WEBVTT 00:00:11.470 --> 00:00:14.169 Today on Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. 00:00:14.330 --> 00:00:17.289 When's the last time when you were talking to 00:00:17.289 --> 00:00:20.710 God personally and intimately, you thanked Him 00:00:20.710 --> 00:00:22.609 for the great progress you're making in your 00:00:22.609 --> 00:00:24.870 faith? I find people that no matter how much 00:00:24.870 --> 00:00:27.870 progress you make, you never feel like you measure 00:00:27.870 --> 00:00:31.510 up. And behind that is the sense that God is 00:00:31.510 --> 00:00:34.570 down on you. How do we work out what God has 00:00:34.570 --> 00:00:37.149 already worked in and be thankful for it? Stay 00:00:37.149 --> 00:00:41.950 with me. That's today. What does God really expect 00:00:41.950 --> 00:00:45.090 from you? Today on Living on the Edge, Chip Ingram 00:00:45.090 --> 00:00:47.310 tackles a question that haunts many believers. 00:00:47.789 --> 00:00:50.270 We've heard the verses about working out our 00:00:50.270 --> 00:00:53.030 salvation with fear and trembling. But what does 00:00:53.030 --> 00:00:56.189 that actually mean? Is God standing over us with 00:00:56.189 --> 00:00:59.229 crossed arms, disappointed when we fail? Or is 00:00:59.229 --> 00:01:02.009 something deeper going on? Through Philippians 00:01:02.009 --> 00:01:04.469 chapter 2, Chip reveals the beautiful balance 00:01:04.469 --> 00:01:07.569 between God's sovereign work in us and our responsibility 00:01:07.569 --> 00:01:10.640 to respond. It's not about earning his favor. 00:01:10.739 --> 00:01:13.200 It's about cooperating with what he's already 00:01:13.200 --> 00:01:16.280 begun. Well, here's Chip Ingram with today's 00:01:16.280 --> 00:01:20.180 message, Love Obeys. So the question I want to 00:01:20.180 --> 00:01:22.859 ask you is, what's your expectations of God? 00:01:24.780 --> 00:01:27.439 What do you expect of him? And are you ready 00:01:27.439 --> 00:01:29.879 to flip it over? Have you ever thought seriously 00:01:29.879 --> 00:01:34.359 about what God expects of you? And just like 00:01:34.359 --> 00:01:37.099 our personal history shapes our expectations 00:01:37.099 --> 00:01:42.239 with one another, History itself shapes our expectations 00:01:42.239 --> 00:01:45.780 depending on our backgrounds. In the 16th century, 00:01:45.920 --> 00:01:49.859 John Calvin was a great, great theologian. He 00:01:49.859 --> 00:01:53.719 had a very strong view of God and about his sovereignty 00:01:53.719 --> 00:01:57.739 and his power. But it was pushed to extremes 00:01:57.739 --> 00:02:00.239 by some of his followers. And so about 80 or 00:02:00.239 --> 00:02:03.200 90 years later, a fellow named Jacob Arminius 00:02:03.200 --> 00:02:06.310 came along and he said, Boy, you know, we've 00:02:06.310 --> 00:02:09.629 strayed beyond the Bible. And so he began to 00:02:09.629 --> 00:02:11.830 teach some things. And so what you have is two 00:02:11.830 --> 00:02:14.990 basic camps. If you come from a, let me just 00:02:14.990 --> 00:02:17.909 call it a hyper -Calvinistic background, you 00:02:17.909 --> 00:02:20.610 believe God is sovereign and in control. You 00:02:20.610 --> 00:02:23.770 believe that he's predestined and predetermined 00:02:23.770 --> 00:02:26.810 just about everything in life. You focus on verse 00:02:26.810 --> 00:02:30.129 13 of Philippians 2. It is God who is at work. 00:02:30.939 --> 00:02:34.039 Arminius, by contrast, said, no, no, no, no. 00:02:34.120 --> 00:02:36.680 It's, yeah, God is sovereign, but we're responsible. 00:02:37.020 --> 00:02:40.759 We have a free will. We make choices. He emphasizes 00:02:40.759 --> 00:02:44.860 the verse 12. Work out your salvation. Our choices 00:02:44.860 --> 00:02:47.900 have consequences. Therefore, as a result of 00:02:47.900 --> 00:02:51.860 it, if you came from this side, eternity's not 00:02:51.860 --> 00:02:54.400 certain. You know, you might be a good Christian 00:02:54.400 --> 00:02:56.520 for a while, but if you mess up, you're out. 00:02:57.639 --> 00:02:59.539 Notice in your notes, here's what I want to get. 00:03:00.099 --> 00:03:03.479 God's word rejects both extremes and holds God's 00:03:03.479 --> 00:03:07.219 sovereignty and man's responsibility in biblical 00:03:07.219 --> 00:03:11.539 tension and balance. What I want you to know 00:03:11.539 --> 00:03:14.539 is the apostle Paul, interestingly, he's already, 00:03:14.639 --> 00:03:17.180 he did this in chapter one, remember? He said, 00:03:17.199 --> 00:03:19.439 I'm confident he's gonna be executed. I'm confident 00:03:19.439 --> 00:03:21.960 of this. This is what's gonna turn out for my 00:03:21.960 --> 00:03:24.939 deliverance. Your prayers, oh, man's responsibility 00:03:24.939 --> 00:03:28.599 and the provision of the spirit of God, God's 00:03:28.599 --> 00:03:32.039 sovereignty. He now in verse 12 says, so then 00:03:32.039 --> 00:03:35.620 my beloved, just as you always obeyed, not just 00:03:35.620 --> 00:03:37.620 in my presence, but now much more in my absence, 00:03:37.840 --> 00:03:40.360 work out your salvation. Would you circle that 00:03:40.360 --> 00:03:44.319 phrase with fear and trembling? That's your responsibility. 