All right. service today with a baptism. And it never ceases to amaze me when we go through a baptism. I know that I think back to the time that I went through baptism expressing that Christ saved me from my sins, and I was joining with a local congregation. And at 17 years of age, I don't think it's any different for a 17-year-old than it is for anyone who's older or younger than that. at the point of baptism, you know that that's just a step expressing the faith that you already have, that you already trust in Christ. And you realize that that's your first step of obedience after being saved. And you also realize, being your first step of obedience, that there will be many subsequent steps of obedience in the Christian faith. And it's very easy to start wondering at that point, what's next? What in the world is next? What do you want me to do God with my life? What do you want me to do on this journey? And we start trying to answer all of those questions in the whole picture scenario of what God wants us to do. And the church tries to be a help in that. We try to be an aid with helping people answer that question, God, what do you want me to do? But I think sometimes we might get the cart ahead of the horse. I think sometimes as well-intentioned as we are as a church, and many churches are, we might get the cart ahead of the horse and try to give an idea that you've got to have a big-picture scenario, a big-picture vision of what God wants you to do before you'll be of any relevance to the kingdom of God. And my friends, that's just not true. It's a step-by-step journey, a piece-by-piece process of following God and holding close to Him along the way. But as the church, what we do, and the reason I say that is because the church comes along with a great mission heroes that we parade in front of all the churches. See, I was at Southeastern Seminary, the best seminary in the country, by the way. And while I was at Southeastern Seminary, week in and week out, we had the who's who's of America's best preachers come across that stage. And it started painting this big picture of if you're going to be a good preacher, this is who you've got to be like, and this is who you've got to sound like. Well, here in the church, we do that as well. We bring mission heroes in from the Congo, mission heroes in from South America, mission heroes in that go out from us and come back. And we want to tell their story. And it's a great intention to get that story out there. But if we're not careful, we can interject the idea into that story that if I'm not like this person, then I'm not a success. If I'm not smuggling Bibles into the uppermost regions of Siberia so that they might hear the gospel of Jesus, then I'm not a success. If I'm not like Michael and going to South America, then I'm not a success. And all of a sudden we can begin interjecting into what is supposed to be encouragement and what is supposed to be a scenario of God's faithfulness. We can begin interjecting into the midst of that that we aren't quite measuring up to the person that's in front of us. We also present things like this, ministry needs, that you see all around the congregation. And we put them on pretty signs and we put the information in front of those signs. And you know what ministry fairs are. You understand that. If you've been to any kind of homeschool fair, if you've been to any kind of business fair, then you know that these signs are intended to attract your attention so that you begin looking it over and so that you might respond to what you see in front of you. It's an enticement, if you will, to sign up for that ministry. But let me step back here for just a second and say it's not just an enticement, it's actually a prayer plan for you to start praying about what God would have you do. Because if you're not careful with things like this, then you begin looking around and you begin saying, you know, I'm really not doing that, that, that, that, that, that. And you begin comparing yourself with what other people might even be doing. in the life of the church. And you begin holding yourself hostage from what you see in the case that you build against yourself. You see the intentions are very good in all of these endeavors that we do with mission heroes that we bring, and they are heroes, with ministry needs that we bring, with service requests when you're asked to serve or to help. All the intentions are very good and very honorable But if we interject other thoughts in there, then we can be damaging ourselves. And here's the reason I start with this today. Because I think rather than, God, what do you want me to do? I think there's actually a bigger question in the scenario. There's a bigger question out there for you to begin asking and answering. And the bigger question is, God, what do you want to do through me?" That's the bigger question. Not just, God, what do you want me to do? See, that question presupposes that you're bringing gifts and abilities to the table that you originated and that you're going to use those gifts and abilities to bless God along the way. but whenever you get down to the bottom line you have nothing that you have not been given and so anything that you're bringing to the table is what God had originated and given to you for a purpose and you simply are beginning then identify that God has a purpose for you and you come to him and you say God what do you want to do It places you then as a conduit. Not the originator of the gifts. Not the originator of the plan. Not even the final destination of the plan. You know what we call the final destination of a river? It's a stagnant pool. It just sits there. It doesn't flow. It doesn't have life. You're not the final destination either. God wants to flow through you as a conduit so that you become a channel that