you can refocus on what matters most, and not get distracted and not become divided, but draw together based on what God has done.
George Wright: 06:05 The great Protestant reformer Martin Luther famously said of the Christian life, "To progress is always to begin again." To progress is always to begin again. Growth in the Christian faith always involves going back to the good news of what God has done for us. Growth in the Christian faith happens when we remember the glory of God's grace and mercy that has been poured out on our lives. Growth into Christian life comes when we remember the incredible gift that God has provided for us through Christ and the work of salvation. When we go back to the joy of our salvation, we remember how Jesus humbled us and at the same time invited us into the gift of new life, we grow in our faith and stay focused on what matters the most.
George Wright: 07:20 I realize you may be here this morning, and you don't have a personal relationship with Christ. Maybe you're here because you're in town visiting family or friends, or maybe you just decided at the invite of someone that you should come to church and try to think about a new year and a new priority and a new focus all together. You may be here wanting a fresh start. You may be here thinking about the way 2019 has gone, and saying I'm ready for something different to happen all together. What we see here in Philippians 2 is provoking the church, but I believe inviting anyone who is willing to listen, to evaluate, to consider our perspective, and then to refocus on what God has done. You may be here needing to hear what God has done for you, this word is for you. You may be here fully aware of what God has done for you, but needing a jumpstart, or needing the opportunity to grow, to be refreshed, to be re-nourished, this word is for you.
George Wright: 08:40 Philippians 2:1, let me read it again because these questions that are posed are really intended to be a statement that refocus us on the beauty of the gospel. The scripture says, "If there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection or sympathy." Here's the question, is there encouragement in Christ? Is there any encouragement in Christ church? How about somebody answer this question for me? Is there encouragement in Christ? There is, of course there is! When we are reminded of what Christ has done, we see that he has done for us what we can never do for ourselves. He has made a way for us to be right with God, when there was no possible way for us to be right with God apart from him. He has lifted us out of darkness, he has invited us into his marvelous light, he has invited the rebel into the beauty of redemption, he has called the orphan a son of the most high God, he has saved the sinner through the power of forgiveness and grace. There is encouragement in Christ, but how easily we lose sight of this truth.
George Wright: 10:14 Listen, Paul says, church, is there any encouragement in Christ? Yes. Remember, refocus, let this gospel truth dictate and determine the way you view the world. Let this good news realign your perspective, and remember what Christ has done. Is there any comfort from love? Of course there is. What is more comforting than being known and being loved? I love this quote from Timothy Keller, he writes, "To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything, it liberates us from pretense, it humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us." To be fully known, and fully loved. I don't know about you, but this is often the gospel truth that is the hardest for me to believe. To be fully known, and at the same time to be fully loved. Think of all the parts of your story that you don't want other people to know. 2019, think of all the things that have happened in your life, all the things that you have done this year, that you would prefer no one find out about. And to consider that there is one who fully knows it all, and in the midst of fully knowing it all, look at you in the fullness of love. This is what God has done. God wants you to know through the gift of Jesus Christ, that you are fully known, and fully loved at the same time.
George Wright: 13:01 God demonstrates his love for us, Romans 5:8 says, "In that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." In the midst of our worst, God sees it all, and offers us his best. To be fully known, and fully loved. There is comfort in the love of God. Does this comfort of love determine your perspective? Is there any participation of the Spirit? But for the people of God, for the follower of Jesus, of course there is. Because the Word of God reveals to us apart from the Spirit's work in our lives, we cannot know God. Apart from that Spirit of God opening our eyes to our need for the savior in a personal way, apart from the Spirit of God drawing us to the point of salvation where we then step out on faith and trust the finished work of Christ, we are without hope. But through the Spirit of God, through the participation of the Spirit, we are invited to see what God has done. We are convicted, and we are encouraged, through the participation of the Spirit, and this is what changes are heart and invites us into an eternal perspective.
George Wright: 14:39 In John chapter 6 verse 63, we see these words, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken, Jesus says, are Spirit and life." All who are followers of Christ are given the gift of the Holy Spirit. This gift comforts, this gift corrects, this gift convicts, this gift encourages, and this gift of the Spirit prompts us to live by faith and to grow in maturity through the process of what is called, sanctification, growing to become more like Christ. This is the participation of the Spirit in our life. The apostle Paul is saying here to the church, church, this is the fuel that drives the mission. This is the lens that sets the perspective for the people of God. Remember what God has done. Remember that God is so good, and the gift of salvation is yours in Christ, if you trust in him. As you remember, refocus your perspective. Let what you know to be true about who God is, and what God has done, drive the way you live and drive the way you interact with one another. That's where the scripture takes us. Let what you say you know to be true if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, drive the way you live, and drive the way you interact with one another.