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:48.479 Notice verse 13. Why should you work this out? 00:03:48.520 --> 00:03:52.539 For God who is at work in you, both to will and 00:03:52.539 --> 00:03:56.240 to work for his good pleasure. History lesson 00:03:56.240 --> 00:04:01.039 is over. But I do want you to know that it seeps 00:04:01.039 --> 00:04:04.740 in everywhere because what happens is, is that 00:04:04.740 --> 00:04:08.259 I came up around a group, you came up around 00:04:08.259 --> 00:04:12.259 a group, and these groups have thoughts about 00:04:12.259 --> 00:04:14.379 the sovereignty of God and the responsibility 00:04:14.379 --> 00:04:18.160 of men. And I will just say, some of you struggle 00:04:18.160 --> 00:04:21.259 with guilt because no matter how much you do, 00:04:21.300 --> 00:04:23.819 it's never enough. Because you live with this, 00:04:23.939 --> 00:04:26.120 you know, there's never enough, God's down on 00:04:26.120 --> 00:04:29.629 you. Now, that's extreme. That's not what should 00:04:29.629 --> 00:04:32.149 be taught. Some of you are like laid back to 00:04:32.149 --> 00:04:34.449 the point of you're not doing what you need to, 00:04:34.610 --> 00:04:37.230 but you have this subtle of God's in control. 00:04:37.629 --> 00:04:39.850 He really is in control, but that doesn't excuse 00:04:39.850 --> 00:04:42.560 you. And so what you want to do is you want to 00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:46.040 say, I don't want what Calvin taught and I don't 00:04:46.040 --> 00:04:48.360 want what Jacob Arminius taught. I want what 00:04:48.360 --> 00:04:51.300 Jesus taught. I want what the New Testament says. 00:04:51.459 --> 00:04:54.040 I want what the word of God says. And there's 00:04:54.040 --> 00:04:55.899 going to be certain times and certain passages. 00:04:56.040 --> 00:04:58.279 I've been doing this for quite a while. I don't 00:04:58.279 --> 00:05:00.339 fully understand. I don't think anyone fully 00:05:00.339 --> 00:05:02.560 understands, but I've got plenty of truth to 00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:05.180 know this. I will stand before God as a follower 00:05:05.180 --> 00:05:08.240 of Jesus and give an account. for my time, my 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:11.319 energy, my money, and my decisions. And I've 00:05:11.319 --> 00:05:13.420 been around long enough to know this, is that 00:05:13.420 --> 00:05:17.519 despite my mistakes, my difficulties, the times 00:05:17.519 --> 00:05:19.240 even that I've sinned, the times when I knew 00:05:19.240 --> 00:05:21.879 what was right and I didn't even do it, there's 00:05:21.879 --> 00:05:25.379 this patient, kind, loving, sovereign God that's 00:05:25.379 --> 00:05:27.899 working even those difficulties and things that 00:05:27.899 --> 00:05:30.120 people have done to me and circumstance I can't 00:05:30.120 --> 00:05:32.540 understand because he's such a, are you ready? 00:05:32.639 --> 00:05:36.649 Good, good father. And so becoming like Jesus 00:05:36.649 --> 00:05:40.189 and following him is a cooperative effort. Well, 00:05:40.290 --> 00:05:44.509 the question then becomes is, how do you work 00:05:44.509 --> 00:05:47.529 out what God worked in? I mean, it's nice to 00:05:47.529 --> 00:05:49.149 hear that. I kind of gave you the theory and 00:05:49.149 --> 00:05:51.410 the history. Well, it practically, how do you 00:05:51.410 --> 00:05:53.790 do it? Well, Paul, this is a really amazing thing. 00:05:54.430 --> 00:05:57.709 After chapter two, verse 12, and after verse 00:05:57.709 --> 00:06:02.040 13, guess what comes? Verse 14. And 15 and 16 00:06:02.040 --> 00:06:04.899 and 17. So guess what Paul's going to do? He 00:06:04.899 --> 00:06:08.300 says, I want you to obey to be the kind of follower 00:06:08.300 --> 00:06:12.040 of Jesus fully by his grace, even if I come or 00:06:12.040 --> 00:06:14.139 I don't come. But the goal is I want you to be 00:06:14.139 --> 00:06:16.819 under the hearing. So I'm going to give you very 00:06:16.819 --> 00:06:20.939 specific things to obey so that you have unity 00:06:20.939 --> 00:06:24.139 and that God uses you in this perverse generation. 