God works through. Take your Bibles and open up to Philippians. chapter 1. I want to show you this in Philippians chapter 1 in verse 6. And as you get to Philippians chapter 1 verse 6, what you will see when you get there is that God has a desire to work his plans through you. Hold on just a second, pastor. You don't know where I've come from. You don't know the mistakes I've made. You don't know the problems that I have. You don't know the incapacities that I possess. You don't know God if that's your hang-up. Because if that's your hang-up, you realize that God takes your incapacities and He makes you more than capable through Jesus Christ. God takes your mistakes and He redeems those mistakes and uses those mistakes for His glory. You see, what God does is He takes that which is in need, He fills the need, and makes it something beautiful. And so when I say that statement, don't think about what's holding you back. Think about the God that can set you free. God has a desire to work His plans through you. I don't care what color you are. I don't care how high tall you are. I don't care how short you are. I don't care what's going on in your financial life. I don't care what's going on in your family life. God has a desire to work His plans through you. You say, how do you know that? Look at Philippians chapter 1 verse 6. Look at this. Being confident of this very thing that he who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. My friends, if you are saved, God will work his plans through you. He began a good work in you, He will complete a good work in you until the day of Jesus Christ. If you are saved, that work that began at the moment you trusted Christ, nay, that work that began at the moment that Christ loved you and while you were still a sinner, He came to die for you, that work that began then, it will accomplish its mark, and He will accomplish that work through you. You're not convinced yet? Well, let me give you some more verses. Jeremiah 29 11 says, For I know the thoughts I think towards you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Proverbs chapter 16 verse 9 says, A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. Ephesians chapter 2 and verse 10 says, For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Romans chapter 8 verse 28 and 29 says and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God to those who are called according to his purpose for whom he foreknew he also Predestined to be conformed to the image of his son that he might be the firstborn among many brethren My friends God has the desire to work his plans through you God not only has a desire to work his plans through you, but if you belong to him through salvation, God will accomplish his work. You see, his hand is not short and it's not weak. And when God has a destiny to accomplish, he will accomplish his work. But your joy will be a whole lot more complete if you become a part of that process. Just ask Ananias and Sapphira. You see, I believe Ananias and Sapphira were saved. If you remember back in Acts chapter 5, Ananias and Sapphira, they brought a gift to the altar of God. They had promised they would bring X amount to the altar of God, and they brought a gift short of that, deciding to keep some back for themselves. I believe that they were saved, and I believe that God's plan was not thwarted by their lie. Rather, they did accomplish the purpose of being perfected as God took them home early in the infancy stage of the church, not allowing the church to be molested in such a way. At that point and place in time, God's perfect will was accomplished in the life of Ananias and Sapphira. But don't you think Ananias and Sapphira would have wholeheartedly rather been a part of God's plan working through their life than being that kind of a warning to the church to come? I think they would have rather had been a part of God's plan of their own volition and will. Look at Philippians chapter 2 and verse 12. Staying in the book of Philippians. Philippians chapter 2 and verse 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. For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for his good pleasure." Now this is Paul writing to the Church of Philippi from a Philippian jail. And as he writes to the Church of Philippi, having suffered for the faith that he proclaimed, having been held prisoner for the faith that he preached, he writes this letter of encouragement to the Church of Philippians. And it's in this letter of encouragement, him being in shackles himself, that he says, being confident This very thing that he who has begun a good work and you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ And then he goes on in chapter 2 to tell them 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 He's telling them to be diligent that it's worth the cost and he tells them to work out their own salvation Wait a minute. We said God will complete the work now. We tell you to work out your own salvation, which is it? Yeah. You're working out your salvation as part of the process of God completing the work and showing that you trust him in the midst of that. Working out your own salvation is being an active part of what God accomplishing. You're not being Ananias and Sapphira and having the accomplishment of God take place at the expense of your very life in the presence of your brethren. You're not just simply being a bystander and allowing faith just to ebb and flow and take over whatever form it's going to take in your life. You're being actively involved in the process that God is using to glorify himself and to grow you through that process. It's being an active part in what God is accomplishing. So how do I work out my salvation if it's what God is accomplishing anyway? I think verses 14 through 18, following those two verses we just