George Wright: 16:32 These verses here in Philippians 2, these first four verses specifically, are a great example of what theologians call the indicative and the imperative of the Christian life. The indicative and the imperative of the Christian life. What is that all about? Well, the indicative reveals, or expresses, an objective fact or reality. The indicative is all about what God has done for us. This is the gospel truth. This is the good news. These are the statements of the finished work of Christ. Verse 1, that we just read, is an indicative, it is pointing us to what has already been done. There is encouragement in Christ. There is comfort in love. There is participation in the Spirit. There is affection and there is sympathy for those who are in Christ. This is yours in Jesus Christ, the scripture says. The indicative. The imperative then expresses a command, or an action, or an order, that we are to follow in light of what has been done. The imperative is in light of the indicative, it's a call to action based on the truth of the gospel. An imperative command in the Word of God, is all about what we have been called to do in light of what God has done.
George Wright: 18:07 Why does this matter? It matters because if you begin to read verses 2 through 4, without first understanding what is already been done for you, verses 2 through 4 are going to feel absolutely impossible. If begin to read verses 2 through 4 without understanding the finished work of Christ, verses 2 through 4 are going to feel like they're a little bit manipulative, like they're forcing you into a corner and they're saying, you better do this or else. And here's the deal, you might obey for a moment when somebody says do this or else, but you won't do it with joy, and you won't do it in a way that is sustainable, and you won't do it in a way that brings life to your soul, you'll do it in a way that absolutely wears you out and brings you down. We must understand that the commands of God, for the people of God, flow out of the finished work of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. The commands of God are an invitation to live in light of what God has already done, and what God has already invited us to be a part of. So as we turn our attention now to these next few verses of Philippians, don't lose sight of verse 1, there is encouragement in Christ, there is comfort and love, there is participation in the Spirit. There is affection, and there is sympathy, for the people of God in Christ. Don't lose sight of this, but let it drive and determine and direct the way you live and the way you view the world around you.
George Wright: 20:00 Philippians 2 verse 2, the Word of God says, "Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, and being in full accord and of one mind. If you take verse 1 out of Philippians 2, verse 2 sounds like somebody with a selfish agenda. Everybody needs to get along, everybody better come together or else, you better join together. Sounds like is putting people in a corner, sounds like it's taking away people's independence, sounds like it is taking away people's desires, and personal agendas, and all the things that we might want out of life. Sorry, put that aside, no. no, you've got to get along. But don't remember the good news of the gospel. The life we have is a life that comes through Jesus Christ, and the invitation we've been given as a people of God flows out of what God has already done. Remember there is encouragement in Christ. There is comfort and love that comes through Christ alone. There is participation in the Spirit for those who are in Christ, there is affection and there is sympathy for those who are walking with Christ. And as a result of that, you are invited then to join the family of God, the people of God, to be unified for the sake of the mission. And the apostle Paul says, there is nothing that will bring me greater joy than to see the church of Jesus Christ unified for the sake of the mission. And this joy that the apostle Paul feels that the church of Jesus Christ being unified for the sake of the mission, flows out of the joy of the heart of Jesus for his church, seeing his people unified for the sake the mission.
George Wright: 22:20 Verses 2 through 4 are the overflow of a church, and a people, that is focused on the finished work of Christ. The Word of God is saying, please don't miss this, do not get distracted, do not miss the call. Keep your eyes on Jesus, remember what he has done, so that you can stand together for the sake of the mission. Andrew alluded to this earlier in our time of singing together, we've been reminded all the time, every day the world around us is not coming together. We're going into an election year. Do you think our world, and this nation, is coming together in 2020? We can pray, let's pray. We can try to bring people together. Do you think it's going to happen based on where we are right now, in the division of this nation? But the church, the church, is called to be set apart. The church is called to be a light in the darkness, a city set on a hill, the church is called to live different and look different than the rest of the world. So the church called to come together, to stand together, to be unified for the sake of the mission, because the divided world is desperate to see is unity really possible? And the church should say, yes. Not just with our words, but through the way we live the mission.
