How to be an effective influence on those around us.

Two purposes of a lighthouse are: Warn of Danger Show the Safe Path

Those are things that we should see in the life of a Christian aren’t they. Pointing out the dangers of a life of sin And also pointing to the path of Salvation Living as lights in this world actually entails both of these. We want to spend a few moments today studying how we can be more effective lights in the world.

Php 2:12 ¶ Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 14 ¶ Do all things without complaining and disputing,

Php 2:15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. Lets go back over these verses and see if we can pick out some things that will help us be more effective lights to the world.

One of the first things we see the Apostle Paul telling these Christians is “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” in vs 12. Paul places the responsibility squarely on the Christian to work out their own salvation.

This is an individual responsibility This is an individual responsibility! No one else can obtain my salvation for me. God has done His part. It is now up to me to respond thru obedience. It is only thru obedience to the Gospel that I can be saved!

Paul also tells these Christians that this should be done with “Fear and Trembling”! The false doctrine of “Once Saved, Always Saved” has removed this idea of fear and trembling from the minds of many who claim to be Christians.

They think they have nothing to fear because they believe it is impossible for them to lose their souls. Jesus taught that all should fear God and not man. Why? Lu 12:4 "And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

5 "But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him! Jesus is speaking to His disciples and tells them that they should fear God because he has the power to send them to eternal damnation with the Devil and his Angels. The thought of not making it into Heaven should terrify us!

We can also be more effective lights by allowing God to work thru us. Php 2:13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. God working in us is not some strange mystical thing but it is simply us finding out what God’s will is and then doing it. God’s will is found in His Word the Bible

We need the attitude Ezra had! Ezr 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel. We must first find out what the will of God is and put it to practice in our own lives before we can be effective examples in front of others! Known Hypocrites are never very effective in teaching anyone how to live.

Ro 2:21 You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself Ro 2:21 You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? 22 You who say, "Do not commit adultery," do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?

23 You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? 24 For "the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you," as it is written.

Teaching one thing and living another will do nothing but bring reproach on ourselves, the Church and God. And we will not escape punishment for it! Ro 2:3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?

Being a hypocrite destroys our effectiveness as a light to the world Being a hypocrite destroys our effectiveness as a light to the world. We will not be able to warn or guide others effectively if we are not heeding those things ourselves. We can also be more effective lights if we show ourselves to have a desire to obey God. Php 2:14 Do all things without complaining and disputing,

We are supposed to do everything that God asks of us without griping and complaining about it. How am I going to be able to convince others to do things that I clearly don’t want to do myself? How can I convince others to obey Heb 10:25 if I don’t want to be at worship services myself?

The next thing the Apostle mentions that will help us to be more effective lights to those around us is to be: Php 2:15 …blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation….

Paul is not teaching here that we will be perfect, without sin but rather that there is no sin in our life that has not been repented of or that will not be repented of when we become aware of it. Children should be and many times are reflections of their parents We should be striving to be like our Father by demonstrating love in our life.

Eph 5:1 ¶ Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet- smelling aroma. We are to “work out our own salvation with fear and trembling” thru obedience, allow God to work in us thru His will, without complaining and disputing, be blameless and Harmless and good children of God.

In this crooked and perverse generation. We are not to try and separate ourselves from living in the world as so many have tried. Instead we are to live in it but not like it. Ro 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

As we live in it we are to Shine as Lights. When we think of Shining as Lights in the world we may simply think of teaching others the Gospel by the things we say. But, we can see from the context of this verse that in order to be effective Lights in the World we must be able to teach with our actions as well as our words.

The example of the Christian wife and her non-Christian husband is a good lesson in how we teach with our conduct. 1Pe 3:1 ¶ Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.

The principle of getting our own lives right first before we can help others is also taught by Jesus Himself. Mt 7:3 "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye?

5 "Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. I would not allow someone with a 2x4 sticking out of their head to try and get a piece of sawdust out of my eye!

Likewise, we will not be able to convince others to remove sin from their lives when we have glaring sin in our own. Once we have our own conduct right and are teaching by example then we need to: Php 2:16 holding fast the word of life… nkjv Php 2:16 Holding forth the word of life… kjv, asv

We must live it first and then teach it to others 2Ti 2:2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Paul commands Timothy again: 2Ti 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

Peter tells the Christians he was writing to they needed to be ready with an answer. 1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

In order to “Shine as Lights” we must live it, teach it and certainly not be ashamed of it. Ro 1:16 ¶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. Lu 9:26 "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels.

In order to be effective “Lights in the World” We must: Be willing to live the life of a Christian ourselves Teach the Gospel to others Not be ashamed of it Mt 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

15 "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.