00:06:24.300 --> 00:06:27.439 So are you ready? Get your pen out. Here's command 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:30.899 number one. He says, do everything without complaining 00:06:30.899 --> 00:06:35.639 or arguing. So the command is, be a grateful 00:06:35.639 --> 00:06:42.899 servant. Be a grateful servant. If, not to be 00:06:42.899 --> 00:06:45.740 overly technical, but if you had the Greek text 00:06:45.740 --> 00:06:47.959 in your hand, you would read it and you would 00:06:47.959 --> 00:06:49.660 go, oh, what is the word order? It's completely 00:06:49.660 --> 00:06:52.680 out of order. They took the word. everything 00:06:52.680 --> 00:06:55.339 and do everything and it belongs in the back 00:06:55.339 --> 00:06:57.160 of the sentence and they put it all the way in 00:06:57.160 --> 00:06:59.819 the front of the sentence for what? Emphasis. 00:07:00.600 --> 00:07:05.620 Drive your car. Pay your bills. Respond to the 00:07:05.620 --> 00:07:10.180 government and pay your taxes. How? Do everything 00:07:10.180 --> 00:07:16.060 without complaining or arguing. Word for complaining 00:07:16.060 --> 00:07:19.899 here is basically grumbling. It's that infectious 00:07:19.899 --> 00:07:25.720 negative Attitude. It's really about be a grateful 00:07:25.720 --> 00:07:29.980 servant in your speech and your attitude. Don't 00:07:29.980 --> 00:07:33.500 whine. Don't complain. Don't talk about your 00:07:33.500 --> 00:07:36.680 boss or your supervisor behind their back. Don't 00:07:36.680 --> 00:07:39.639 be negative. Don't be critical. Don't be sarcastic. 00:07:39.819 --> 00:07:42.019 Don't put people down. This is getting pretty 00:07:42.019 --> 00:07:46.339 convicting, just me saying this to myself. But 00:07:46.339 --> 00:07:48.300 not only don't complain, but don't argue. It's 00:07:48.300 --> 00:07:51.439 a legal term. It has to do with dissensions and 00:07:51.439 --> 00:07:54.839 disputing and taking sides. Can you imagine what 00:07:54.839 --> 00:07:58.199 would happen, just hypothetically, if every genuine 00:07:58.199 --> 00:08:03.019 follower of Jesus obeyed this with regard to 00:08:03.019 --> 00:08:08.939 their social media? No complaining, no arguing, 00:08:09.100 --> 00:08:13.180 no dissensions, no name -calling, no attacking 00:08:13.180 --> 00:08:15.800 other people. See, this was happening in the 00:08:15.800 --> 00:08:18.500 Philippian church, and is this happening in anybody 00:08:18.500 --> 00:08:21.579 else's home? Is this happening at work? Anybody 00:08:21.579 --> 00:08:24.120 else a small group? This is happening everywhere, 00:08:24.259 --> 00:08:28.060 isn't it? See, what he's going to say is, you 00:08:28.060 --> 00:08:30.339 want to work out your salvation? You want to 00:08:30.339 --> 00:08:33.480 go into training and practice? Begin with your 00:08:33.480 --> 00:08:36.759 speech because Jesus said, the good man out of 00:08:36.759 --> 00:08:38.460 the good treasure of his heart brings forth what 00:08:38.460 --> 00:08:40.879 is good. The evil man out of the evil treasure 00:08:40.879 --> 00:08:43.980 brings forth what is evil. For the mouth speaks 00:08:43.980 --> 00:08:48.320 by that which fills the heart. The two most vivid 00:08:48.320 --> 00:08:50.500 ways to know where you're at in your journey 00:08:50.500 --> 00:08:52.940 with the Lord Jesus is ask, what does my money 00:08:52.940 --> 00:08:55.559 say about my values? And what does my speech 00:08:55.559 --> 00:08:59.159 say about my heart? And those two things are 00:08:59.159 --> 00:09:01.980 just pretty black and white. If it's negative, 00:09:02.139 --> 00:09:04.419 if it's complaining, if it's putting people down. 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:07.399 See, if you change your speech, your heart has 00:09:07.399 --> 00:09:11.899 to change. Our kids, we've had some that were 00:09:11.899 --> 00:09:13.940 less negative and some more negative. I had one 00:09:13.940 --> 00:09:15.860 that was extraordinarily negative. She came out 00:09:15.860 --> 00:09:18.120 of the womb. Oh, I said she. I guess we know 00:09:18.120 --> 00:09:21.980 who it is. I mean, she was. I mean, the glass 00:09:21.980 --> 00:09:27.620 never got half full. And so we got a jar, and 00:09:27.620 --> 00:09:29.580 we wrote missions on it, and Annie's speech, 00:09:29.659 --> 00:09:34.519 and all my kids memorized Ephesians 4, 29. Let 00:09:34.519 --> 00:09:36.379 no unwholesome word proceed out of your mouth, 00:09:36.419 --> 00:09:38.539 but only such a word as is good for edification 00:09:38.539 --> 00:09:41.139 according to the need of the moment that it might 00:09:41.139 --> 00:09:46.000 give grace to those who hear. And so we started 00:09:46.000 --> 00:09:48.039 out with every time a negative comment came out, 00:09:48.059 --> 00:09:51.399 she put a dime in the jar. Then we went to quarters. 