George Wright: 24:16 As you think about the new year, and as you think about a new opportunity to refocus your perspective on what matters most, there really is nothing more important than the call to remember what Christ has done. To join together for the sake of the mission, for what God has called his people to be about. We must remember what Christ has done. Pastor J. D. Greear, who is the current president of the Southern Baptist Convention, writes this, we must turn back to the gospel of God's grace in Jesus if we want to go forward in mission. None of our goals for personal growth will take off without the gospel. None of our calls for renewal will endure if we are not grounded in the gospel. The fire to do in the Christian life comes only for being soaked in the fuel of what has been done."
George Wright: 25:26 And so when we come to verses 3 and 4, we see command of how we are to live as followers of Christ in light of what is already been done. These verses also serve as a warning to us of what can happen if we lose sight of what Christ has done for us. This is why perspective is so important in the Christian life. This is why time and time again throughout the Word of God, we are told, look back at what Christ has done. Remember your calling. Remember the gospel. Live in light of the gospel. Walk in a manner worthy of the gospel. Remember, look back, remember, see what God has done. So that we can be a picture of the love and grace of Jesus Christ that the world so desperately needs to hear, so desperately needs to see.
George Wright: 26:30 Philippians 2, 3, and 4 says this, "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others as more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interest of others." There is a movie that is either out, or about to come out, called, 1917. It's about the events that impact the world as it relates to World War One, and what's taking place around the world. I haven't seen the movie, but I was reading about it. And as I was reading about it, I also began to read a little bit just about the events of 1917, and what was taking place around the world. And one of the most significant events of recent world history happened in 1917. It was the Russian Revolution. One of the most explosive events of the 20th century, when the Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, seized power and developed what would become the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. It changed the course of world history, a revolution that had horrific implications, and certainly changed the world.
George Wright: 27:53 It's a very interesting story of something that happened before the revolution took place in Russia in 1917. In 1917, before this revolution happened, there was a gathering of the bishops of the Orthodox church in Russia. And during this meeting of the bishops, the leaders of the Orthodox church in Russia, a heated debates broke out. It was an argument that became hostile, it was very heated as the bishops were attacking one another in the midst of this gathering. Keep in mind, the country around them was teetering on a precipice of uncertainty, and a terrible revolution was about to explode around them. They would seek to eradicate faith altogether from Russia, they would usher in a secular movement of atheism as the official religion of the state. All of this is swirling around the bishops as they gather and began to have this argument, this fight, this debate. What were they arguing about? Were they arguing about how to respond to the turmoil around them? Were they arguing about the best way to impact the world around them? Were they arguing about what do we do to stand for our faith in the midst of uncertainty? No, they were arguing about how tall the candles could be in a worship service. One group wanted them to be 18 inches tall and the other group wanted them to be 21 inches tall, and a fight broke out about the size of the candles to be used in a worship service. And while this fight was happening among the bishops, the leaders of the church at the time, just a few blocks down the road, there was a gathering of the Bolsheviks plotting together to overthrow the czar of Russia to destroy the church and to usher in atheism. While the church leaders were divided and arguing about candle size, the atheistic revolutionaries of the communist party were rallying around a plan to overthrow the government. This is world history, it's fascinating to consider.
George Wright: 30:57 What does it have to do with you and with me? Well, please don't miss this, I believe there is significant implications in a story like this as it relates to our faith, our church, and our journey with Christ. Please don't miss this, there is an enemy of God, an enemy of God who is united with his legions of demonic power, an enemy of God with his minions that has a very unified mission. Distract, divide, and destroy the people of God and the move of God. That's the enemy of God's desire, to rob God of his glory. What could be better in robbing God of his glory, than to distract, divide and destroy the so-called people of God who claimed to live for him? Please don't miss this, the enemy of God and his minions are united, and the enemy of God and his minions have a plan. It's a plan that has been in place for generations, and please don't miss this, it is a plan that has worked. The enemy has distracted, divided, and destroyed many people who claim to follow Christ. The enemy of God has distracted, divided, and destroyed many churches who claim to stand for Christ. The plan is working, and the plan has great power, unless, unless, unless the people of God stand together for the sake of the mission unified on what is ours in Christ Jesus. This enemy of God that is seeking to distract, divide and destroy, knows that when the people of God are unified, focused on the mission. Lifting high, the banner of Christ above all else, being rooted on the finished work of Jesus and in humility count others as more significant than themselves, the people of God are an unstoppable force. Because the people of God standing together on the good news of the gospel for the sake of the mission are being held together by God himself, and what God holds together, no one can stand against.
