Guaranteed

Thank you for tuning into the radio ministry of community church had clear our focus is making Christ visible providing an atmosphere, worship, community come check us out at 3485 Oxford Rd. in Henderson or visit us online activities. He.org join us for this week's message by Pastor Albert on shop. Have you ever had to follow-up on a guarantee, only to find out that the guarantor was no longer in business. It happened was the other day we went out on our date day.

Somehow my truck always turns towards a bookstore and how that happens I just magically turns to words that used bookstore. Nicole loves that how that happens is you are and I'll be pulled in the parking lot and we walked in the refried walk-in and realize there are no cars sign was not lit some walking up on looking to see what exactly is happening and there's a handwritten note that says thank you for your business were no longer in business. I was heartbroken. I was in tears. I succumb all not my favorite used bookstore. I had a discount card with some points on it for returning books and buying both general and talking about them like there you go.

It's over now that's nothing compared to salvation when it comes to salvation. God is the guarantor and he always finishes what he starts. He never goes out of business name in. He never says the promise that but did you read the fine print I can keep it not true. And so this morning's message is called guaranteed it's in our series to the book of Philippians called grateful and we are in chapter 1 and verse three. Let's all stand for the reading of God's word, Galatians, I'm sorry. Philippians chapter 1 starting in verse three Paul says I thank my God upon every remembrance of you always in every prayer of mine, making request for you all with joy for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now. Remember that from the first day until now. Now here's the verse with a focus on being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you will complete it and pay attention to this until the day of Jesus Christ. Question this morning for all of us as we unpack this verse is rich is deep and it is very applicable.

The question is has God begun a good work in you anything back to a time where you can say yes I know I know for a fact that God's work of grace is in my life has happened in my life. Are you saved no work, no salvation that some people's work is going be a lot sums can be little there's always good to be some work.

No work no salvation, no last weekend we learned that Paul's relationship with the Philippians was based upon three words. The first word was the word trust.

It was based on mutual trust. They trusted him and he trusted them. The second word is the word joy every time Paul taught about the Philippians.

His heart was filled with gratefulness and he began to make a request for them with joy. You know, a joyous, it is something that is not hinged on circumstances. Things can be really bad and you could be having a rough day, but there is a joy in your heart. Something deep within that nothing and no one can ever take away his relationship with the Philippians was also based on joy, but then there was 1/3 word that we briefly touched is the word hope there was hope. Paul had hope in his heart for the Philippians. What is this hope.

Listen again to verse six being confident Paul says I have solid hope that he who has begun a good work you you will complete it. He will finish what he has begun in your life. Paul had solid hope solid confidence that God will begin and finish the work of salvation in the life of the Philippians. Now this morning. The message is actually very simple.

There only two points. The first point is, what does it mean in the second point is how does it apply. How does it work, but I will warn you, it's a very deep message. It is not just do this for things in your life will be great and you have a good day, but it is so rich that it fundamentally changes the way you see God to change the way you live your Christian life is change the way you see other so the first. What does it mean what is the good work that Paul is talking about. He says being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work. The good word that Paul is referring to is God's work of salvation. More specifically, is God's work of grace in the life of a believer. Paul explains it in first Corinthians 1.

Four.

By the way, all the references we will look at will be from Paul's letter. Paul's letters to the various churches and individuals. We don't have time to go to the entire Bible on the subject, but listen to what he says in first Corinthians 1 for he says I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you in Christ Jesus was salvationist God's grace coming into our life through Jesus Christ. Salvation from start to finish is God's good work of grace. Nothing I can do nothing. I can bring to the table is simply receiving what he has done for us it is God's work and by the way, is a good work. Sometimes people think man if I get saved I would lose my family if I get saved I would lose my friends if I get saved I will lose all my fun.

If I get saved I would lose all my freedom. That is the enemy's lies is a good work means and gives it doesn't take away young get it, but the enemy will tell you if you get saved in all your funds go. Stop all your friendships go.