00:09:52.480 --> 00:09:54.480 Then we went to 50 cents a piece. She was a very 00:09:54.480 --> 00:09:58.259 generous to missions at the church. But here's 00:09:58.259 --> 00:10:00.080 the thing. She went into training. She went into 00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:02.159 training. And we talked about it. And then she 00:10:02.159 --> 00:10:03.600 began to memorize some verses. Now, you know 00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:06.279 what? Part of that was a leadership gift that 00:10:06.279 --> 00:10:08.899 she has that when she looked at life, she saw 00:10:08.899 --> 00:10:11.279 what was wrong. And then when she thought it, 00:10:11.299 --> 00:10:14.279 it came out of her mouth at the same time. She 00:10:14.279 --> 00:10:19.600 did not get that from her mother. So we went 00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:23.659 into training together to get a hold of our speech. 00:10:24.509 --> 00:10:27.029 You might evaluate things and see something that, 00:10:27.090 --> 00:10:29.230 oh, that should be over here instead of like 00:10:29.230 --> 00:10:31.590 that, or that's not the right attitude, or we 00:10:31.590 --> 00:10:34.870 need to fix that at work. That might be a real 00:10:34.870 --> 00:10:37.929 giftedness you have. But when it comes out of 00:10:37.929 --> 00:10:42.169 your mouth in the wrong context and not in the 00:10:42.169 --> 00:10:44.769 right way with the right tone of voice, it's 00:10:44.769 --> 00:10:49.470 disunifying. Second, he says, this is for a purpose. 00:10:49.990 --> 00:10:53.320 The purpose of being grateful is... so that you 00:10:53.320 --> 00:10:58.120 can be a godly servant. God wants us to be godly. 00:10:59.019 --> 00:11:04.519 Godly publicly, godly privately, and godly personally. 00:11:05.259 --> 00:11:07.960 Circle the word blameless, circle the word pure, 00:11:08.139 --> 00:11:12.519 and circle the word without fault. The word blameless 00:11:12.519 --> 00:11:16.080 is relationship to the outside world. It means 00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:18.480 the people at work, your neighbors, people at 00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:22.929 the coffee shop, the dry cleaners. the team one 00:11:22.929 --> 00:11:27.059 of your kids plays on. You're listening to Living 00:11:27.059 --> 00:11:29.759 on the Edge with Chip Ingram. Chip will continue 00:11:29.759 --> 00:11:32.340 today's message in just a moment, so stay with 00:11:32.340 --> 00:11:35.120 us. If today's teaching is resonating with you, 00:11:35.159 --> 00:11:37.440 there's more where this came from. The complete 00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:40.220 series, Choosing Love, is available right now 00:11:40.220 --> 00:11:44.379 at livingontheedge .org. You'll also find study 00:11:44.379 --> 00:11:46.879 notes, discussion questions, and resources to 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:49.419 help you go deeper. Everything is waiting for 00:11:49.419 --> 00:11:54.210 you online at livingontheedge .org. Well, now 00:11:54.210 --> 00:11:56.830 let's continue with Chip's message. He says, 00:11:56.850 --> 00:11:59.889 be blameless. Be the kind of Christian that they're 00:11:59.889 --> 00:12:02.250 not going, oh my gosh, that person says they're 00:12:02.250 --> 00:12:04.350 a Christian, but listen to their language, listen 00:12:04.350 --> 00:12:07.070 to the put downs, you know, look at their morality. 00:12:07.330 --> 00:12:09.549 He says, no, no, no, no. You got to be blameless, 00:12:09.570 --> 00:12:13.269 not perfect, blameless. When God shows you that 00:12:13.269 --> 00:12:16.669 your life is ungodly and it would reflect negatively 00:12:16.669 --> 00:12:19.690 on Jesus and his church, you say, I can't live 00:12:19.690 --> 00:12:23.259 that way. Second, it's privately. It says blameless 00:12:23.259 --> 00:12:27.960 and pure. The word pure here means like undiluted 00:12:27.960 --> 00:12:31.899 wine, or it was used of metal that didn't have 00:12:31.899 --> 00:12:34.399 a mixture of both like iron and something else 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:37.059 in it. It's pure. This is about your motives. 