George Wright: 34:24 So church, those who say they are followers of Jesus must beware, going into a new year the enemy of God wants to distract you. He wants to divide your attention away from what matters most. He wants to ultimately destroy you. And this is why a refocus, a realignment of priority, a renewed perspective, and the good news of the gospel is so essential. Can I just make this practical for a moment? It's far easier every morning to wake up and grab your phone than to wake up and grab your Bible, the enemy knows that, he wants to distract you from your first breath in the morning. It's far easier to fall asleep night watching Netflix than it is to fall asleep at night on your knees in prayer, the enemy of God knows this, he wants to distract you this year. It's far easier to keep all your resources to yourself than it is to lay down resources for the sake of others, the enemy of God knows this, that's why he's helped you develop a whole list of things that are on sale after Christmas that you need to buy. And it is far easier to live your life focused only on your agenda than it is to live your life focused on the mission of God, and the enemy of God knows this, and is seeking to distract and divide and destroy.
George Wright: 36:47 So church, is there any encouragement in Christ? Is there any comfort of love? Is there any participation in the Spirit? Is there any affection and sympathy for the people of God in Christ Jesus? If the answer is yes, then by all means, let the truth of the gospel bring us together for the sake of the mission. That the world that is divided might see us stand together, and recognize that what we say we believe is actually good news that they might need to hear. So do nothing of rivalry or conceit, but in humility, in humility, let's count others more significant than ourselves. For this is the way of Jesus, and this is the gift of Jesus to you and to me.
George Wright: 37:58 Would you pray with me as we close and think about a new year and lining up our vision and our perspective on the good news of what Christ has done. Let's pray, Father, I am so very grateful for your love and grace toward us, so very grateful for your love and grace toward a sinner like me. Lord, I know there are many among us today, many listening to this message, perhaps online, that if they're honest, they have been distracted. Some have even been divided. Some even would say they feel destroyed and they're wondering, can they really be renewed? Can they really return to you? Can they really have a new beginning? I pray, Lord God, wherever people are, that they would recognize in the good news of the gospel, in the good news of the finished work of Jesus Christ, that bore our sins on a tree, that defeated sin and death, and the power of the resurrection has invited us into new life and calls us through repentance to come home. To begin again, to move forward by looking back at what you have done for us. Oh Lord, I pray that you would give us the faith to believe. Give us the perspective to see what you desire for us to see in this calling that you have placed on your church. And Lord, for those who have never experienced the incredible gift of walking with Christ and knowing Christ in a personal way as savior and Lord, I pray then on this final Sunday of the year, this would be their final Sunday of their life living apart from you, living in the darkness. I pray that they would trust Jesus and they would say, Jesus, I'm ready for new life, I'm ready to be forgiven, I'm ready to be covered in grace, I'm ready to experience what you alone can provide. So Jesus, give them the faith to believe. And as a church, I pray that you would give us the faith and the courage to stand together on the foundation of the finished work of Christ. That the world may see through us, the good news of who you are and what you have done. Our God is so good, and we praise you and thank you for all that you've done. It's in Christ' name I pray. Amen.
Recorded in Columbia, South Carolina.
George Wright: 01:16 This is the word of the Lord, through the apostle Paul, divinely inspired by the Spirit of God to write this letter to the church in Philippi. And then for God to include it in his word, that you and I might see what God has for us to see. It says this, "So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." This is the word of the Lord.