Stop all your freedoms gonna stop just the opposite. You gain so much more for me ask you this morning. I will ask you repeatedly has God's good work of grace happened in your life. You know what Paul said in Ephesians 28 for by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God when it comes to salvation. All you can do is come with open hands and say God I needed. I need you to save me. I need what Jesus did on the cross for my sins are needed. God says okay if you say God I want to clean house first, to give up this habit, stop this behavior on what God says Weldon is not grace something else here. Paul refers to two dates in those three verses two days. Two very important days in the life of a Christian I listen very carefully. If you go to a graveyard. You see two dates. What is the day you're born the other one is the day you die, not for a Christian for a believer or two days. The first one is the first day. Paul says in verse five he says for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day was the first of the day you got say the day you receive Jesus as your Savior is the first day of your life.

Several years ago I was preaching and I mentioned this way us and you know sometimes you cannot remember the day you receive Christ.

I personally know people who cannot remember the time or the GPS location where they actually receive Christ. It was so early in their life they cannot receive and have come to me and asked the question, do you think I'm saved my question to them as do you believe Jesus as your Savior.

I know I do. But I cannot remember the exact time and place in my lost as there is no verse in the Bible that says you gotta know the exact time and place, but do you believe is a yes. But I still struggle with this. You know I told him pick a day that had been the first day of your salvation so that no longer the enemy can say are you sure are you sure that doesn't come from God.

That is your first day that second day, again, is not the day you die for us. It is the I was born, they are.not for a believer.

The second day Paul says is what he who has begun a good work and you will completed until the day of Jesus Christ. First day you get saved second day they Christ returns. This is very important to Paul because he mentions it. Several times he says it again in Philippians 110 that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ. Philippians 216 holding fast the word of life so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ's. The second day is a day when Christ will come again for us not you may not physically make it to the second day you may die until Christ returns. But on that day God will finish what he has begun. You will have a glorious resurrection and you will look more like Jesus Christ and you never did. And that is the guarantee that God has given to you and God has given to us, but here's the point. Listen very carefully between the first day the born-again day and the day of Jesus Christ.

Jesus returning us for for us day God is going to complete what he started between the first day in the day of Jesus Christ. He will finish what he has started in your life.

God never leaves a job have done that some people will say well I have an objection. I know God is responsible for our salvation, but are we responsible to and they usually quote a passage like Philippians 212. This said, where Paul says therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling in this or this. I know God is working in me, but I gotta work out my salvation to the vital work out my salvation then the work stalls how to answer them. Keep reading.

Don't stop. In verse 12, go on to verse 13 what does verse 13 say, for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for his good pleasure, which means the spokesman Bible says when Paul says, work out your own salvation with fear. Fear means what humility, what an awesome gift God has given to me in Jesus Christ. Every day I live with that fear with that humility, not fear that I will lose it. Fear that while God you're so amazing. It is your glory that is happening in my life. Trembling is obedience. You know when you tremble with somebody so you better you better do this. There's a sense of obedience that is in my life.

But listen, whether I have fear and trembling, humility and obedience.

It does not stop God from finishing what he has begun in my life is what happens when you truly understand that everything you habit it comes to your salvation is by the grace of God. It doesn't lead to more sin. It actually leads to fear and trembling. It helps you realize how amazing is that grace how awesome is that God who came down to give his life for me. I cannot go out there and fool around because I realize what Paul says in Romans chapter 8, for whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son Ms. there something greater that is happening. Paul says, again in second Thessalonians 213 God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

Folks are much deeper things than or better not mess around with I lose it know it brings you into the deeper things of God. The sanctification of God in your life, the belief in the truth. Something else to which he called you by our gospel for the pertaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 113. Listen to what he says in him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also having believed was a sick you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, but I understand that everything is by the grace of God he doesn't get me to go will let me go on and in this party and do crazy stuff. It helps me realize there's a seal on my heart there other objections, somebody will people say what the enemy tries to steal you away what is Satan is coming to stall the work of God. Well, the Bible says Paul says in second Thessalonians 33 but the Lord is faithful, the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. Start giving the enemy more credit than is due he will establish you and he will gorge from the enemy when the temptation is too much and I am in this journey and God is working in me, but the temptation lowers me away all know I'm not saved any moral know I'm lost.