read, gives us the evidence of working out what God is accomplishing. When you look at verses 14 through 18, you're going to see very early on that working out is you shining forth. Look at verse 14. Do all things without complaining and disputing 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." Did you catch the end of verse 15? There's a shining as lights in this world around you. Let me ask you the question, is the world around you a glorious place? Is it heaven on earth? Is it perfection personified? Is the world around you filled with death and drought and disease? Is the world around you filled with Christians being beheaded in Egypt? Is the world around you filled with problems too many to name? Which world around you can you shine? A world that's already enlightened or a world that's dark? What God has called you to do is shine in the midst of a dark world. And working out your salvation, working out your salvation with fear and trembling is you shining forth in the midst of the world that you live in. And how do you shine forth in the midst of the world you live in? Well, you do it by trusting God. By trusting that He is sovereign. By trusting that He is truth. By trusting that He is light. By trusting that He is the way. By trusting that whatever falls down around you, God's going to always be standing. By trusting that He is your shield and your strong fortress. You shine forth as lights in the dark world around you by trusting in God. By trusting the sovereignty of God. In other words, you realize God's got this. I don't have to worry. He's in control. Even if it doesn't look like it, He's working out a plan and a destiny that I may not even completely comprehend, but God's got this. What happens, though, on the other hand, if you're not trusting in the sovereignty of God? You start complaining. You start doubting. You start worrying. You start stressing. Look at what it says, do all things without complaining and disputing. If you're not trusting in the sovereignty of God, a sure way to tell that is what is marking your conversations. If what is marking your conversations is complaining and doubting and disputing and arguing and fussing, you're not trusting. Trusting in the sovereignty of God means you understand God has it and you're going to trust that his plan is working out in the midst of the problems. My complaints show doubt. Look at verse 15, or let's read 14 again. Do all things without complaining and disputing 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. Complaints and disputes not only show doubts, but complaints and disputes cannot be done by yourself. Do you realize that? You can't complain by yourself. Now you can mumble under your breath, you can grumble in your spirit, that's true, but ultimately that complaint is going to find its way out. That dispute, in order for a dispute to be a dispute, there's got to be another party involved. And when there's other parties involved, then all of a sudden that doubt You've got to let it out. And when other people start encountering your doubt, then it causes doubt in their life. Complaints and disputes involves others and it gives cause for doubt. And what does it cause people to doubt? Well, here you are. You're a believer in Christ Jesus. You've been through the waters of baptism. You trusted in him with your eternity. And all of a sudden your doubts and worry are starting to come out. And people go, well man, I'm not sure this Christ thing is all it's cracked up to be. They're all worried about everything in the world around them. They don't have any more security than MSNBC. They don't have any more light than CBS. They don't have any more hope than Fox News. I don't know what I can do to trust what they trust because they don't really trust it. Your doubt comes out and the doubts about God begin to be heard by others. Your complaints and disputes that involve others, It starts not only to doubt what God's doing in your life, but it starts to doubt what God is doing in other people's life. And doubts about self to others begin to override your thoughts. And all of a sudden, you don't stand in confidence either. One question to continually ask, am I constantly shining forth my trust in God and my honor for others? Because you see, they're both compatible. Remember, Christ was asked, what is the greatest commandment? And Jesus said, I'll give you not only the greatest commandment, but I'll give you the two greatest commandments. And he said, love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. You see, our compatibility with loving God, is equivalent to how we're loving our neighbor. Our demonstration of our trust of God is then therefore our demonstration of our trust of God to others as well. They run congruent with each other. They walk hand in hand. And either you're going to show that you're trusting God in all things, or you're going to show that you are not. And the greatest way for you to love your neighbor is to let the trust of God that you have in your life be contagious to them. Working out is shining forth. Working out your salvation is also holding fast. Look at verse 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. Oh, we grow so weary, Christian. We grow so tired sometimes. We say we're working hard in the faith. We're trying to serve in the ministries. We're trying to help other people know Christ, and we just don't see the fruits of our labors coming forth. We don't see the evidence of conviction taking hold. We don't see the change of life taking place. Oh, I'm so tired. Don't get tired. Don't get weary. Don't get worn out. Because you have to believe that God is accomplishing great things through your faith, whether you see it or not. Working out is holding fast. And when you read verse 16, what are you holding fast to? Well, it's the