George Wright: 02:21 Would you pray with me as we consider God's word together here this morning? Heavenly Father, as we stand now before you, and as we now turn our attention to what you say, and as we think about a year coming to an end, a new year that is before us, and a new decade that is beginning. It is my prayer, Lord God, in the power of your Spirit, that you would open our hearts to receive what you desire for us to receive this day. It is my prayer, Lord God, that you would have your way among us, that you would bring the words that you give us to life off the page in our hearts, that we might live according to what you say. And it is my prayer, Lord God, that we would see on this final Sunday the year with greater clarity, who you are, and what you have done for us. We thank you for this opportunity to hear from you. It's in Christ' name I pray. Amen. You may be seated. Thank you for standing
George Wright: 04:04 In Philippians chapter 2 the apostle Paul, as he writes to the church at Philippi, is inviting the church to refocus their attention on the good news of what God has done. Why is this important for this specific church? Well, the church of Philippi was a very healthy church, all things considered. The church at Philippi was strong in standing on the Word of God, sound doctrine was the foundation for this church. The church in Philippi had strong leadership, they were focused on what God said they should be focused on. But the church at Philippi had begun to lose their focus on the Word of God completely, in the sense that outside voices and outside influence had begun to distract and divide some of the church. So Paul, in his love for this church, in his desire to see this church thrive and flourish and be used by God, writes this letter from a prison cell himself. And says, church, let me remind you of how great our God is. Let me remind you that God is so good. Let me remind you of the things that God has done, so that you can refocus on what matters most, and not get distracted and not become divided, but draw together based on what God has done.
George Wright: 06:05 The great Protestant reformer Martin Luther famously said of the Christian life, "To progress is always to begin again." To progress is always to begin again. Growth in the Christian faith always involves going back to the good news of what God has done for us. Growth in the Christian faith happens when we remember the glory of God's grace and mercy that has been poured out on our lives. Growth into Christian life comes when we remember the incredible gift that God has provided for us through Christ and the work of salvation. When we go back to the joy of our salvation, we remember how Jesus humbled us and at the same time invited us into the gift of new life, we grow in our faith and stay focused on what matters the most.
George Wright: 07:20 I realize you may be here this morning, and you don't have a personal relationship with Christ. Maybe you're here because you're in town visiting family or friends, or maybe you just decided at the invite of someone that you should come to church and try to think about a new year and a new priority and a new focus all together. You may be here wanting a fresh start. You may be here thinking about the way 2019 has gone, and saying I'm ready for something different to happen all together. What we see here in Philippians 2 is provoking the church, but I believe inviting anyone who is willing to listen, to evaluate, to consider our perspective, and then to refocus on what God has done. You may be here needing to hear what God has done for you, this word is for you. You may be here fully aware of what God has done for you, but needing a jumpstart, or needing the opportunity to grow, to be refreshed, to be re-nourished, this word is for you.
George Wright: 08:40 Philippians 2:1, let me read it again because these questions that are posed are really intended to be a statement that refocus us on the beauty of the gospel. The scripture says, "If there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection or sympathy." Here's the question, is there encouragement in Christ? Is there any encouragement in Christ church? How about somebody answer this question for me? Is there encouragement in Christ? There is, of course there is! When we are reminded of what Christ has done, we see that he has done for us what we can never do for ourselves. He has made a way for us to be right with God, when there was no possible way for us to be right with God apart from him. He has lifted us out of darkness, he has invited us into his marvelous light, he has invited the rebel into the beauty of redemption, he has called the orphan a son of the most high God, he has saved the sinner through the power of forgiveness and grace. There is encouragement in Christ, but how easily we lose sight of this truth.
George Wright: 10:14 Listen, Paul says, church, is there any encouragement in Christ? Yes. Remember, refocus, let this gospel truth dictate and determine the way you view the world. Let this good news realign your perspective, and remember what Christ has done. Is there any comfort from love? Of course there is. What is more comforting than being known and being loved? I love this quote from Timothy Keller, he writes, "To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything, it liberates us from pretense, it humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us." To be fully known, and fully loved. I don't know about you, but this is often the gospel truth that is the hardest for me to believe. To be fully known, and at the same time to be fully loved. Think of all the parts of your story that you don't want other people to know. 2019, think of all the things that have happened in your life, all the things that you have done this year, that you would prefer no one find out about. And to consider that there is one who fully knows it all, and in the midst of fully knowing it all, look at you in the fullness of love. This is what God has done. God wants you to know through the gift of Jesus Christ, that you are fully known, and fully loved at the same time.