Paul says in first Corinthians 1013 no temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man what you're going through is not the ultimate that God says in heaven Believed it to no temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. A beautiful is that this in Romans 837 yet in all these things Paul says we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Maybe in this life, you may feel like men are lost last night was a horrible time. My wife and I didn't get along or are kids and are doing well our church families listen you are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Then here comes that beautiful verse, verse 38 from persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, which shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord in this journey from day one to the day of Jesus Christ. Nothing can separate us from Jesus Christ. Nothing. Nothing at all, not of their some more objections coming and I want to deal with them briefly, but here's another objection, somebody has disabled what if I feel lost. What if I feel condemned for that happened in Corinthians in Romans were a weak brother was feeling like he was perishing or being destroyed. First Corinthians 811 Romans 1415. It talks about a weak brother, perishing, or being destroyed a People's in that hell the weak brother messed up and slipped and he perished. Read the whole contexts, and it will tell you perishing and being destroyed in this passage is about self-condemnation. It will self-condemnation us where you mess up God has forgiven you, but you cannot forgive yourself.

There are people who live under self-condemnation. The come talk to me in the say no I messed up years ago. I did this and I did that in my marriage or whatever whatever and I asked him the question do you believe Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior only. I believe that but I tell you what I'm just been written as I have you made it right with people. The best you could only I have done all that, but I just cannot seem to get over on Saturn what to tell you you are perishing you are being destroyed but you are being perished and destroyed by yourself.

This is you, you are under self-condemnation. Your conscious conscience is being wounded and you letting the enemy work on you. What is a solution that getting to the truth getting the promises.

There's a reason why I'm preaching this message today to help you get into the truth just so inundate you with the truth in the promises of God. So when you are self condemning.

You can stop and so enemy limit God has promised he will finish what he started. So what I'm feeling right now. I've already confessed and made right with God. Holy Spirit you have sealed my heart take me out of this self-imposed guilt and help me to live to listen.

He will answer you. He will bring you out of the condemnation Galatians.

Some people bring up this passage in Galatians chapter 5 verse two where Paul says indeed I Paul say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ would profit you nothing now what was happening in the Galatian church. If you remember there's a difference in the Galatians and the Philippians. The Galatians had received the grace of God had received Jesus as their Savior. But now they were starting to keep the law they were going back to circumcision to be going back to the Old Testament law. Paul told them this he said I Paul say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ would profit you nothing that definitely sounds like there will be lost. Then he says in verse four, you have become estranged from Christ. That definitely sounds like their loss because Paul said in Romans chapter 8.

Nothing can separate us, but they're going back to the circumcision, and that is estranging them. That is, separating them.

Paul tells the Galatians you have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by the law you have fallen from grace. Man that definitely sounds like there lost. If you start by grace but then you go back to the law than you are fallen from grace.

Is that what Paul was saying, listen carefully, yes, that's what Paul was saying if you go back to the law. If you go back to the circumcision you will fall from grace. But now want to hear what he says in verse 10, listen very carefully. Galatians 510 I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will have no other mind if you start in grace go to the law you going to lose what you have. But Paul says I know that you're not gonna do that what Paul is telling the Galatians listen carefully open years is an impossible possibility.

Impossible possibility means there is this possibility, but it's going to be impossible because you are truly saved.

You're not going to go back to the law so you lose your salvation is him and that sounds like a contradiction, that sounds like a paradox. I know, but how many of you ever set your children if you ever do that.

You're a child of mine ever said that.