00:12:37.460 --> 00:12:40.440 This is about when no one is around, who are 00:12:40.440 --> 00:12:43.620 you really? And then finally he says not only 00:12:43.620 --> 00:12:46.990 blameless and pure, but he goes on to say, without 00:12:46.990 --> 00:12:49.690 fault and again here it doesn't mean in terms 00:12:49.690 --> 00:12:53.009 of perfect but without fault is relationship 00:12:53.009 --> 00:12:57.990 to those in the church and especially your relationship 00:12:57.990 --> 00:13:01.590 to God the word was used for like an animal without 00:13:01.590 --> 00:13:06.009 blemish in your offering and your sacrifice and 00:13:06.009 --> 00:13:09.169 so in essence what he's really saying is I want 00:13:09.169 --> 00:13:11.769 you to obey I want you to be the kind of Christians 00:13:11.769 --> 00:13:13.929 in a really tough world that you're positive, 00:13:14.110 --> 00:13:16.850 thankful people. Not positive thinking. You're 00:13:16.850 --> 00:13:19.610 genuinely thankful. And your speech and your 00:13:19.610 --> 00:13:21.789 actions reflect it. Second, I want you to be 00:13:21.789 --> 00:13:24.169 godly. I want you to be godly toward the outside 00:13:24.169 --> 00:13:26.570 world. I want you to be godly and have personal 00:13:26.570 --> 00:13:28.669 integrity within. And I want you to be godly 00:13:28.669 --> 00:13:34.149 in terms of your relationship with God. I love 00:13:34.149 --> 00:13:38.909 the next line where he says, so that you can 00:13:40.089 --> 00:13:42.330 Do something in a very crooked and perverse generation. 00:13:43.370 --> 00:13:45.230 I mean, we all here, we want to see the world 00:13:45.230 --> 00:13:47.470 change, right? We all believe the world is, I 00:13:47.470 --> 00:13:50.809 mean, it's crazy right now. And people ask me 00:13:50.809 --> 00:13:52.649 all the time, well, what can I do? This is what 00:13:52.649 --> 00:13:57.409 we can do. Be grateful people. Be godly people. 00:13:58.070 --> 00:14:00.789 And notice the result is to be a bold servant 00:14:00.789 --> 00:14:04.389 in action and words. He says, when you're godly 00:14:04.389 --> 00:14:06.210 in the midst of a crooked and perverse, literally, 00:14:06.269 --> 00:14:09.720 it's a twisted generation. And I think it's even 00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:12.539 more twisted now than it was then. But in which 00:14:12.539 --> 00:14:15.620 you shine like stars in the universe as you hold 00:14:15.620 --> 00:14:18.299 out or literally hold forth the word of God. 00:14:19.820 --> 00:14:24.000 And so he says to them, this is the kind of Christian 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:27.340 I want you to be. And when you do that, you're 00:14:27.340 --> 00:14:30.919 demonstrating something. You're making a difference. 00:14:30.980 --> 00:14:34.039 It's like there's this black backdrop and you're 00:14:34.039 --> 00:14:37.120 shining in this corrupt world like shining stars. 00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:46.299 take notice. I have a very good friend who decided 00:14:46.299 --> 00:14:54.419 to leave a very powerful, lucrative job. Had 00:14:54.419 --> 00:15:00.860 a great position. Extremely well paid. And there 00:15:00.860 --> 00:15:05.639 came a time where the company and those in power 00:15:05.639 --> 00:15:11.620 were asking him to make some decisions that lacked 00:15:11.620 --> 00:15:15.860 integrity. And he had worked with all the other 00:15:15.860 --> 00:15:18.000 people in the company and sort of set a standard 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:20.659 that no matter what, we won't compromise. And 00:15:20.659 --> 00:15:22.940 people knew he was a follower of Christ and integrity 00:15:22.940 --> 00:15:25.840 really mattered and came to the point where he 00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:32.399 crossroads and out of integrity, let that go. 00:15:34.190 --> 00:15:36.309 And he told me a little bit about the last day 00:15:36.309 --> 00:15:40.970 with all the employees. And these are high -tech, 00:15:40.990 --> 00:15:46.590 grown men and women in a fast -paced world, overwhelmed 00:15:46.590 --> 00:15:54.289 with emotion. Like a bright, shining star in 00:15:54.289 --> 00:15:57.840 the midst of a... cutthroat, make money, fudge 00:15:57.840 --> 00:16:00.399 the facts? How do we make it look faster and 00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:02.120 better that we can go public or whatever the 00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:05.139 goals are? And someone steps and says, there's 00:16:05.139 --> 00:16:08.200 something that matters more than money. I'm a 00:16:08.200 --> 00:16:10.600 follower of Christ. It's the truth that sets 00:16:10.600 --> 00:16:13.600 you free. And I'm going to stand on my convictions 00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:16.320 regardless of the consequences. And there was 00:16:16.320 --> 00:16:20.679 an entire company that saw a star shining brightly. 