George Wright: 13:01 God demonstrates his love for us, Romans 5:8 says, "In that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." In the midst of our worst, God sees it all, and offers us his best. To be fully known, and fully loved. There is comfort in the love of God. Does this comfort of love determine your perspective? Is there any participation of the Spirit? But for the people of God, for the follower of Jesus, of course there is. Because the Word of God reveals to us apart from the Spirit's work in our lives, we cannot know God. Apart from that Spirit of God opening our eyes to our need for the savior in a personal way, apart from the Spirit of God drawing us to the point of salvation where we then step out on faith and trust the finished work of Christ, we are without hope. But through the Spirit of God, through the participation of the Spirit, we are invited to see what God has done. We are convicted, and we are encouraged, through the participation of the Spirit, and this is what changes are heart and invites us into an eternal perspective.
George Wright: 14:39 In John chapter 6 verse 63, we see these words, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken, Jesus says, are Spirit and life." All who are followers of Christ are given the gift of the Holy Spirit. This gift comforts, this gift corrects, this gift convicts, this gift encourages, and this gift of the Spirit prompts us to live by faith and to grow in maturity through the process of what is called, sanctification, growing to become more like Christ. This is the participation of the Spirit in our life. The apostle Paul is saying here to the church, church, this is the fuel that drives the mission. This is the lens that sets the perspective for the people of God. Remember what God has done. Remember that God is so good, and the gift of salvation is yours in Christ, if you trust in him. As you remember, refocus your perspective. Let what you know to be true about who God is, and what God has done, drive the way you live and drive the way you interact with one another. That's where the scripture takes us. Let what you say you know to be true if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, drive the way you live, and drive the way you interact with one another.
George Wright: 16:32 These verses here in Philippians 2, these first four verses specifically, are a great example of what theologians call the indicative and the imperative of the Christian life. The indicative and the imperative of the Christian life. What is that all about? Well, the indicative reveals, or expresses, an objective fact or reality. The indicative is all about what God has done for us. This is the gospel truth. This is the good news. These are the statements of the finished work of Christ. Verse 1, that we just read, is an indicative, it is pointing us to what has already been done. There is encouragement in Christ. There is comfort in love. There is participation in the Spirit. There is affection and there is sympathy for those who are in Christ. This is yours in Jesus Christ, the scripture says. The indicative. The imperative then expresses a command, or an action, or an order, that we are to follow in light of what has been done. The imperative is in light of the indicative, it's a call to action based on the truth of the gospel. An imperative command in the Word of God, is all about what we have been called to do in light of what God has done.
George Wright: 18:07 Why does this matter? It matters because if you begin to read verses 2 through 4, without first understanding what is already been done for you, verses 2 through 4 are going to feel absolutely impossible. If begin to read verses 2 through 4 without understanding the finished work of Christ, verses 2 through 4 are going to feel like they're a little bit manipulative, like they're forcing you into a corner and they're saying, you better do this or else. And here's the deal, you might obey for a moment when somebody says do this or else, but you won't do it with joy, and you won't do it in a way that is sustainable, and you won't do it in a way that brings life to your soul, you'll do it in a way that absolutely wears you out and brings you down. We must understand that the commands of God, for the people of God, flow out of the finished work of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. The commands of God are an invitation to live in light of what God has already done, and what God has already invited us to be a part of. So as we turn our attention now to these next few verses of Philippians, don't lose sight of verse 1, there is encouragement in Christ, there is comfort and love, there is participation in the Spirit. There is affection, and there is sympathy, for the people of God in Christ. Don't lose sight of this, but let it drive and determine and direct the way you live and the way you view the world around you.
George Wright: 20:00 Philippians 2 verse 2, the Word of God says, "Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, and being in full accord and of one mind. If you take verse 1 out of Philippians 2, verse 2 sounds like somebody with a selfish agenda. Everybody needs to get along, everybody better come together or else, you better join together. Sounds like is putting people in a corner, sounds like it's taking away people's independence, sounds like it is taking away people's desires, and personal agendas, and all the things that we might want out of life. Sorry, put that aside, no. no, you've got to get along. But don't remember the good news of the gospel. The life we have is a life that comes through Jesus Christ, and the invitation we've been given as a people of God flows out of what God has already done. Remember there is encouragement in Christ. There is comfort and love that comes through Christ alone. There is participation in the Spirit for those who are in Christ, there is affection and there is sympathy for those who are walking with Christ. And as a result of that, you are invited then to join the family of God, the people of God, to be unified for the sake of the mission. And the apostle Paul says, there is nothing that will bring me greater joy than to see the church of Jesus Christ unified for the sake of the mission. And this joy that the apostle Paul feels that the church of Jesus Christ being unified for the sake of the mission, flows out of the joy of the heart of Jesus for his church, seeing his people unified for the sake the mission.