Word of Life. What do you get from the Word of Life? Your ways or His ways? What do you get from the Word of Life? Your strength? or history. What do you get from the word of life? You get all the things that God wants you to know about what He is doing in the world around you. The Word of Life gives us God's plan for man. It tells us everything we need to know about salvation, about justification, about glorification, about eternity. It tells us everything we need to know about love that is right, about hope that is strong, about faith that is secure, The Word of Life gives us God's plan for man. And if you learn it, then every newsflash won't rock your world. If you learn it, you can understand that when the stocks crash, you don't have to run around like chicken little saying, there goes my future. You think your hope is measured by money, my friend? Let me tell you something, money will all dissolve and disappear one day, but the Word of the Lord will stand forever. You don't have to sit there and look and when the government slides further from liberty goes, there goes my kid's future. Was there not a Joseph that was raised in a totalitarian society that lived for the glory of God in the midst of it? Was there not an Esther born for such a time as hers? Was there not a Daniel raised in a repressive regime who rose to honor? Do you think that if this country slides to the most most heinous totalitarian society that it could possibly go? That God's plan for you has been corrupted? My friend, what kind of God do you serve? That's why we have the record of Daniel and Esther and Joseph. So that we can know even in the midst of the crookedest ways that God can raise a Moses out of the plains of Egypt and deliver his children for a hope and a future. You have the Word of God because it gives you the hope that you need. When immoral agendas rule the day, you don't have to run around going, there goes the fabric of society. Things are worse than they've ever been, and I think that we're going to hell in a handbasket. My friends, let me give you a newsflash today, believer. The fabric of this society and every other society, the fabric of this society and every other society has never been godly. But we were founded on Christian principles. Yes, we were! Absolutely, the Ten Commandments was the bedrock of the laws and legislation that came forth whenever this country was founded. But let me tell you something, that if the Scripture is true, and it says broad is the gate that leads to destruction, but narrow is the way that leads to life, if few there are who find it, then my friend, there has never been a society where the fabric of that society was godly. Religious? Yeah! Godly? No. And what happens in a religious society is you learn how to put lipstick on the pig. You learn how to dress the part and act the part and walk around pretending to be godly. You see, many societies have become really good at hiding their sin. But there's never been a godly society. And one day there will be. There will be because God's plan will take hold when we stand and see him face to face. And we will know what it means to live in a society ruled and reigned by God omnipotent. The hearts of people now are no darker than they've ever been. Sinners are sinners, lost are lost. Salvation is salvation and hope is hope. And the hearts of people now are no worse than they've ever been. You see, the hearts of people are always in need of salvation through Jesus Christ. They're always in need of forgiveness. They're always in need of repentance. The hearts of people are always in need of repair and reparation because the hearts of people are all bent their own way. Romans says, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. My friends, that includes every generation of every man that's ever been. Some have just been better at hiding it than others. Today, we're just more emboldened, having found all the answers to the universe and replaced God with the image of ourselves. You see, that's the difference. As man has thought he's uncovered all the mysteries of the universe, he's fooled himself into thinking that he's God. Humanism is probably the most damning religion there is. Galatians 6-7 says this though, Do not be deceived. God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. You don't have to run around going, God, when are you going to get even? When are you going to take it? Do you not know that it's his forbearance and it's his patience and it's his long-suffering that is allowing this world to continue on in hopes that some may come to know him? God is not mocked. Whatever man sows, he will reap. And when Christian persecution is ramping up like what we're watching today, we don't have to go around saying, there goes the world, there goes our society, there goes our security. Really? Your security is based on how you're treated in the world you live in? That's your hope in your future? As a Christian, your security cannot be staked in the world that you live in, or in the treatment that you gain, or that you see others gain or lose. James 4.14 says, whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow, for what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears a little time and then vanishes away. If your security is in the world you live in, what a breadth of security you have. What a mirage of security you possess. Our security has never been in this world. Matthew chapter 6 verse 19 and 20 says, do not lay up for yourself treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourself treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal. When we hold fast, my friends, to the Word of God and the promises that he has in the Word of God, that whatever comes against your life and whatever comes into your way, You don't have to let it ruin your day, or your week, or your month, or your hope. Because when you know the Word of God, you know where your hope truly lies. When we hold fast the Word of God, it becomes our foundation and form for the way we live in a fallen world. For God does tell us the end game for this travail that we currently walk through. 