Pastor Teacher

2. Pastor Teacher Evangelist Visionary Sermon Title: “Under Construction” Philippians 2:5, 12 - 13  

3. Philippians 2:5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

4. Philippians 2:12-13 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 according to his good purpose.

5. Pastor Teacher Evangelist Visionary Sermon Title: “Under Construction” Philippians 2:5, 12 - 13  

6. Commentary Good Morning friends!  What a marvelous day to serve a God who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we can ask or think. This passage of scripture which can be viewed as a declaration and or confession is a powerful way in understanding the might and permission that God grants. Reading the passage in Philippians, Paul reminds and informs his listeners that

7. Christ Jesus is the model for our attitude and disposition for living. So many times we find ourselves saying things like “I am not perfect, God is still working on me,” and the clichés can go on and on. I can’t help but wonder sometimes if this is being used as an excuse or a statement that invokes a reason for the lack of being accountable for ones own actions. But the truth of the matter is that if we are being built, and shape is taking form and position in our lives there will  

8. always be evidence of what’s being built, at least at some point. The work under construction should show some progress. Areas of our lives should be taking form. Although there may be messes all around us and debris has shamed the areas, form in the midst of this construction should be occurring. You know how we pass by a sight every now and then, it’s all torn up, it is a mess. But through all of this we can see that something is taking form.

9. Something is being built after a while. Paul says it like this, “you shall know them by their fruit.” We know that through what is seen something is happening. I believe that Paul is saying here that the model is Jesus and his image and form is before us giving us a pattern although the construction is incomplete. This is where we get help from the power of the Holy Spirit.

10. He is building yet steadying us all the while. My friends we must allow the work of the Holy Spirit to lay a foundation to build upon. Have you laid a foundation? Is God working in you? What evidence is there that you are a work in progress? The operative word her “PROGRESS”. What progress have you made that people can see that the construction is moving forward?

11. The key here lies in this passage “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose”. • My friends, Paul tells us in this scripture that we have everything we need to build although the construction process is still in progress. As Christ becomes Lord, • you are being built into a loving person, • you are being built into a faithful person, • you are being built into his righteousness.

12. At some point in the construction process others should not only need to see the blueprint or the model, they should begin to at least see a reflection of what and who you are becoming. What sin factor is constantly at work stopping the construction progress? What carnal mindset is detaining the building? What habit is preventing you from building? If it is God who is at work in you to will and to do his good pleasure, what’s holding you up?

13. Pastor Teacher Evangelist Visionary Sermon Title: “Under Construction” Philippians 2:5, 12 - 13  

14. Life Application Statement: If it is God who is at work in you to will and do his good pleasure, what is holding up the construction progress in your life?

15. Life Application Principles 1.  We desire the benefits of the change, but don’t want to make the change. 1Peter 2:2 - Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up in your salvation.

16. Life Application Principles • 2.  We don’t yield to God in obedience; (obedience is the building blocks for a solid foundation). • We need the power of the Holy Spirit (Phil1:19) for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Holy Spirit. • Influence of faithful Christians (Gal 5:22) • In doing God’s will often times we gain the desire to do God’s will (Phil 4:9)

17. LifeApplication Principles 3. We are all under construction, but it should not be an excuse to remain in the same place or posture. We have the model, the blueprint that tells us the stages, directions and even indicates the tools necessary for the building.

18. Remember we are not only under construction, but are now living stones with Christ being built up together with him. We are building houses of stone and brick so that when the big mad devil comes (and he will) we are able to stand because we are built on a solid foundation. On Jesus the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. Let’s review the familiar story of “The Three Little Pigs”.

19. The symbolism here is that the structure built with the bricks was able to stand in this trying time. We should build with solid good stable material that will withstand. However we should become a solid strong structure that represents the blueprint of Christ. Dr. Janice Gilbert, Senior Pastor McKinney UMC