00:16:21.460 --> 00:16:24.259 Notice you shine like stars and you're bold. 00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:26.980 You hold forth God's word. You're not ashamed 00:16:26.980 --> 00:16:29.039 to be a Christian in your neighborhood. You're 00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:32.100 not ashamed of the Bible at work. Do I understand 00:16:32.100 --> 00:16:33.799 you're going to get some flack? Of course. Did 00:16:33.799 --> 00:16:35.700 the early disciples get some flack? Did Jesus 00:16:35.700 --> 00:16:38.320 get some flack? Did the reformers get some flack? 00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:41.480 At some point in time, we have to realize it's 00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:45.970 coming. So let's respond in a loving way. Let's 00:16:45.970 --> 00:16:49.029 shine like stars. Let's be the church that, oh 00:16:49.029 --> 00:16:51.769 my lands, they remodeled another school. Oh my 00:16:51.769 --> 00:16:53.889 lands, they're taking in the refugees. We just 00:16:53.889 --> 00:16:56.309 had a team come back from India. They did all 00:16:56.309 --> 00:16:59.149 that dental work and medical work. Oh my lands. 00:16:59.230 --> 00:17:03.789 Who says oh my lands anyway? That must be from 00:17:03.789 --> 00:17:07.410 my mother or my childhood. You want to know how 00:17:07.410 --> 00:17:10.470 to work out what God worked in? Be a grateful 00:17:10.470 --> 00:17:14.750 servant. Be a godly servant. Be a bold servant. 00:17:15.390 --> 00:17:18.089 And finally, his whole motive was, I'm not down 00:17:18.089 --> 00:17:21.269 on you Philippians. This isn't a list to do all 00:17:21.269 --> 00:17:25.190 the stuff of some religion. Be a joyful Christian. 00:17:25.309 --> 00:17:28.730 Here's my motive. My motive is that I can, I'm 00:17:28.730 --> 00:17:30.609 gonna stand before God and I don't know if I'm 00:17:30.609 --> 00:17:32.910 executed or not executed, but I'm gonna stand 00:17:32.910 --> 00:17:36.009 before God and boast in the day of Christ that 00:17:36.009 --> 00:17:38.690 I didn't run in vain or labor in vain, but I 00:17:38.690 --> 00:17:41.029 poured out my life like a drink offering on the 00:17:41.029 --> 00:17:44.470 sacrifice and the service. of your faith. And 00:17:44.470 --> 00:17:46.890 what he's picturing here is that that's a picture 00:17:46.890 --> 00:17:49.009 of getting executed. He's taking this Old Testament 00:17:49.009 --> 00:17:51.869 picture of when you would offer a sacrifice and 00:17:51.869 --> 00:17:53.730 then they would take maybe wine and pour it on 00:17:53.730 --> 00:17:56.430 the altar as it's going up. It's a drink offering. 00:17:56.589 --> 00:17:59.569 He says, if my blood, if my life, if I'm a drink 00:17:59.569 --> 00:18:02.930 offering, here's the deal. I'm going to be glad 00:18:02.930 --> 00:18:07.349 and I'm going to rejoice in dying. So you too 00:18:07.349 --> 00:18:10.329 be glad and rejoice with me. Is that amazing? 00:18:11.109 --> 00:18:13.990 As you look at the back page, the first couple 00:18:13.990 --> 00:18:16.630 questions are ones you can just do by yourself, 00:18:16.730 --> 00:18:19.690 but grab a cup of tea, coffee, Coke, Diet Coke, 00:18:19.829 --> 00:18:22.529 and put your feet up somewhere in the next 24 00:18:22.529 --> 00:18:26.150 or 48 hours and say, hmm, you know, what expectations 00:18:26.150 --> 00:18:30.130 do I have in terms of what I think God's going 00:18:30.130 --> 00:18:33.170 to do for me? And are they accurate? And down 00:18:33.170 --> 00:18:37.440 deep, what do I think God expects of me? For 00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:40.099 some of you, you need a big dose of grace. Here's 00:18:40.099 --> 00:18:43.259 what he expects that you receive is love. And 00:18:43.259 --> 00:18:47.180 for others, he expects you get off your dairy 00:18:47.180 --> 00:18:51.160 air and quit expecting that Bible to read itself 00:18:51.160 --> 00:18:54.099 and to discipline yourself to godliness so he 00:18:54.099 --> 00:18:56.099 can let you experience what you already possess. 00:18:57.460 --> 00:19:00.200 Where do you see growth and progress in the working 00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:02.940 out of what God has worked in? You know, some 00:19:02.940 --> 00:19:05.579 of you, you just go so negative. Oh, I ought 00:19:05.579 --> 00:19:07.059 to be more of this. I ought to do more of this. 00:19:07.099 --> 00:19:08.759 I ought to more doing this. How about writing 00:19:08.759 --> 00:19:11.539 down, you know, I've become more patient. I've 00:19:11.539 --> 00:19:14.000 become more generous. You know what? I'm a better 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:16.980 dad than I used to be. I clean up in my, you 00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:19.319 