I know I have now I can say that to them but doesn't the unchangeable thing because they're still my children wanted to go in and do whatever that thing is there still my children. What if I disowned them well you have something called DNA. I can disown them all day long list of my children is an impossible possibility. Yeah, it is possible, but it is impossible what Paul is saying them is this. If you begin by grace. He says it again in the Galatians chapter 3 verse three he says are you so foolish, having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh. It's a rhetorical question that is like you know that is not possible. Those are y'all getting this bit of God has truly begun the work of salvation in your life you can be confident that until the day of Jesus Christ. He will continue to work and he will finish what he has started there's nothing you can do or the enemy can do or I can do that can ever take that away from you are. There are several passages where it definitely sounds like some people are going to leave the faith. For example, first Timothy chapter 4 verse one now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times. Keep that tucked away in latter times some will depart from the faith.

What if I depart from the faith is not a mess of what God's going to finish so I remind them or the word that I told you took away latter times. In the end time read the book of Galatians of a revelation it talks about some will a pasta size in the latter times, there will be a time in the end of times where some will leave the faith. But if you take everything that's going to happen in the end of times and make it normative to present time. That is not biblical. Get one thing. Some things will happen in the end of times where people will believe Jesus Christ as their Savior truly believe and then walk away from it.

But not today.

That is in the latter times where the enemy will do some crazy stuff is, how do you know that listener first Timothy 41 now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, listen, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons you know in the end of times. The Holy Spirit will be restricted. Right now he is working there is going to come a time where he will go hands-off in the enemy will have full reign and he will wreak havoc, even to the point that those who believe in Jesus Christ will say, well, you know, come to think of it, that sounds good. See you, Jesus, and their walk away from the faith, but that's not today that's in latter times one more verse first Timothy chapter 2 verse 12 it says if we endure, we shall also reign with him. People so there you go again, this is about the end times.

Not today. Not assume we are thinking. How does all this help me.

It's great to know that God will finish what is begun in my life that he will make me more like Christ, that his work of grace will be completed by how does that help me.

It helps us in several ways. Number one, you begin to grow in the spirit folks of every day I have to begin by asking the question of my truly saved is like every day going back to kindergarten starting all over again when you have the assurance that even when you mess up God would discipline you. He will take you to the woodshed, but he will not turn his back on you. He will not say what I am through with you. You can keep going. Something else now you have the freedom to serve when I have the assurance that I'm a child of God, even if I had a bad day even if I had a bad week. Even if I had a bad night. The next day, I can say God I'm no good, but these are my responsibilities. God, I am going to do what needs to be done even though I don't feel like it right now. I know you gotta do some work in my life but I'm gonna go back and serve and do what needs to be done when you have to question your very status as a child of God that is no wonder how people start in some ministry mess up if you like.

I'm not saved anymore, and this stop serving the no charge like there were people start a little stop in the you don't see them again.

What happened I don't know about your say I thought you were say why economist to get something straightened out what things are you gonna straighten out is God's word come to God come to Jesus Christ receive his grace start serving get into the battle is like this. It was a soldier and American soldier fought fighting on a foreign soil and he gets a letter in the mail that says oh, just to let you know.

Your citizenship has been revoked. How much energy and how much passion will he have to fight in the battle you lose all energy you lose all passion because now you have to prove your status before we can fight again. But when you know that your status has secure our nothing can separate you from the love of God in Jesus Christ against the enemy.

I know that you one yesterday, but I do know that is that I'm more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ.

I'm back in the battle.

I put on the whole armor of God, I'm going back in something else you become less judgmental of self and of others. Seek his forgiveness stop self condemning stop giving a loophole to the enemy to get into your life, start living, start trusting, and lastly, you become grateful when I know that everything from start to finish is done by him, how much credit cannot thank you so much for joining us this message are God is a God who brings things to completion.

You can trust in everything you going through.

He's faithful to finish the good work he started. For more information visit us online@clearviewscene.org for this sermon's notes.

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