George Wright: 22:20 Verses 2 through 4 are the overflow of a church, and a people, that is focused on the finished work of Christ. The Word of God is saying, please don't miss this, do not get distracted, do not miss the call. Keep your eyes on Jesus, remember what he has done, so that you can stand together for the sake of the mission. Andrew alluded to this earlier in our time of singing together, we've been reminded all the time, every day the world around us is not coming together. We're going into an election year. Do you think our world, and this nation, is coming together in 2020? We can pray, let's pray. We can try to bring people together. Do you think it's going to happen based on where we are right now, in the division of this nation? But the church, the church, is called to be set apart. The church is called to be a light in the darkness, a city set on a hill, the church is called to live different and look different than the rest of the world. So the church called to come together, to stand together, to be unified for the sake of the mission, because the divided world is desperate to see is unity really possible? And the church should say, yes. Not just with our words, but through the way we live the mission.
George Wright: 24:16 As you think about the new year, and as you think about a new opportunity to refocus your perspective on what matters most, there really is nothing more important than the call to remember what Christ has done. To join together for the sake of the mission, for what God has called his people to be about. We must remember what Christ has done. Pastor J. D. Greear, who is the current president of the Southern Baptist Convention, writes this, we must turn back to the gospel of God's grace in Jesus if we want to go forward in mission. None of our goals for personal growth will take off without the gospel. None of our calls for renewal will endure if we are not grounded in the gospel. The fire to do in the Christian life comes only for being soaked in the fuel of what has been done."
George Wright: 25:26 And so when we come to verses 3 and 4, we see command of how we are to live as followers of Christ in light of what is already been done. These verses also serve as a warning to us of what can happen if we lose sight of what Christ has done for us. This is why perspective is so important in the Christian life. This is why time and time again throughout the Word of God, we are told, look back at what Christ has done. Remember your calling. Remember the gospel. Live in light of the gospel. Walk in a manner worthy of the gospel. Remember, look back, remember, see what God has done. So that we can be a picture of the love and grace of Jesus Christ that the world so desperately needs to hear, so desperately needs to see.
George Wright: 26:30 Philippians 2, 3, and 4 says this, "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others as more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interest of others." There is a movie that is either out, or about to come out, called, 1917. It's about the events that impact the world as it relates to World War One, and what's taking place around the world. I haven't seen the movie, but I was reading about it. And as I was reading about it, I also began to read a little bit just about the events of 1917, and what was taking place around the world. And one of the most significant events of recent world history happened in 1917. It was the Russian Revolution. One of the most explosive events of the 20th century, when the Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, seized power and developed what would become the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. It changed the course of world history, a revolution that had horrific implications, and certainly changed the world.
George Wright: 27:53 It's a very interesting story of something that happened before the revolution took place in Russia in 1917. In 1917, before this revolution happened, there was a gathering of the bishops of the Orthodox church in Russia. And during this meeting of the bishops, the leaders of the Orthodox church in Russia, a heated debates broke out. It was an argument that became hostile, it was very heated as the bishops were attacking one another in the midst of this gathering. Keep in mind, the country around them was teetering on a precipice of uncertainty, and a terrible revolution was about to explode around them. They would seek to eradicate faith altogether from Russia, they would usher in a secular movement of atheism as the official religion of the state. All of this is swirling around the bishops as they gather and began to have this argument, this fight, this debate. What were they arguing about? Were they arguing about how to respond to the turmoil around them? Were they arguing about the best way to impact the world around them? Were they arguing about what do we do to stand for our faith in the midst of uncertainty? No, they were arguing about how tall the candles could be in a worship service. One group wanted them to be 18 inches tall and the other group wanted them to be 21 inches tall, and a fight broke out about the size of the candles to be used in a worship service. And while this fight was happening among the bishops, the leaders of the church at the time, just a few blocks down the road, there was a gathering of the Bolsheviks plotting together to overthrow the czar of Russia to destroy the church and to usher in atheism. While the church leaders were divided and arguing about candle size, the atheistic revolutionaries of the communist party were rallying around a plan to overthrow the government. This is world history, it's fascinating to consider.