know, with my roommates. Write down where God 00:19:19.319 --> 00:19:23.259 and it'll encourage you. And then where do you 00:19:23.259 --> 00:19:25.720 need to focus effort and energy to allow Jesus' 00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:28.980 life to be manifested in you and through you? 00:19:29.960 --> 00:19:32.720 And, you know, these words, right? They come 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:36.079 right out of the text. You know, and just don't 00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:41.200 check them all. You'll go nuts. If you already 00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:45.039 haven't. But just ask yourself, you know, Lord, 00:19:45.140 --> 00:19:47.700 whisper this prayer. Lord, Holy Spirit, would 00:19:47.700 --> 00:19:50.539 you show me which one or at the most two, is 00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:53.980 it my attitude, speech, boldness, authenticity, 00:19:54.339 --> 00:19:58.460 godliness? Just, and check one of those and then 00:19:58.460 --> 00:20:02.180 just say, Lord, I can't do this. I can't do this. 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:07.349 But you, can. So I'm telling you, I'm inadequate 00:20:07.349 --> 00:20:11.289 and your power will be my adequacy. So would 00:20:11.289 --> 00:20:16.849 you help me? Would you help me do that? You're 00:20:16.849 --> 00:20:19.609 listening to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram 00:20:19.609 --> 00:20:22.809 and a powerful teaching on cooperating with God's 00:20:22.809 --> 00:20:25.750 transforming work. Chip has more to share in 00:20:25.750 --> 00:20:28.289 just a moment. As you think about what it means 00:20:28.289 --> 00:20:31.650 to obey God out of love rather than duty, I want 00:20:31.650 --> 00:20:33.690 to tell you about Chip's newest book that goes 00:20:33.690 --> 00:20:36.589 hand in hand with this series. It's called I 00:20:36.589 --> 00:20:39.630 Choose Love. Love isn't something that just happens 00:20:39.630 --> 00:20:42.609 to you. It's something you can choose. Chip shows 00:20:42.609 --> 00:20:45.990 us that the agape love God calls us to isn't 00:20:45.990 --> 00:20:49.009 built on feelings or romantic notions. It's a 00:20:49.009 --> 00:20:53.250 love that gives, serves, obeys, and cares. It's 00:20:53.250 --> 00:20:55.650 the kind of love that transforms every relationship 00:20:55.650 --> 00:20:59.039 in your life. Get your copy of I Choose Love 00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:03.579 online at livingontheedge .org. You know, every 00:21:03.579 --> 00:21:05.900 day, Living on the Edge reaches millions with 00:21:05.900 --> 00:21:08.180 biblical teaching that helps Christians actually 00:21:08.180 --> 00:21:11.359 live like Christians. Through broadcasts, podcasts, 00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:14.480 and resources, we're equipping believers to walk 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:17.500 with God and impact their communities. This happens 00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:20.079 because friends like you partner with us. When 00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:23.240 you give, you're transforming lives. From listeners 00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:25.859 driving to work, to pastors needing encouragement, 00:21:26.140 --> 00:21:28.779 to families searching for answers. Would you 00:21:28.779 --> 00:21:31.299 join this mission? You can contribute online 00:21:31.299 --> 00:21:34.640 at livingontheedge .org or mail your support 00:21:34.640 --> 00:21:38.880 to Living on the Edge, P .O. Box 3007, Atlanta, 00:21:39.160 --> 00:21:43.559 Georgia 30024. You can also call us and give 00:21:43.559 --> 00:21:49.759 over the phone. Just dial 888 -333 -6003. Looking 00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:52.140 for Chip's complete sermons? The Chip Ingram 00:21:52.140 --> 00:21:55.079 Sermon Podcast is now available as a feature 00:21:55.079 --> 00:21:58.299 on the Living on the Edge podcast. Listen to 00:21:58.299 --> 00:22:01.539 full, unedited messages right alongside our regular 00:22:01.539 --> 00:22:04.799 episodes. Well, now here's Chip with some final 00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:08.059 thoughts. As we wrap up today's program, I would 00:22:08.059 --> 00:22:10.980 remind you that the title of this message is 00:22:10.980 --> 00:22:15.319 Love Obeys. In other words, when God is working 00:22:15.319 --> 00:22:18.299 out through his spirit and we're responding by 00:22:18.299 --> 00:22:21.960 faith and obedience, it ends up we obey. We are 