READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary l Our lives as workers are not separate from our spiritual lives. The values we hold shape the character we bring into our workplaces, schools or even at home. In order for us to grow in Christian Character, we need to strive to be like Christ.
Philippians 2:12-16:
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 in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labour in vain.
Galatians 5:16, 22-25:
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
1. “Do everything without grumbling or arguing” (Phil 2:14) by Cultivating Gratitude and Contentment
Do everything without grumbling or arguing. (Phil 2:14) When we face challenges and crises at work, it is natural for us to feel discouraged and bitter. But Scripture comforts us: “We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Roms 5:3-4)
When we persevere and endure through the challenges of life with gratitude and contentment in Christ, it actually produces Spiritual Maturity in us.
When we have the right perspective of challenges, our circumstance may not change but our attitudes towards our challenges can change.
We have confidence and hope in our God to work in us to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose. (Phil 2:13)
2. “Hold firmly to the Word of Life” (Phil 2:12, 16) by Cultivating Spiritual Disciplines
The scripture provides guidance, wisdom, and strength to navigate the complexities of our lives as students in school or professionals in our workplaces. All Scripture is God-breathed. (2 Tim 3:16-17) With the confidence of God’s children, we can come to God expectantly and be refreshed by His living Word
Work out our salvation with fear and trembling. (Phil 2:12) Day by day, we continue the saving work that Christ begun by making space to meet Him. The spiritual disciplines help us to keep in step with the Spirit (Gal 5:25) – to walk in tandem with our Lord, to know what’s on His heart, and to be transformed in His likeness. Spiritual disciplines are our means to experience the Lord’s grace and develop intimacy with Him.
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves; do what it says.” (Jas 1:22) The Psalmist likens our spiritual life to a tree: “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither — whatever they do prospers.” (Ps 1:3)
3. Cultivate the Fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23) by Walking in Step with the Spirit (Gal 5:16-18, 25)
We walk in step with the Spirit by submitting to God’s rule in and through us.
As we abide in Him, we are set apart to live a countercultural life, bearing the Fruit of the Spirit of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Gal 5:22-23) in our lives. Then we can shine like stars in the sky. (Phil 2:15) The deeper the darkness at the workplace, the more we see Christ’s radiant light.
As Tim Keller writes in Every Good Endeavour,
“We all work for an audience, whether we are aware of it or not. Some perform to please parents, others to impress peers, others to win over superiors…
… But all these audiences are inadequate.
Working for them alone will lead to overwork or underwork-sometimes a mixture of the two, based on who is watching. But Christians look to an Audience of One, our loving heavenly Father, and that gives us both accountability and joy in our work.”
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- What are your key take away lessons?
- How can you practically turn from grumbling and arguing to gratitude and contentment in your life?
- How are you cultivating Spiritual Disciplines in your life so that you can hold fast to the Word of life?
- Which Fruit of the Spirit are you struggling with and hope to cultivate more in your life?
- Share examples of ways where you can display such Fruit of the Spirit in your schools/workplaces?