George Wright: 30:57 What does it have to do with you and with me? Well, please don't miss this, I believe there is significant implications in a story like this as it relates to our faith, our church, and our journey with Christ. Please don't miss this, there is an enemy of God, an enemy of God who is united with his legions of demonic power, an enemy of God with his minions that has a very unified mission. Distract, divide, and destroy the people of God and the move of God. That's the enemy of God's desire, to rob God of his glory. What could be better in robbing God of his glory, than to distract, divide and destroy the so-called people of God who claimed to live for him? Please don't miss this, the enemy of God and his minions are united, and the enemy of God and his minions have a plan. It's a plan that has been in place for generations, and please don't miss this, it is a plan that has worked. The enemy has distracted, divided, and destroyed many people who claim to follow Christ. The enemy of God has distracted, divided, and destroyed many churches who claim to stand for Christ. The plan is working, and the plan has great power, unless, unless, unless the people of God stand together for the sake of the mission unified on what is ours in Christ Jesus. This enemy of God that is seeking to distract, divide and destroy, knows that when the people of God are unified, focused on the mission. Lifting high, the banner of Christ above all else, being rooted on the finished work of Jesus and in humility count others as more significant than themselves, the people of God are an unstoppable force. Because the people of God standing together on the good news of the gospel for the sake of the mission are being held together by God himself, and what God holds together, no one can stand against.
George Wright: 34:24 So church, those who say they are followers of Jesus must beware, going into a new year the enemy of God wants to distract you. He wants to divide your attention away from what matters most. He wants to ultimately destroy you. And this is why a refocus, a realignment of priority, a renewed perspective, and the good news of the gospel is so essential. Can I just make this practical for a moment? It's far easier every morning to wake up and grab your phone than to wake up and grab your Bible, the enemy knows that, he wants to distract you from your first breath in the morning. It's far easier to fall asleep night watching Netflix than it is to fall asleep at night on your knees in prayer, the enemy of God knows this, he wants to distract you this year. It's far easier to keep all your resources to yourself than it is to lay down resources for the sake of others, the enemy of God knows this, that's why he's helped you develop a whole list of things that are on sale after Christmas that you need to buy. And it is far easier to live your life focused only on your agenda than it is to live your life focused on the mission of God, and the enemy of God knows this, and is seeking to distract and divide and destroy.
George Wright: 36:47 So church, is there any encouragement in Christ? Is there any comfort of love? Is there any participation in the Spirit? Is there any affection and sympathy for the people of God in Christ Jesus? If the answer is yes, then by all means, let the truth of the gospel bring us together for the sake of the mission. That the world that is divided might see us stand together, and recognize that what we say we believe is actually good news that they might need to hear. So do nothing of rivalry or conceit, but in humility, in humility, let's count others more significant than ourselves. For this is the way of Jesus, and this is the gift of Jesus to you and to me.
George Wright: 37:58 Would you pray with me as we close and think about a new year and lining up our vision and our perspective on the good news of what Christ has done. Let's pray, Father, I am so very grateful for your love and grace toward us, so very grateful for your love and grace toward a sinner like me. Lord, I know there are many among us today, many listening to this message, perhaps online, that if they're honest, they have been distracted. Some have even been divided. Some even would say they feel destroyed and they're wondering, can they really be renewed? Can they really return to you? Can they really have a new beginning? I pray, Lord God, wherever people are, that they would recognize in the good news of the gospel, in the good news of the finished work of Jesus Christ, that bore our sins on a tree, that defeated sin and death, and the power of the resurrection has invited us into new life and calls us through repentance to come home. To begin again, to move forward by looking back at what you have done for us. Oh Lord, I pray that you would give us the faith to believe. Give us the perspective to see what you desire for us to see in this calling that you have placed on your church. And Lord, for those who have never experienced the incredible gift of walking with Christ and knowing Christ in a personal way as savior and Lord, I pray then on this final Sunday of the year, this would be their final Sunday of their life living apart from you, living in the darkness. I pray that they would trust Jesus and they would say, Jesus, I'm ready for new life, I'm ready to be forgiven, I'm ready to be covered in grace, I'm ready to experience what you alone can provide. So Jesus, give them the faith to believe. And as a church, I pray that you would give us the faith and the courage to stand together on the foundation of the finished work of Christ. That the world may see through us, the good news of who you are and what you have done. Our God is so good, and we praise you and thank you for all that you've done. It's in Christ' name I pray. Amen.
Recorded in Columbia, South Carolina.
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