Sunday, January 23, 2000   

I. VERSES 14-15 a, LIGHTS ARE OPEN TO INFLUENCE

     A. Verse 14, Lights can be hindered.

          1. "Murmurings and disputings" hinder the light of the Gospel.

          2. It is sad to say but there are those even among Christians who seemingly make a living at getting their feelings hurt. Everybody has a gripe or complaint.

          3. If our lights are going to shine, we must: "Do all things without murmurings and disputings."

               a. Can you imagine a lighthouse complaining about the harsh winds and roaring waves that come at it. The Biloxi lighthouse was built in 1848, and it has weathered many a storm without a complaint.

               b. Paul says in I Corinthians 10:10 "Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured and were destroyed of the destroyer."

          4. It is not good that our light be hindered. Matthew 5:14 says; "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid." II Corinthians 4:3 says: "If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost."

     B. Verse 15a, Lights can be, and should be a help. "That ye be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke...."

          1. Blameless and harmless...without rebuke...." These three negative adjectives mean:

               a. "Blameless" free from blame.

               b. "Harmless" free from adulteration, not corrupt, impure, or improper.

               c. "Without rebuke", free from blemish, beyond rebuke.

          2. Christians are called upon to live unblemished lives in a dark world, a world of sin and shame. Christians are to be lights to help the lost find the way.

               a. We need to be sure that we get all the hindrances out of our lives. We need to keep our wicks trimmed. Untrimmed wicks do not put out bright light.

               b. We need to be shining lights in this dark world.

               c. The lighthouse guides boats into safe harbor when their light is not hindered.

II. VERSE 15b, LIGHTS ARE DESIGNED FOR DARKNESS

     A. Here in verse 15, Paul describes the situation that the Philippians were in. This is a description of what true believers face today.

          1. ".....In the world." The world is a dark place for the child of God.

               a. We are in the world, but not of the world.

               b. I John 2:16 tells us that the things of the world are not of the Father. I John 4:4 tells us that we have overcome the world.

               c. Picture yourself, Christian, as a ship in the sea of the world. All is well when the ship is in the sea. It is when the sea is in the ship that all is ill. Christian, don't spring a leak. Don't allow the world to get in you.

               d. How sad the words of Paul: "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world" (II Timothy 4:10).

               e. Lights are for darkness!

     2. "In the midst of a crooked and perverse nation...."

          a. The Christians were in a dark place.

          b. "Crooked" - the world is filled with crooked people.

                    1) They are not straight; they don't think straight, act straight, or go straight. Be assured they want you to accept their crooked ways. If you don't, then you'll be accused of intolerance.

                    2) Christian, you are in the midst of a crooked people! Don't let the light go out.

               c. "Perverse" out of straight and out of shape.

                    1) Homosexuality is perverse.

                    2) So called "gay marriage" is a perversion of holy wedlock.

                    3) Don't accept what God calls perverse. Be a light in the dark.

III. VERSE 16, LIGHTS ARE CARRIERS OF BLESSINGS

     A. We are to hold out the light of the Gospel.

          1. We are to hold forth the light of the Gospel because of the darkness of men's hearts.

               a. John 3:19.

               b. Christian, we have the light of Christ in us, and we are to give it out to others (John 8:12; Matthew 5:14).

          2. Where there are no lights, there is possible danger and often there is sin.

               a. It is our responsibility to hold forth the word of life to people in darkness.

               b. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet...." (Psalms 119:105).

     B. What a joy it is to the preacher to know that those he preaches to take the message of the Gospel seriously and hold it out to others.

IV. VERSES 17-18, LIGHTS ARE SACRIFICIAL

     A. Verse 17, Paul rejoiced in the salvation of the Philippians, and he had great joy in their dedication to the Savior.

          1. The Philippians were being consumed by service and sacrifice. They were putting Jesus first. Their faith was great and their dedication commendable. They were letting their lights shine.

          2. Paul was willing to die for his faith and their faith.

               a. He was willing to pour out the wine of his blood for the cause of Christ.

               b. He anticipated his martyrdom. His blood had been and would be shed.

          3. Back in the Old Testament when a person brought an animal to sacrifice to God, he also brought wine to be poured out as a libation. The amount of wine depended on the value of the sacrifice. (Numbers 15:4-12).

               a. In the Word of God, wine is symbolic of joy and exhilaration. Friend, the greater the sacrifice, the greater the joy.

               b. Christians today hardly know what it means to live for Jesus and sacrifice for Him. We have much to learn and much to do.

     B. Verse 18, "Paul had a stake in the Philippians and they had a stake in him" (Phillips 103). Paul rejoices in their love and support; and they rejoiced in his faithfulness to hold forth the Word.

CONCLUSION: Let the light shine bright and clear. Years ago a terrible storm hit the Florida coast. During the storm a plate of glass was blown out of the light house, the keeper of the light house put a piece of metal over the place where the plate was blown out thinking that it would do no harm. On that stormy night a ship was coming from the direction that the plate had been blown out. Because the metal sheet obstructed the light a ship was wrecked and many lives lost. We need to make sure that our light is distinct with nothing hindering the rays.