00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:25.119 obeying what he says in his word. Jesus would 00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:28.099 say to his disciples on the very last night on 00:22:28.099 --> 00:22:31.279 the earth, he said, he that has my commandments 00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:34.339 and keeps them, he it is that loves me. And he 00:22:34.339 --> 00:22:37.160 that loves me will be loved of my father. And 00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:40.859 we will come and disclose ourselves to him. intimacy 00:22:40.859 --> 00:22:43.720 with Jesus at the heart of it is by faith we 00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:46.740 obey. In other words, we work out what God has 00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:49.960 worked in, the work of Christ in our place. And 00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:51.900 as I taught through this, and you heard a little 00:22:51.900 --> 00:22:54.119 bit earlier in the broadcast, we talked about 00:22:54.119 --> 00:22:56.980 being grateful and godly and bold and joyful. 00:22:57.240 --> 00:23:00.299 And, you know, we walk through this passage in 00:23:00.299 --> 00:23:03.319 Philippians chapter 2. And then I ask you to 00:23:03.319 --> 00:23:06.529 do a little analysis, some reflection. And at 00:23:06.529 --> 00:23:08.569 the first part, what I want you to do honestly 00:23:08.569 --> 00:23:11.890 is say, where have I made progress? In fact, 00:23:11.910 --> 00:23:13.869 this is one of those where you really need to 00:23:13.869 --> 00:23:16.309 download the notes. It's livingontheedge .org 00:23:16.309 --> 00:23:19.970 and get the notes because all of these questions 00:23:19.970 --> 00:23:24.349 are here. And then I listed attitude, authenticity, 00:23:24.809 --> 00:23:28.960 speech, boldness, godliness. And then in the 00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:31.480 notes, I give a definition. But what I want you 00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:34.400 to do is say, where am I making progress in my 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:37.539 attitudes? Where am I making progress in my boldness? 00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:40.859 Where am I making progress in my speech? And 00:23:40.859 --> 00:23:42.759 then I want you to sit quietly before the Lord 00:23:42.759 --> 00:23:44.539 and maybe have the notes out in front of you 00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:47.599 and say, Lord, where do you want your spirit 00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:51.470 to take more control? Is it my speech? Is it 00:23:51.470 --> 00:23:54.250 my attitude? Is there ungratefulness in my heart? 00:23:54.329 --> 00:23:57.730 Is there unforgiveness in my heart? Is it a lack 00:23:57.730 --> 00:23:59.690 of boldness? Is it that everyone knows I'm a 00:23:59.690 --> 00:24:02.509 great guy or a wonderful gal, but they don't 00:24:02.509 --> 00:24:05.819 know why? Lord, I pray right now for my brothers 00:24:05.819 --> 00:24:08.440 and sisters as we are together saying, Lord, 00:24:08.599 --> 00:24:13.140 we want to obey. We know that love obeys. We 00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:16.079 long for you to show us where we're making progress 00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:19.180 that we might rejoice and thank you. And we long 00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:22.960 for you to show us. that one thing or that one 00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:25.599 or two things that are very specific that we 00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:28.220 could bring to you and ask that by your spirit 00:24:28.220 --> 00:24:30.920 and the power of your word through community, 00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:33.839 you could transform us more into the likeness 00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:36.619 of your son. Lord, that's our prayer. We know 00:24:36.619 --> 00:24:38.880 you'll answer it. And so we thank you in advance 00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:41.819 for what you're going to do. Amen. What does 00:24:41.819 --> 00:24:44.400 genuine care for others really look like in action? 00:24:44.859 --> 00:24:47.500 I'm Dave Drury. Join us as we continue exploring 00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:50.920 what it means to choose love tomorrow on Living 00:24:50.920 --> 00:24:56.759 on the Edge. Today's program is produced and 00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:58.680 sponsored by Living on the Edge.