1 Corinthians chapter 15, listen at these four verses. Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" This world's fallen. It's full of death and decay. But one day all that death and decay will be done away with. And you don't have to worry about where your security lies because if you are saved, you will be in the presence of God, the one who has given you life and life everlasting. Working out is shining forth. Working out is holding fast. And working out your salvation is willingly sacrificing for others. You say, really? working out my salvation. I get the shining forth. I mean, we're supposed to be a reflection of the glory of God so that others may see our good works and glorify Him who is our Father who is in heaven. I get the shining forth. I even get the holding fast. I mean, because we know that God's ways need to be known by man and we need to learn them so that we can walk according to His ways and have hope even in the midst of our struggles and days. But you're telling me that working out my salvation is also sacrificing for others? Pastor, I don't know if I can sacrifice for others. You see, that's why it's a faith thing. Because in our own strength, we will not sacrifice for others. In our own way, in our own will, we will always be a me first person. But working out and sacrificing for others, look at verse 17 and 18. This is again Paul, he says, yes. And if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. for the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me." Paul is in a Philippian jail, my friends. He doesn't know how much longer he has, and he's willing to say, hey, it doesn't matter if God is breaking me and pouring me out as a offering and a sacrifice for your faith. That's fine with me. I will willingly die if your faith will be built up. Paul is not holding the life like it's something that he doesn't want to lose because he knows where his hope is. If you go back to Philippians chapter 2, look at verse 1, where we pick up the whole context of what we've been going through. Verse 1, therefore, if there is any consolation in Christ, we're not even talking about Paul now, we're talking about Christ. If any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy fulfill my joy, by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than himself." Sounds like Paul is wanting you to sacrifice willingly for others. And then he goes on and says this, let each of you look out not only for his own interest, but also for the interest of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant and coming in the likeness of men. That's what you saw at the beginning of baptism today. When you step down in the waters, you're identifying with this very fact right here in Philippians chapter 2, that God stepped down in the form of Jesus Christ, God incarnate, in the form of man, took the form of a bondservant, being found in the appearance of a man. That's what you find right here in verse 7. Verse 8, and being found in the appearance of man, he humbled himself, and became obedient to the point of death, even the death on the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted him and given him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven and of those on earth and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father. Jesus sacrificed for others. And my friends, through his life, through his death, through his burial, and through his resurrection, the will of God will be done. Every tongue, every knee, every person will know that Jesus is Lord. I didn't say they'll be saved. You see, whether or not you're willing to be a part of God's will in your life is the question. Do you welcome his direction? Do you welcome his leadership? Do you welcome his authority? Do you follow his ways? Are you delighted in his law? Are you happy with everything about God? Because that ultimately determines whether or not he's Lord of your life or not. Your ministry, your life, your work is not really about your ministry, your life, your work. But rather it's about what God is accomplishing for you and others through it. So the question, what does God want to do through you. He wants to teach you through everything you do to shine forth, to hold fast, and to sacrificially serve others. God's desire is to work his plans through your life. And I pray it's your desire to know God's plan and be a part of those plans for yourself and for others. Will you stand with me as we pray? Father, we often get so caught up in the, what do you want me to do, that we fail to realize there's so much more that you want to accomplish. And that so much more that you want to accomplish is you want to take the situations and the environments that we find ourselves in, and you want to use those to shape us for your glory, that you might shine forth through us, Father, that we might learn to trust in your word and to hold fast to it, and that, Father, that we might be a servant of all. That's what you want us to do, Father. And I pray that no matter the ministry you call us to, no matter the work you have us involved in, no matter the service that we're doing, that we're not doing it trying to accomplish anything other than just simply letting you work through us. And if that's the case, God, then your glory will be made known, because it'll be made known through each servant that has that heart attitude. And so, Father, I pray that as we consider maybe some calls on ministry, that we would consider these thoughts going into it. In Jesus' name, amen.